Today was our "Take over MTV day" @ MTV Studios in Times Square, New York. Where we transformed the studio into a version of our new stage show. First up was the regular TRL show. Where in our down time between takes we decided that the bands new look should spread to the crew. What do you think? Later on in the evening, was a listening party for competition winners to hear the new album. The plan was for the audience to be in a room hearing the album and for the CD to break down, so the crowd are led into another room to be surprised by the band waiting to play. So these lucky few were treated to a 10 song set in very intimate surroundings. Afterwards i saw the near legendary TRL Photobooth which celebs use to take photos that end up on the walls backstage. So of course i had to get in and take my own pic....Dont think they will be adding me to the wall anytime soon though Oh Well!! Here is a funky shot of the wall of the studio with the album artwork on it taken through the crystal ball on Brandons new keyboard stand "The Claw" And one of the new Sams Town logo sign
Back in New York again after a show at the Virgin Festival in Baltimore, Maryland with Red Hot Chilli Peppers, The Who, Flaming Lips, Scissor Sisters, The Raconteurs, Gnarls Barkley, Wolfmother, Kasabian amongst others. So back to New York where i spent a day off finally seeing Monty Pythons Spamalot, which was hilarious. I recommend it for everyone. Before heading off to see Flaming Lips at Hammerstein Ballroom. One of the best shows ive seen in quite a while. A show full of confetti cannons, balloons, laser lights and people dressed as superheros, Santa and Aliens!! While its been something theyve done for quite a while now, the intro to the show is still quite funny and unique!! As an experiment the band hit upon an idea to give everyone in the audience a keyring sized laser pen and having us all point them at the stage at a specific point when singer Wayne Coyne held a mirror and reflected them all around the venue. It looked pretty good on the night but this video doesnt really do it justice unfortunately.
Hey Hello again form New York, New York. We`ve been here for a couple of days now after arriving here from Paris (Where i lost my my Luggage again-well the airline lost it) So after 2 days in bed recovering from flu thanks to the sharing of rooms with a diseased monitor guy in Europe, its show day again. Todays gig was another last minute announced secret show at Webster Hall. Went well, tried out some new set design ideas. Off to Baltimore in about an hour or so for V festival tomorrow with The Who, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Gnarls Barkley to name but a few!!
So After 4 days at home to do my Taxes and suchlike, it was off to Germany to meet up with the tour again. First up was def the smallest show ive ever done with The Killers. Club in Cologne held about 250 people at most and was sweaty as hell. Onwards to Berlin and a more flettering 1000 capacity show at the E-WERK club which app is one of Germanys most famous clubs for the huge dance music scene that has always flourished here. This was quite a good show. Goes some way to dispelling the myth that the Killers arent popular here (Which i think came from the fact that due to some rather bad luck we have had to postpone shows in Germany twice last year due to illness, not much that can be done bout that just unfort that it happened both times here). These shows are in no way a reflection of the bands appeal here, they are free promo shows to create some buzz about the Album before its release. When we come back in November we will be playing much bigger places. After the show we managed to grab about 3 hours sleep before a 4.30am lobby call to fly to Bologna, Italy for an MTV show in front of 50,000 people. Or so we thought, after 2 hours flight and 3 hours drive we found ourselves on site for soundcheck when the sky opened and it proceded to rain torrentially for the next 17 hours straight. Unfort due to this, the crowd size never really reached its prospective target but the band played on nonetheless to at least 10'000 people who seemed to have a great time. You can see highlights from the show on www.mtv.it So after another plane journey we are now in London for a show tomorrow and then Paris on tues before hitting the Skies again to cross over to New York on Weds.
So, here we go then. Almost a year since The Killers wound up touring for "Hot Fuss", The Sams Town World Tour 06/07 kicked off in Blackpool last night. The band have been hard at it doing promo and secret club shows for a couple weeks now but last night was kind of the first "real" show at the 4000 capacity Empress Ballroom. The show was basically the UK introduction to the new album, and its sounding pretty damn good. Show was great and will be broadcast on BBC Radio1 on Sun 10th September at 7pm GMT. They played a good mix of songs from both albums. This upcoming tour of America should be great.
Also after the show i got to meet a genuine hero of mine...
Yes, the one and only Tim Burton. Director of such movies as Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood, Batman, Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, Sleepy Hollow and of course the man behind Corpse Bride and Nightmare Before Christmas. He is currently working on the promo video for The Killers next single "Bones", i cant wait to see that. A very nice and friendly guy and was a great experience to get to speak to him. Cant wait to see Nightmare Before Christmas in 3D when it is released in October. He seems to think it is going to be amazing and seems extremely enthusiastic about it.
But anyway enough of that. im off home for a couple of days before joining up with the tour again in Germany on Thurs, speak to you then.
So, with one tour ending, another one begins soon. I just did something i havent done for almost 4 years...Took a holiday. After a week off in Barcelona relaxing and chilling out in one of my favourite cities in the world i think im ready to not work again for a while but unfort its not be....
I also went to see the best gig that ive seen in a long time.
Pearl Jam at Pavello Olimpico de Badalona A 2 and Half hour show with a great mix of old and new songs.
Home now for a couple of days to deal with the pleasure of Tax returns and all that. Got a one off show this weekend before heading off on tour again in a couple of weeks. So ill talk to ya`ll soon i hope!
So there you have it!! After 96 shows and about 100,000 miles under our belt its time to bid adieu to Arctic Monkeys for this year as touring for this album came to an end with a burst last weekend with the Reading and Leeds festivals where the band played to theyre biggest audiences yet as they played second on the Main stage to Muse in front of an estimated 65,000 people. But first there was a couple of unannounced secret shows. Firstly in Barnsley at the Citrus Rooms for 500 people then onto the Forum in London for 1500 people Also tonight was the night that the band surprised all the crew by presenting us with Platinum Discs commemorating the sales of the album as a thank you. So, onto the last 2 festivals of the year, here is some footage from Reading Festival.
And then onto the last show this year where we were able to meet up with Andy for the first time since he parted company with the band back in May. It was good to see him. So thats it all over, here is a list of where we've been this year.
January 23 Dublin Ambassador Theatre 24 Dublin Ambassador Theatre 25 Belfast Ulster Hall 27 Glasgow Academy 28 Edinburgh Corn Exchange 29 Newcastle Academy 31 Nottingham Rock City
Feburary 1 Leeds University 2 Liverpool University 4 Manchester Academy 5 Manchester Academy 7 Sheffield Octagon 8 Birmingham Academy 9 Norwich UEA 11 Cardiff Great Hall 12 Cambridge Corn Exchange 13 Bristol Academy 15 Portsmouth Guildhall 16 Brighton Dome 17 London Carling Brixton Academy
April 13 Nottingham, Rock City 14 Glasgow, Academy 15 Newcastle, Academy 17 Bournemouth, BIC 18 Plymouth, Pavillions 19 Wolverhampton, Civic 21 Newport, Centre 22 Sheffield, Magna Centre 23 Blackpool, Empress Ballroom 26 Cambridge, Corn Exchange 27 London, Brixton Academy 29 Bourges, France 30 Lyon, Transbordeur
MAY 2 Paris, Batacian 3 Nantes, Olympic 4 Mannheim, Delta Connection 6 Cologne, E-Werk 7 Amsterdam, Paradiso 8 Munster, Jovel 9 Dresden, Alter Schiachthof 11 Munich, Gr. Elserhalle 12 Modena, Vox 13 Milan, Rolling Stone 14 Marseille, Le Theatre du Moulin 16 Barcelona, Razzamatzz 17 Madrid, Sala Heineken 18 Lisbon, Garage 27 Vancouver, Commodore 28 Sasquatch Festival, Washington 29 Portland, Roseland 31 San Francisco, Warfield
JUNE 2 San Diego, Soma - CA 3 Los Angeles, Wiltern - CA 4 Tempe, Marquee - AZ 6 Dallas, Granada - TX 7 Austin, Stubbs - TX 8 Houston, Warehouse – TX 10 Atlanta, Roxy - GA 11 Norfolk, Norva - VA 12 Baltimore, Sonar - MD 14 New York, Roseland – NY 15 Boston, Avalon - MA 16 Montreal, Le Medley 17 Toronto, Kool Haus 23 Hurricane Festival, Germany 24 Columbia, Berlin 25 Southside Festival, Germany 30 Belfort, France
JULY 1 Werchter Festival, Belgium 2 Roskilde Festival, Denmark 4 Quart Festival, Norway 5 Accelerator Gotebourg, Sweden 6 Accelerator Stockholm, Sweden 8 Oxegen Festival, Ireland 9 T In The Park, Scotland 28 Auckland, St James Theatre, New Zealand 30 Perth, Metro City, Australia
AUGUST 1 Adelaide, Thebarton Theatre, Australia 2 Melbourne, The Palace, Australia 3 Melbourne, The Palace, Australia 5 Brisbane, The Arena, Australia 6 Brisbane, The Arena, Australia 8 Sydney, Enmore Theatre, Australia 9 Sydney, Enmore Theatre, Australia 12 Summersonic, Osaka, Japan 13 Summersonic, Tokyo, Japan 18 Frequency Festival, Salzburg, Austria 19 Pukkelpop, Belgium 20 Lowlands Festival, Holland 23 Citrus Rooms, Barnsley 24 The Forum, London 26 Carling Festival, Reading 27 Carling Festival, Leeds
So, a big thank you to Matt, Jamie, Alex, Andy, Nick, Timm, Geoff, Ian, Clarkey, Scottie, Nigel, Scoot, John, Will, Oliboy, Iestyn, Craig, Jay, Bryan, Rich, Rambo, Buzz and everyone at Siyan, SSE, Popcorn Catering, Stardes Trucking, 13 Management and anyone else who we have worked with this year. Hope to see you all again some time. All The best!!
Oh Well!!
