I saw Temper Trap once at a small venue in London, and it was a perfect venue for leader singer, Dougy Mandagi to fill the entire room with his amazing vocal range. In the much larger Perth Arena, I was worried they wouldn’t have the same impact, but I am wrong. While I still think Temper Trap are a delight best enjoyed in an intimate setting, they were still amazing. They played a number of tracks off their last album, including Fall Together, Alive and title number Thick as Thieves. Sweet Disposition, Temper Trap’s classic number, is one of the last played, and virtually everyone sings along. Small wonder, even people who haven’t listened to Temper Trap are sure to know this one. They also play Drum Song, an addictive instrumental masterpiece.
Classical music plays from speakers as we wait, then the lights fall before a video reel depicting childhood and questions surrounding the creation of the world is projected on a screen.
Imagine Dragons run onstage to greet the crowd as a unit and lead singer Dan starts to sing I Don’t Know Why as the rest of the band run to their instruments. This is the most pop the night gets, with a heavily synthesised, fast-paced beat.
Imagine Dragons have been touring with their last album, Evolve, for over a year. With this long to become familiar with the songs, and their impressive past discography, there are few amongst the crowd who won’t have a sizeable list of tunes they’re hanging out for.
The band play a slowed down version of Believer, the first of a bunch of slower versions of their hits. The band aside from Dan are Berkley graduates, so these are fantastic opportunities to really hear their acoustic guitar, piano and cello playing. Then they play Believer a second time, this run-through true to the original rock hit, alive with a thumping bass and huge drum sounds.
Dan welcomes everyone to his concert, promising;
“no race, no religion will divide us.”
He extends this special welcome to everyone suffering anxiety or depression, the LGBT community, and a host of other people he wishes to simply have a good time tonight. He finishes speaking by starting to sing the lyrics of, It’s Time, which now takes on a whole new meaning and prompts an uncontrolled shiver down my spine.
Yesterday is a true crowd shaker, the celebratory lyrics and music rising and rising to three huge beats at the end marked by Dan screaming, “YES-TER-DAY.”
The most humungous balloons I have ever seen fly over the crowd, and coupled with a red, pink and blue glow from lighting they create a truly mesmerising effect.
Before Demons, a song about Dan’s personal battle with depression, he shares his story, saying he hopes it will help all those out there with anxiety or depression who are struggling and self-doubting like he did. He urges everyone to learn to share their issues to end the growing rates of mental illness amongst young people today. Even after a year on tour giving this speech, Dan pours all his heart and soul into sharing his journey with the crowd. Once again, Dan has me just about reduced to tears!
Rock tune Rise Up is intense, before they do a cover of ’80’s tune Forever Young that has the entire crowd singing along almost as an irresistible reflex, it seems. I mean, who doesn’t know the lyrics, “Do you really wanna live forever, forever…?”
Another crowd-pleasing cover is Bob Marley and the Wailers’ Three Little Birds. Interesting cover choices, but ultimately they are incredibly well-received.
On Top of the World and acoustic version of I Bet My Life are positive, zesty songs. They mix it up in between heavier numbers like Bleeding Out and Walking the Wire, both from the Evolve album.
Imagine Dragons left me breathless with how diverse their concert is. Maybe its their connection to hometown Las Vegas, but they are true entertainers, keeping the crowd on their toes. They move from the main stage to a smaller stage at the back for acoustic numbers, and lace their set with moving love ballads like I’ll Make it Up To You, keeping things fresh. Their light show is fantastic and while Dan opts for simple white tee and eventual shirtless-ness, the rest of the band have the zaniest outfits. One guitarist looks uncannily like a colourfully dressed, young Elton John.
Ending an explosive set with Radioactive and another burst of confetti, the Imagine Dragons performance I get to see is not a concert, but an endlessly inspiring pop rock extravaganza.
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