Kick Out the Jams: The Killers at House of Blues, Sept. 19

Dapper in a dark suit, Gucci shoes and newly blond locks, Brandon Flowers strode onto the House of Blues stage Sunday night and snapped the mic from its stand. "Hello, we're called the Killers," he said coyly, eliciting a thunderous roar from the crowd. It was an unnecessary introduction, considering the 1,800 howling fans at his feet subsequently sang along to every lyric he uttered over the next hour. And so commenced a triumphant homecoming for Las Vegas' biggest rock export.

Kicking off with the energetic "Jenny Was a Friend of Mine," the Killers blasted through 10 guitar-and-synth pop songs from their hotly selling debut, Hot Fuss. Sure, the quartet's songs rely on paths already heavily trod by Duran Duran, the Psychedelic Furs and other Brits who were last on the charts during Margaret Thatcher's prime ministry. But they constantly pulled off brilliant bits of originality that kept them from sounding like an '80s cover band, even when channeling The Cure on "Andy, You're a Star."

After burning through "On Top," Flowers referenced the Killers' last show here back in November, only months before they hit it big. That gig that drew one-sixth the crowd as Sunday's show. "This next song has been around a while. You might've heard it at Tramps or something," he said before launching into the melodramatic single "Mr. Brightside." Still bitter over the scant attention the Killers garnered here before making it elsewhere, Mr. Flowers? Methinks so. "The next one is for all of you that doubted," Flowers chided as an introduction to the band's world chart-conquering single "Somebody Told Me."

Sunday's winning performance was a stark contrast to the group's jittery gig at the Coachella Festival earlier this year. Flowers, who has a habit of magisterially perching a foot atop stage monitors while emoting, has now perfected his imitation of Joy Division's late frontman Ian Curtis, jerking his angular body in perfect lockstep to the beat.

For a finale, Flowers and company played the soulful anthem currently dominating the British charts, "All These Things I've Done." The sold-out crowd drowned out the band on the climactic chorus, chanting "I've got soul, but I'm not a soldier," kindling smiles from the hometown boys on stage. Before leaving, they seemed truly appreciative of the warm reception. Said Flowers: "You've all made us feel at home, which is how we should feel."--Jim Bialek