The Killers Live at the Royal Albert Hall

The news broke as I was writing this. The Killers Live in Manila Concert is not pushing through. I was told that problems at home have forced The Killers to put off their Asian tour.

The American group composed of Brandon Flowers on keyboards and vocals; David Keuning on guitar; Mark Stoermer on bass; and Ronnie Vannucci on drums, was supposed to perform at the Mall of Asia Concert Grounds on Sunday, Jan. 31. But take careful note of this. The show is put off for another date, perhaps in February or March.

This is certainly bad news for the fans of the band, who have been looking forward to their visit for months now. They should just take heart that The Killers will still be coming to town and that goody, goody, the CD/DVD release Live From The Royal Albert Hall is now available in the local stores.

Prized at only P495, the two-disc set is the very first live recording ever by The Killers. And I can now tell you that if their show is anything like what it looks like in this DVD then it would have been surely a killer of a concert. OK, let us not say, would have been. Let me change that to, it will be a killer of a concert.

 Shot in the famous showplace in Kensington, London, Live From The Royal Albert Hall must be one of the best concert albums ever released. The Killers do not just dish out the music, these guys can really perform. Seldom can we find a band, that sounds like they mean every song and that looks like they are having a lot of fun. Vanucci, in particular, is that rare drummer. He is such a natural with the camera. That this long video was shot in high definition is also another plus. The quality of the visuals is simply excellent. Throw in the precise editing and the pristine mix and you get a real treat.

Live From The Royal Albert Hall is a bright hit-filled gem that will surely be rewarded with one or two Grammy or a Moonman nominations and maybe some trophies next year. The songs flow easily from one cut to the next and the sight of the band interacting with the adoring British crowd adds to the excitement. You come to the end wanting more.

Fans will love the fact that all of their favorite songs are included. I know A White Demon Love Song from the New Moon: Twilight Saga, soundtrack is not. But that song is very new and this recording is something like a greatest hits show. I am sure that if The Killers find out how much fans out here like that song, they will surely include it in their concert repertoire.

But back to The Killers Live At The Royal Albert Hall. I am sure that even non-fans will agree that The Killers can really write great rock and roll. They are among the few rockers around who never forget the value of a good melody, and Brandon, who is one of the best rock vocalists to emerge these past few years, has the chops to deliver their songs well.

So brace yourselves for brilliant renditions of Mr. Brightside, Human, Smile Like You Mean It, When You Were Young, Sam’s Town, A Dustland Fairytale, Read My Mind, This Is Your Life, Somebody Told Me, The World We Live In, I Can’t Stay, Bling (Confession Of A King), Shadowplay, Losing Touch, Spaceman, All These Things That I’ve Done, Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine and lots of others in the album.

Then it is also great that most of the cuts are in both the CD and DVD formats. That means getting a copy of the album will not only let you listen to all those songs but will also give you a front row seat to a Killers performance. OK, there is that tinge of disappointment again over the Jan. 31 show. So you might as well enjoy the video for now. It is so good that it makes you feel as though you are really watching The Killers live.