The Killers returned to set the record straight since their technically doomed 2007 headline debut.
It would be fair to say that their albums have suffered from diminishing returns as they have gone on and I was fearful that they may not realise that and douse us with filler from albums 3, 4 and 5 that no one wants. Not so. They knew full well what they had to do and they nailed it.
Opening with Jenny Was A Friend of Mine (album one, track one) was a statement of intent and immediately followed with Somebody Told Me. There were token tracks from each album but they knew what the crowd wanted and laid heavy into Hot Fuss and Sam’s Town
Thanks for betting on us Glastonbury. I’ve got a feeling we’re about to pay off [cue Somebody Told me riff]
Brandon Flowers on stage following opener Jenny Was a Friend of Mine
Brandon Flowers teased the audience with the synths of Smile Like You Mean It for a long while to great effect before beginning; Glamorous Indie Rock and Roll shone particularly brightly and the singalong of ”I got soul but I’m not a soldier” will surely be a highlight for those in the field before the set closed with When We Were Young – because what else.
Understanding the significance of the event, while still adhering to the tradition of Americans calling it a Berry when it’s a Brie, they called in a few favours. Jimmy Carr made a (to many) baffling appearance sweeping up the stage before the encore (he is in fact friends with Flowers). The Pet Shop Boys joined for the first two songs of the encore comprising an affirming cover of PSBs own You Are Always On My Mind and then guesting in turn on Human, which had been teased by Flowers earlier with a one verse piano acoustic version. Johnny Marr replaced PSB to cover The Smiths’ This Charming Man before closing the show with the perennial Mr Brightside.
A total triumph.
(Originally posted to Instagram on 1 July 2019)
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