The Killers

Brandon Flowers–led stadium indie; Mr. Brightside is the durable single.

Formed 2001. Hot Fuss and Sam’s Town established Flowers’s baritone, Dave Keuning’s delayed guitar, synth leads, and anthemic choruses aimed at arenas from the start. Mr. Brightside (2003) is the permanent radio object. They continue the post-Strokes indie boom into explicit stadium design without garage rawness.