Killers on the loose

For more than a year and a half now, my middle boy, Matteo, has been constantly bugging me about when are The Killers playing here in Manila. Ever since Mr. Brightside, and on to the albums Sam’s Town and Day & Age, this Las Vegas band has been his absolute favorite. He may also like Green Day, My Chemical Romance and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, but when pressed against the wall and made to surrender his iPod playlist, lo and behold, The Killers are the most prominently listed band. Besides the aforementioned Brightside, When We Were Young, Bones, Human, Spaceman and Joyride are all tunes he’ll “torture” us with by singing along while we’re riding in the car, and he has his headphones on. Grudgingly, he even had a good word to say about the soundtrack to the film New Moon, on account of White Demon Love Song, a contribution from you-know-which-band. The only time I had him stumped was when I casually mentioned their mariachi-tinged cover of The Eagles’ Hotel California — something he had not heard, and which they had performed on behalf of climate change on the Rhythmos del Mundo CD.

So when I was in a morning meeting with Robby Carmona, and he casually mentioned that he and another friend of mine, Steven Ku, were behind a Jan. 31 show of The Killers at the MOA Concert Grounds, it took all my self-control to keep from calling Matteo while he was in school, and finally be able to say, “Yes, they are coming! And it’s on the 31st, and your Tito Robby is one of the producers!” Tito Robby because years back, when Tracy MacGrady (another Matteo favorite) came to town for Adidas, Robby and Ginggay Joven had tipped me off about auditions that were being held to get some basketball-crazy boys to do some exhibition moves as part of the festivities; that encounter — shaking Tracy’s hand, meeting him and posing for pictures — still being one of the things Matteo always brags about! And placing Robby and Ginggay on “supreme exalted positions” in his universe.

So, yes Matteo, it is on the 31st, with gates opening at 6 p.m. and the show slated to start by 7 p.m. because of the Sunday date. Ticketworld, Ticketnet, World Wide Womb and Saga are the places to call to get that prized ticket and party on, as The Killers’ lead vocalist Brandon Flowers asks us, “Are we human, or are we dancers?” I know Matteo will be there, and as a wake-up call for me, my 15-year-old decided he’s going with his cousins and friends; and that’s fine, as I know he’ll feel more unfettered and truly enjoy. The Killers, alternative rock-pop, with strong ‘80s influences, and a Sunday treat for Matteo and like-minded music lovers!