Brandon Flowers made a surprise appearance alongside Dawes during a benefit concert, performing music from The Killers and Bruce Springsteen.
The performance took place Wednesday, January 7, at A Concert For Altadena, a fundraiser organized by Dawes to support those affected by last year’s Eaton Fire. Held on the anniversary of the devastating blaze, the event aimed to raise money for long-term housing recovery and relief efforts benefiting families, small businesses, and first responders.
Flowers joined Dawes near the end of their set, first leading the crowd through The Killers’ hit When You Were Young. The group then came together for a cover of Springsteen’s The Promised Land, delivering a powerful close to Flowers’ guest appearance.
The concert featured a wide range of special guests throughout the night. The show opened with a rendition of I Love L.A., performed with Brad Paisley. Other highlights included Aloe Blacc covering Avicii’s Wake Me Up, Stephen Stills performing For What It’s Worth, and Rufus Wainwright singing Across the Universe.
Additional appearances came from Lord Huron, who covered Strangers, along with Lucius, Eric Krasno, Jenny Lewis, and Mandy Moore.
The night concluded with all participating artists joining Dawes for a group performance of With a Little Help From My Friends.
The benefit carried special significance for the band, as Dawes drummer Griffin Goldsmith lost his home in the fires, while guitarist Taylor Goldsmith lost his nearby recording studio and decades’ worth of equipment.
Elsewhere, Flowers recently shared that a new Killers album is expected in 2027, following the release of two upcoming solo records. He described the project as potentially “the best Killers record,” marking the band’s first album since 2021’s Pressure Machine.