BRAZIL - No "K"

For anyone who was at the Brazil show and was seemingly a little put out by the fact that the "K" keyboard stand didnt light up during the show. You may have a couple of little rain clouds that passed during the day. well that good old downpour fried some of the equipment we need to run different aspects of the show. We got everything switched off and hoped for it to dry out. We tested the "K" right before the band went on and it seemed like it was going to work but during the first song it blew again and that was it dead for the night.

These are the risks you take with outdoor shows im afraid

South America

So after our Caribbean fun we were off to South America for our ever visit to Colombia. The show was in Parque Jaime Duque about an hour outside of downtown Bogota. After load in was done we went for a little stroll around the area and saw just how seriously the local police take the security of the venue. All the regular security guys were armed guards and the Police outside were dressed up like something out of Robocop.



We also saw some nice quaint taxi's


and some rather "tasty" looking local BBQ



The craziest part about this show was that the doors to the venue opened at 6pm and The Killers didn't go onstage until 11pm with no opening bands and just a DJ to entertain the crowd for the 5 hours. It did nothing to dampen the audiences spirits though and they were well up for the show once the guys hit the stage.



We were a little perplexed after the show to find the bottle of Vodka on the bands dressing room rider came in its own studded leather case. Just a little bit odd if you ask me


After the show it was back to the hotel where i was slightly confused as to why my hotel desk had a large 1980's style calculator on it.


Next morning i was given a rather unique wake up call as even from my 7th floor room it sounded like this old steam train was about to come in through my window


Next day we were off to Lima, Peru for a couple of days R&R before the next show. As this was our first trip to peru we were a little hesitant as to what the reaction would be but from the people who were at the airport to the fans camped outside the hotel for the 4 days we were there.


Across the road from our hotel was a shopping mall with various resturants and shops as well as a cinema and a club called Gothica where we all went to a gig by singer/songwriter Donovan Frankenreiter. It was however a little weird seeing Christmas decorations so early in the year.


Also around the area were a bunch of the cow sculptures that are now dotted all around the world. Here is a couple of my particular favourites




The next day was spent going around the Old Town part of Lima and taking in the sites.




Another Day.......another Day Off!! Easy Life on Tour eh!!
So off to the skies we took

Thats me Paragliding over the roof of our hotel.

Next up was some lunch......Manwich anyone???


All washed down by Peru's national soft drink........Inca Kola....and yes it really is that colour. Its quite tasty though


We were getting closer to show day so there was only time for last tourist sight and so off i went to Parque De Reserva to see the fountains.


My particular favourite was the walk through one.


They also do a fountain light and laser show every 45 mins after dark. Unfortunately my camera died so i had to track down some other footage on youtube



So finally we had a show to do, crazy idea eh!!
It was in a pretty cool location tooked into the side of the mountains just outside Lima.


And the show lived up the setting with the best audience so far....which is really saying something after the previous bunch of shows.




The peruvian fans also sent this rather great gift backstage for the band. Apparently it is a traditonal gift called a Ayacuchana



So after all the Pisco Sours we could handle at the aftershow party it time for some sleep before we headed off to Sao Paulo, Brazil.

This turned out to be one of those days where sods law says if you play outdoors its gonna rain.....not in Brazil tho surely?? Unfortunately so. The rain was so heavy on the after noon of the show that by the time it stopped the site resembled a mud pile and not a concert venue.




Some of that mud and water was up to 10 inches deep but those people stood in for 4 hours before the band took to the stage and wouldnt you know as soon as they did it started raining again but every one stayed and battled through the elements for another great show.


So after getting back to the hotel and attempting to dry off and warm up a little we were off to Punte Del Este in Uruguay for 4 days at a resort while we waited for the next show to roll around. Or were we?????
After driving an hour to the airport we discovered that our flight had been cancelled and the next flight wasnt for another 10 hours. Luckily the airline had managed to secure us some rooms in a local hotel so we sat there and waited to head back to the airport to try it all again. Luckily there was only a minor delay to the later flight and we managed to get on our way. So after a 3 hour flight, customs, immigration and a 90 min drive we finally arrived at the resort at 5am. Just a little later than our original projected time of 8pm. Oh well, what can ya do eh!!

South of The Border......Down Mexico Way

So after a month off at home not doing very much besides playing Playstation and catching up with friends and a great 10 day vacation in California and Vegas it was off to Mexico for the first of the shows to make up the last leg of the year.
The next month will see us visit 11 countries playing 16 shows along the way as well as sitting on a lot of planes and mini van seats. First up we were off to Monterrey for a show at Monterrey Arena, a venue we had played before on the Sams Town tour, as were all the venues in Mexico. This has been a very passionate audience for the band and these shows were no different with the crowd in fantastic voice throughout. After the show we were off to a party at the Nirvana Rock Club before the idea was had that a Mariachi band was needed to carry on the party at the hotel so off into the main square someone drove and within an hour we had a full on Mariachi band playing in the lobby of the hotel.


Next up we were off to Guadalajara for another great show at the Auditorio Telemex. Unfort some of the crew have been struck down by illness on this run so we were pulling together to make the shows happen while people recovered. We did however manage to find one of the best steak places i've ever eaten at down a side street bizarrely enough. couldnt tell you the name but i could direct you if you ever get there. Next day we were off to Mexico City for 2 shows at the Sports Palace arena, or as everyone calls it.

The Armadillo


We also stayed one of my favourite hotels. The W Hotel in Mexico City. Simply, it has a hammock in the shower people. What more do you want.


Although i was a little surprised to see that they had spikes on the window ledge of my 12th story room. Can only make me wonder what happend before that they needed them?


As always you hear the horror stories of Mexico City and kidnapping of foreign tourists, im afraid to say it does happen. As evidenced by this picture of the white van which was driving down the street with 2 men in hoods in the back with door ready to fling open at an opportune moment.


Anyway, we all made it safely through the day off dinner at Charisma's, a little mexican cantina not too far from the hotel and it was off to show #1. As always the crowd was great and the band played a great show. Mexico City has always been a great place to go bootleg merch shopping as its not just a few guys with yellowing teeth and some cheap t-shirts on the ground. Here, they take it very seriously with full on markets springing up outside the venue selling everything from t-shirts to zippo lighters, posters, stickers, DVDs and even Killers Licensce plate holders. And its all great quality too!!!

I even bought a hoodie!!!


10 Dollars!!!


Anywho, on the tour Brandon has been trying to get out into the crowd more and more whenever possible so when we had a security all the to the FOH lighting position in Mexico City it seemed like a perfect idea.
Now suddenly the people at the back of the arena who had previously been looking at my ass all night(the lucky ones eh)
now had a close up view for one song as we built a small platform inside the lighting/sound desk area at the back of the venue


Next up we were of to San Juan, Puerto Rico for a few days on the beach before the show at the Coliseum Arena


As well as a day hiking up in the rain forest to a couple of waterfalls. If you ever make it to San Juan then def make the hours drive to El Yunque rainforest national park. the views are amazing.


We hiked a little while to Cocoa Falls


Before moving onwards to La Mina Falls where you can actually go for a swim. The water moves pretty quickly under those falls i can tell ya


Oh, imagine my horror when i awoke the next day to realise that i actually had to do a show. Some people eh.....


Off to work we went then and a big pop show happened that evening....just about. San Juan presented me with a lighting crew who managed to bypass the record for most or missing broken equipment ever. As we are not carrying any lighting with us on this tour, i have to make do with whatever each venue can hire for us everyday. Out of my normal rig if about 90 lights for an arena show of this size, these guys managed to make sure i was without 33 of them by the time the show started and the attitude towards fixing was, how do i say this nicely??? LAZY!!!!!!!

Oh well, these things are sent to try me.

Onwards we go to the Dominican republic for a show in a football stadium that apparently was entirely sponsored by some drinks company!! Hmmmm!! Everywhere you looked there was signs for Dewars Scotch

The stage was also one of the smallest we have had to do a show on in quite a while so that's always fun. The pyro cue in WYWY looked a little small tonight



The Domincan Republic is full of the usual imagery you think you would see such as armed guards outside hotels

and people carrying produce on top of their heads.

Although it does have some of the best year round golf courses in the world, it also has a large seperation between the upper and lower classes in terms of wealth and crime is a major problem. It also shares it landmass with Haiti at the other end of the island.

So theres some useless information for you.....you'll thank me if it ever comes up in a pub quiz though wont you !!!

US Tour Wrap up

So, after the show in the Dodge Theatre in Phoenix, it was time for a 2 day drive to Florida. The first 16 hour drive went reasonably quickly before a 10 hour stop in Austin, Texas for dinner and a few drinks on the riverwalk before drive part 2 started. After another 12 hour drive we were stopping in pensacola, Florida for another 10 hour stop. Not a whole lot to do in Pensacola apparently but luckily there was an arena across the street from the hotel so a few of us piled over to see the Walking With Dinosaurs show. Its a little cheesy at times but its worth a look. Especially if you are bringing children. After that stop was over it was back onto the bus for the last leg of the drive to orlando for the show at the UCF Arena. Luckily we were playing the new room and the one we played on SAMS TOWN a few years back. UCF is a huge campus so it was out with the folding bikes and off for a cycle around the area. Next up was a show at the Sundome in Tampa, a venue we have now played on each album so far before pushing onwards to the final show in Miami at the American Airlines Arena. As we have been having quite a few cookouts on this tour we decided it would rude not to have a massive one for everyone on the last day. We even had Brandon helping out with the cooking. The boy makes some good chicken marinade i can tell ya



As it was the last night of the US tour as well as the last show with our friends from CHAIRLIFT, the guys decided to have a bit of fun and play a cover of "Under The Milkyway" by The Church




With the show and now the US tour over we're done with shows for a while right? Nope!!! Off to the Delano hotel on Miami's South Beach for a performance at the after show party. here's a video of the guys doing "Girls Just Wanna have Fun" and "Mr Brightside-the Remix".




So that is def the end of the US tour and with a month off coming up we all go our seperate ways, one person who won't be re-joining the tour however is our long time monitor engineer Clarke La Plante who has decided a change is as good as a rest and is heading off on tour with our friends EDITORS and we wish him all the best for his future with them.

Next morning it was off to Miami airport where it was a fantastic 34 degrees Celsius at 10.45am and after 2 flights, 2 car crashes, a severely delayed flight and a lost bag i arrived back in Dublin where it was a slightly chillier 4 degrees C.

Oh well, time to break out the winter jacket i guess!!!!!