Exactly two weeks ago today I was on my way back from one of the best gigs of my life.
Imagine Dragons
I've blogged about them several times before and I'll constantly be blogging about them from now on. In fact, the progress of my love for this band has grown and been documented on this blog since I started it last year. The first time I heard 'Demons' on that trailer for that (turns out quite awful) movie, to when I purchased the album, which I now realise must have been an import or unofficial release since I bought it in November and it was officially released in the UK earlier this month.
I blogged about the album when I got it and I've noticed the traffic for that particular post has sky rocketed over the last few weeks and I know it's because this band is just getting bigger and bigger by the minute.
They toured the UK late last year in smaller venues but missed out Birmingham so I didn't get a chance to see them. I am so unbelievably happy that I have now caught them when they played at The Institute on the 9th April.
The album does not even do this band justice to how they play live. Like I've said, BEST gig ever. The atmosphere was immense, the percussion, the drums, OH LORD THE DRUMS, so fucking amazing. The way that lead singer, Dan Reynolds, spoke to the audience, explaining what we were all feeling that night and what we feel when we go to concerts; that unique feeling that we belong, that all these people in this room are united for one night in our love for this band, this music. Forget all of our differences, and unite for our love of music, as cheesy as is sounds.
It's why I have NO problem attending gigs by myself and have done for years. You'll never quite truly understand what I mean unless you've done exactly that, because I might be in the queue, waiting to enter the venue, by myself, checking my phone so I don't look like a loser but the second I'm inside and crammed up to all these random people, our bodies uncomfortably pushed against each other, you can't help but feel united. You cannot help talking to random people and asking them things about this band you've all come to see. There's not a second that I feel alone. And I walk back to my car after the gig, surrounded by fans of this band and I feel so carefree and happy cause that band just made me feel on top of the freaking world!! (Yes, pun intended).
So to the gig, I just want to talk about a few of the songs and I'll add some videos as well but the only thing I really want to say in this post is GO SEE THEM LIVE. They're playing Isle of Wight festival and Reading & Leeds and I believe T in the Park. Not only that, but they plan to tour the UK again later this year... I will be there. In fact, if I can swing it, I'm going to attempt to go to the London gig too. See, I will even travel for this band. Look how easy I've made it for you, I've even given you the links... DOOOOOOO IT!!!! You won't regret it, I promise.
Anyway, first up is Demons, the song that started it all for me. It always surprises me when all these people, hundreds of them, show up to gigs and they all know the words and everything, yet I can't find one friend or colleague that knows of them. I feel like yelling out when I get there "Where the fuck have you all been hiding?!" That's kind of how I felt when they played this song.
There's not as many videos out there as I thought, this has the best sound and a great view. Hey Dan ;)
Here's my video if you wanna take a look. I'm a little further away, which was a bummer but also great cause you get to see the whole effect of the lights etc. They put a lot of fucking effort in the stage production by the way, more than I expected.
Next up, fucking LOVE this song, Bleeding Out. Another favourite off the album that I could not wait to hear live. Loved it. There's a long ass bass intro so if you want to get to the song, skip to 1:27, but you just have to hear this song.
So much passion.
Ahhh there's too many, I literally just wanna put the whole gig on here. I just can't even convey how much you all need to see this band! I'm literally dragging all my friends next time around cause they just can't miss this, even if they still have no idea who they are (and by that point I should just leave them in the cave they apparently live in) I'm still gonna take them!!
This is On Top of the World, which if you did happen to read my last post about Imagine Dragons then you'll know that my favourite lyrics are in this song. There's just no way you can't smile watching/listening to this song. Also, I recorded like 30 seconds to 1 minute of 3 songs from the entire gig because the floor was constantly bouncing, which I loved! Sometimes I want some songs recorded just so I can go back and reminisce but there's no way I'll forget this one. Everyone was jumping throughout the whole thing but especially during this song!
How can you not like them? Impossible.
I seriously want to give you 3 more but I'll just give you one and the links for the others because you just need to see them live and not on a computer screen.
The most anticipated song of the night and the greatest performance I've ever seen.
Radioactive.
This just doesn't even do it justice but seriously, HOW IMMENSE IS THAT?! If you follow them on Twitter/Facebook, you might be aware that Dan broke his wrist, punching a drum, after watching this you understand why, yes?
Also, I'm gonna give you the live video that they shot themselves of Radioactive cause it's AMAZING and the sound it SOOOOO much better. Obviously.
Here's It's Time and Underdog and one of my favourite songs, that no one appears to have recorded, Nothing Left To Say (from the Manchester gig, which looks so much bigger with much better sound than the Birmingham one, I really hope they play something bigger next time. Also the link for this guys video's from Manchester cause they look/sound awesome.)
I've spoilt you enough for one post. You love them as much as me now, don't you? You can't deny it. Imagine Dragons cannot be denied. I'm glad I got to see them at The Institute because it was small and intimate and those are usually the best kinds of gigs, and I suspect they'll be performing in arenas if not this year then next year for sure.
This post has been all about how amazing this gig was and I desperately want to leave it at that, on this brilliant high note but I have to put my two cents in about the rest of it. Firstly, the support act, I've not heard from the people who went to this gig saying much about the support, it's like we've all chosen to ignore it because, well I at least, thought they were shit :/ They were called The Good Natured and because they seemed so epically bad and boring I decided to look them up when I got back and actually liked the more engaging band that seemed to be present in their videos compared to the distant 3-piece that stood on stage. The lead singer doesn't seem to have much presence unfortunately and was almost unrecognisable from the girl in their videos. Personal opinion, but she'll have to develop a personality on stage if they want to go anywhere, it's the downside of being the only girl in a band unfortunately, let alone the singer. Think Karen O, Hayley Williams, Shirley Manson. There's a certain way to work it. Maybe they'll eventually come into their own but they were way too... meh to be supporting Imagine Dragons.
Secondly, the sound at The Institute... was questionable. I wouldn't blame the sound engineer because since watching these videos, everything seemed perfectly clear, the guitar, the bass, everything, but where I was further back, a little to the right of the stage, I could BARELY hear the guitar, in fact I was surprised that there were guitar solos in a couple of the songs since watching these videos because I couldn't bloody hear it. I'm blaming the structure of the venue and the dodgy sound system they have. The speakers were limited (it is a small venue), the line array speakers on either side of the stage are in the direct path of the balcony, so you've got a good chunk of sound being blocked by the structure, whereas it should be free to reach the back of the venue.
That's all I have to say about it for now, because beside it being the best gig I've been to, those two things really did bug me.
This is a long ass post but I hope you now know the greatness that is Imagine Dragons and you'll join me in my obsession of them... and Dan Reynolds. 'Cause he is fiiiiiiiiine, son!
Aww poor thing. Lol.
~HL
