The Return of Pornstach and His Band of Merry Moustached Men
The Killers played their “secret” gig at Webster Hall tonight. Tickets were available online as late as 3 hours before the show.
As we waited for the Killers to come on, the general consensus on the “children’s summer stock version of Moulin Rouge meets strip mall restaurant opening” set design was thumbs down. The giantic mirrored ball with Christmas lights dangled around it was…confusing to say the least.
[Seriously, what is all that crap????]
When the Killers came on stage the audience errupted into applause. At the risk of “blowing their wad too soon” (that’s what we call it in the biz), the band played some of their biggest (and soon to be biggest) hits right off the bat: “Somebody Told Me”, off Hot Fuss, and “When You Were Young”, off the new album. The momentum slowed down a bit 3/4 through, but the final encore of “Mr. Brightside” pumped the audience up one final time.
They debuted a handful of new songs off the new LP…and they sounded very Bowie meets Stephen Trask. So in a phrase, “glam rock”.
Not only was frontman Brandon Flowers sporting the “pornstache” but drummer Ronnie Vannucci also appeared to have his clothing and grooming styling done on the NBC backlot during a taping of “My Name is Earl.” There was also another guy in the back who seemed to be playing the keyboards and guitar who ALSO had a ’stache to rival Burt Reynolds.
I have to say, The Killers live show has vastly improved from the very first time I ever saw them (at Ultragrrrl’s Prom at Rothko back in June of 2004), and most certainly since I saw them in a traumatizingly bad episode of American Pepsi Smash Hits–the single incident that convinced me that the Killers sucked live.
Although they are still no Morrissey or White Stripes, they are trying. Brandon Flowers twirled about the stage in what Jeff called “Nutcracker spins” (hands up at a 90 degree angle, hopping on one leg, around and around in a circle) and looked a little bit like a Pee Wee Herman doll being pulled on strings, but it was better than him just standing in front of the keyboards, pounding away and singing in an unanimated fashion.
Somehow the music seemed less monotone, the songs were allowed space to breathe. All in all, a good night for pop music.
For more photos, visit Bao’s Flickr and The Music Slut.
1. Emi | 5:50 am on September 23rd, 2006
i love the first picture, it reminds me of those little ‘the boy least likely to’ puppets. i dont know why.
2. Rachael | 6:58 am on September 23rd, 2006
I was there! front row in front of the strange new synth. what an awesome show! this is my 5th Killers show and I think it was the best one. the boys seemed so well rested with tons of energy, way moreso than the last shows.
3. sabirna | 2:48 pm on September 23rd, 2006
man the killers new Stuff is not all the good..in fact iu think it suck…i onew that guy from the rollingstone was right. they couldn’t pull it off this time.
4. Satan | 3:31 pm on September 23rd, 2006
killers kinda suck the first time around, but I have to admit I enjoy their hot fuss songs a lot more that they arent overplayed so goddam much.
This post was truly hi-larious. Looks like modernage is starting to find some old cheek.
Gay,
Satan
5. Crackers United » The Killers | Webster Hall 9.22.06 | 9:44 am on September 25th, 2006
[...] More pics and other thoughts at Bao’s flickr, Modern Age, Underrated. The Music Sluts also have the set list. filed under: music comments: [...]
6. MJ | 11:14 am on September 26th, 2006
panic! at the disco deja vou?
7. ROSA MARYA NAVA | 6:19 am on March 12th, 2007
brandon es el chavo mas guapo que e conocido en mi vida espero un dia me encuentre con el en mis sueños aunque sea
8. wtf??? | 5:49 pm on April 12th, 2007
To MJ:
Don’t you mean Panic at the Disco stole The Killers’ image!!! They are Killers’ ripoffs!!
9. Anonymous | 12:55 am on April 19th, 2007
i went to a killers show in san diego. i thot they sounded great live. i love them soooo much! and brandon gets an A+++++!!
10. xo mooses | 6:27 pm on April 25th, 2007
wow the killers are so amazing,, like everythingg
11. regian marcial martinez | 1:51 pm on April 28th, 2007
regina marcial me encantan mucho y tambien my chemical romance
12. REGINA MARCIAL MARTINEZ | 1:55 pm on April 28th, 2007
¡hola!, soy REGINA MARCIAL MARTINEZ;
la loca estupida de que me dicen por alli de la pagina de brandon flowers estupida su madre babosa
13. kimmi | 8:34 pm on May 1st, 2007
i!BRANDON IS MY HUSBAND!i
*~!!AND I LOOOOVVVEEE THE KILLERS SO MUCH!!~*
14. mm | 9:01 pm on May 18th, 2007
Love the Killers
15. dontblinkdarling | 7:39 pm on May 29th, 2007
I guess it’s like they say - Sam’s Town is a little too deep for some of the Hot Fuss fans. Try listening to the lyrics.
And very nice review - you’re not likely to get blasted for it.
16. Anonymous | 5:56 pm on June 4th, 2007
awesome. i wish i was there
17. regina marcial martinez.* | 11:51 am on September 5th, 2007
¡hello!, my name is regina marcial martinez ,
bueno ami me gusta los ;
grupos como ;
el de ;
the killers
the rasmus
my chemical romance
evanescence
avril lavigne
ROCK
POP
lily allen
gwen stefani
nelly furtado.*
i love kisses bay.*