By Ruth Stevenson
“It’s been too long Glasgow.” And with that statement, Brandon Flowers captivated his audience, holding them hostage in the palms of his hands. In that moment, the entire of Hall 4 of the SECC Glasgow erupted.
Launching straight into tracks A Matter of Time, For Reasons Unknown and Bling (Confessions of a King), the Las Vegas boys enthralled their audience on a whole other level: with their big bangs and video footage on the gigantic screen behind them. The pyrotechnics and lighting/lasers used throughout the entire two hour set were phenomenal. Indeed, the band carried on with their 21 song set for the best part of two hours.
Flowers continued to captivate his audience, telling them small stories about why the songs had been written, using his chronicles to further amp them up – not that they need it. He introduced A Dustland Fairytale by telling the crowd about losing a special part of his life, saying, “and you just have to decide if there is a void inside you, or if you have absorbed enough of that special thing to be able to carry it on.” Magical.
The crowds went mental the minute the opening chords to Mr Brightside came on, jumping and flashing phones all over the arena. The same thing happened on favourites Somebody Told Me, Human, Spaceman and Read My Mind. Playing just over 10 songs from their new album, including Miss Atomic Bomb, Here With Me and The Way It Was, the new material got almost as big a reaction as their classic songs. It’s hard to believe that Hot Fuss came out in 2004, when the hits from it still get as big a reaction today.
A particular highlight of the show was the seamless transition from Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine, through to Read My Mind, and straight on to first single off the new album, Runaways. It was flawless, it was compelling, it was stunning.
Ronnie Vannucci gave the drum kit everything he had, the spotlight drum solos he had were outstanding, and Keuning and Stoermer did not even stop to draw breath at any point. Flowers himself paraded back and forth across the stage, enticing everyone into the show.
The encore, Be Still, When You Were Young and Battleborn, was a spectacle to behold. The indoor fireworks, the confetti cannons, the video footage on the background: incredible. When a number of people started heading to the exits after When You Were Young, Flowers was quick to draw them back in: “We’re not finished with you yet!” Promptly launching into the album title track, the audience were triumphant, screaming the words back at the band. A staggering show.
Rating: 5 out of 5
