The journey into country western music has brought a new voice to the forefront, and no one is doing it quite like The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers. After more than a decade spent navigating the landscape of new wave and rock and roll, Flowers has unveiled his first solo album in years, THRASHER, which embraces the sounds of his heritage with breezy enthusiasm.
This musical pivot is more than just a change of pace; it represents a deep dive into a sound that was deeply embedded in his family history. As Flowers shared his motivation behind the shift, he spoke about unlocking a space within himself: “I am large, I contain multitudes,” he mused. He noted that this new exploration allowed him to access country western music, his father’s music, and share the stories he needed to tell at this moment.
The album immediately establishes this shift with its debut single, “Plans.” Far from a typical rock track, the song is a true tribute to the genre, featuring a twangy, vintage-sounding ballad fueled by fiddle and pedal steel. It’s the kind of track that perfectly soundtracks a honky tonk slow dance, with Flowers’ unmistakable voice taking center stage.
The sonic tapestry of THRASHER is further enriched by a lineup of seasoned veterans. The album was produced by Shawn Everett & Jonathan Rado, who have crafted the sound for the last two Killers albums. Furthermore, Flowers collaborated with acclaimed artist Gillian Welch and featured legendary musicians like veteran pedal steel player Bruce Bouton and harmonica master Charlie McCoy, known for his work on classic Bob Dylan albums.
THRASHER is set to be available on August 21. The album will be supported by a fall tour where Brandon Flowers will take the stage across the country. Fans can catch him live this fall, including performances in cities like Brooklyn, New York, and Austin, Texas.
The tour dates provide an extensive schedule for fans eager to experience the new material live:
September 1st – The Van Buren – Phoenix, AZ
September 4th – John Anson Ford Theatre – Los Angeles, CA
September 5th – Fox Theater – Oakland, CA
September 7th – Roseland Theater – Portland, OR
September 8th – Vogue Theatre – Vancouver, BC
September 9th – Showbox – Seattle, WA
September 11th – Red Butte – Salt Lake City, UT
September 12th – Ogden – Denver, CO
September 15th – Palace Theatre – St Paul, MN
September 16th – The Riviera Theatre – Chicago, IL
September 18th – Brooklyn Paramount – Brooklyn, NY
September 20th – 9:30 Club – Washington, DC
September 21st – Franklin Music Hall – Philadelphia, PA
September 23rd – Roadrunner – Boston, MA
September 24th – HISTORY – Toronto, ON
October 2nd – Austin City Limits – Austin, TX
October 6th – Wynn Encore Theater – Las Vegas, NV
October 14th – Bournemouth O2 Academy – Bournemouth, UK
October 15th – Royal Albert Hall – London, UK
October 17th – Bristol Beacon – Bristol, UK
October 18th – Nottingham Rock City – Nottingham, UK
October 20th – O2 Apollo Manchester – Manchester, UK
October 21st – Barbican – York, UK
October 23rd – O2 Academy Glasgow – Glasgow, UK
October 24th – O2 Academy Birmingham – Birmingham, UK
October 27th – Olympia Theatre – Dublin, Ire
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Credit: BrooklynVegan
