Las Vegas’ finest, The Killers put on a legendary show at Manchester’s Co-Op Live Arena. To celebrate their Rebel Diamonds album, consisting of 20 of the band’s greatest hits, Manchester were in for a night filled with nostalgia, energy and strong showmanship from The Killers.
Before they took to the stage, supporting them on this run was Travis. As soon as the band walked on stage, the audience welcomed them with open arms. “We are the greatest warm up band, supporting the greatest Rock And Roll band”, joked lead singer Francis Healy. Sporting bright pink hair and addressing it with “I drank too much Iron Bru”, the crowd were ready to kick off the evening.
Applause from all areas of the room put smiles on their faces and they were ready to put on a show for the people of Manchester. Travis’ setlist consisted of classics including “Sing” and “Why Does It Always Rain on Me?”, which brought back a nostalgic feeling as everyone in the room sang back every lyric. Performing newer materials also went down well, especially with a receptive audience.
Even with the venue being the largest indoor arena in Europe, the performance felt intimate. Healy interacted a lot with the crowd in between songs which kept the energy going through the night. The band’s stage presence was exciting and it was evident that they were enjoying every second on stage. Travis involved the crowd by asking them to sing along so they could warm up their voices.
“Closer”, a song dedicated to loved ones, was an emotional moment, as the band asked the crowd to put up their phones to light up the room. The scene in the venue was angelic and a beautiful moment for all to have shared. As the band’s set drew to a close, they ended with the timeless classic, “Why Does it Always Rain on Me?” which had the entire crowd singing along. The audience were engaged from the very start, ready for the show that The Killers were soon to deliver.
Setting the tone as they meant to go on, The Killers, undoubtedly true performers, were ready to give their fans a night to remember. With vibrant visuals in the background lighting up the stage, they kicked their set off with “Read My Mind”. The voices in the crowd sang back the lyrics in unison with energy and passion.
Transitioning into “Somebody Told Me”, the atmosphere was exactly the same, getting the crowd involved from the very start. With a discography worthy of this very greatest hits tour, there were no songs that the crowd did not know. From older to newer tracks, the setlist was well crafted, to showcase their evolution over the years.
The Killers, for many people, are a nostalgic band. Playing songs from “Smile Like You Mean It” and “Jenny Was a Friend of Mine”, the musicianship of the entire band shone through every drum beat, every lyric and every guitar riff. How they interacted on stage was nothing short of a genuine friendship.
As a band, The Killers continue to be relevant in the scene and remain as strong as ever. With newer songs including, “Caution” and “Running Towards a Place”, this showed how they were still able to evolve but also keep their signature sound. The energy was consistent throughout the show, keeping the band and crowd in good spirits.
Their performance of “Runaway” was brought to a standstill as a medial emergency was taken care of in the crowd. They directed the medics to the incident and were very professional about what was happening. As a band, they showed concern for their fans. Once that was all resolved, they continued where they left off.
After a few more songs, the evening had reached the encore. Kicking it off with “Your Side of Town” which was also paused for emergency reasons, before transitioning into “boy” and then a cover of Erasure’s “A Little Respect” where the crowd sang along and presented them with applause.
The night came to an end with one of their most popular tracks, “Mr Brightside”, and as expected, for the last time, the crowd and band gave it their all. This time performing the track with a 50/50 blend, meaning there were hints of the original song so it was instantly recognisable, but there was also a fresh take to it.
Celebrating The Killers’ career over the years with a set consisting of their greatest hits and a room filled with some of their biggest fans, this was certainly a night to remember for everyone who was lucky enough to witness this show. Not only did they put on an energetic performance, but allowed the crowd to feel a part of the experience.
It was hard not too see why The Killers have lasted so many years in this ever changing industry, as they continue to keep their music relatable, constant and fresh. Their performance at Manchester’s Co-Op Live definitely left the fans wanting more and excited for their next return to the UK.
Words by Sarah Akomanyi
