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Imploding the Mirage Tour
Imploding the Mirage Tour
Imploding the Mirage Tour
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Imploding the Mirage Tour
Tour by The Killers
Tour poster for United Kingdom dates
Location
  • Europe
  • North America
  • Oceania
  • South America
Associated album
Start dateAugust 19, 2021
End dateDecember 2, 2023
Legs9
No. of shows
  • 63 in North America
  • 13 in Latin America
  • 37 in Europe
  • 12 in Oceania
  • 125 in total
Supporting acts
The Killers concert chronology

The Imploding the Mirage Tour was the sixth major concert tour by American rock band The Killers. The tour supported their sixth and seventh studio albums Imploding the Mirage (2020) and Pressure Machine (2021). The tour began at the Terminal 5 in New York City on August 19, 2021, and ended at Interlagos Circuit in São Paulo on December 2, 2023.[1][2][3]

Background

[edit]

Announcements and tour itinerary

[edit]

The tour was initially announced in November 2019, with a series of stadium concerts in the UK and Ireland in May and June 2020.[4] This was followed by announcements for multiple festival and arena shows across Europe in summer 2020. However, in April 2020, the band were forced to postpone the shows due to the COVID-19 pandemic, rescheduling them to summer 2021.[5] Further pandemic restrictions forced the band to postpone the shows again in March 2021, moving them to summer 2022.[6]

Following the announcement of the band's seventh studio album, Pressure Machine, in July 2021, the band also added a number of dates across North America between August and October 2022 to the tour.[7] The tour began with a series of warm-up shows in the United States between August and December 2021, which also coincided with the release of Pressure Machine.

In November 2021, the band further extended the tour by announcing dates in Mexico in April 2022, and in Australia and New Zealand in November and December 2022.[8][9]

In February 2022, the band announced that the tour would begin with three intimate shows at Las Vegas' Cosmopolitan Hotel in April 2022.[10] This preceded the tour's first stadium shows in Mexico in April and May. The tour then continued on to the UK and Ireland in May and June 2022, and in April the band announced that the UK tour would begin with an intimate warm-up show at the O2 Academy Sheffield.[11] The tour then continued on throughout Europe and to North America during the summer of 2022.

In August and September, the band announced a further leg of the tour into South America in November 2022, with shows in Colombia, Chile and Brazil.[12][13][14] This was followed by their previously announced tour of Australia and New Zealand in November and December 2022.

In December 2022, the band confirmed that the tour would continue into 2023. This began with the a series of shows in the United States throughout the year, followed by the announcement that the band would tour the UK and Ireland again in August and September 2023, most notably with headline slots at the Reading and Leeds Festivals.[15][16]

In July 2023, the band announced that the tour would end with a headline slot at Primavera Sound in São Paulo in December.[17]

Highlights

[edit]

At the first of two shows at London's Emirates Stadium on June 3, 2022, the band debuted the title track from their 2021 album Pressure Machine following a request from BBC Radio 2 DJ Jo Whiley, who was in attendance that night. Before performing the track, Flowers said, "Jo Whiley, she’s always championed us since the very beginning – she’s here tonight. She should have a jubilee, right? She said some wonderful things about this next song and she requested it tonight – if you don’t like it blame her. It’s called ‘Pressure Machine’." Whiley later said on Twitter that this was a "life highlight".[18]

The band's show in Manchester on June 11, 2022 attracted headlines after 67-year-old Doug James crowd-surfed to the front of the audience during the show and injured his head. Frontman Brandon Flowers embraced James after he was carried over the security barriers, and James later said it was “like his childhood [was] coming back” and it brought him “so much joy”.[19][20]

At their headline set at the Mad Cool Festival in Madrid in on July 7, 2022, the band debuted new track "boy" for the first time. Flowers introduced the new song by asking the crowd, "Do you wanna be the first to hear us play a new song right now? It goes like this."[21] A studio version of "boy" was later released on August 5.[22]

The following August, the band released another new single, "Your Side of Town", on August 25, 2023, on the weekend that they headlined Reading and Leeds Festivals. The song was debuted live the next day at Reading, on August 26.[23]

In November 2023, "boy" and "Your Side of Town" were confirmed to be included on the band's second greatest hits album, Rebel Diamonds. The third new track from Rebel Diamonds, "Spirit", was debuted live in São Paulo on November 30, the week before the song (and album) was released.[24]

Controversies

[edit]

On August 15, 2023, the band apologized after inviting an audience member from Russia to perform on drums for "For Reasons Unknown" during their concert in Batumi in Georgia, the band's first ever show in the country. After inviting the audience member on stage, frontman Brandon Flowers asked the crowd, "We don't know the etiquette of this land but this guy's a Russian. You OK with a Russian coming up here?", which was greeted with a mix of boos and cheers. Flowers later responded to crowd discontent by asking, "You can't recognize if someone's your brother? He's not your brother?", which led to further booing and a small percentage of fans walking out of the arena in protest. The band later issued an apology on their social media pages, stating "it was never our intention to offend anyone" and recognizing that Flowers' comments "could be misconstrued".[25][26][27]

Critical reception

[edit]

The tour received widespread acclaim from music critics.

Reviewing their second performance at the Emirates Stadium in London in 2022, Thomas Smith of NME awarded the band four stars, commenting that they strike the balance between "humble and grateful; bombastic and flashy" and that frontman Brandon Flowers has "Jagger-level bundles of energy and a similar magnetism". Smith particularly praised the additions to the set list from the Imploding the Mirage album.[28] Jenessa Williams of The Guardian also gave the band four stars for their intimate warm-up show at the O2 Academy in Sheffield prior to the start of the UK and Ireland leg of the tour in 2022, noting that the band overcame issues with the venue's sound system and consequently that "tonight’s cage might not have been as grand as the Killers are used to, but with 20 years of practice and the crowd on their side, they’re still coming out of it with style".[29]

These sentiments were echoed in reviews of the band's headline set at the 2023 Reading and Leeds Festivals. NME's Andrew Trendell called "Mr. Brightside" "a fitting showstopper of showmanship to a set that could run as a Vegas residency for the rest of time" in his four-star review of the performance.[30] The i newspaper's Ali Shutler awarded the same number of stars in his review, remarking that "The Killers’ music remains universal and timeless" and praising the band's balance between "a sense of nostalgia" and "fresh-faced excitement".[31]

Set list

[edit]

This set list is representative of the show on May 24, 2022 in Doncaster. It is not intended to represent all shows from the tour.[32]

  1. "My Own Soul's Warning"
  2. "Enterlude"
  3. "When You Were Young"
  4. "Jenny Was a Friend of Mine"
  5. "Smile Like You Mean It"
  6. "Shot at the Night"
  7. "Blowback"
  8. "Running Towards a Place"
  9. "Mr. Brightside"
  10. "Somebody Told Me"
  11. "Fire in Bone"
  12. "Shadowplay"
  13. "Run for Cover"
  14. "Runaway Horses"
  15. "A Dustland Fairytale"
  16. "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"
  17. "Runaways"
  18. "Read My Mind"
  19. "Dying Breed
  20. "Caution" (with "Rut Segue intro")
Encore
  2. "Spaceman"
  3. "Human"
  4. "Midnight Show"
  5. "All These Things That I've Done"

Special guests

[edit]

Midnight show

[edit]

This set list is representative of the show on November 21, 2022 at Auckland Town Hall. It is not intended to represent all shows from the tour.[40]

  1. "Midnight Show"
  2. "Shadowplay" (Joy Division cover)
  3. "Human"
  4. "Bling (Confession of a King)"
  5. "Cody"
  6. "Pressure Machine"
  7. "This River Is Wild"
  8. "Bones"
  9. "The Way It Was"
  10. "Run for Cover"
  11. "From Here on Out"
  12. "Mr. Brightside"
  13. "When You Were Young"

Tour dates

[edit]
List of concerts, showing date, city, country, venue, opening act, attendance, and gross revenue
Date City Country Venue Opening act(s) Attendance[citation needed] Revenue[citation needed]
Leg 1 — Warm-up shows
August 19, 2021[a] New York City United States Terminal 5 N/a — —
September 20, 2021[a] Newport PromoWest Pavilion at Ovation — —
September 21, 2021[a] Bethlehem Wind Creek Event Center — —
September 22, 2021[a] Philadelphia Franklin Music Hall — —
September 24, 2021[b] Dover Dover Motor Speedway — —
December 7, 2021[a] Chicago Aragon Ballroom Girl in Red
The Backseat Lovers 		— —
Leg 2 — North America
April 15, 2022 Las Vegas United States The Chelsea Bellroom N/a — —
April 16, 2022
April 17, 2022
April 26, 2022 Monterrey Mexico Arena Monterrey Dawes 28,000 / 28,000 $1,341,987
April 27, 2022
April 29, 2022 Mexico City Foro Sol 64,511 / 64,511 $3,609,174
May 1, 2022 Zapopan Estadio Tres de Marzo 26,293 / 26,293 $1,876,660
Leg 3 — Europe[41]
May 17, 2022[a] Sheffield England O2 Academy Sheffield N/a — —
May 24, 2022 Doncaster Eco-Power Stadium Blossoms 22,785 / 22,785 $2,048,923
May 26, 2022 Bristol Ashton Gate Stadium Manic Street Preachers 31,191 / 31,191 $2,925,349
May 28, 2022 Coventry Coventry Building Society Arena 35,116 / 37,340 $3,050,248
May 30, 2022 Southampton St Mary's Stadium Blossoms 31,149 / 31,149 $2,752,912
June 1, 2022 Middlesbrough Riverside Stadium Manic Street Preachers 30,090 / 30,090 $2,635,898
June 3, 2022 London Emirates Stadium Sam Fender 111,230 / 111,230 $10,911,412
June 4, 2022
June 6, 2022 Falkirk Scotland Falkirk Stadium Blossoms 51,066 / 51,950 $4,594,931
June 7, 2022 Supergrass
June 9, 2022 Norwich England Carrow Road Blossoms 25,236 / 25,236 $2,278,661
June 11, 2022 Manchester Emirates Old Trafford 50,000 / 50,000 $4,248,038
June 14, 2022 Malahide Ireland Malahide Castle 49,779 / 49,779 $3,624,422
June 15, 2022
June 17, 2022[c] Scheeßel Germany Eichenring N/a N/a N/a
June 18, 2022[d] Neuhausen ob Eck Neuhausen ob Eck Airfield
June 20, 2022[e] Zagreb Croatia Lake Jarun
June 21, 2022[f] Milan Italy Hippodromo de San Siro
June 22, 2022[g] Sopron Hungary Volt Festival Grounds
July 2, 2022[h] Gdynia Poland Gdynia-Kosakowo Airport
July 3, 2022[i] Werchter Belgium Werchter Festivalpark
July 5, 2022 Paris France Grande Seine Orville Peck — —
July 7, 2022[j] Madrid Spain Caja Mágica N/a N/a N/a
July 8, 2022[k] Bilbao Kobetamendi
July 10, 2022[l] Esch-sur-Alzette Luxembourg Rockhal
July 12, 2022 Vienna Austria Wiener Stadthalle The Lathums 9,766 / 10,744 $578,384
July 14, 2022[m] Ostrava Czech Republic Lower Vítkovice N/a N/a N/a
July 16, 2022 Amsterdam Netherlands Ziggo Dome The Lathums 10,196 / 10,196 $602,909
Leg 4 — North America
August 19, 2022 Vancouver Canada Rogers Arena Johnny Marr 11,231 / 11,322 $695,087
August 20, 2022 Seattle United States Climate Pledge Arena 13,968 / 14,086 $915,737
August 21, 2022 Portland Moda Center 11,689 / 11,689 $739,480
August 23, 2022 San Francisco Chase Center 12,204 / 12,204 $1,155,687
August 24, 2022 San Diego Pechanga Arena 10,289 / 11,036 $650,784
August 26, 2022 Las Vegas T-Mobile Arena 15,139 / 15,453 $1,254,680
August 27, 2022 Los Angeles Banc of California Stadium 23,439 / 23,439 $2,068,055
August 28, 2022 Glendale Gila River Arena 12,870 / 13,160 $629,255
August 30, 2022 Salt Lake City Vivint Arena 9,780 / 10,368 $747,177
August 31, 2022 Denver Ball Arena 11,168 / 11,397 $879,854
September 9, 2022 Austin Moody Center 10,828 / 10,828 $880,630
September 10, 2022 Fort Worth Dickies Arena 12,964 / 13,225 $737,731
September 13, 2022 Miami FTX Arena 11,694 / 11,694 $835,336
September 14, 2022 Orlando Amway Center 11,316 / 12,037 $589,336
September 16, 2022 Atlanta State Farm Arena 10,061 / 10,061 $670,989
September 17, 2022 Nashville Bridgestone Arena 14,413 / 14,607 $775,784
September 20, 2022 Saint Paul Xcel Energy Center 10,306 / 11,107 $659,002
September 21, 2022 Chicago United Center 13,690 / 13,690 $1,075,009
September 23, 2022 Toronto Canada Scotiabank Arena 13,827 / 13,827 $905,524
September 24, 2022 Montreal Bell Centre 11,374 / 11,374 $631,181
September 26, 2022 Verona United States Turning Stone Event Center 4,318 / 4,706 $355,800
September 27, 2022 Philadelphia Wells Fargo Center 12,455 / 12,455 $833,158
September 30, 2022 New York City Madison Square Garden 26,206 / 26,206 $1,813,218
October 1, 2022
October 3, 2022 Boston TD Garden 12,582 / 12,582 $1,048,683
October 4, 2022 University Park Bryce Jordan Center 8,662 / 9,298 $596,756
October 7, 2022 Cleveland Wolstein Center 11,022 / 11, 130 $793,407
October 8, 2022 Detroit Little Caesars Arena 14,334 / 14,334 $804,602
October 10, 2022 Washington, D.C. Capital One Arena 14,013 / 14,013 $851,458
October 12, 2022 The Anthem 6,000 / 6,000 $851,458
Leg 5 — South America
November 8, 2022 Bogotá Colombia Coliseo Live Hot Chip 12,441 / 12,441 $842,131
November 10, 2022[n] Santiago Chile Estadio Santa Laura N/a — —
November 12, 2022[o] São Paulo Brazil Allianz Parque —
November 14, 2022 Brasília Arena BRB Mané Garrincha Capital Inicial
Raimundos
Jovem Dionisio 		— —
Leg 6 — Oceania[42]
November 21, 2022 Auckland New Zealand Spark Arena Jack Ladder 11,380 / 11,380 $921,320
Auckland Town Hall[40] — 1,000 / 1,000 —
November 25, 2022 Christchurch Christchurch Arena Jack Ladder 8,120 / 8,120 $725,779
November 29, 2022 Brisbane Australia Brisbane Entertainment Centre Alex Cameron 21,863 / 22,191 $2,049,085
November 30, 2022
December 3, 2022[p] Tanunda Peter Lehmann Wines Jack Ladder 7,893 / 7,893 $728,840
December 4, 2022[43] Adelaide Adelaide 500 — — —
December 6, 2022 Perth RAC Arena Alex Cameron 14,626 / 14,626 $1,409,580
December 10, 2022[q] Geelong Mount Dundeed Estate Jack Ladder

Alex Cameron

20,000 / 20,000 $1,967,667
December 13, 2022 Melbourne Rod Laver Arena Alex Cameron 21,619 / 22,733 $2,330,757
December 14, 2022
December 17, 2022 Pokolbin Hope Estate Jack Ladder

Alex Cameron

19,079 / 19,079 $1,839,059
December 19, 2022 Sydney Qudos Bank Arena Alex Cameron 15,513 / 16,316 $1,464,272
Leg 7 — North America [44]
December 31, 2022 Las Vegas United States The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas Me Nd Adam — —
March 16, 2023 Atlantic City Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena The Lemon Twigs — —
March 17, 2023 Uncasville Mohegan Sun Arena 6,684 / 6,684 $774,265
March 19, 2023 [r] Pittsburgh Petersen Events Center The Lemon Twigs
Ted Sablay 		— —
March 21, 2023 Columbus Schottenstein Center — —
March 22, 2023 [s] St. Louis Chaifetz Arena — —
March 24, 2023 Durant Choctaw Grand Theater — —
March 30, 2023 Tlajomulco de Zuñiga Mexico Arena VFG TBA — —
April 1, 2023 Mexico City Palacio de los Deportes — —
April 2, 2023[t] Monterrey Parque Fundidora N/a N/a N/a
May 5, 2023 [u] [45] Atlanta United States Central Park — — —
May 7, 2023 [v] West Palm Beach West Palm Beach — — —
May 8, 2023 St. Augustine St. Augustine Amphitheatre TBA — —
May 11, 2023 Gary Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana — —
May 12, 2023 [w] Omaha Steelhouse Omaha — — —
May 14, 2023 [x] Houston Toyota Center The Lemon Twigs — —
July 13, 2023 [46] Minneapolis First Avenue — —
July 14, 2023 [y] [47] Target Field — — —
Leg 8 — Europe [48]
August 15, 2023 Shekvetili Georgia Black Sea Arena N/a — —
August 18, 2023 [z] Bratislava Slovakia Vajnory Airport — —
August 20, 2023 [aa] Hasselt Belgium Kempische Steenweg — —
August 23, 2023 [ab] Zurich Switzerland Festivalgelände Glattbrugg — —
August 26, 2023 [ac] Reading England Little John's Farm — —
August 27, 2023 [ad] Leeds Bramham Park — —
August 29, 2023 Edinburgh Scotland Royal Highland Centre Johnny Marr — —
September 1, 2023 Belfast Northern Ireland Boucher Road Playing Fields — —
September 3, 2023 [ae] County Laois Ireland Stradbally Hall — — —
Leg 9 — North America
September 15, 2023 [af] Louisville United States Kentucky Expo Center — — —
September 16, 2023 [ag] Asbury Park Asbury Park — — —
September 18, 2023 [49] Reno Grand Sierra Resort Joshua Ray Walker — —
September 19, 2023 [50] — —
September 21, 2023 [51] Highland Yaamava' Resort & Casino — —
September 22, 2023 [ah] Las Vegas Downtown Las Vegas — — —
September 27, 2023 Wheatland Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sacramento — —
September 29, 2023 [ai] Dana Point Doheny State Beach — — —
October 18, 2023 Austin Emo's — —
October 20, 2023 [aj] Circuit of the Americas N/A — —
Leg 10 — South America
November 30, 2023 São Paulo Brazil Tokio Marine Hall — —
December 2, 2023 [ak][17] Interlagos Circuit N/A — —

Cancelled shows

[edit]
List of cancelled concerts showing date, city, country, venue and reason for cancellation
Date City Country Venue Reason Ref.
August 21, 2021 New York City United States Great Lawn of Central Park Hurricane Henri [52]
September 30, 2021 Augusta-Richmond County William B. Bell Auditorium COVID-19
July 1, 2022 Stockholm Sweden Ladugardsgardet Aircraft mechanical problem
July 17, 2022[al] Moscow Russia Luzhniki Olympic Complex Russian invasion of Ukraine [53]

Personnel

[edit]

Credits adapted from LasVegasRoundTheClock[54] and Consequence of Sound[55]

The Killers

[edit]
  • Brandon Flowers - lead vocals, keyboards, piano, bass on "For Reasons Unknown"
  • Dave Keuning - lead guitar, backing vocals (did not appear on May 17 - June 22, 2022, returned to the tour on July 2, 2022 in Gdynia, Poland, absent in 2023 dates)
  • Ronnie Vannucci Jr. - drums, percussion, rhythm guitar on "For Reasons Unknown" (audience member on drums)

Additional musicians

[edit]
  • Ted Sablay - keyboards, rhythm guitar, lead guitar (May 17 - June 22, 2022 and 2023 dates), musical director, backing vocals
  • Jake Blanton - bass, backing vocals
  • Taylor Milne - rhythm guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Robbie Connolly - keyboards, rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Erica Canales - background vocals
  • Melissa Mcmillan - background vocals
  • Tori Allen - background vocals, violin, acoustic guitar

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Imploding the Mirage Tour

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The Imploding the Mirage Tour was the sixth major by the band , launched in support of their sixth studio album (2020) and seventh studio album (2021). Originally announced in conjunction with the release of , the tour faced multiple postponements due to the before commencing on April 15, 2022, with an opening show at the in . The tour encompassed over 100 dates across , , and the , featuring arena and stadium performances with elaborate stage production including custom visuals and lighting designed to evoke the of the supported albums. Special guests such as accompanied the band on select North American legs, while setlists blended new material from the recent albums with staples from ' catalog, including hits like "" and "." Concluding in December 2023, the tour marked the band's most extensive live outing since their 2017 promotion, drawing large crowds and generating significant revenue amid a post-pandemic resurgence in live music events.

Background and Announcement

Album Promotion and Initial Plans

The Killers announced their sixth studio album, Imploding the Mirage, on November 15, 2019, confirming its release for spring 2020 and tying the promotion directly to an accompanying stadium tour. The album's lead single, "Caution," had been released earlier that month on November 1, establishing a promotional narrative around themes of urgency and introspection, with frontman Brandon Flowers describing it as a return to the band's rock roots amid personal and societal pressures. Initial tour plans focused on nine stadium dates across the and , scheduled from May 29 to June 20, 2020, beginning at Manchester's Emirates Old Trafford and concluding at Dublin's . Support acts included for select dates, alongside and , positioning the outing as a high-profile return to large-scale live performances following the band's 2017 tour. These announcements generated immediate ticket sales buzz, with presales emphasizing the album's anticipated sound—produced by and —as a bridge between the band's early anthemic style and more recent experimental work. Promotion extended through social media teasers and music video releases, such as the cinematic rollout for "Caution," which featured desert imagery symbolic of the album's title and origins, aiming to build anticipation for both the record and tour visuals. No North American or additional international legs were detailed in the initial reveal, with the strategy centered on European headline status to capitalize on the band's strong fanbase there before broader expansion.

Itinerary Development

The itinerary for the Imploding the Mirage Tour was initially developed to align with the release of ' sixth studio album, , with the first announcements focusing on a major and stadium leg as the band's largest headline tour in those markets to date. On , 2019, alongside revealing the album title, the band confirmed dates for May and June 2020, including performances at in (two nights), Etihad Stadium in , Arena in , Cardiff's Principality Stadium, and in , supported by acts such as , , and . High demand prompted the addition of extra dates, with a third show at and an additional performance announced shortly after. Expansion beyond the and followed in early 2020, incorporating n arenas and an festivals to broaden global promotion of the album. On March 12, 2020, further dates were revealed, scheduling a n run beginning August 19, 2021 (later adjusted), with stops at venues like in , in (then known as KeyArena), in Portland, and in , featuring as a special guest. The full itinerary emphasized a progression from headline stadiums in core markets to arena tours in and festival slots across , aiming to maximize exposure for tracks like "Caution" and "My Own Soul's Warning" while leveraging the band's established draw in large-scale productions. This structured rollout reflected strategic planning around album rollout timelines, venue availability, and regional fan bases, with initial 2020 slots positioned post-album release (originally , delayed to ) to capitalize on promotional momentum. The tour's incorporated immersive production elements from the outset, as evidenced by early collaborations with firms like Moment Factory for visual and lighting concepts tailored to the itinerary's diverse venue types.

COVID-19 Disruptions

Postponements and Rescheduling

The Killers initially announced the Imploding the Mirage Tour in March 2020, with North American dates slated to begin in August and extend through September, alongside planned legs in and the /Ireland later in the year. However, amid escalating restrictions, the band postponed ticket sales for the North American and Australian portions on , 2020, citing the need to monitor developments. Specific shows, such as the September 23, 2020, performance at Chicago's , were formally postponed shortly thereafter, with new dates to be announced. In April 2020, the band explicitly postponed their and stadium dates—originally scheduled for late May and June—due to the , stating that "the single most important thing is that you all take care of yourselves and your loved ones." These were rescheduled for May and June 2021, with existing tickets honored and refunds offered through point of purchase. The decision followed government advisories and venue closures across , reflecting broader industry shutdowns. North American tour dates faced similar disruptions, with confirming in June 2020 the postponement of all remaining 2020 shows in that region and , as cases surged and live events were prohibited. Rescheduling details emerged gradually, prioritizing safety protocols over rushed resumptions. By March 2021, ongoing uncertainties—including rollout delays and variant concerns—prompted another postponement of the and leg from 2021 to summer 2022, with an additional Scottish date added. All original tickets remained valid, underscoring 's commitment to eventual execution despite repeated shifts. The tour ultimately launched in 2022, incorporating material from alongside later releases.

Logistical and Economic Effects

The necessitated multiple postponements of the Imploding the Mirage Tour, originally slated for summer and fall 2020, creating significant logistical hurdles in rebooking venues and coordinating international . Initial and stadium dates were shifted to May and June 2021, with further delays pushing them to 2022 due to persistent restrictions on large gatherings and venue closures. Specific instances, such as the September 23, 2020, performance at Chicago's , were indefinitely postponed amid ongoing health concerns, requiring promoters to manage inventory shifts and crew reassignments. These disruptions compounded challenges like securing work visas, transporting production equipment across borders, and adapting to fluctuating local regulations, which delayed the tour's full execution until April 2022. When rescheduled shows proceeded, additional logistical layers emerged, including mandatory health protocols that complicated entry and crowd management. For example, the band implemented requirements for proof of full vaccination alongside negative tests at select 2021 and 2022 performances, such as a New York warmup gig and a Washington, D.C., arena show, necessitating on-site verification systems and potential staffing increases. One planned 2021 in , on September 30—despite similar and testing mandates—was ultimately canceled, highlighting the unpredictability of localized outbreaks and venue readiness. Economically, the postponements deferred substantial touring revenue for the band and associated stakeholders, with initial North American and Australian ticket sales halted entirely in 2020 to assess developments. Existing ticket holders for rescheduled dates retained validity, but refunds were offered upon request, straining short-term cash flows for ticketing agents and promoters while processing administrative demands. The delays shifted promotional emphasis to sales and streaming for , released on August 21, 2020, amid halted live events, though mitigated some impacts by allocating portions of future ticket proceeds to service industry relief. Broader industry ripple effects included heightened production and costs post-delay, but the tour's eventual 2022-2023 run allowed recovery through sold-out arenas.

Tour Execution

Set Lists and Production Elements

The set lists for the Imploding the Mirage Tour emphasized tracks from the 2020 album of the same name while incorporating staples from The Killers' catalog, opening consistently with "My Own Soul's Warning" to highlight new material. A typical performance sequence, drawn from aggregated data across North American arena and stadium shows in 2022, included:
  • "My Own Soul's Warning" (Imploding the Mirage)
  • "Enterlude" (Sam's Town)
  • "Jenny Was a Friend of Mine" (Hot Fuss)
  • "Smile Like You Mean It" (Hot Fuss)
  • "Shot at the Night" (Direct Hits)
  • "Running Towards a Place" (Imploding the Mirage)
  • "When You Were Young" (Sam's Town)
  • "Bling (Confession of a King)" (Sam's Town)
  • "Human" (Day & Age)
  • "Blowback" (Imploding the Mirage)
  • "Read My Mind" (Sam's Town)
  • "Dying Breed" (Imploding the Mirage)
  • "Caution" (Imploding the Mirage)
  • "A Dustland Fairytale" (Day & Age)
  • "Somebody Told Me" (Hot Fuss)
  • "Mr. Brightside" (Hot Fuss)
  • "All These Things That I've Done" (Hot Fuss)
Encores often featured "" as a closer, with "All These Things That I've Done" preceding it for crowd sing-alongs. Variations occurred sparingly, such as substitutions of "Fire in Bone" or "For Reasons Unknown" for select dates, or festival sets shortening to 90 minutes by omitting deeper cuts like "Blowback." These adjustments prioritized high-energy hits to suit venue capacities ranging from 15,000 to 20,000 attendees. Production elements, overseen by Moment Factory, centered on a visually immersive stage setup evoking the album's desert mirage theme. Key features included a massive upstage screen displaying the album cover, flanked by two tall pillars serving dual roles as video walls and lighting supports, with tiers at upstage and downstage levels adding spatial depth. Bold lighting rigs synchronized with visuals to intensify song transitions and peaks, while projected content incorporated desert motifs, oversized blooming flowers, and psychedelic distortions of neon signage. Atmospheric overlays manipulated live band feeds with interactive particles, glowing augmentations, and color shifts for dynamic immersion. Special effects comprised a pyrotechnic during climactic moments and confetti cannons aligned with upbeat anthems like "." This configuration supported 20-song sets averaging 100 minutes, scaling effectively across arenas like and stadiums like Banc of California Stadium.

Key Performances and Special Events

The tour's opening performance took place on April 15, 2022, at in , , marking a raucous return to the band's hometown following pandemic-related delays, with the set emphasizing tracks from such as "My Own Soul's Warning" and "Caution" alongside staples like "." The European stadium leg featured two sold-out nights at in on June 3 and 4, 2022, the only London dates on the itinerary, where the band delivered high-energy renditions of album cuts like "Fire in Bone" and "Running Towards a Place," drawing over 60,000 attendees across both shows and earning acclaim for seamless production and crowd engagement. Several shows highlighted surprise guest appearances that elevated the performances. On August 29, 2022, at in , , Lindsey Buckingham of and Johnny Marr, formerly of , joined onstage for an extended version of "," incorporating Buckingham's distinctive guitar flourishes and Marr's rhythmic style. Similarly, on October 2, 2022, at in , made an unannounced appearance during the encore, collaborating on three songs including "" and "," preceded by ' "," which shares thematic echoes with Springsteen's work. The Australian dates in November and December 2022 included announced special guests such as Alex Cameron, , and Floodlights, adding variety to sets at venues like in and . These events underscored the tour's blend of core material from and with collaborative moments that drew on the band's influences in and .

Incidents and Controversies

During a performance at Black Sea Arena in , Georgia, on August 15, 2023, frontman addressed the audience with the remark, "I want to say to all the brothers and sisters here tonight—we love you," which was interpreted by some attendees as insensitive or exclusionary amid local cultural and political sensitivities regarding LGBTQ+ issues and family terminology. The comment prompted booing from portions of the crowd, leading to a tense moment where Flowers paused the show before continuing. Flowers later explained in an that he aimed to foster unity in "an impossible situation," emphasizing his intent was inclusive rather than divisive, and the band issued no formal apology but proceeded with the set. In July 2020, amid preparations for the tour following the album's release, allegations surfaced of serious by a member of the band's touring crew during their 2009 Tour, prompting an internal investigation by the band's legal team. The claim, reported anonymously via a third party, alleged on a female crew member but lacked corroborating evidence after review of records, witness interviews, and direct inquiries, with the accuser declining further contact. The band described the allegations as "entirely unfounded," stating no prior complaints had been raised internally or externally at the time, and Flowers expressed relief that the woman involved was confirmed unharmed, while acknowledging broader industry reckonings under #MeToo. A planned show on August 21, 2021, at was canceled due to a hurricane warning, despite initial setup and a backstage by the band, resulting in no onstage performance but refunds for ticket holders. This weather-related disruption was isolated and not attributed to band actions.

Reception and Impact

Critical Reviews

Critics generally praised the Tour for its energetic execution, elaborate visuals, and seamless integration of tracks from the 2020 album Imploding the Mirage with the band's established hits, often highlighting frontman ' commanding stage presence and the production's spectacle. Reviews emphasized the tour's role in elevating the album's material live, which some outlets had previously deemed underrated in studio form. A review of the tour's opening night at the in on April 15, 2022, described the performance as a "raucous hometown gig" featuring a 21-song career-spanning setlist that drew heavily from while delivering crowd-pleasing anthems, underscoring the band's triumphant return after pandemic delays. Similarly, NME's coverage of the June 5, 2022, stadium concert at in lauded it as a "dazzling return to form," particularly commending the live renditions of songs for gaining vibrancy in the arena setting and fulfilling the album's intended scale. At on September 30, 2022, Variety noted the band's explosive opener with "My Own Soul's Warning" and argued that the set made a compelling case for 's merits despite audience unfamiliarity with deeper cuts, enhanced by a surprise guest appearance from on "Dustland." A Riff Magazine assessment of the August 23, 2022, show at in highlighted the Imploding tracks as rivaling the band's classics in potency onstage, amid a production blending soothing instrumentals with high-octane rock. NME's review of the band's August 27, 2023, headline set at Reading Festival portrayed it as exemplifying "pure Vegas showmanship," starting with the "underrated Springsteen-space rush" of "My Own Soul's Warning" and maintaining momentum through vivid staging that amplified the tour's thematic elements of and implosion. While overwhelmingly positive, some critiques acknowledged the setlist's reliance on familiarity, with less emphasis on experimental risks, though this was framed as aligning with the band's arena-rock strengths rather than a flaw.

Commercial Performance and Fan Response

The Imploding the Mirage Tour achieved significant commercial success, grossing $102.3 million from 1,268,959 tickets sold across 81 reported shows, reflecting robust demand for ' live performances following the delays. Multiple legs featured rapid sell-outs, including 250,000 tickets for the initial stadium dates within two hours of release, underscoring the band's enduring popularity in key markets. High-capacity venues like hosted back-to-back sold-out nights, further evidencing strong ticket sales velocity. Fan response was overwhelmingly positive, with attendees and reviewers highlighting the tour's high-energy execution, elaborate production, and ' commanding stage presence. At a 2023 arena show, fans experienced intense bass vibrations and a visually immersive encore featuring lasers and thematic visuals, contributing to an electrifying atmosphere even from distant seats. A performance was described as "incredible from top to bottom," with the band deemed at their live peak, delivering polished renditions of new material alongside hits that sustained crowd engagement throughout. Similarly, a stadium concert evoked themes of unity and spectacle, launching with immersive instrumental preludes before transitioning into a set that fans lauded for its rock anthems and communal vibe. These reactions, drawn from on-site accounts, affirm the tour's resonance with core audiences, bolstered by the inclusion of tracks from and that integrated seamlessly with catalog staples.

Schedule and Personnel

Tour Dates

The Imploding the Mirage Tour's completed dates primarily occurred between April 2022 and September 2023, following postponements from the original 2020 schedule due to the . The tour opened with two performances at in , , on April 15 and 16, 2022, marking a raucous hometown launch that included new material from the album alongside career-spanning hits. This North American kickoff preceded a brief Latin American extension, highlighted by sold-out shows at in , , on April 26 and 27, 2022, which grossed over $1.3 million. European dates focused on large-scale stadium outings in the UK and during May and 2022, rescheduled from the prior year and representing the band's largest headline run in those markets to date, with venues including Racecourse on May 26 and in . Later in 2022, the itinerary shifted to and for arena and outdoor headline dates in November and December, alongside festival appearances. North American arena legs filled the fall of 2022, including a high-profile concert at in on October 1. The tour extended into 2023 with additional U.S. dates, such as performances at in , on May 11 and in , on September 19, which served as the final show. Overall, the schedule encompassed over 100 across four continents, blending album promotion with fan-favorite staples, as documented in aggregated records.

Cancelled and Altered Shows

The Imploding the Mirage Tour underwent extensive alterations due to the , with numerous dates postponed rather than outright cancelled, allowing ticket holders to transfer to rescheduled performances. The and stadium leg, initially set for May and June 2020, was first deferred to May and June 2021 before being pushed back again to June and July 2022 to prioritize health and safety amid ongoing restrictions. Several North American arena shows originally slated for 2022 were similarly rescheduled to 2023, including performances in Pittsburgh, St. Louis, and Houston, as the band extended the tour to accommodate these delays while supporting both Imploding the Mirage (2020) and Pressure Machine (2021). The Houston date at Toyota Center exemplifies later logistical challenges, having been altered multiple times. After initial pandemic-related postponements, the March 25, 2023, show was rescheduled to May 14, 2023, due to unspecified unforeseen circumstances, marking the third adjustment for that market. The band ultimately performed on May 19, 2023, with frontman Brandon Flowers addressing the repeated delays onstage and seeking audience forgiveness for the disruptions. No public details emerged on the precise cause of the 2023 Houston postponement, though the band's commitment to high-production standards has been cited in fan discussions as influencing such decisions.

Band and Support Personnel

The Imploding the Mirage Tour featured as the headlining act, consisting of core members on lead vocals and keyboards, on drums, on guitar and backing vocals for select dates, and on bass with limited touring involvement due to prior commitments. The lineup was augmented by touring musicians, including Jake Blanton on bass, on guitar, Robbie Connolly on keyboards, and three backing vocalists to support the production's scale. Support acts varied by tour leg, venue, and date, reflecting regional promotions and artist availability. In , English guitarist opened multiple shows, including dates in 2022 such as the October 4 performance at Penn State University's . For the Australian and leg in late 2022, special guests included Alex Cameron, , and Floodlights across select dates.

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