In late 2012, the Las Vegas-spawned indie rock band Imagine Dragons announced their Night Visions Tour in Europe and North America. Within 72 hours, nearly every North American concert date was sold out. Imagine Dragons first began activity in 2008, playing the various small concert venues and bars of Las Vegas. This garnered them the attention of Battle Born Studios, where they recorded their first two EP’s: “Imagine Dragons” and “Hell and Silence.” While not achieving mainstream popularity immediately, Imagine Dragons developed a cult following, especially in their home state of Nevada. In November 2011, the group signed to Interscope Records, a major recording label based in Santa Monica, California. From this point, the national success of the group would then be catalyzed.
On Valentine’s Day 2012, the group released an EP entitled “Continued Silence.” The EP peaked at #40 on the Billboard 200, becoming the group’s first charting work. Soon after the release of the EP, the band released “It’s Time” as a single. The single reached the top five on the Billboard Alternative and Billboard Rock charts before becoming the band’s first top 15 single. It holds the record for the longest run on the 2012 Alternative Top 10 charts. The subsequent music video that coincided with the single was nominated for an MTV Video Music Award. In November 2012, “It’s Time” became a certified platinum single by the RIAA. Their first album, Night Visions, was released in summer 2012, peaking at #2 on the Billboard 200. Since then, they have performed many times on the talk show circuit and can be seen on many “best new artist of the year” lists.
Imagine Dragons is composed of frontman Dan Reynolds, Wayne Sermon on guitar, Ben McKee on bass, Andrew Tolman on drums, and Brittany Robinson on keyboards. Sermon and McKee are long-time friends, both being graduates of the prestigious Berkley College of Music. The group’s musical style has been described as alternative, with elements of dance rock, punk, and pop. They have become well-known for their erratic and passionate performances on stage, with Reynolds coordinating all the showmanship. Critics have also praised the songwriting abilities of the band, with the lyrics being introspective and thought-provoking while also retaining musical complexity.
Imagine Dragons is most definitely one of the up and coming groups of 2013. With a hit single and hit album already, the band is on their way to entering the mainstream popular music scene. The group has grown significantly since their humble beginnings in Las Vegas in 2008. With their new tour, they hope to expand their interests and fan base across the country and world. Their concerts in Europe will mark the first time the band is performing abroad. The talented lineup, beautiful song-crafting, and energized stage performances make Imagine Dragons one of the most unique musical groups on the scene today.
