The Killers DVD review

The Killers
Live from the Royal Albert Hall
Island)
Grade: A

Unlike some singers, Brandon Flowers wasn’t an impressive frontman from the start. When the Killers emerged with the new wave-leaning Hot Fuss in 2004, he came across as endearingly awkward onstage. Once the Vegas alt-rock band’s albums started going platinum around the world and they headlined larger gigs, Flowers became more of a showman. That was evident during recent tours for latest album Day & Age.

The same holds true on Live from the Royal Albert Hall, the Killers’ first live DVD/Blu-ray filmed in HD last July at the famous indoor English venue. The audience is - as they say in old Blighty – “mad for it.” They are as much a part of the show as the group itself.

Frequently shifting from color to black and white shots, the nearly two hour set includes most of Day & Age and touches upon the other Killers efforts (the cover of Joy Division’s “Shadowplay” and images from the film “Control” are riveting). Another highlight is the stripped down take on “Sam’s Town” with Flowers on piano. Later, guitarist Dave Keuning roams the stage and strikes a Rock God pose on “When You Were Young.”

Among the special features are a behind the scenes documentary (mostly observations from fans and crew), performances from various 2009 U.K. festivals (“Human,” “Mr. Brightside,” “Smile Like You Mean It,” “When You Were Young,” “Tranquilize”) and alternate camera angles. The deluxe version contains a 75-minute live CD.