Brandon Flowers briefly halted his solo concert at Manchester's O2 Apollo on Tuesday evening to check on a fan who had fallen during the encore. The Killers frontman paused mid-performance of the penultimate song "Between Me and You" to ensure the devotee near the front of the stage was safe.
After receiving word that the show could continue, Flowers said: "I hope he's okay." He added with a joke: "That's the best I've ever sung that song until that point."
A Country-Inspired Return to Manchester
The 45-year-old singer visited Manchester as part of his UK tour supporting his third solo album, Thrasher. Unlike The Killers' indie and synth-heavy catalogue, Thrasher is an unapologetic country record inspired by Flowers' youth, and much of it was aired at the Apollo.
Opening the show, Flowers declared: "I've been introducing myself to people for over 20 years as a rock 'n' roll star from Las Vegas, Nevada. Tonight it feels true – if you wear the mask long enough, it becomes the face, I guess." Early tracks like "Tiger's Blood" and the lead single "Plans" were well received, with many in the stalls singing along to the charismatic frontman, who wore black with silver rhinestone lapels.
Flowers joked: "People keep asking when I went country…16 years before anybody noticed." The show offered a heartfelt, personal glimpse into the frontman's life, with songs introduced by tales of being bullied at school and hardship faced by his sister.
A Nod to New Order and Killers Hits
Although Flowers didn't cover any of Manchester's legendary acts, he paid tribute to New Order, a band that helped shape The Killers' sound and famously their name. Before performing "Lonely Town," he explained: "I could love New Order and Dolly Parton - with it sounding a little something like this." Flowers has previously collaborated with Bernard Sumner's collective, appearing on New Order's 2015 album Music Complete.
The 3,500-capacity Ardwick venue felt intimate despite being sold out, a rare setting for a man accustomed to headlining arenas and festivals. Fans were treated to The Killers' anthem "When You Were Young" from Sam's Town, which got many in the circle section on their feet. Flowers also delivered the live debut of "Diamonds on Black Velvet" ahead of the encore.
Encore and Closing Message
The four-song encore included The Killers' much-loved number "Read My Mind" and concluded with the brooding "An American Dream" from Thrasher, a track that recently went viral for its performance on US chat shows. The spine-tingling rendition lived up to the preview as Flowers drew the 21-song set to a close.
Leaving Manchester with a message, Flowers said: "Do what you can with what you are, where you are. You never know where you might end up."
