The Killers bring life and M83 to Myrtle Beach

So what happens when you tell yourself that you will never go to the House of Blues in Myrtle Beach ever again? You acquiesce because The Killers are coming to town.

Plagued with various dysfunctional characteristics – most notably a grievous sound issue and a penchant for destroying photographic opportunities - I was uncertain how things would play out in this venue. But despite everything my faith was, at least for the night, restored.

Starting things off for the night was the French group, M83. Having supported Kings of Leon on their UK tour last year, M83 is making a support run for The Killers during the current US leg of their world tour. Fronted by Anthony Gonzalez, they burst through an interesting and atmospheric display of sound, including tracks from their fifth and most current release, 2008’s Saturdays = Youth. Having known nothing of this band before the show, I was quite intrigued by their style and intensity, and plan on wading through their catalogue to see what else they have to offer.

The switch from opener to headliner was smooth and swift, a fact not lost on me considering past experiences I have had at this venue. In very short order, The Killers were on stage and in direct command of everyone. Like an intense handshake, they greeted the crowd with "Human," the first single from their recent release, Day & Age. The next few hours were blistered with unbridled pomp as they coursed through 16 song set that rarely seemed to let up. Delivering the majority of their new album, they punched in and out with tracks from their previous releases — though “Shadowplay” was the only track to appear from Sawdust, apart from the more melodic and somber version of “Sam’s Town;” a nice soft touch in the midst of a bombastic storm. Seemingly exhausted, they disappeared from stage for what was probably the shortest pre-encore hiatus I have ever witnessed, and soon came back to let the sold-out crowd have another round, giving it all for four more songs.

After everything was over, I was not surprised at how awake, yet exhausted I had become. The Killers had taken a venue that I have come to loathe and made all of its faults irrelevant for one night. They gave just as an intense performance in that small place as they would if it held 30,000 people. The sound issues did not exist for them. They grabbed the audience and did not let go until they were done. I, for one, am ready for the next go round, whenever it may be.


The Killers set list:
Human
Losing Touch
Somebody Told Me
For Reasons Unknown
Smile Like You Mean It
This is Your Life
Joyride
I Can’t Stay
Bling (Confession of a King)
Shadowplay
Neon Tiger
Spaceman
Sam’s Town (Sawdust version)
Read My Mind
Mr. Brightside
All These Things That I Have Done
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Bones
The World We Live In
Jenny Was a Friend of Mine
When You Were Young