COMM 380: Media Criticism
Imagine Dragons Concert Review
by Carli-Jean Perrin, '14
Major: Communication
Imagine Dragons is a Las Vegas based band that has become famous for their electronic and natural
mix of alternative rock music. They began theusic journey together a few years back in 2008.
They hit it big for the first time when the front man of the band Train became sick right before he was
supposed to perform. Imagine Dragons was asked to fill in and perform to a crowd of 26,000 people.
Of course this was only the beginning for the band.
It was the release of their debut album Night Visions in September 2012 that really
put them on the map. Their first single “It’s Time” reached No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Their second single “Radioactive” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Finally, their third single
“Demons” reached No. 3 and broke the record for the longest run into the top five (www.allmusic.com).
The band’s success is due largely to their distinctive sound. The backgrounds of each of the
members have contributed to their music. Guitarist Wayne Sermon, bassist Ben McKee, and drummer
Daniel Platzman all attended the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. However, the front man
of the band, Dan Reynolds, did not. Reynolds has always played his music by ear. The natural talent
of each band member combined with their education and years of experience is what gives
Imagine Dragons their unique sound and set them apart from any other alternative rock band.
Imagine Dragons performed all of their singles and more at Merriweather Post Pavilion in the summer of 2013. I had the opportunity to go and see them perform live at this venue and all I can say is that it was an incredibly moving experience. Their music is focused solely on raw emotion. Emotional struggle is essential to the central meaning of their album and is the reason they continue to create inspiring music. Together as a band, Imagine Dragons has always made it their goal to use their painful experiences and turn them into something upbeat and heartening. This is how their first single “It’s Time” was written. “I wrote “It’s Time” during a very transitional period in my life. It seemed like everything was going wrong. I was trying to decide what I wanted to do with my
life… and about who I was.” (www.imaginedragonsmusic.com) Reynolds recalls saying this in an interview after one of the performances.
As a listener, I have always enjoyed this song on a good day or a bad day. What ever my situation was at the moment, this song could make it even better! One of the lyrics reads, “I don’t ever want to let you down. I don’t ever want to leave this town, but after all, the city never sleeps at night. It’s time to begin, isn’t it… I get a little bit bigger but then I’ll admit I’m just the same as I was.” It really expresses the inner struggle that the writer was having at the time. As acollege student myself, I can easily relate to these lyrics as I am at the cusp of my education and deciding what to do next. Should I begin working? Should I move away and start fresh? Should I risk it all and follow my own dreams? Hearing this song live was empowering! I felt that all of the same emotions I had while
listening to this song on the radio all resurfaced. The uplifting beat and the energy is all so youthful and brings about a sense of freedom. It is always tough to make decisions, but the fact of the matter is that you have all of the power and freedom of choice. It’s a beautiful thing to sing alongside a band that makes you feel understood. “[Music is] the greatest communicator I know.” (www.imaginedragonsmusic.com) Not only does Reynolds say this. He also makes it evident in his music. While at the concert, I could see this type of communication flow from the stage to the lawn seats, and back. Their use of innovative
background music entwined with heart-pounding percussion sends a message to the audience and sets a mood that is positive, loving, and free flowing. This energy is transferred back to the band and you can see and feel that their music derives from this desire to share a connection with their fans. The louder I would sing, the louder the band would play. Of course, my voice alone did not make this significant difference. However, this singular thought from each listener at the concert collectively spoke back to the band members.
Their second single “Radioactive” was full of that innovative percussion spoken about earlier. It also came as a surprise for me while it was played live because the band brought out a massive drum. It was not for the sake of show, but it really lent itself to the sound of the music and created something that only the live listeners could experience. Every time Reynolds went over to beat the drum, it sent a wave through the audience and grabbed them by their hearts and their ears. The most influential artists make you hear the music, and feel it too. When you can make your audience feel connected through your words, your music, and each other, then they are sold.
The band first started out playing in casinos throughout Las Vegas and they remember when they first realized they had made that connection with the audience. “I got to the end of the song and just fully passed out in the middle of singing. I came to, got up, finished the song, and we got a standing ovation from all these people at this tiny little casino at three am on a weekday in Vegas.” (www.imaginedragonsmusic.com) Vegas can be a cutthroat area to begin your career. Imagine Dragons described it as a ‘boot camp’ for musicians. Right in that moment, they knew
they had made their way through.
When Imagine Dragons finally had their break in 2012, and no longer played in “tiny little casinos” they had all the space they needed to create an atmosphere for their audience. Even with all of their fame and resources that they didn’t have before, they can still get the audience stomping their feet and waving their hands in the air. “We like making raw natural noises and keeping them raw and natural but transforming them into synthetic noises.” (www.imaginedragonsmusic.com)
In comparison to a rock legend, “Elvis Presley became the “king”… by combing elements of hillbilly and R&B music.” (Hanson, 2013.) Though Imagine Dragons and the “king” are very different, they both have what it takes to attract their fans. Their music is groundbreaking and they are the pioneers of their genres. The combination of sounds allows them to be more than musicians; they are artists. They invented music and could play around with different sounds.
The music of Imagine Dragons is enough to grab and hold the attention of a wide audience without a light show, and all the extra fancy stage decorations. The raw sounds, and pureness of their performance is hard to come across. In the future they plan to have more drums. The use of more percussion will help them create bigger and better sounds.
Overall, their performance at Merriweather Post Pavilion was an unforgettable experience. Along with enjoying the music and the environment, I also enjoyed the company I had with me. My closest friends and my boyfriend were present and made this experience mean more than I could have expected. I got to enjoy my favorite band with my favorite people, one of who had never even heard of Imagine Dragons before. For this friend, the concert could have been terrible. It’s hard to go enjoy a concert when you don’t know all of the lyrics to the songs.
However, the upbeat crowd made for a fun environment and an enjoyable time. I got my friend hooked on my favorite band. I also got to prove to myself how
influential their music and live performance can be. I would highly recommend them to anyone who is looking to listen to a fresh take on alternative rock.
References Page
Hanson, Ralph E.. Mass communication: living in a media world. 3rd ed. Washington, DC: CQ Press, 2013. Print.
InterScope Records. (2013, March 1). Retrieved July 22, 2014, from http://www.imaginedragonsmusic.com/
Monger, J. (n.d.). Imagine Dragons | Biography | AllMusic. AllMusic. Retrieved July 22, 2014, from http://www.allmusic.com/artist/imagine-dragons-mn0002040645/biography.