A Victim of Music

Photo credit- Rob Loud/@robloud

Music. An entity that came into existence long before the day Beethoven first touched a piano. Whenever a vinyl is placed on the track and the needle cuts a groove into the record, a memory is revisited that takes the listener back to a time when life was simpler. It evokes a sense of emotion that is unique for every member of the audience. A prime example of this is what Columbus concert goers got to experience recently at EXPRESS LIVE. With Kentucky based band White Reaper serving as an opener, Columbus was delighted to have The Killers perform at EXPRESS Live.

About the Band  

The Killers have been a household name in alternative rock music for almost two decades. Since the time the band was formed in 2001, they have released five consecutive chart-topping studio albums: Hot Fuss (2004), Sam's Town (2006), Day & Age (2008), Battle Born (2012) and Wonderful Wonderful (2017). They have also released a B-sides and rarities compilation, Sawdust (2007); a live album, Live from the Royal Albert Hall (2009); a greatest-hits album, Direct Hits (2013); and a Christmas compilation, Don't Waste Your Wishes (2016). Their music has topped charts globally. Their success will hopefully continue, as their sixth studio album is rumored to be released by the end of 2019.

The Killers’ performance in Columbus was another stop on their Wonderful Wonderful tour and they gave those in the audience an experience that they would never forget. With an entrance to the classic Frank Sinatra hit “Luck be a Lady” the band came on stage in fantastic fashion, having proper showmanship and entertaining the crowd with all of their popular songs. A live performance combined with a couple displays of theatrical confetti, this band gave everyone their money’s worth. With a sold-out crowd, the city of Columbus made The Killers feel welcome as they performed everything from their classic hits like “Mr. Brightside” and “All These Things That I’ve Done”, to there more recent hits like “The Man” and “Wonderful Wonderful”.

One of the truly memorable occurrences of the evening was that a fan was invited on stage to perform with the band. After performing one of their numbers, lead singer Brandon Flowers (pictured above left) noticed that a fan was holding up a sign that said something along the lines of “I can play drums!” A conversation between the on-stage Flowers and the fan, where Flowers was asking questions on the microphone, and the fan responding with head nods. With little deliberation, Flowers invited the fan on stage and together they performed “For Reasons Unknown” with the fan playing drumset, Flowers “killing it” on the vocals, and the band’s drummer Ronnie Vannuci Jr. playing back-up guitar. It was truly one of the highlights of the evening.

The same can be said for the entire night at a whole. The Killers truly rocked the house and made Columbus what they like to call “their victim” and they did so by entertaining the masses with their music. What concert-goers can expect from this band is a personal experience that they will remember for years to come because of the memories that they make with the band. Likewise, the band does not just simply perform their songs and then go home. They interact with their audience and truly invite them into their world, through music. This is something that upcoming artists today should keep in mind as they consider how they can better perform in front of an audience. How can they make an evening personal to their audience? Regardless of whether if its music, theatre, comedy, etc. People desire to be engaged and interacted with, and they want to remember forever the times that they are pulled into the world of an artist.

About the Host

EXPRESS Live has been a leading venue for Columbus for the past eighteen years. It is the first venue in America to offer both an indoor experience, as well as an outdoor. EXPRESS LIVE! features ultramodern lighting, acoustical systems with an ingenious and unique reversible stage. Entertaining over 275,000 people each year, the venue accommodates 2,200 guests for indoor events and 5,200 guests for outdoor events. Whether indoor or out, the venue offers a viewable intimacy. Acoustically, it's designed to capture and translate the truest experience possible. Structurally, it's divided into three independent concert spaces: an indoor music hall, outdoor amphitheater, and the plaza. The venues unique design flexibility helped win a nomination for "Best New Major Concert Venue" in 2001 by Pollstar Magazine, the concert industry's leading publication.