MTV Review: The Killers Bring The Brightside To Glasgow's Bellahouston Park
Glasgow Summer Sessions saw Brandon Flowers and co. give another rip-roaring performance...
By Jules Boyle
Following their weekend headlining V Festival at both Weston Park in Staffordshire and Chelmsford’s Hylands Park, The Killers hotfooted it to Glasgow, with Brandon Flowers bringing his usual brand of Mr Brightside charm to Bellahouston Park on Monday evening.
Feeling: With the sun still shining, the atmosphere in the crowd had a real party feeling to it, long before the band took to the stage – probably thanks to the stellar support from Miles Kane and Courteeners.
The Look: Looking every inch the rockstar, frontman Brandon Flowers appeared halfway through opener Somebody Told Me, in a sparkling pink suit jacket.
Seventeen tracks, and I've had it with this game
A-breaking my back just to know your name
But heaven ain't close in a place like this
Anything goes, but don't blink, you might miss
'Cause heaven ain't close in a place like this
I said, a-heaven ain't close in a place like this
Bring it back down, bring it back down tonight
(Ooh, ooh, ooh)
Never thought I'd let a rumor ruin my moonlight
Well, somebody told me you had a boyfriend
Who looked like a girlfriend
That I had in February of last year
It's not confidential, I've got potential
Ready let's roll onto something new
Taking it's toll, then I'm leaving without you
'Cause heaven ain't close in a place like this
I said, a-heaven ain't close in a place like this
Bring it back down, bring it back down tonight
(Ooh, ooh ooh)
Never thought I'd let a rumor ruin my moonlight
Well, somebody told me you had a boyfriend
Who looked like a girlfriend
That I had in February of last year
It's not confidential, I've got potential
A-rushing, a-rushing around
Pace yourself for me (For me)
I said maybe, baby, please
But I just don't know now (Baby, baby)
When all I want to do is try
Well, somebody told me you had a boyfriend
Who looked like a girlfriend
That I had in February of last year
It's not confidential, I've got potential
A-rushing, a-rushing around
Somebody told me you had a boyfriend
Who looked like a girlfriend
That I had in February of last year
It's not confidential, I've got potential
A-rushing, a-rushing around
Somebody told me you had a boyfriend
Who looked like a girlfriend
That I had in February of last year
It's not confidential, I've got potential
A-rushing, a-rushing around
Tunes: Fan-favourite Human made two appearances, the first in stripped-down form with just Flowers at the piano, before coming back later in the set in a much more bombastic style, full of pulsating synths and big hooks.
A cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival's Bad Moon Rising was a thrilling blast of rootsy Southern rock, but it was another cover that really hit home with the Glasgow crowd.
With the band leaving the stage to Flowers and guitarist Dave Keuning, Simple Minds' Don't You Forget About Me was nothing short of spectacular, with every word being bellowed back at the stage, leaving the two musicians looking delighted at the response they were getting.
The suffering of fools
To find our way home
To break in these bones
Once in a lifetime (Once in a lifetime)
Once in a lifetime
Oh, give me a shot at the night
Give me a moment, some kinda mysterious
Give me a shot at the night
Give me a moment, some kinda mysterious
Once in a lifetime
We're breaking all the rules
To find that our home
Has long been outgrown
Throw me a life line
Cause honey I got nothing to lose
Once in a lifetime (Once in a lifetime)
Once in a lifetime
Oh, give me a shot at the night
Give me a moment, some kinda mysterious
Give me a shot at the night
Give me a moment, some kinda mysterious
Give me a shot at the night
Look at my reflection in the mirror
Underneath the power of the light
Give me a shot at the night
Give me a shot at the night
Give me a shot at the night
I feel like Im losing the fight
Give me a shot at the night, some kinda mysterious
Give me a shot at the night
Ho
Give me a shot at the night
Give me a moment, some kinda mysterious
Give me a shot at the night
Give me a moment, some kinda mysterious
Give me a shot at the night
Give me a moment, some kinda mysterious
Give me a shot at the night
After the brilliant Shot At The Night had kicked off the encore, Flowers stopped the show to point out a troublemaker in the front rows, exclaiming, "Hey there's people fighting here, we need to stop it. We came here to celebrate, not fight!" Swiftly dealt with, it was a minor blip in what had been a good atmosphere throughout the night.
Saving the best for last, it was the massive run through Mr Brightside that caused absolute mania in the crowd and ensured thousands of fans went home with a smile on their face.
Gotta, gotta be down because I want it all
It started out with a kiss, how did it end up like this?
It was only a kiss, it was only a kiss
Now I'm falling asleep and she's calling a cab
While he's having a smoke and she's taking a drag
Now they're going to bed and my stomach is sick
And it's all in my head, but she's touching his
Chest now, he takes off her dress now
Let me go
I just can't look, it's killing me
And taking control
Jealousy, turning saints into the sea
Swimming through sick lullabies, choking on your alibis
But it's just the price I pay, destiny is calling me
Open up my eager eyes, 'cause I'm Mr. Brightside
I'm coming out of my cage and I've been doing just fine
Gotta, gotta be down because I want it all
It started out with a kiss, how did it end up like this?
It was only a kiss, it was only a kiss
Now I'm falling asleep and she's calling a cab
While he's having a smoke and she's taking a drag
Now they're going to bed and my stomach is sick
And it's all in my head, but she's touching his
Chest now, he takes off her dress now
Let me go
'Cause I just can't look, it's killing me
And taking control
Jealousy, turning saints into the sea
Swimming through sick lullabies, choking on your alibis
But it's just the price I pay, destiny is calling me
Open up my eager eyes, 'cause I'm Mr. Brightside
I never
I never
I never
I never
Banter: Brandon wasted no time in getting the fans firmly onside, exclaiming, "Good evening Glasgow! How're you doing? Over 50 medals in the Commonwealth Games? And it's not raining! Yes! Who wants to do some singing with me?"
From then on in, he had everyone in the palm of his hand, with songs like Spaceman, Smile Like You Mean It and Runaways being greeted like old friends.
Summary: The Killers delivered a typically epic set last night at their massive outdoor show in Glasgow's Bellahouston Park. The Las Vegas band were on deadly form, cranking out a greatest hits set that went down a storm with the fans that had rammed the area to its 35,000 capacity, with almost every track turning into a mass sing-a-long.