It’s hard to believe that it’s already been 20 years since The Killers blasted on to the music scene with their iconic album Hot Fuss.
Known for their catchy melodies, anthemic choruses, and Brandon Flowers’ charismatic stage presence, the group have solidified their place in rock music history.
At the time of release of Hot Fuss you couldn’t get away (nor would you want to) from their catchy rock and future pub classics basting from every radio, tv show and busker. So in celebration of this huge milestone, the band have have headed down under with not one but two unique shows.
The Rebel Diamonds shows will feature back-to-back chart-toppers from across the band’s extensive career.
That’s all the classics you know and love like ‘Somebody told me‘, ‘All the things that I’ve done‘, ‘Jenny was a friend of mine‘ to ‘Smile like you mean it‘ and so many more.
For Sydney and Melbourne the Hot Fuss shows are a dedicated, nostalgia-drenched performance of the Hot Fuss album in its entirety, with a few extra surprises thrown in.
My plus one and I were down to belt out some classics, so headed down to Rod Laver Arena for Rebel Diamonds on a warm Thursday night.
The night kicked off with a stellar performance by Radio Free Alice, a Melbourne-based indie rock band.
Formed in Sydney in 2020 before making the move to Melbourne, Radio Free Alice made a mark with their high-energy live shows.
It’s easy to see why they were nominated for Best Independent Punk Album at this year’s AIR Awards, with its singles ‘Paris Is Gone’ and ‘Look What You’ve Done’. This is a band to watch out for, but now it was time for the main course.
As The Killers took the stage, the crowd erupted in cheers. They launched into a nostalgic journey through time with classic hits like ‘Mr. Brightside,’ ‘All These Things That I’ve Done,‘ our personal favourite ‘Somebody Told Me‘ and so many more.
While I’m not as familiar with some of their newer work, revisiting the band’s early hits was a great way to introduce us to their more recent tunes.
The band’s musicianship was impeccable, and Flowers’ vocals were as powerful and charming as ever. It still feels like the group, who have been on the road for over 20 years together, are just as excited to be there as the first time they stepped on stage.
Leaning into their Las Vegas origins, the stage was positively dripping in bold neon signs, roulette wheel & diamond motifs, confetti cannons, lasers, bold lighting and some seriously impressive visuals on the big screen.
The Killers’ are loved by Aussie audiences of all ages, and it’s clear to see why.
This was a night of pure rock and roll, a celebration of music, and a reminder of why The Killers are one of the greatest bands of their generation.
– The Plus Ones
