Las Vegas Weekly

The Killers release sixth Christmas single—and an EP rounding ‘em all up

Mark, Ronnie, Brandon and Dave are taking another sleigh ride.

The Killers haven’t been heard from much the past couple of years, but that hasn’t stopped Las Vegas’ best-known band from carrying on its annual holiday tradition.

For the sixth straight December, the rock quartet has released a Christmas single, proceeds from which benefit (RED), an organization dedicated to battling AIDS. The new song, a remade traditional Old West tune titled “The Cowboys’ Christmas Ball,” is now up for purchase from iTunes, for $1.29.

Sample lyrics:

“Way out in old Nevada, where the Truckee’s waters flow

Where the cattle are a-browsin’ and the Spanish ponies grow

When the northers come a-whistlin’ from beyond the neutral strip

And the prairie dogs are sneezin’ as if they had the grip.”

Yes, northers. No, we have no idea what the neutral strip is. Apparently it all has something to do with West Texas. Apart from the Truckee part, which The Killers tweaked for the occasion.

Also now available from iTunes: the (Red) Christmas EP ($5.99), which collects all six Killers Christmas’ cuts—2006’s “A Great Big Sled,” 2007’s “Don’t Shoot Me Santa,” 2008’s “Joseph, Better You Than Me,” 2009’s Happy Birthday Guadalupe!,” 2010’s “Boots” and the new 2011 track.

The Killers, whose 2008 album Day & Age reached No. 6 on the Billboard 200, are at work on their fourth full-length release.