More foreign acts are coming to town

The Killers are coming to town. So I thought I’d check them out again in the Live from the Royal Albert Hall album just to see if they would be worth watching. Well, what do you know? If the album is any indication, then I can say that Pinoys are in for a big treat when the American rock band arrives next week for a one-night-only gig. The Killers are set to perform on Sept. 26 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The two-disc CD and DVD set, was the first live recording by the Las Vegas-based group. It was done four years ago. Recorded in the Royal Albert Hall of London, the concert has The Killers doing its big hits and other songs, both on CD and DVD. There are also rarely heard covers, a behind-the-scenes documentary, footage from other live performances and other features.

Make sure you watch this if you are among those who think of The Killers as just an ordinary rock band. I am sure that this video will change your mind. Besides you would not want to miss out on the chance to see greatness being born. That is what is very evident in the video.

The production is totally outstanding. The sound, the lighting, the camera work, the editing, etc. Everything in Live From The Royal Albert Hall is perfection. It makes you wonder about the talented people who put in such painstaking work to come up with this fantastic film.

But of course, I am sure that they were also inspired to put in their best by the great rock band they were working with, The Killers. It is made up of Brandon Flowers on lead vocals and keyboards; David Keuning, guitars and backing vocals; Ronnie Vannucci, Jr., drums and percussion; and Mark Stoermer, bass guitar and backing vocals.

I had the chance to listen to The Killers’ early efforts. Remember the Platinum selling debut album Hot Fuss from nearly 10 years ago and the first hit single Mr. Brightside? They were then rocker boys with so much potential. I kept track of their later releases — Sam’s Town, Day And Age and Battle Born. I saw them grow through their videos on TV. And now here they are in this live album.

These guys are young, only in their late 20s and early 30s, but they have already matured into a tight-knit band whose members are completely in tune with one another. Their show is massive give-and-take in action. I will not be surprised to see The Killers in the Greatest Bands of all Time list one of these days. And singer Brandon? He writes those lyrics and sings the songs with all the angst, poise and the power of a true rock star.

Prepare to do a lot of screaming when you hear The Killers live at the Big Dome with those songs. All These Things That I’ve Done, Somebody Told Me, Smile Like You Mean It, When You Were Young, Human, Bones, Miss Atomic Bomb, last year’s big summer hit Runaways and never forget Mr. Brightsides.

The Killers Live In Manila is produced by Ovation Productions and presented by Fibr in cooperation with Lenovo, 2nd Avenue, Diva Universal, Jack TV, Jack City and Sixt Rent A Car. Tickets are priced at P6,500, P5,500, P3,500, P2,500 and P1,000 and available at www.ticketnet.com.ph.

Tonight at the Plenary Hall of the PICC at the CCP Complex on Roxas Blvd. is the Circus Band New Minstrels Reunion Greatest Hits Reunion Concert. Featured are Basil Valdez, Hajji Alejandro, Jacqui Magno, Tillie Moreno and Pat Castillo of Circus and Louie Reyes, Eugene Villaluz, Joey Albert, Ray An Fuentes, Ding Mercado and Chad Borja of the Minstrels and lots of memorable hits from the ’70s.

Eraserheads, Pupil and Oktaves frontman Ely Buendia sings solo for the benefit of the PETA Endowment Fund, tonight at the Black Box Theater of the PETA Theater Center in Quezon City.

The Atlantis Theatricals production of Carrie, a musical based on the Stephen King novel and popular motion picture, also opens tonight at the Carlos P. Romulo Theater at the RCBC Plaza in Makati. Starring are Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo and Mikkie Bradshaw. The show runs until Oct. 6.

The ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Gerard Salonga plays The Magical Music of Disney at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo of the Cultural Center of the Philippines on Sept. 28. There will be two performances at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Jon Santos with Anne Lakas Ng Loob, Cha Cha May and other stars in his all-star cast of one returns to the Teatrino in Greenhills for Man of Steelettos on Sept. 27 and 28.

Disney again for the kids. Vivre Fort Entertainment brings Disney Live Presents Mickey’s Magic Show, where your favorite Disney characters figure in world-class illusions, to the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel from Sept. 19 to 22 and to the Mall of Asia from Oct. 2 to 6.