(Introduction by Makenna Magdaleno-Mague) It was just another Thursday, and I had come home from school and settled in, not thinking I would be doing anything the rest of the day. I happened to check my Twitter right when Grouplove tweeted this:
And just like that, I was guestlisted for the Grouplove and Imagine Dragons show. INSANE right? The venue is 88 miles from my house and the doors opened in an hour, so I frantically called all my friends until I found one (Carissa) that could go with me. We got in my car and drove down to Chula Vista and found that Grouplove put us in the 6th row from the front of the seat section. Although we were behind the pit we were so close, and we got to catch the end of Grouplove's set (which we off course went hard to), then Imagine Dragons came on. Carissa's review is below!
The lights are extinguished in the venue and music and audio clips of newscasts begin. Visuals of the moon landing and other space related images begin to appear on a grid-like set of screens on stage. The audio swells and the iconic evolution of man graphics are displayed on the larger screens on stage. Then, they enter, to a thundering applause from the audience. "I Don't Know Why" starts off the Imagine Dragons concert. The energy in the air is palpable as Dan Reynolds’ voice rings through the stadium. Throughout the concert, the giant props onstage change to match the songs. The holographic, quartz-like structures from the artwork for “Thunder” surround the band members as they play through the song. The accompanying visuals on the screens add to the experience immensely. Other songs incorporated audience participation, such as giant balloons, bubbles, and confetti. The B stage performances were otherworldly. Hearing Imagine Dragons perform some of their songs acoustically with orchestral instruments was unforgettable. Dan’s voice compliments the melodious sounds of the cello and the bass perfectly. They also performed some of their past hits, such as Radioactive and It's Time. The audience roared with excitement as each song began and ended. The musicianship and skill that each band member has is astonishing. Wayne’s skills on the guitar are unbelievable. It was obvious how important each note of his guitar riffs were, as they were played with such delicacy. Ben, the bass player, also had incredible skills when playing the intricate basslines, and Platz brought the whole band together with his amazing drumming. Dan made a beautiful speech about how we should love, and not hate. There is too much hate in the world and it is up to us to show others compassion and the greatest amount of love. A few songs later, the band members left the stage, as if the concert was over, but returned to the stage minutes later. They ended their performance with Believer, accompanied by the voices of their fans, singing or screaming the lyrics at the top of their lungs. It was amazing to see the amount of love present in that amphitheater, from both the fans and Imagine Dragons themselves.