The Killers Convey Out Bruce Springsteen at Madison Sq. Backyard

Only a few fashionable bands have a “Mr. Brightside.” Even fewer are in a position to whip it out within the first 5 minutes of a present and proceed to entertain an area for one more 90 minutes. And even fewer are these who can maintain their very own in a three-song duet with Bruce Springsteen as he beams with pleasure asserting their identify to the group: “THE KILLERS!”

“All people is aware of God made Saturday nights for rock ‘n’ roll,” frontman Brandon Flowers declared towards the start of the band’s set, the second of two consecutive nights at Madison Sq. Backyard. And the Killers delivered on that, taking New York Metropolis on a tour of its biggest songs from “Sizzling Fuss” to “Stress Machine.”

The gang screamed alongside to “Any individual Advised Me” and “When You Had been Younger,” swayed forwards and backwards to the disco-tinged “Shot on the Evening” and “Human,” and pumped their fists on the Springsteen-esque “Runaways” and “The Approach It Was,” which sound like outtakes from the “Born to Run” period.

Whereas it was clear giant swaths of the viewers weren’t conversant in the Las Vegas band’s vastly underrated 2020 outing “Imploding the Mirage,” the Killers made a case for why they need to be, opening the present with the explosive “My Personal Soul’s Warning” and devoting much-deserved area to “Fireplace in Bone,” “Dying Breed” and “Warning.”

Halfway via the set, the band went acoustic for “Runaway Horses,” with Flowers declaring that over the pandemic, the Killers had turn out to be a rustic band. Earlier than enjoying the “Stress Machine” tune, Flowers earnestly informed the 20,000 metropolis folks within the viewers to “go get a beer if you happen to don’t wish to hear it.”

It’s laborious to not be charmed by Flowers’ unfettered optimism and enthusiasm. He sings each track with a smile, stretching out the ultimate singalong refrain of “Runaways” after which cheekily tucking Invoice Withers’ “Lean on Me” into “Learn My Thoughts.” At one level within the present, he quoted the “indestructible” Hellen Keller.

On some stage, you need to purchase into the Killers as a result of, these days no less than, it’s laborious to search out music as unapologetically anthemic with out even the slightest trace of irony. Even the band’s corniest, most nonsensical lyrics (“We’re burning down the freeway skyline / On the again of a hurricane that began turning while you have been younger”; “When you may see via the banner of the solar / Into eternity’s eyes like a imaginative and prescient reaching right down to you”), paired with desert-rippling guitar riffs, roll off Flowers’ tongue like rock ‘n’ roll manifestos.

Because the set wrapped up, a curious viewers member may need sensed a shock was so as, because it wasn’t completely clear how the band may high closers “All These Issues That I’ve Carried out” and “When You Had been Younger” with an encore. Oh, in fact, simply deliver out Springsteen for “Badlands,” “Dustland” and “Born to Run.”

“Me and my mates have all been sweating bullets up right here all night time, as a result of the Boss is right here,” Flowers introduced as he walked again onstage, barely in a position to include his personal pleasure.

Earlier than easing into their Springsteen collaboration “Dustland,” a reinvention of the band’s 2008 observe “A Dustland Fairytale,” Flowers stated, “This a part of the night time is normally reserved for me to have individuals put their telephones up. And I inform us to consider the place your mild comes from.”

Then, turning to Springsteen, Flowers gushed, “It’s a very uncommon circumstance for me tonight as a result of I get numerous my mild from you.”

The Killers and The Boss closed out the present on a shiny be aware with “Born to Run,” with Flowers insisting Springsteen ship the euphoric last verse: “The freeway’s jammed with damaged heroes on a last-chance energy drive!” Then, sharing the microphone, the 2 of them — plus the whole lot of Madison Sq. Backyard — belted out the ultimate refrain.

The right way to high that? Properly, they didn’t strive.