With a bill bookended by Cali sister act Haim and Vegas headliners The Killers, the Phoenix Park seems to have relocated to the Pacific Time Zone for one day only. If Justin Timberlake hadn’t already done the job midweek, any lingering bad vibes left over from last year’s Swedish House Mafia debacle are whitewashed on a baking hot Saturday. Of the three Park gigs, this boasts the most eclectic line-up, with Northern Irish guitar-pop sitting alongside nu-soul and synth-driven stadium rock. Haim kick things off in the afternoon to a surprisingly healthy-sized crowd considering their debut album is still not with us. Perhaps not so surprising when you hear their songs, however. Sounding like a Fleetwood Mac raised on ‘90s R&B, the likes of ‘Forever’ and ‘Falling’ are remarkably strong slices of sun-kissed pop.
They pack a punch live, too, with some guitar histrionics introduced by Danielle Haim and the set concluding with each sister thumping away on drums and coming over all tribal. An ending likely inspired by Florence, who they’ve supported and who pulled off a similarly effective trick at this very same venue last year.
We then high-tail it to catch up with Haim, meaning Two Door Cinema Club are enjoyed as faraway background music. Judging by the crowd roar for songs old (‘I Can Talk’) and new (opener ‘Sleep Alone’), they do just fine without us.
Frank Ocean arrives to turn things down to a gentle simmer. A more intimate, indoor venue would undoubtedly better suit his hip hop confessionals, but he still smoulders. If the headband-wearing one seems distant at times – getting a little irked about sound levels or shutting his eyes for entire songs – it just draws you in all the more. ‘Pyramids’ grows in stature, ‘Thinking Bout You’ is hypnotising.
The Killers arrive to stir the blood, launching into a charged double whammy of ‘Somebody Told Me’ and ‘Spaceman’. Some were underwhelmed by their 2012 Electric Picnic headlining slot, but they’re on top form tonight. Whilst they have a clutch of bulletproof songs custom-built for the biggest stages, frontman Brandon Flowers once again proves how crucial he is to their mass appeal. As shocked by the weather as anyone, he’s a genial host, exuding a clean-cut charisma and flashing a winning smile throughout. He even throws in a bit of Irish and a partial take on U2’s ‘Pride’. A nice nod to Dublin’s most famous musical sons, a joyful blast of ‘I Think We’re Alone Now’ is actually the most pleasing cover. The whole thing comes to a triumphant close with ‘Mr. Brightside’, its pay-off line stripped of its original ironic intent and seeming more like a exclamation mark at the end of an idyllic day of sunshine and music.