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Lonely Town a Killers Podcast

Lonely Town a Killers Podcast

Written by: Derek Everitt
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The Killers’ seventh studio album Pressure Machine is based on Brandon’s growing up years in Nephi, Utah. Derek and Jimmy grew up in Nephi at the same time and created the Lonely Town podcast to share their thoughts and opinions on the lyrical and thematic influences from Hot Fuss through Pressure Machine. Before the Strip there was Main Street, before the Mirage the was the Starlite Motel, and before Sam’s Town there was Lonely Town. Join us for insights, interviews, And Q&A’s on the streets where we use to live when we were young.Copyright 2021 All rights reserved. Music
Episodes
  • Brandon Flowers Shocks Us Again: Red Butte, Mr. Brightside & American Dream

    Brandon Flowers Shocks Us Again: Red Butte, Mr. Brightside & American Dream
    Oct 18 2026
    Episode Description Brandon Flowers keeps finding ways to surprise us. Derek and Jimmy are back to talk about Brandon's recent Red Butte show in Salt Lake City, and once again, what they thought they knew about the show went completely out the window. From standing in the blazing Utah sun for hours just to get into the venue, to seeing a massive crowd of Killers and Brandon Flowers fans, the Red Butte experience was unlike the intimate State Room shows that came before it. But then Brandon brought his son onstage to perform an Oasis song. And just when everyone thought that was the big surprise of the night, Brandon followed it up with something almost nobody expected: Mr. Brightside. The guys talk about the significance of Brandon performing the Killers classic during his solo show, the incredible three-song stretch that followed, and why hearing songs like Lonely Town, Read My Mind and An American Dream live has become such a special part of the Thrasher era. They also discuss Brandon reconnecting with childhood friends from Nephi and bringing them backstage, the appearance of Kimball Frank, new Thrasher merchandise, the growing Brandon Flowers fanbase in Utah and the unexpected ways these shows continue to connect back to Nephi. Then it's off to The Tonight Show, where Brandon performed An American Dream for a national television audience. Derek and Jimmy break down the interview, the full version available online, the decision to perform American Dream, and why Brandon refusing to change some of the song's lyrics made the performance even more powerful. Plus, the guys look ahead to the rest of the tour, speculate about possible special guests in Vegas and the UK, talk about the upcoming Romance album, and make a pretty serious offer to anyone who can convince Brandon Flowers to come on the Lonely Town podcast. If you can make it happen, Derek promises you a personalized tour of Nephi. He's even throwing in a Tiger's Blood snow cone. Show Notes 🌹 Red Butte Derek and Jimmy recap Brandon Flowers' Red Butte show in Salt Lake City. They talk about: The massive line outside the venueWaiting in the Utah heatThe hike from the parking areaFinding a spot on the lawnThe pros and cons of general admissionWhether VIP/early-entry options are worth paying forWhy Derek and Jimmy are getting too old to spend six hours fighting for the barricade 🎸 Kimball Frank Kimball Frank opened the show, giving Derek and Jimmy another unexpected connection to the local music scene. They talk about discovering his music, his connection to Robbie and Stewart, his performance, and why you should check out his music. 👦 Brandon Brings His Son Onstage One of the biggest surprises of the night came when Brandon brought his son onstage to perform an Oasis song. The guys discuss how unexpected the moment was, Brandon talking about his first public singing experience, and how well his son handled the pressure of performing in front of thousands of people. 🔥 Mr. Brightside Then came the moment nobody saw coming. Brandon performed Mr. Brightside during his solo show. Derek and Jimmy talk about why the song was such a huge surprise, especially because Brandon doesn't normally perform it during his solo shows. 🌙 Lonely Town, Read My Mind & An American Dream The show continued with a run of songs that made the night especially memorable. The guys discuss hearing: Lonely TownRead My MindAn American Dream They also talk about how special it has been to hear some of Brandon's older solo songs during this tour—songs that may disappear from the set once The Killers return with new music. 🏠 Brandon's Nephi Friends One of the coolest stories surrounding the Red Butte show happened before Brandon even took the stage. Brandon had reached out to some of his old friends from his childhood years in Nephi and invited them to the show. Some of those friends were even brought backstage. Derek and Jimmy discuss why that was such a meaningful gesture and what it says about Brandon remembering where he came from. 🇺🇸 Utah, Nephi & Brandon's Connection With the Crowd The Red Butte audience was different from many of Brandon's other shows. Derek and Jimmy talk about how Brandon could reference things from his upbringing, family and Utah culture and know that the audience understood exactly what he was talking about. 📺 The Tonight Show Brandon Flowers made an appearance on The Tonight Show and performed An American Dream. Derek and Jimmy discuss: Brandon's interviewThe version of the interview posted onlineThe parts that didn't make the televised broadcastBrandon's personality during the interviewThe full performance of American DreamWhy performing that particular song on national television was such a bold choice 🎤 American Dream & The Lyrics The guys talk about Brandon performing the song exactly as written, including some of the more controversial lyrics. They compare the moment to artists like Johnny Cash and Jamey Johnson ...
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    59 mins
  • When Pressure Machine Became Real-Vickie Davies Interview

    When Pressure Machine Became Real-Vickie Davies Interview
    Oct 4 2026
    📝 SHOW NOTES 🇬🇧 FROM THE UK TO THE KILLERS Vickie tells us how she first discovered The Killers. Her introduction was “Somebody Told Me”, but it was When You Were Young that really grabbed her attention. She eventually bought the Live at the Royal Albert Hall DVD and fell completely in love with the band. 🎶 DISCOVERING THE ALBUMS Vickie talks about discovering Day & Age, working backward to Sam's Town and eventually getting into Hot Fuss. For years, The Killers were primarily a soundtrack to her life — playing in the car and at home — because life circumstances made it difficult to attend concerts. 🏟️ FINALLY SEEING THE KILLERS LIVE Her first major Killers concert experience was Wembley during the Battle Born era. Years later, she began making up for lost time with shows in Edinburgh, Rebel Diamonds and eventually the Las Vegas residencies. 🎰 THE VEGAS DREAM Vickie had always dreamed of seeing The Killers in Las Vegas. When she discovered they were going to play T-Mobile Arena, she changed her vacation plans and spent extra money to make sure she could be there. That trip changed everything. It made her realize she wanted to experience more Killers shows — and, just as importantly, connect with more fans. ❤️ THE KILLERS FAN COMMUNITY One of the biggest parts of Vickie's story is the friendships she's made through The Killers fan community. People she'd only known online eventually became real-life friends, including people she traveled with and met during the Las Vegas residencies. 🏔️ THE ROAD TO NEPHI After the Las Vegas residencies, Vickie, Emma and other fans began discussing a possible trip to Nephi. When the opportunity finally came together, Derek offered to help plan the itinerary and show them around his hometown. Derek also made sure they understood one thing: Nephi is not Las Vegas. They knew they were visiting a small Utah town, but Vickie wasn't prepared for how beautiful the surrounding landscape would be. 😭 “I STARTED CRYING” This is one of the emotional highlights of the entire episode. As Derek drives Vickie and Emma toward Nephi, Pressure Machine is playing. Then Derek pulls over in the West Hills. Vickie steps out of the car. Suddenly she's standing in the landscape she's heard Brandon sing about so many times. And she starts crying. For her, “West Hills” became real. 🌄 SEEING PRESSURE MACHINE DIFFERENTLY Vickie explains how actually visiting Nephi changed the way she hears Pressure Machine. Places that were previously just lyrics now have physical locations attached to them. Places they visited included: The West HillsSalt CreekOld Mill ParkThe rubber plantBrandon's schoolThe churchThe mouth of the canyonThe gymThe Ute Stampede groundsThe three crossesMain Street She explains why the album has taken on an entirely different meaning for her since the trip. 🐯 TIGER'S BLOOD One of the more surreal moments of the trip was getting to experience Tiger's Blood in Nephi. Vickie talks about seeing the imagery connected to the song and finally understanding some of the references she had previously only heard about. ☕ MEETING TONY Vickie and Emma met Tony and later visited his coffee shop. Vickie describes it as some of the best coffee of the trip — but more importantly, it gave them an opportunity to talk with someone who actually lives in Nephi. Derek explains why he thinks this is an important part of visiting Nephi: It's about meeting the people, not simply checking off the locations. 📍 THE “REAL” CORNER OF MAIN STREET Derek and Vickie revisit one of the funniest debates from the tour. Vickie wasn't initially convinced that Derek had found the correct corner of Main Street. After his explanation, however... She's convinced. ✝️ THE THREE CROSSES Seeing the three crosses from different angles gave Vickie another surreal Pressure Machine moment. She talks about realizing she was actually standing in the landscape represented in the album's imagery. 🎥 THE NOTES OF A QUIET TOWN CONNECTION After meeting Tony, Vickie realized she recognized him from The Notes of a Quiet Town documentary. She went home and rewatched the documentary so she could connect the person she'd just met with the footage she'd previously seen. 👀 THEY MISSED BRANDON BY ONE DAY One of the wildest parts of the story: Brandon was in Nephi the day after Vickie and Emma visited. They had no idea he was going to be there. Vickie admits that part of her was disappointed they missed him, but she also believes the timing worked out exactly as it was supposed to. She wouldn't trade the day they had. ☕ THE COFFEE DEBATE Before the trip, Vickie and Emma weren't even sure whether they should drink coffee while visiting Nephi. They wanted to be respectful of the town and the people who lived there. Then they discovered Tony's coffee shop. Problem solved. 🍕 AN UNEXPECTED DINNER WITH STEPHANIE The day took another completely unexpected turn when Stephanie ...
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    55 mins
  • Two Nights, Two Setlists: Brandon Flowers’ Warm-Up Shows

    Two Nights, Two Setlists: Brandon Flowers’ Warm-Up Shows
    Sep 20 2026
    Derek and Jimmy are back to talk about one of the craziest weekends they've had as Killers fans: two nights with Brandon Flowers at The State Room in Salt Lake City. After completely striking out trying to get tickets to the warm-up shows, the guys thought they were going to miss out. But thanks to the generosity of fellow Killers fans, Derek and Jimmy somehow ended up making it to both nights. They talk about the experience of seeing Brandon perform in a venue with fewer than 300 people, the incredible energy inside the room, and the differences between the two nights. Between the two shows, they were able to hear all ten songs from Thrasher performed live, including several songs making their live debut. From Red Ground opening the first night to An American Dream closing it, the guys break down the songs, the setlists, Brandon's stories about growing up in Payson and Nephi, and what it meant to hear songs about their hometown performed in such an intimate setting. They also talk about Quiet Town, Pressure Machine, Sleepwalker, Tiger's Blood, The Clock Was Ticking, Tell Me, the debate over recording concerts on your phone, concert etiquette, and the incredible experience of being surrounded by fellow Killers fans. Plus, Brandon's brother Shane joins him onstage for Mr. Brightside at a private show, and Derek and Jimmy look ahead to the rest of the Thrasher tour. It was two nights that almost didn't happen—and two nights they'll never forget. SHOW NOTES 🎟️ HOW WE ALMOST MISSED THE SHOWS Derek and Jimmy explain how they initially failed to get tickets to Brandon's State Room warm-up shows and thought they were going to miss the whole thing. Thanks to fellow fans Dave and Jeremy, everything changed. 🏟️ NIGHT ONE AT THE STATE ROOM The first night was unlike any Brandon Flowers show they've experienced before. With fewer than 300 people in the building, the atmosphere was electric from the moment Brandon walked onstage. The guys discuss the crowd, the venue, the energy and why the entire experience felt almost surreal. 🎵 THE THRASHER LIVE DEBUTS Between the two nights, Derek and Jimmy heard all ten songs from Thrasher performed live. The first night included live performances of: Red GroundDoes It Ever Cross Your MindAn American Dream The second night brought: One of UsIn a Heartbeat They also discuss getting to hear every song from the album across the two shows. 🇺🇸 NEPHI, PAYSON & THRASHER Brandon's stories about growing up in Payson and Nephi made the shows especially meaningful for Derek and Jimmy. They talk about what it feels like to have grown up in a small town that has now become such an important part of Brandon's music. 🎤 NIGHT TWO Night two brought another completely different setlist. Derek and Jimmy moved onto the floor and ended up incredibly close to the stage. They discuss performances of: Quiet TownSleepwalkerPressure MachineCodyOne of UsIn a HeartbeatTell Me They also talk about Jake's introduction of Brandon and the differences between the two nights. ❤️ THE EMOTIONAL SIDE OF THE SHOW Quiet Town and The Clock Was Ticking take on an especially personal meaning for Derek and Jimmy because of their connection to Nephi and people they knew growing up. They discuss the stories behind the songs, loss, family and some of the heavier moments from the shows. 📱 PUT THE PHONE DOWN...OR KEEP RECORDING? Derek and Jimmy debate the constant concert dilemma: do you record the moment so you can remember it later, or put the phone away and simply experience it? They also talk about livestreams, sharing concerts with fans around the world and being respectful of the people around you. 🎶 GRANDMA DIXIE Derek and Jimmy once again hear Brandon perform Tell Me, the Slim Whitman song written by his grandmother Dixie. After previously hearing the song at the Restore Conference, they discuss how unlikely it was that they would get to hear it live a second time. 👬 BRANDON & SHANE The guys talk about Brandon bringing his brother Shane onstage to perform Mr. Brightside at a private corporate show. They discuss Brandon's stories about Shane's record collection and how his brother helped introduce him to music. 🙏 THANKS TO THE KILLERS COMMUNITY The guys give a special thank you to The Florecitas-Alex, Dave and Jeremy, whose generosity helped make the weekend possible. Without the kindness of fellow fans, Derek and Jimmy may never have made it to both shows. 🌹 WHAT'S NEXT? The warm-up shows are over, but the Thrasher tour is just getting started. Derek and Jimmy look ahead to their upcoming Red Butte show and what they hope to see as the tour continues. FOLLOW LONELY TOWN Lonely Town – A Killers Podcast 📸 Instagram: @lonelytownpodcast 📸 Derek: @droyeveritt 👥 Facebook Group: Lonely Town – A Killers Podcast 🛍️ Merch: https://lonely-town-podcast.printify.me Have a question, story, or want to contribute? Reach out—we'd love to hear from you. Produced & Edited ...
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    56 mins
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