Oh No, He Didn't... He Did

Last night I went out to dinner with a couple of my friends to Winger's, a diner located off the "strip" in Rexburg. We were seated in a booth and to the right of me at a table was a couple finishing off their meal. After they finished, we all noticed that they left all of their Sticky Fingers. I made a comment that it was a shame for them to leave all that yummy chicken goodness and that the three of us should just sneak over there and take one for ourselves; just a little snack while we waited. And yes, I was totally kidding.

Well, apparently the guy sitting in the table directly in front of the Sticky Finger Leaver's table thought it was a good idea. I doubt he actually heard me so I won't take credit for putting the nasty idea in his head. No, I am positive he came up with it on his own. He looked around, leaned back, and took a Sticky Finger off of the plate. 

We all sat there in complete shock. This was a grown, married man (I should say "college kid"), and he took food off of another person's plate. And his wife was sitting right there. You'd think she'd reach over and poke his eye out with her fork for such a stunt.

No, she was instigating it. I sat there stunned as I watched her nudge him to grab another Sticky Finger, then another. Their waitress came over and said something like, "Oh, they're probably still okay if they weren't touching any of their leftover food." But the look on her face said it all. 

This incident was absolutely disgusting. In the midst of a H1N1 virus scare, you'd think you'd take every precaution to avoid spreading or contracting any kind of sickness, not stick your fork into it.

Not only is it gross, it's rude. 

And weird.

I Wanna Breathe That Fire Again

This weekend I went to Salt Lake City and saw The Killers. They were wonderful. It was the best thing I have ever been a part of. I will definitely be seeing them in the future.

I was surprised to walk in and find that my seat was about 15 feet off the left side of the stage... that's stage right from The Killers point of view. I was so close! When Dave walked onto his platform at the beginning, it was like I could reach out and touch him. It was perfect. I had a clear shot of every single band member, and when Brandon ran out in his feathered jacket, I about had a heart attack. He looked amazing, and just as I imagined!

They opened with "Joy Ride", and it was powerful. We had a little bit of a letdown after the song was over when they started to play "Human" and had to stop because of a technical delay. Brandon said they'd be back in 5 minutes, and they ran off stage. 20 minutes later, after a stubborn light on the floating catwalk was fixed, they came in with a bang... again! It started with a huge countdown on the screens behind the stage, turning to blue lights and a ticking clock, with the lights shining out and all around us. Then they appeared again, and we went wild. "Human" started, and the show began... again!

The Killers had great stage presence. I really admire that about them. Brandon had such charisma and he was great with getting the audience involved in every song. He made us feel like part of him. Intense energy just poured out of him into the audience, and we couldn't help but just dance, sing, and shout from the first song all the way to the end. I have never seen so many excited people gathered in one place. When I looked around, everyone I saw I felt like I knew, and I know it is because we were sharing something really great. Music truly brings people together, no matter where they are from or what their background is.

From the very first song, it was like this powerful force just took over Brandon's entire body. I could feel what he felt and his passion just poured out of him. The audience caught the rush and it was a great experience that I got to share with so many people. In that moment we were all equal. All because of music.

The finale was awesome... well, the word "awesome" just doesn't cut it. It was astounding. After "All These Things That I've Done" and a massive snowstorm of confetti, Brandon spoiled us with "Sam's Town" and "Jenny Was A Friend of Mine". After those two songs, some people were starting to leave (what were they thinking?) and Brandon said, "We've got one song left in us. You guys going up the stairs I'd go back and sit down in your seat if I was you.... It's a fine song, it is." Boy, was he right! They played "When You Were Young", and it was phenomenal. When the pyrotechnics went off, I could feel the heat. It was out of this world. The crowd was so into it and I just about broke out of my skin.

Watch something similar to what I experienced here.

This was one of the greatest experiences of my life so far. I know that probably sounds silly of me to say, but I have such love and respect for these wonderful people. You can really tell that they care about the music, not about what anyone thinks they should be. They play because they love it. The Killers were so wonderful live because I was able to witness what a powerful part music plays in their life, and it was amazing to see how that power transfered to each one of us. The barrier between musician and audience member did not exist. There was no barrier; it felt as if we were one with each other. When Brandon looked my direction, I felt like it was me he was looking at. His passion is what made the music even more fantastic. To see The Killers live is entirely different than just listening to them. Seeing them live let me become a part of them, just as they are a part of me. What we shared together will last forever.

Setlist for September 26, 2009

1. Joy Ride

2. Human

3. For Reasons Unknown

4. Bones

5. Joy Ride (Piano Reprise)

6. Bling (Confession of a King)

7. Shadowplay (Joy Division cover)

8. Somebody Told Me

9. Smile Like You Mean It

10. Spaceman

11. Losing Touch

12. A Dustland Fairytale

13. Can't Help Falling in Love (Elvis Presley cover)

14. Read My Mind

15. Mr. Brightside

16. All These Things That I've Done

Encore:

Sam's Town

Jenny Was A Friend of Mine

When You Were Young

Guitar Hero Fridays Concert Clips

Concert Review

About Brandon

The Murder Trilogy

Being a fan of The Killers, I am surprised that I am just now finding out about the Murder Trilogy, which is an interesting mix of songs telling the story of the murder of a girlfriend named Jenny. I have heard countless fans online wishing The Killers could play the trilogy at their shows, so I just had to investigate what it was. Now I join the list of fans wishing they'd play all three songs at their upcoming shows. 

The trilogy consists of three songs from the Hot Fuss album, the first being "Leave the Bourbon on the Shelf" (this is actually a B-side from Hot Fuss, and can be found on the album Sawdust), "Midnight Show" and "Jenny Was a Friend of Mine". 

I find the Murder Trilogy very intriguing. I have always loved every one of the songs, but I never pulled the true meaning out of each until now. Of course, I always new "Jenny Was a Friend of Mine" was about murder. It is the more obvious of the three; the others you have to listen closely. Once you've figured it out, the songs take on a whole new meaning. Brandon Flowers is a master storyteller, and the composition of each song is genius and reflective of each part of the story. 

"Leave the Bourbon on the Shelf" is quite upbeat; it is the beginning of the break-up and the jealousy hasn't quite set in yet. He is medicating himself with alcohol and wanting to win Jenny back.

Jennifer, tell me where I stand

And who's that boy holdin' your hand?

Oh, Jennifer, you know I always tried

Before you say goodbye

Leave the bourbon the shelf

And I'll drink it by myself

And I never liked your hair or those people that you lie with

But I'm not satisfied

Until I hold you tight

"Midnight Show" takes on a much more serious tone. He abducts Jenny, forcing her into his car and driving her to where he will eventually commit murder. He wants the hurt to go away and in his mind the only way to do that is to take her out of the picture completely. He parks the car, suffocates her, and throws her body into the water. Flowers has mentioned that "The murder has something to do with water, but it's not drowning." We can conclude it is suffocation or strangulation, since he says "I took my baby's breath..."   

Oh, crashing time can't hide a guilty girl

With jealous hearts that start with blossom curls

I took my baby's breath beneath the chandelier

Of stars in atmosphere

And watch her disappear

Into the midnight show

After he is caught, in "Jenny Was a Friend of Mine" he is defending himself to the police. The song's composition feels frustrated, with heavy bass and a slightly more aggravated sound.

We took a walk that night, but it wasn't the same

We had a fight on the promenade out in the rain

She said she loved me, but she had somewhere to go

She couldn't scream while I held her close

I swore I'd never let her go

Tell me what you wanna know

Oh come on, oh come on, oh come on

There ain't no motive for this crime

Jenny was a friend on mine

So come on, oh come on, oh come on

It is so cool to listen to all three songs and piece together the story of a man whose intense jealousy evolves into murder.

Sweet Tweets

Another reason to stay up late: Twitter.

Yes, I am officially tweeting on Twitter. The best thing about it? I can post updates from my phone just by texting and receive text updates from awesome people, including... you guessed it... The Killers. And yes, it really is Brandon, Dave, Mark, and Ronnie tweeting. So that rocks. 

So, you wanna know what I am up to all the time? Check out my Sweet Tweet box over there on the side and be sure to follow me! 

Happy Tweeting! 

Come Rushing Over Me

I just can't resist putting the lyrics to another song by The Killers as my note. There's just something about their songs that fills my heart to the point that it might burst. I have so much love for this band and their music. Their songs take me to a place I want and need to be and they really do help me get through the best and worst of times. I am so grateful for the infinite power of music. It has inspired me to seek out what is truly good, and that is why I believe The Killers have changed my life.  

I came across a video of The Killers singing "Tidal Wave", a bonus track off of their new album Day and Age. The story behind this video is that during their concert in Boulder, Colorado in January, the mics went out. Instead of causing everything to come to a complete halt, Brandon and Dave performed "Tidal Wave" acoustic. It's beautiful.

It's moments like these that make me love The Killers even more. I really can't wait until September 26 when I get to see them myself. 

Watch video

He’s always trouble with his noncomplacent 
Shotgun eyes, shotgun eyes 
His subtlety, his mystery 
Not like the other guys 

She’s always taken by his reputation 
He’s so bad, he’s so bad 
On Saturday night, they’re running for the shadows 

You say your heart ain’t ever been broken 
You think you know where you’re going 
Tidal wave 
Tidal wave come rushing over me 
You say this life has given you nothing 
You got another thing coming 
Tidal wave 
Tidal wave come rushing over me 

He’ll get a warning sign to keep his distance 
From her old man, from her old man 
Now the story of forbidden love 
Has gotta make a stand 

So in the middle of the early morning 
They’ll slip away, slip away 
And we know they’ll do their best 
Somewhere in the golden west 

Oh yeah, and we’ll watch them drive 
They’re so alive 

You say your heart ain’t ever been broken 
You think you know where you’re going 
Tidal wave 
Tidal wave come rushing over me, 
You say this life has given you nothing 
You got another thing coming 
Tidal wave, 
Tidal wave come rushing over me 
Tidal wave 

These tidal waves are caught off track,
Come tomorrow, cause I can’t go back 
All together, can’t you see 
Tidal wave gonna cover me. 
These tidal waves are caught off track, 
Come tomorrow, cause I can’t go back 
Come together, can’t you see 
Tidal wave gonna cover me. 

Cover me 
I can’t go back 
Can’t you see 

Night Owl

I have discovered recently that I never want to go to bed, but I love to sleep. This is a dilemma. What I hate the most is the mere act of getting ready for bed. It is quite annoying to me that I have to do so much before I can climb into my blissfully beautiful bed (oh, fancy pants). Ever since I got braces it has been a constant battle against the ever-so-important need to floss. It takes three times as long for me to floss than it does a normal person, and once the flossing is over it takes me three times as long to brush my teeth than it does a normal person. I have to count ten times per tooth section with an electric toothbrush... that's top and bottom. It's not like I have to do that, but I have this overwhelming fear of what will happen if I don't. I really want my teeth to look good underneath once all the metal comes off. I don't want it to be like opening a two-year-old casket... it may look decent on the outside, but you really don't want to see what's on the inside. So I floss a lot, and I brush my teeth a lot. I brush at least 7 times a day. And yes, I am sick of it.

Another thing that keeps me up at night is that I love to watch TV downstairs in our family room. Sometimes I fall asleep while watching TV for a wonderful 30 minutes, but then wake up only to discover that I have to go upstairs to bed. By the time I get up there, I feel awake. So then I get on the computer to kill some time and that makes me even more awake. 

Then there's the fear of having to wake up in the morning. It's on Saturday nights when I feel this the most. You know why? Because the next day I have to teach Primary. And they're five-year-olds. It has it's rewards. There's nothing more precious than little children... climbing up the walls, jumping off of the furniture, and telling you to lean in to hear a secret only to have them scream in your ear. That wasn't funny, Rachel. 

Another thing that keeps me up is my recent diagnosis of Pleurisy. My Mac dictionary gives this description of it: inflammation of the pleurae (in the lungs), which impairs their lubricating function and causes pain when breathing. Even more simply put: constant left-sided chest pain. I have had it for at least a month now and I am hoping there is a light at the end of this tunnel. The doc has me on two types of medication: a beta-blocker and an anti-inflammatory, which might account for me being sleepy during the day but wide awake at night when the hoot owls are out. Who-who knows. 

This is Night Owl, signing off. Goodnight, world.

I've Carried It Well

It never fails. Songs by The Killers always fit my life and how I view the world. Whenever I hear "Sweet Talk" I am reminded of the struggles I face in my life, and how during these times I always look outward and heavenward. For those who don't know, the lead singer of The Killers, Brandon Flowers, is LDS. I get the feeling that Brandon wrote this song with a particular person in mind. This song seems like a prayer for guidance.  

Lift me up on my honor

Take me over this spell
Get this weight off my shoulders
I've carried it well
Loose these shackles of pressure
Shake me out of these chains
Lead me not to temptation

Hold my hand harder
Ease my mind
Roll down the smoke screen
And open the sky

Let me fly
Man I need a release from
This troublesome mind
Fix my feet when they’re stumbling
And well you know it hurts sometimes
You know it's gonna bleed sometimes

Dig me out from this thorn tree
Help me bury my shame
Keep my eyes from the fire
They can’t handle the flame
Grace cut out from my brothers
When most of them fell
I've carried it well

Let me fly
Man I need a release from
This troublesome mind
Fix my feet when they’re stumbling
I guess you know it hurts sometimes
You know it's gonna bleed sometimes

Now hold on
I’m not looking for sweet talk
I’m looking for time
Top a tower and sleep walk
Brother, cause it hurts sometimes
You know it's gonna bleed sometimes
Hold on

You know its gonna hurt sometimes
When you call me
Hold on
Hold on
Hold on

I’m gonna climb that symphony home and make it mine
Let his resonance light my way
See, all these pessimistic sufferers tend to drag me down
So I could use it to shelter what good I’ve found.

This song is owned by The Killers. I do not own the rights to this song. I put together the video for listening purposes only. I hope you fall in love with The Killers and discover more of their music for yourself. Listen and be inspired.