Killers playing fresh tunes Monday at House of Blues

And then the synth soars, pulses quicken, the beat takes off and it all proves the latter query to be true.

“Human,” the first single from The Killers’ forthcoming album “Day & Age,” expounds upon the kind of sleek, dance floor-friendly rock ‘n’ roll that first made the band a household name.

In the wake of the group’s previous album, the dusky, epic “Sam’s Town,” “Day & Age” seems like it could resonate as much in the discotheque as the dive bar.

Continuing their tradition of playing a smaller club show to preview some fresh tunes before their new album drops — last time out, the band played a sweaty, superb show at the Celebrity prior to the release of “Sam’s Town” — The Killers will be decamping to a packed House of Blues to play “Day & Age” cuts locally for the first time.

Catch ’em now before you’re confined to the arena rafters next time around.

See The Killers at 8:30 p.m. Monday at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South. Tickets are $42; call 632-7600.

To borrow a line from comedian Doug Stanhope, being the best live hip-hop act is kind of like being the world’s prettiest Denny’s waitress: The competition isn’t exactly daunting.

But The Roots aren’t just the best live act in a genre that often struggles to translate to the big stage — they’re one of the finest live bands period.

It all starts with drummer Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson, one of the best in the game who anchors monster rhythms with his deft, yet forceful playing. Combined with live guitars and bass, it really adds some serious pop to the band’s catalog when they hit the stage like a brick hurled through cellophane.

This time in town, The Roots are opening for the Gym Class Heroes, which is like a grenade preceding a party popper.

Um, good luck following these guys, boys.

See The Roots at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the House of Blues. Tickets are $42-$57; call 632-7600.

It’s time to make your liver cry, to punish that sucker like the family pooch after leaving a dog log on the living room floor.

Jimmy Buffett is headed back to these parts, which means blood alcohol levels are about to bounce up like kids on a trampoline.

Buffett gigs are monster parties, his sun-baked tunes capable of turning any venue into one big luau, so start buttering up that designated driver pronto.

See ya there dudes. We’ll be the ones wearing the lampshades.

See Jimmy Buffett at 8 p.m. Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden arena, 3799 Las Vegas Blvd. South. Tickets are $69.25-$211; call 891-7777.

Other shows of note: the queen of hip-hop soul, Mary J. Blige, 8 p.m. today at The Pearl at the Palms (4321 W. Flamingo Road; $100-$200; call 942-7777); country popsters Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton, a poor man’s Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, 8 p.m. Saturday at the Star of the Desert Arena at Buffalo Bill’s (Interstate 15 at Primm; tickets are $38.45-$54.95; call 800-386-7867); and metallers Devildriver at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the House of Blues ($20 in advance, $22 day of show; call 632-7600).

Contact reporter Jason Bracelin at jbracelin@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0476.