There Is A Photo In This Post. In Fact, There Are Four.

Last night, I met Brandon Flowers.

Here's the proof:

A terrible iPhone photo, but that's him and this is me.

I am a huge fan of the Killers and of Brandon Flowers independently. There is so much that is intriguing and unique about him and his music to me, which I don't say lightly because I usually think stuff found on My 99.5 to be whiney drivel. It takes a lot for me to actually like anything of the pop/rock/alternative genres, and so for me to memorize words, buy videos of concerts and play them so much even my kids know the words is quite remarkable.

Flowers' talents are a perfect mix of great showmanship without being over the top, an understanding of drama and taste, a gift for creative and diverse melodies that actually get developed over the course of a song, and a profound poetic ability in his lyrics. This last point, even though I am usually totally deaf to lyrics in popular songs, is particularly striking to me because he rarely writes about the common tropes: being in love, sex, losing a love, being angry, etc. His songs are about family and reflection and redemption, very Mormon themes put in a setting of real conflict and tension. Like in his songs, I wonder about his personal life --wife and two kids (one named Ammon!), currently active at church although not always -- "Will he make it? Can he keep it up?" That tension makes him endlessly fascinating to me.

So how did I get to meet him? Before I started at Bonneville, our team filmed him for one of our Mormon.org profiles. (I've seen an early cut. Jared Hess of Napolean Dynamite fame was the director.) He gave our team passes to the afterparty at last night's show at The Depot.  I thought it was funny at on the bar at the Depot, after the audience had all cleared out and only those of us with these nifty green passes were left, there was a copy of the Primary Songbook on the bar with a ticket on it! This photo was not staged, and I thought it was hilarious. I have no idea why it was there.

 
 

The last song of the show was a cover of "When You Were Young" from Sam's Town and even though the concert featured Flowers' solo album, Flamingo, Ronnie Vannuci (the drummer from The Killers band) cameoed on guitar. So I snuck a photo with him too:

I only look a little excited.

Comments

[David]

One of the most beautiful reviews I've read. Love that you were able to attend the "Aftershow" as well.

[Hailee Christensen]

So, it's really quite hilarious that I happened to find your blog because that primary children's songbook with the ticket on top was mine. I DESPERATELY wanted to meet Brandon because I'm his biggest fan EVER. I literally listen to his music everyday. I'm so obsessed. Like you, I attended the SLC concert at the Depot. Amazing. Needless to say, it's always been a dream of mine to meet him. Anyway, I didn't find out about these special green passes until after the concert. So, I asked a girl with a pass if she would take my songbook along with my ticket to get it signed for me (which she told me later she was unsuccessful . . .). It made me so sad. I also should mention, the reason I brought a songbook of all things is because my older sister who lives in Georgia is just as obsessed as I am and she wanted it signed since she's a primary chorister in her ward. (She said it would inspire her every week if his name was on her book).

You are SO lucky that you got to meet him. I'm so incredibly jealous. He's such an inspiration to me. His music has helped me get through so many tough times. He's extremely talented.

Anyway, I know you've never met me, but if you ever get these special green passes again or have any connections to meet him, I would sure appreciate it if you would include me in those plans. :)

P.s. I've been constantly searching for his mormon.org profile, but haven't found it. Any advice?