Fans smile like they mean it at The Killers

INTERNATIONAL superstars The Killers brought old songs, new songs, a cover and a little audience participation to their gig at Mount Duneed Estate at the weekend.

Part of the A Day on the Green series, Saturday night’s performance drew a crowd of about 20,000 who enjoyed excellent conditions as the Las Vegas-founded band came to Geelong as part of the Imploding the Mirage Tour.

Frontman Brandon Flowers prowled the stage and led the band through a set featuring songs from all seven of their studio albums, but dominated by 2004 debut Hot Fuss (five), 2020 album Imploding the Mirage (five) and 2006 sophomore Sam’s Town (four).

The Killers have begun pulling a fan out of the crowd about halfway through the show to guest on the drumkit during their song “For Reasons Unknown” and the tradition continued in Geelong.

This time, 13-year-old James was the lucky one chosen, with his hand-made “Can I please play drums?” sign and his own drumsticks ready to go working a treat and getting him the nod to take over from Ronnie Vanucci Jr on the kit for the fourth single from Sam’s Town. “You’ve got 20,000 people rooting for you!” Flowers quipped halfway through the song.

The Killers threw in a cover of “The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face” by Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger, and closed the show with a two-punch encore of enormous hits “Spaceman” and “Mr Brightside”.

Saturday’s support acts were Alex Cameron and Jack Ladder.

The next A Day on the Green concert at Mount Duneed Estate will be Sting, on February 25, 2023.