We are Dancer

I can't think of a better way to start 2009 than with The Killers at Madison Square Garden. This show was milestone for me in a number of ways, 1) it was the first time I saw them supporting 'Day & Age,' 2) the sixth time I've seen them overall, which more than any other band for me, 3) the first time my girlfriend was seeing them live. So all were compelling reasons to make this show pretty special.

Now, one would think that after seeing a band live five previous times, their shows would become less exhilarating. I can only imagine that the band members themselves feel a tour-fatigue after many years churning out the same hits on stage, where they're always singing that one big hit that everyone wants to hear. But, with The Killers, I think this is not the case. First, I do not believe they have a "hit" that they dread playing live. Regardless of the critical appeal of their first album, and lack thereof for the second, both albums sold a lot of copies, and the third is on pace to do the same. And most songs on all three albums are popular among their fans.

The interesting fact about their rise is that they had two simultaneous hit songs when 'Hot Fuss' first broke, and now it really depends on the person you're speaking to which of those songs, "Somebody Told Me" or "Mr. Brightside" was the "hit." But the thing about those songs is that neither one was the best song off of that album. I have to say that mantle goes to "All These Things That I've Done," arguably the most popular song that they've done, while still, in my opinion, being the most underrated. And this is disregarding both "Jenny Was a Friend of Mine" and "Smile Like You Mean It," both considered favorite songs by countless Killers fans. When the first five tracks off your debut album can all be considered some of the best songs you've created, it might be considered a bad thing, luckily they are not the only "best" songs.

Because of the interchangability of these songs, it makes the concert-going experience that much more fun. I've gone to Killers shows with different friends each time (and once solo) and the one thing that most take away is that every song is good. There isn't a moment that I'm bored or waiting for the next song, every song is a "hit" and the band plays them like they are. As far as we're concerned, Brandon Flowers probably thinks they're all hits. If that's the case, it's an an arrogance that I don't mind.

Despite being panned by critics, I believe as time passes that mostwill look back fondly on 'Sam's Town' and see what a great album it was when compared to their entire catalogue, similar to the way people now look back on Led Zeppelin's panned efforts and Weezer's 'Pinkerton.' 'Sam's Town' was an experiment, it was more stage production than recorded music, and the concerts--even the looks of the band members--reflected that. For the entire tour in support of the album, the concerts had the baby grand piano, Christmas-lighting, and a dusty-desert feel. The glossy, unshaven, eighties-fused, synth-rock of 'Hot Fuss' was grown out, de-glossed, and unplugged to a degree. 'Day & Age' proves this even more, with an upgraded return to that original look and sound--the concert stage now populated with palm-trees and neon flashing-lights, bubbles, and confetti falling from the rafters. With some bands, it might be construed as trying to recapture what made them popular to begin with, but the Killers didn't get less popular with Sam's Town. They got bigger--so big in fact, that no they can be considered one of the biggest bands in the world, capable of selling out arenas and drawing fans from all genres of music---heavy metal to teen-pop.

This was never more evident than at the Garden. Now having three albums (plus a worthy list of B-sides and covers) to perform, the Killers can vary their sets and make every show the experience that it was always intended to be. Check out the setlist here. With seven of twenty songs coming from 'Day & Age' they provided a proper sampling of new stuff, while still covering the staples some fans crave. (I personally came for the new stuff). Six songs came from 'Hot Fuss' with five coming from 'Sam's Town'. Two songs came from 'Sawdust' and I count "Sam's Town (Abbey Road Version) as one of those, the other was "Shadowplay". Some new songs were missing from the NY show that they have played in Chicago or Denver, like "Tidal Wave," "A Dustland Fariytale" and "This is the World That We Live In" (my personal favorite). But, overall the set was pretty perfect for new and old fans alike.



Seating in the Garden for concerts is pretty forgiving for a large venue. The sound is excellent no matter where you sit, and every angle offers a clear view of the stage. The size is deceiving because even though the arena is enormous, once inside, it feels very intimate. If I had to go to an arena show (which I try to avoid, but oddly enough I have gone to in three blog posts!), then I would choose the Garden. Obviously I prefer the GA pit or Floor seating, but out of my seven trips, this is the first time I did not sit on the floor. (Another milestone!) For this first venture outside the sheltered confines of concrete, eBay and my wallet helped me choose section 110 (I decided to go last minute based on a pretty decent ticket price after having slept through the Ticketmaster on sale date---damn those who chose 10AM on Saturday). Section 110 is stage right, but still offers an angled view of the front, so it's not completely to the side.



Overall, number seven was just as good as ever and I'm already counting down until number eight.

The Arbitrary Hand of Big Blogger

Back. Finally. (Or at least I thought I was, until Google decided to delete my last post.) Ah, well, my brilliant scribblings are now lost from the interwebs forever. Next time I must back up a copy in MS Word.

But aside from that, the 2008 disappearence was otherwise my fault. Whoever says that bloggers are lazy seriously has never tried to keep a blog. It's easy to Twitter every little piece of bullshit that pops into your head, but to actually write and edit, and develop thoughts and ideas and write them down on a semi-regular schedule can be downright difficult, especially when you don't live in your parent's basement and have to maintain a real life that involves work, dinners out, the gym (ugh), concerts (clearly), and everything else. Regardless of my excuses, I really haven't been going to that many concerts since last year.

This year, barring more economic woes, I hope to change that.