The return of live music to Rogers Place arena in Edmonton could not have found a better band for the inaugural kick off. The feel good, feel better when you’re down, lift you up music of Imagine Dragons was the perfect prescription to shake off the past two years.
The lights go down. Intro music starts and the video screen fills up with closed eye lids, lush lashes and other dream like imagery that focus on awakenings or rebirths. Then a haunting voiceover fills the arena. “Are you awake? Have you ever been? It’s time to open your eyes even if pain and darkness is all that lies before you. Wake up and face the world as it is. Be warned the path is wild and full of treachery, but where there is darkness, there may light also be.” Dan Reynolds then appears at the end of a long catwalk that stretches out into the crowd, his powerful voice reaching the nether regions of Rogers Place singing the opening lines of “My Life”. This song is a personal and reflective account of struggling with addictions and dealing with mental illness. The opening narrative and number confirmed the tone for the therapeutic shot in the arm that was prevalent throughout the entire set. Imagine Dragons are here to walk you though two hours of healing, recovery and awareness. Even though My Life is from the recent album, Mercury Act 1 (Act 2 was released this spring), most of the arena was singing along; loudly.
Moving on to the next moment of mental health awareness is “Believer” which is about embracing pain and using it as personal growth. This song is the title for the band’s documentary Believer where Imagine Dragons’ front man Dan Reynolds explores how the Mormon church treats its LGBTQ2S members. With the rising suicide rate amongst teens in the state of Utah, his concern with the church’s policies sends him on a path for change. Dan Reynolds has a festival later this year in support of LGBTQ2S youth called “LoveLoud” in Salt Lake City Utah. For more info visit: https://loveloudfest.com/. Bass player Ben McKee was showing love and support for the LGBTQ2S community with his rainbow microphone, his pride coloured ear monitors and his guitar which sported the trans ally colours as well as a pride coloured heart on the back.
The number of families in attendance was at first a shock as I was walking into the venue. I then realized many kids like the band’s name. Every child Imagines Dragons at some point in their life. Coupled with the fact that the amazing cover version of the aforementioned “Believer” by One Voice Children’s Choir has close to 200 million views on YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUQheX3PSnY After listening deeply to the lyrics I realize it’s more than just the band’s name that’s attracting the kids. Perhaps it the rational message the lyrics have for youth about embracing your pain, sailing your own ship and just being you. Dan Reynold’s even took a moment to acknowledge the kids and the difficult world they live in, “When you’re young, the world is wonderful and full of people telling you how to live and what to do. They will also try to tell you which road to take. The only ones you should listen to are your parents unless they’re wrong. If that makes you uncomfortable, don’t listen to them. Only you know what makes you happy. It’s cool to just be yourself, love yourself, be proud of yourself and wake up everyday and look in the mirror and be proud of who you are. We need you to be exactly like you are. There’s only one you.” The deeper message during this talk revolved around therapy, “Therapy is why I’m still here today. Therapy doesn’t make you weak. If you are feeling any anxiety, depression or anything else, talk to your friends, talk to your parents or talk to a therapist. Your life is always worth living.” This was the intro to “It’s Okay” with lines like “it’s okay to be not okay. It’s okay to be out of your mind. Breathe in deep just a day at a time, cause it’s okay to be out of your mind” I’m hoping his message reached at least one kid last night who may have been thinking the unthinkable and saved a life.
Deep is what the Imagine Dragons are despite their uplifting, hand clapping, sing out loud songs There’s no beating around the bush with this band. The lyrics have more impact than one would think. Many songs were introduced by more voiceover narrative setting the mood for the words that follow, While the show was filled with confetti cannons, smoke effects and a huge video screen, the message was simple; therapy helps, fight your demons, starve off addictions and live to see another day. He spoke about losing his sister-in-law, Alicia, after a year long struggle with cancer and how “Wrecked” is his healing for what he went through and is still going through after her passing. To see how much of an impact a song can have on people, visit https://www.imaginedragonsmusic.com/wrecked-competition and see the entries for the “Wrecked” cover contest.
As I re-read this review it sounds like the show was down and somber, but that is far from the truth. As I mentioned at the start, music is therapeutic, and Imagine Dragons were just the prescription we needed. The crowd embraced the message, sang at the top of their lungs and enjoyed the full two hour set. At about the midway point shortly after the emotional “Wrecked” they covered Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds” and the audience was almost louder than the band as we all sang, “Every little thing is gonna be alright.” The slight pall that may have been present in the air was lifted and it was dancing time.
From the opening notes of “My Life” to the closing notes of “My Life Reprise” two hours later, it was an unexpected journey for this scribe to take. If you are wondering where your ‘Demons’ hide, according to Dan Reynolds, “If you have ever wondered if you should talk to a therapist, you should talk to a therapist.” For many at the show music is therapy. The post concert buzz was high; “Best concert I’ve ever been too” “That sure made me feel good” “WOW!” “This was a cool first concert.” Dan, Wayne Sermon on guitar, Ben McKee on bass, Daniel Platzman on drums and Elliot Schwartzman on keys and rhythm left their mark on the nearly 10,000 people in attendance for the first large show at Rogers Place in Edmonton. Be sure to catch them as the cross Canada this month before jumping across the ocean for the European leg of their Mercury world tour. This was one incredible show that will be indelibly stamped into my memory. Music is therapy. For more details and tour dates near you check out https://www.imaginedragonsmusic.com/.
