There's never such a thing as too much Brandon Flowers. So when the Killers frontman performed for only 45 minutes last week at New York's Highline Ballroom it was simply not enough to satisfy the insatiable appetite of his cheering fans.
But let's be fair. This was not a Killers show. Fans could not expect him to crank out the entire Killers canon and play for two and half hours. This night was all about Brandon and his forthcoming new solo record.
Over the past years, I have seen The Killers perform a bunch of times - from Los Angeles to Berlin, and from Atlanta to Las Vegas. It was fun to see their new wave-ish hot pop fuss turn into neon-lit, arena-sized rock shows that have crowds dizzy on their feet everytime.
In the early Killers days, Brandon told me that there were moments that he suffered stage fright. What helped him was to have his keyboard positioned right on the middle of the stage to keep him steady in his comfort zone.
Over the years, from album to album, and from tour to tour, his keyboard has slowly moved to the side of the stage, giving him a chance to overcome his anxiety and get more comfortable in the spotlight.
Most telling about his first New York solo show on Thursday was the total absence of a keyboard. It was all about Brandon Flowers, front and center. No fuss, no frills.
If this forthcoming solo album and tour will show us one thing, it is that Brandon Flowers has turned into a versatile, confident entertainer, and that is an accomplishment that must be noted. Even tough at times, he still appears somewhat uncomfortable, it is much more a reflection of his stirring, soul-searching lyrics than his actual state of mind.
