Imagine Dragons had three things stacked against them: (1) No matter how many times I listened to their debut album, I kept forgetting half of the tracks. (2) The concert was held on a Friday night, and I don’t have a great track record with shows that night. (3) The crowd had more poppy tweens than I was used to or comfortable with.
Very early on in the show, however, I started to realize that not only were these ‘problems’ not problems, they would help turn this into an A+ show. I did not have strong attachment to the album versions of a lot of the songs, so I could take in the live versions for the first time. I was used to falling asleep on Fridays, so it meant more that I was wide awake this time. And most importantly, by judging the young people I saw there, I set myself up for a huge surprise.
This was anything but a pre-packaged pre-teen arena show. It was a roaring indie-rock explosion. Young kids, young adults, college kids, and actual adults watched as the band laid waste to the stage – smashing cymbals, tearing through timpanis, chucking sticks left and right. The fact that most of the vocals (or at least the verses) were rough added to the vibe. This was Imagine Dragons unfiltered. In their own words, this was “a band who started out three years ago dirt poor in Vegas headlining the biggest stage they ever played.” I’m just glad I was there to witness it.
Live reactions below:
--- “Round and Round.” HA, they’re smashing the drums just like in the Carlock clip. Kyle was right: this band’s gonna be big.
--- So glad I got the wristband and am right up in front. This feels so exclusive haha.
--- The look of the backup guitarist is funny: like a stoner Dave Grohl, with even longer hair.
--- “Amsterdam.” Big vocal dropoff from the album. He’s half-croaking, half-speaking the verses. The soaring choruses totally work though. And I love how he waits for the crowd to finish “any other wayyyy” and “much lonnnnger.”
--- I appreciate “Tiptoe”’s empowerment message, but the sound is mediocre. No! He prompts the crowd with “nobody else…can take me higher,” and then it totally works!!
--- “This is the biggest headline show we've ever played. We're not going to act like that doesn't mean a lot to us. We're not going to try to be cool.” Awwww.
--- “Hear Me.” The song's meh, but the way Dan Reynolds destroys the cymbal is hilarious.
--- HA: “My cousins are from DC. I threw up the first time I came here. It's okay; I love you guys anyway.”
--- Why do more bands not talk with the crowd? This intro makes the song ten times better: “‘Cha Ching’ is about being dirt poor. We wrote it in an apartment in Vegas three years ago. It's on the deluxe album. If you've heard it, you're a true fan. If you haven't, you're here, so you're about to be.”
--- HA, the front rows [understandably] flip out when Reynolds flicks water from his water bottle at them.
--- “What day is it? Is it Friday? I didn't even know that. We hope you can forget about work and school and all that and just exist. Get loose.” Swoooon.
---- Love the Vampire Weekend calypso vibe in “Nothing Left to Say / Rocks."
--- “It's Time”!!! Brilliant slowdown intro, then click into it. No gimmicks, just the crowd and the band passionate delivering a really good song.
--- A rare dud: “Lay Me Down.” Evil audience members talking through it too.
--- “Demons” gets an extended heavy electric intro!! Adds variety. As do the Cold War Kids / “Stand By Me” covers.
--- Ooh, confetti balls for the Owl City-y “Underdog”!
--- “Most importantly, congrats to you guys for supporting live music.” YES.
--- “On Top Of The World”!!! The entire crowd jumps at once. Over and over again.
--- “I can't believe how many people are here.” They’re so sincere. It’s awesome.
--- “Radioactive”!!! Mega drum. It’s literally hard to hear yourself think the audience has gotten so loud. Surreal.
--- Finished with the more-restrained, lesser-known “Fallen.” It is, in its own way, just as emotional.
--- I am so getting a shirt.
Grade: A+
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