Why Imagine Dragons rock live
They came, they played, they blew the roof off.
On Tuesday (Aug 25), Imagine Dragons gave Singapore a night to remember at the Singapore Indoor Stadium for their very first concert here as part of their Smoke + Mirrors tour — leaving a trail of 8,500 highly-satisfied fans in their wake.
Because not all rock bands are created equal, what makes these Las Vegas rockers so darn amazing to see live?
#1: Drums, Drums, Everywhere
Most live band set-ups you see include one regular drum set... and that’s it.
Not Imagine Dragons. For them, drums are arguably the biggest feature of the nearly two-hour show.
We counted four giant toms on stage at one point, in addition to drummer Daniel Platzman’s drum set. For their biggest hit Radioactive, every member of the quartet participated in a mass drum solo, thumping out energetic rhythms and working the crowd into a frenzy.
#2: Lights!
Light shows at concerts are nothing new, but Imagine Dragons’ lights were truly spectacular.
Whether it was full-blown colourful spotlights that threatened to blind spectators (but didn’t!) during the high-octane I Bet My Life, or the meditative light display of falling leaves during encore song The Fall, lights were always there to enhance the mood.
#3: Intimacy
The trouble with big stadium concerts is that they can feel a little impersonal, like you’re too far away from the action.
While the group delivered many big, rousing numbers, the set also shone during the quieter, more intimate moments. When they broke into a dreamy cover of Alphaville’s Forever Young, people sang along reverently, as if the chorus were a prayer.
Frontman Dan Reynolds also engaged the audience by jumping off stage into the front row, and constantly joking with the crowd. Sample dialogue: “I think (drummer) Daniel Platzman’s beard looks especially ginger tonight.”
#4: Guitar solos
A rock concert without ripping guitar solos is like a circus without a clown: Completely meaningless.
Luckily, guitarist Daniel Wayne Sermon was on hand to provide some truly blistering solos on the electric guitar, making every guitarist in the audience feel instantly envious (and inadequate).
He even treated audiences to some sexy banjo-playing for It’s Time, proving it’s not about the instrument: It’s how you use it.
Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now