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The Killers Bring Up Eddie Vedder, Sammy Hagar During Ohana Set

Band covered Tom Petty and Van Halen with the respective frontmen
The Killers
Brandon Flowers trading vocals with Sammy Hagar (Credit: © 2023 Chris Phelps)

Last night, Eddie Vedder’s Ohana Festival continued its tradition of surprise collaborations with the Pearl Jam frontman joining the Killers for a duet of Tom Petty’s, “The Waiting.” In 2022, Vedder also performed the Petty classic at Ohana with Heartbreakers’ guitarist Mike Campbell’s Dirty Knobs, and with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers at several of their concerts throughout the years.

In an even bigger surprise, the Killers later welcomed ex-Van Halen and former Montrose singer Sammy Hagar, who traded vocals with Flowers on Van Halen’s 1986 hit “Why Can’t This Be Love.”

During their hit-filled 95-minute set, the Killers also performed “Mr. Brightside,” “Smile Like You Mean It,” “Somebody Told Me,” “Human,” and “All These Things That I’ve Done.”

Other artists that performed on Ohana’s opening day were Japanese Breakfast, Glen Hansard, Father John Misty, and Haim.

Tonight, following performances by The Chicks, The War On Drugs, and Goose, Vedder will headline the festival with his side band the Earthlings, who made their live debut at last year’s Ohana.

Sunday will feature The Aquadolls, Suki Waterhouse, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, and The Pretenders, with Foo Fighters headlining and closing out the weekend with their first-ever Ohana performance.

Here is the Killers’ Ohana Festival setlist:

Mr. Brightside
Spaceman
The Waiting (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers cover with Eddie Vedder)
Jenny Was a Friend of Mine
Smile Like You Mean It
Shot at the Night
Human
Somebody Told Me
For Reasons Unknown
Your Side of Town
A Dustland Fairytale
Runaways
Read My Mind
Caution (with “Rut” intro)
All These Things That I’ve Done

Encore:
Why Can’t This Be Love (Van Halen cover with Sammy Hagar)
When You Were Young