Gut Reactions (post-gig memories and other trips): The Killers, "The Rebel Diamonds" Tour, OVO Hydro, Glasgow. Tuesday 25th June 2024

My first attempt to see The Killers was on the Imploding the Mirage Tour back in 2020, when I had tickets for the Middlesbrough concert (I was prepared to travel because the Manic Street Preachers were the support). That date got postponed due to the pandemic and rescheduled to a disappointingly unsuitable Wednesday night in June 2022. I couldn't get time off work, so I had to cancel and claim a refund.

When these Glasgow dates were announced, I jumped at the chance to catch them. I took advantage of my OVO presale access to snag two standing seats. This meant we could skip the queue at the entrance on the night and find a spot in the middle near the front.

Support act Travis got the ball rolling, coming on to the theme music from the TV show Cheers. Fran Healy, the band's lead singer, bore a distinctive look with his wispy, bright orange hair and thick-framed, round spectacles. Imagine if Harry Potter had been given an acoustic guitar instead of a wand and, taking hair inspiration from Vyvyan from The Young Ones, grew up to make catchy pop songs instead of magic. Fran had a great time dancing like a minstrel dervish, bantering between songs and encouraging the audience to sing along, which they did. At one point, Fran and Andy even strummed each other's guitars. It was a fun set full of hit singles, the only downside being the echoey sound quality at the start.

Travis was only a bonus, though, because we were all here to see The Killers. It was packed—hot and sweaty—and not unexpectedly, we experienced a few interlopers trying to push in during the interval.

The first was a short-haired, drunken youth, stinking of booze, who paused beside me to use his phone. He was too far gone, though, to operate it, unable to focus on the screen. The woman behind me had to help him find the right contact because he kept closing his droopy eyes, swaying dangerously, nearly falling over. She even held his drink for him so he could hold the phone and scroll through his contacts (but still not focus enough to read them). Eventually, his call connected with some girl, and he wandered off, managing to tumble over a gaggle of girls who'd sat on the floor nearby. The surrounding crowd helped him up again and sent him on his way. I didn't see him again.

The other party pushers were a four-foot-nothing girl and her brick-house boyfriend. She led the way, stopping directly in front of the elderly couple on our left. They were standing so close to the couple that the older man could smell the BF's hair if he wanted. Position captured, she went away (probably to the toilet), leaving him to hold the territory. He had the body build of a guy who liked to work the weights at the gym but wasn't averse to the odd bacon butty - meaty with a rind of fat. When she didn't return, unable to find him (well, she was short), he phoned and eventually talked her back to him just in time for The Killers to start. Then the real trouble began. During the second song, the BF put the short-arse on his shoulders, totally blocking the elderly couple's view. The man complained but was ignored. The third time the BF lifted her, the elderly man flipped. He grabbed the girl's belt and shoved her forward. The BF nearly lost his balance but managed to put her down before turning to confront his assailant. Words were spoken, and threats were made. If the man hadn't been on the wrong side of sixty, I reckon there would have been physical violence. Instead, the BF put her back on his shoulders again out of spite.

They left before the end. One word: Cunts!

The Killers, on the other hand, were not. They were out-of-this-world fantastic. I've seen many bands play the Hydro, but few inhabit it. The Killers took the Hydro and made it their home. Like the screen signage above, the diamond-shaped stage came out in a wedge with diamond motifs across the front. Raised platforms on either side elevated Brandon's presence so he could be visible to everyone. Behind the band, a huge screen filled the entire background, getting used creatively throughout the show. The lighting rig in the ceiling lowered to form an upside-down pyramid shape. From within that, a huge chandelier decorated with feather boas descended. Lasers, confetti cannons and streamers were all used. Fireworks sprayed down at the rear at one point. The visuals were amazing.

The sound was even better. Brandon's vocals were slick and strong, his banter delivered with the smarm of a maitre'd and the passion of a preacher. At one point, he noticed a kerfuffle in the crowd and paused to check if everyone was okay. When it became clear someone had fainted, he got frustrated that no one from security was going to aid them, insisting the staff jump the barrier and help. The girl had to be carried away, conscious but obviously out of it. She missed a great show.

I can't fully express how good this Greatest Hits package was. It was chock full of banging tracks, and they even made room to cover A Little Respect by Erasure. My photos do not do the concert justice. It might even be my gig of the year.

Setlists:

Travis

Theme from Cheers (Where Everybody Knows Your Name)

Sing

Driftwood

Alive

Side

Closer

Turn (Not originally on the setlist)

Flowers in the Window

Why Does It Always Rain on Me??

The Killers

Read My Mind
Somebody Told Me
Spaceman
Jenny Was a Friend of Mine
Smile Like You Mean It
Shot at the Night
Running Towards a Place
On Top
The Man
A Dustland Fairytale (with "Be Still" segue outro)
Be Still
Runaways
All These Things That I've Done (with band introductions)
When You Were Young
Caution
Dying Breed (Piano)
Encore:
Your Side of Town
boy
A Little Respect (Erasure cover)
Human (Electro)
Mr. Brightside (50/50)

Ticket Price:

2 OVO Live Presale Tickets £90.00 x2 £180.00
Per Item Fees £12.15 (Service Charge) x2, £1.70 (Facility Charge) x2 +£27.70
Order Processing Fees Handling Fee £2.00

Total £209.70 via Tickemaster

VIDEOS

Travis - "Sing"