Having started life off in the synth-pop outfit named Blush Response, lead singer of The Killers, Brandon Flowers and his trio of hardworking musicians are now the hottest thing to emerge from Sin City ... and trust me, there's been some bloody hot things come kickin' 'n' screamin' out of that city in its time!

Culling their name from a previously-unused moniker appropriated from a New Order video, The Killers personify a musical age long gone, yet surprisingly now back, reshaped, remodeled, and remastered for a new generation of synth-loving consumers.

Taking to the stage on this rain-swept night, here at the outdoor concert venue attached to the hugely successful entity known as the Soaring Eagle Casino, the band are led out by their master supreme. Dressed entirely from head to toe in white, the suited Flowers waves a gentle greeting to the damp, yet now highly-excited crowd.

Matching postpunk guitars with a synthesizer overlay, from the off the band are precise in their musical structures, constructive and deliberate in both their stage personas and musical directions. Flowers is indeed their Ringmaster as he stalks the stage during songs like some demented Lion, held captive but yet ready to pounce given the right split second opportunity.

In truth, Flowers doesn't say a lot between songs and tends to let the music speak for itself. But, as we head into the fourth song, he does both pose and answer the same question: "The running question of the night is about to be answered," he states before going into 'If The Answer Is No.' The barnstorming 'Somebody Told Me' is brought to the fore next and with it the sweat starts to glisten his entire face.

The slow, slightly-meandering album track 'Andy, You're A Star' is next, but is followed by the pace-driven new track ("We've been on the road for two years and so it's time for some new songs") 'I Don't Feel Like Loving You.' 'Glamorous Indie Rock & Roll' (only found on the British version of the new CD Hot Fuss) is next, before the show is brought to a quick 45 minute end with the MTV video hit, 'Mr. Brightside.'

Coming back out for a quick encore, the pounding 'Drive Faster' is first, followed by 'One More Sun' which brings the entire show to an end in a rousing finale style. Tonights show had been a complete triumph, a new musical masterpiece from start to finish. All this acclaim and it's still so hard to believe that the maestro himself is still only 22 years-old!

Review and Photos by Russell A. Trunk