Song of the Day 8/16: The Killers, “Human”

If you think our Georgia has problems, check out the country straddling Europe and Asia between the Black and Caspian seas.

Americans have mostly forgotten, if they ever knew, that in 2008 in that Georgia Russia pulled a trick they tried to repeat in Ukraine. After two regions adjacent to Russian territory declared independence, Russia, claiming a peace-keeping mission, launched an invasion and undertook an ethic cleansing program that displaced almost 200,000 people.

You have to know that background to understand how the Killers, the Las Vegas-based rockers, screwed up their concert in Black Sea Arena in Shekvetili last night, when a fan-service bit went wildly awry.

The band apparently likes to feature a segment in which they invite an audience member to play drums for a song, something that’s become so common it’s not cool anymore, but whatever. Frontman Brandon Flowers told the crowd, “We don’t know the etiquette of this land but this guy’s a Russian.” The crowd erupted in boos, and many walked out in protest.

Flowers tried to salvage the situation by imploring, “You can’t recognize if someone’s your brother? He’s not your brother?” Yeah, sure he is, Brandon. But Cain and Abel were brothers, too. I’m guessing Flowers knew nothing about the tense political situation until afterwards, when the band issued an apology on social media.

Despite the fact that their frontman looks like an Osmond Brother, the Killers have been among rock’s biggest acts since their 2004 debut album, “Hot Fuss.” The LP included the massive hit “Mr. Brightside,” which only reached No. 10 in both the US and UK but spent seven years on the UK singles chart. In fact, the Killers have always been more popular in Britain than America. While all seven of their albums have reached the Top 10 here, they’ve all gone to No. 1 in the UK. “Human,” the lead single from the 2008 album “Day & Age,” fit the mold. It reached No. 32 in the US but No. 3 in the UK.