The Killers at First Avenue – MInneapolis MN – July 13th 2023

7/13/2023 the Killers @ First Avenue Nightclub Minneapolis

I got lucky seeing The Killers at First Avenue. I got a ticket for the hottest ticket in town. A ticket to ‘the Killers’ show at First Avenue…seating capacity for First Avenue nightclub in Minneapolis: 1550 people.  There is no opening act. You don’t need one really. It was a good thing anyway since the show itself started at 9pm and an opening act would be a bad idea since the Killers were playing at the massive (in comparison) Target Field….capacity: 39,504.

For all practical purposes, Brandon Flowers IS the Killers. There are other members of the band like Dave Keuning who was lead guitar and Ronnie Vannucci Jr (who plays drums), but they haven’t played with Brandon the entire time of their long run. That night at First Avenue was something special almost transcendent. The energy was amazing like a nervous energy you would see in a Quentin Tarantino movie when you don’t understand why you have that anxious feeling that you are having but you are feeling it just the same and you know it will be a moment you will never ever forget. And I am just grateful that it did happen. They started off the concert with “Sam’s Town” from the album of the same name and then Brandon rickrolled into a surprising Prince cover “I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man” which, coincidently, used to be one of my favorite Prince songs. Although for me it was a bit of a depressing song. I was happily surprised they chose that one cause it seems usually everybody picks “Alphabet Street” or “Let’s Go Crazy” for their Prince covers. Then I was quite surprised they chose to play “Somebody Told Me” so early in their set (6th song in), but if I had to choose a favorite Killer’s song this would be it. It was the first song of theirs I had heard plus it always made me think of driving to downtown Minneapolis on a Friday night. For me that song was always synonymous with Minneapolis. Of course, they ended with “Mr. Brightside” and they started playing it for some reason slower than normal, then after that they played it like it was on the album. I am not sure why, but any reason to hear it longer was a great thing. Also in the set was fan favorite “All These Things That I’ve Done” which is getting to be an anthem at this point. At this point in the concert, it got to be an almost communal experience because it was literally giving me chills up and down my spine. Some of the greatest moments in your life you don’t realize until many months or even years after they happen. Not this one….I knew it was history as it was happening…..I almost got tears in my eyes…..It felt like something big was happening and not just a concert. It felt like it was transcendent in a way. Like anything is possible. And, for a few hours, it was.

Now if I could only get a ticket for the other big show in a small venue: the Pretenders. That would be an even bigger miracle.

Review and photos by Todd Johnson