The Killers are an American rock band formed in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2001. The current lineup consists of Brandon Flowers (lead vocals, keyboards), Dave Keuning (lead guitar, backing vocals), Mark Stoermer (bass guitar, backing vocals), and Ronnie Vannucci Jr. (drums, percussion). The Killers are known for hits like “Mr. Brightside,” “Somebody Told Me,” “When You Were Young,” and “Human.” They have released 5 studio albums and are considered one of the biggest rock bands to emerge in the early 2000s.
When it comes to The Killers’ live shows, fans know they are in for an energetic performance filled with all their favorite hits. But exactly how long are The Killers’ concerts? Let’s take a look at setlist and timing data from recent tours to get an idea of what to expect.
Typical Setlist Length
The typical setlist for a Killers concert in recent years has spanned about 20-25 songs. Their headline shows and festival appearances usually last 90 minutes to 2 hours including encores. Over the course of a full tour, The Killers have been known to rotate over 50 unique songs into their setlists so fans get a good variety from night to night.
Some of the most commonly played songs that are staples in Killers setlists include:
- “Mr. Brightside”
- “Somebody Told Me”
- “Smile Like You Mean It”
- “When You Were Young”
- “Human”
- “Spaceman”
- “Runaways”
- “Read My Mind”
- “All These Things That I’ve Done”
Other popular hits, fan favorites, and new material off their latest albums are rotated through as well. The band is known for putting on an upbeat show, so expect to hear mostly their fast-paced songs with a few slower ballads mixed in.
Average Concert Duration
Over the past 5 years, the average length of a Killers concert has been about 1 hour and 50 minutes. However, this can vary depending on the type of show.
Here is a breakdown of typical durations:
Type of Concert | Average Duration |
---|---|
Festival performances | 60-90 minutes |
Arena headline shows | 90-120 minutes |
Stadium shows | 120-150 minutes |
As you can see, festival sets tend to be shorter around 60-90 minutes since they have less time allotted. Headline arena shows last 90-120 minutes for the main set and encores. Larger scale stadium concerts have extended runtimes, averaging between 120-150 minutes.
Within the typical length, there is also some variation from the first show to the last show on a tour leg. Opening night concerts may run slightly shorter as the band is still settling into the tour production. The duration often increases as the tour continues, with final shows running a bit longer with more improvisation and crowd interactions. However, most fall within the average ranges.
Recent Concert Durations
Looking at some of The Killers’ most recent tours provides a good example of their typical concert lengths:
Tour | Year | Average Concert Length |
---|---|---|
Imploding the Mirage | 2021-2022 | 110 minutes |
Wonderful Wonderful | 2017-2018 | 100 minutes |
Battle Born | 2012-2013 | 115 minutes |
Day & Age | 2008-2010 | 105 minutes |
Their most recent tour in support of “Imploding the Mirage” saw their shows averaging 110 minutes, right within expectations. The “Wonderful Wonderful” and “Day & Age” tours also came in around 100 minutes for the main set and encores. The “Battle Born” concerts were a bit lengthier at an average of 115 minutes each night.
Factors Impacting Duration
There are a few key factors that influence the duration of a Killers concert on any given night:
Venue Type & Billing
As mentioned earlier, festival sets are shorter than arena or stadium shows where The Killers headline. The amount of time they are allotted and their billing on the lineup (headliner vs. mid-day act) impacts the length.
Production Elements
Larger tours may have more elaborate lighting, pyrotechnics, screens and stage design that add to the runtime. The more production layered in, the longer each song and transition takes. Stripped down shows are tighter.
Tour Leg
Opening nights tend to be shorter as the band gets their footing. Final shows of a leg may be extended with especial performances.
Crowd Interaction
The band often takes time to interact with the audience. This improvisation extends the runtime.
Encores
Most Killers shows include 2-3 song encores which add 10-15 minutes to the total concert length.
So in summary, while each show duration varies, The Killers average about 1 hour 50 minutes for a typical concert including encores. Fans can expect a high energy setlist packed with hits new and old spanning their 20+ year career. The Killers continue to prove their reputation as an outstanding live act with their enduring concerts.
Setlist Samples from Recent Tours
To give a better sense of the number of songs and variety that can be expected at a Killers show, here are some example setlists from their last couple tours:
July 26, 2022 – Madison Square Garden
- “My Own Soul’s Warning”
- “Enterlude”
- “When You Were Young”
- “Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine”
- “Smile Like You Mean It”
- “Shot At The Night”
- “Running Towards A Place”
- “Human”
- “Somebody Told Me”
- “Fire In Bone”
- “Shadowplay” (Joy Division cover)
- “Cody”
- “Spaceman”
- “Runaways”
- “Read My Mind”
- “Dying Breed”
- “Caution”
- “For Reasons Unknown”
- “A Dustland Fairytale”
- “Mr. Brightside”
- Encore:
- “My Kind of Town” (Frank Sinatra cover)
- “Bling (Confession of a King)”
- “All These Things That I’ve Done”
August 16, 2017 – Madison Square Garden
- “The Man”
- “Somebody Told Me”
- “Spaceman”
- “The Way It Was”
- “Smile Like You Mean It”
- “Shadowplay” (Joy Division cover)
- “Bling (Confession of a King)”
- “Shot At The Night”
- “Run For Cover”
- “Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine”
- “Tyson Vs Douglas”
- “Human”
- “Runaways”
- “This River Is Wild”
- “The Calling”
- “Miss Atomic Bomb”
- “Mr. Brightside”
- Encore:
- “A Dustland Fairytale”
- “When You Were Young”
- “All These Things That I’ve Done”
Conclusion
In summary, The Killers live up to their reputation as an outstanding live act by delivering energetic, hit-filled concerts spanning around 1 hour and 50 minutes on average. While the exact setlist varies each night, fans can count on being on their feet singing along to classics like “Mr. Brightside” as well as new favorites from the band’s latest projects. The Killers’ enduring popularity ensures their concerts continue to be highly-anticipated events for fans whether they are playing festivals, arenas or stadiums.