Brandon Flowers trades country rock for Killers hits in Dublin
The frontman abandoned his new album's theme mid-set to play a greatest-hits show at the 3Olympia Theatre.
By Abigail Brooks ·
Brandon Flowers performed two-thirds of a Killers greatest hits set during a concert at the 3Olympia Theatre in Dublin on Tuesday. This shift occurred during a show originally billed to feature material from his new album, Thrasher, a record with a country-rock theme.
The frontman changed his plan after starting the evening with material from his latest project. He then moved into a sequence of well-known tracks from his band. The set included the songs When You Were Young and Read My Mind before he launched into Mr Brightside.
Flowers led the audience through the chorus of Mr Brightside while standing with one foot on the edge of the stage. He wore a formal cowboy suit during the performance. The outfit contributed to a visual style that blended rock star aesthetics with country influences.
The Thrasher album draws on Flowers’ background in rural Nevada and Utah. He said he inherited his love of country music from his father as the family moved between small towns. Flowers told the audience that he had spent a long time being embarrassed by that music. He added that he was going to play it to them that night.
The solo material on Thrasher is described as dark and personal. It contains diary-like vignettes from his childhood in Henderson, Nevada, and Nephi, Utah. Flowers discussed being picked on for his athletic abilities during the show. He also introduced the song Miss America, explaining that it addresses his older sister’s experience with domestic abuse.
Songwriting friend Alex Cameron made a guest appearance to sing Runnin’ Outta Luck. The track is an 80s-inspired synth-pop song. The performance concluded with An American Dream, a power ballad that contemplates mortality. The set ended after the third hour of the show.
The concert took place in a venue known for its intimate atmosphere. The audience included fans of both the Killers and country music in Ireland. Flowers’ performance combined high-energy rock anthems with personal storytelling about his upbringing.
Source: The Irish Times
