The frontman of The Killers nearly cut his set short before finding his voice again.

A disembodied voice rang through the Ogden Theatre on Sept. 12 with silly, dramatic descriptions of the artist getting ready to hit the stage. They said that he reaches 6’1” “in boots,” “he’s got a soul, but he’s not a soldier,” and “he’s a hitmaker, but a no shit taker.” 

45-year-old Brandon Flowers entered the stage in a suit and bolo tie. Best known for fronting the early 2000s alt-rock band The Killers — part of the new wave revival with music inspired by ’80s synth pop and hits like “Mr. Brightside” and “Somebody Told Me.” 

Flowers released his debut solo album “Flamingo” in 2010. His latest, “THRASHER,” dropped after an 11-year hiatus from releasing solo music. 

On his Thrasher Tour, Flowers is playing a mix of his Americana-infused work as well as catchy Killers’ tracks, which a large section of the audience seemed to be there for. 

Flowers opened with a joyful performance of “Does It Ever Cross Your Mind?” Under soft purple and blue lights, he delights in the wonderful circumstances he was handed and revels in the happiness of simply being alive. 

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With soulful harmonica and bright strumming, he sang The Killers’ “Quiet Town,” a deceptively breezy folk-rock track. The song is actually about the opioid epidemic and horrible deaths lurking in Flowers’ hometown of Nephi, Utah. 

Brandon Flowers at the Ogden Theatre Sept. 12 in Denver. | Photo: Rob Loud

In another life

“What’s up Denver?” said Flowers. “My cousin Bobby parks cars at the Luxor.” In a quick transition, Flowers explained that, in another life, he also would’ve been parking cars — but at the Bellagio. “The cards had something different in mind for me, but I’m still in the service industry.” 

Channeling the energy of a troubadour, Flowers explored the difficulties of a working-class life on “Paradise.” He stomped his foot and looked out into the crowd, connecting with individual people as he sang. 

His voice seemed a little strained, but he kept marching on with talk-singing on “Still Want You” and powerful storytelling on “Between Me and You.”

A man in the balcony excitedly sang along and reached out his hands as if to embrace Flowers during “Tiger’s Blood.” The speakers momentarily went out, but Flowers maintained his high energy. 

Killers’ classics

As “Read My Mind” began, the audience grew in giddy excitement. They sang along and jumped around as Flowers stood on amps to further unite the crowd. He seemed just as hyped as the audience. 

Flowers told the story of his 93-year-old grandmother, Dixie Earl Bryant, coming to live with his family for a year until she passed away. She brought a piano with her, and after she was gone, Flowers’ parents thought he might as well take piano lessons. 

“Before that there was no art in my house. It ended up being this great blessing in my life,” he said. Bryant used to write poetry and country music, and wrote “Tell Me” with Slim Whitman. Flowers performed a cover of the song, honoring his great-grandmother and the start of his career. 

In another jubilant memorialization, Flowers sang “One Of Us,” a sweet dedication to his late brother-in-law. Flowers said the “opposite of grief is forgetting” — the song, he explained, is his way of keeping his brother-in-law’s memory alive.

Flowers’ comeback

Flowers left the stage earlier than expected, but once he returned for the encore, he explained that he was worried about voice strain. He felt it coming back, so he stayed for another six songs. 

He leaned into synth-pop with “Lonely Town.” It’s another misleading, upbeat track that’s actually about a stalker. Flowers drew inspiration from the eerie nature of The Police’s “Every Breath You Take.” 

Flowers further expressed his gratitude for living out his wildest fantasies in real life.
“I dreamed that I’d be singing songs and telling stories and you’d all be here.” 

And there everyone was, rejoicing in the nostalgia of their best-loved songs from 20 years ago while discovering new favorites.