Welcome to the catchy-hits carnival

Indie rock's the Killers are known for flashy shows, catchy tunes with an infectious beat and the style and showmanship delivered by lead singer Brandon Flowers.

Following Thursday night's sold-out show at the Paramount Theatre, the group may also be known for shattering (or at least temporarily damaging) the eardrums of audience members.

The sound inside the Paramount was atrocious and tunnel-like the entire night — even when young fans weren't screaming at the tops of their lungs.

Exceedingly exuberant fans, however, didn't seem to mind the volume or the overall cacophonous sound, singing along to most every tune that they could, meaning new songs from the band's recent second release, "Sam's Town," including the radio-friendly "When You Were Young."

Review

Thursday night, Paramount Theatre

As part of the setup for the new album, the stage had a carnival-like theme with four large searchlights at the rear of the stage, white holiday lights on the speakers that flanked the drum kit (and gong), streamerlike bands of flags and an upright piano with "Welcome" in red neon letters. The crowd, from pre-teens dressed circa 1980s (short ruffled skirts, leggings and ballet flats) to 20-, 30- and 40-somethings, was enthralled by the band's every move all night. Audience members jumped to their feet for the big hits from the group's first album, "Hot Fuss," including "Mr. Brightside," "Somebody Told Me" and "All These Things That I've Done," which closed out the three-tune first encore of the night.

The Killers performed a dozen tunes in 50 minutes for its main set, which featured captivating performances — as well as simple gestures — by lead singer Flowers. He's the one, truly, that fans are clamoring to get close to, and it may also be why a small barricade made up of cratelike ramp structures lined the front of the stage.

Dressed in skinny-legged pants, a jacket, gray-green shirt and a short tie that made him look like the villain from an old Western (complete with mustache), Flowers remained in near constant motion, working the stage from one side to the other. His voice, sadly, was drowned out, most of the night, but the audience was treated to its power during the first encore with "My List," a track from the latest release. Flowers et al. ended the night in a second encore with "Exitlude," a quaint but almost too-cute song for such a slick group.