When The Killers announced they would perform a show at First Avenue the night before playing at TC Summer Fest, fans understandably went wild. Tickets that went on sale less than a week before the July 13 concert date sold out instantly.

The buzz for this band isn’t new — after their 2004 debut album “Hot Fuss,” featuring hits like “Mr. Brightside” and “Somebody Told Me” — The Killers became a household name. They usually play large-capacity venues such as Xcel Energy Center, so seeing them alongside just 1,500 other attendees was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. 

Resale tickets were strictly prohibited for this show. Without scalpers, the venue legitimately reached capacity. That is a rarity for live music — typically, at least some tickets will be lost to those who hoard them in hopes of making a profit.

Attendees of all ages began packing the main room when doors opened at 7:30 p.m. No opening act was necessary for this show — fans got the energy going by themselves. When the band took the stage at 9:00 p.m. the crowd was buzzing in anticipation.

With a loud burst of confetti kicking off the song “Sam’s Town,” the 100-minute set officially began. Lead singer Brandon Flowers matched the audience’s excitement from the beginning. Dressed in all black, he sported a classic look and a near-constant smile. 

The Killers have been putting on high-energy arena shows for decades. In the smaller-than-usual venue, the band’s power could hardly be contained. Flowers expertly occupied the space on stage, confidently moving from side to side. Sometimes, as he was amping up himself and the audience, it looked as if he was about to take off from his podium and fly directly into the crowd.

Transitions between songs were quick and efficient. After a cover of “I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man” by Prince, the band played a sequence of three songs from their third album, “Day & Age,” including the simple and uplifting tune “Human.”

The band never focused too heavily on a single era of their music. With a good mix of new and old songs, there was something for everyone to sing along to. Superfans and casual fans alike seemed overjoyed to be a part of the intimate and exuberant performance.

Flowers announced a change of pace mid-set before playing “Runaway Horses,” an acoustic track that tells a small-town story of choosing between chasing big things or staying put.

“If there was ever a record made for a room this size, it was this one,” Flowers said.

This mellowed-out energy didn’t last long — the band revved back up for the show’s second half with heavy drums, electric guitar solos and a rock-and-roll stage presence. “When We Were Young” and “All These Things That I’ve Done” got the crowd particularly pumped up, leaving fans eager for more as the band took a short break pre-encore.

In one last burst of energy, Flowers gave his all for a three-song encore, allowing the audience plenty of time to savor the last moments of this special evening. The final song was one everyone had anticipated: “Mr. Brightside,” which passionately chronicles heartache and jealousy in an upbeat manner.

Singing the 2004 megahit along with Brandon Flowers himself was a bucket-list item many fans crossed off that night. The room was deafening as Flowers prepared to leave the stage, but only after humbly announcing his gratitude to the audience.

“Thank you for coming on such short notice,” he said. “See you tomorrow.”