Imagine Dragons

16th November 2012, Ruby Lounge

8/10

One could be mistaken for believing that like the dragon, Imagine Dragons possess magical qualities too. In less than a year since the release of their EP, Continued Silence, they have enjoyed peek-time slots on American chat shows and received nominations from MTV and Billboard alike. Or perhaps they are the latest band to come off the Vegas’ musical conveyer belt, such as their desert-born contemporaries, The Killers. Away from the glitz and glamour of American television, Imagine Dragons find themselves in a hideaway bar on the edge of Manchester’s Northern Quarter, a far cry from the Jay Leno show. What would possess a band to seek out Manchester’s basement dives as a location to stage a gig? The answer is simple; this was the conclusion of their maiden European tour to promote their debut album, Night Visions.

Imagine Dragons have cited influences ranging from polar-opposites such as hip-hop and folk to an affinity for peculiar instrumental synth. But the most telling influence resonated behind every note; every bang of a drum, the onstage demeanour of the frontman, and that was stadium rock.

As the band appeared from behind the velvet curtain that separated the stage, the assembled crowd were already in good spirits and good spirits were likewise being consumed. A fellow on his friends shoulder took the opportunity to ‘moon’ the audience behind him. The band introduced themselves with the tried and tested crowd pleaser, It’s time. Every song is accompanied with lively hooks, punishing drumming and delivered with echoed vocals that created the most grandiose display the Ruby Lounge may have ever encountered. As the band got into their stride, lead singer Dan Reynolds, took the opportunity to stray away from his own personal free standing drum and let his boyish vigour take control as he began fist-pumping and pogoing in reaction to the instantly recognisable Radioactive. The underlying techno beat gave the audience all the more reason to let loose and imitate the frontman in pogoing and arm waving. In reaction Reynolds perched himself on the crowd barrier, looming over the crowd with his back arched and head twisted as held himself up using the ceiling for the following song Hear me.

The band paused, allowing Reynolds to compliment the crowd that evening, praising the city and sentimentally conceding that playing there that night made him ‘‘feel closer to home’’. Before returning to his singing, he tested the crowd’s football allegiances asking them who they support before asking “What do you guys do on a Friday night? I play FIFA’’, that was met with a series of hollers from the crowd. The band concluded the evening with the slow tempo, crowd swaying groovy rhythm of Demons. Imagine Dragons had the audience under their spell throughout the night and it certainly hadn’t diminished by the time they left the stage, as there was an eruption of ‘‘we want more! we want more!’’ and the thing is, we did.