Every seat of the Dee Events Center was filled Friday night as Imagine Dragons took the stage. The concert included music from their newest album, “Night Visions.” Known for popular songs such as “Radioactive” and “It’s Time,” the band closed its U.S. tour in Ogden.
Imagine Dragons frontman and lead singer Dan Reynolds addressed the roaring crowd between songs. “I cannot express in words how much it means to us to have you here,” he said. “(Previously we were) just playing to an audience of 100 in Utah.” He said their tour was taking them to Europe next, but that they “couldn’t think of a better place” to end their time in the States. “I wish we could take you to Europe with us!”
Opening for Imagine Dragons was Provo-based Fictionist, two-time winner of the Independent Music Awards for Best Pop/Rock Song.
As the ticket count would suggest, attendees were excited to be able to see both bands live. Many Weber State University students were in attendance, including graphic design major Samantha Shumway and geography major Alex Malan.
“My friend’s brother is actually in Fictionist, so I’m excited to see them, too,” Shumway said.
The WSU Student Association encouraged students to document their experiences at the concert with the hashtag #WSUImagines. Posts featuring students’ excited pictures, statuses and tweets flowed from social media outlets Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Tickets were in such high demand that the box office sold 100-plus tickets for standing room only just minutes before the concert began.
Brigham Young University student John Pierce came to the concert with his friends. He had never previously attended a concert, and said he was excited to see Imagine Dragons live.
“I like their music,” he said before the show. “I’m excited to see what a live concert is like.”
Also in attendance were representatives from local charity the Tyler Robinson Foundation, founded in part by Imagine Dragons. The charity works to help families of children with cancer with their medical costs and provide them with financial guidance. According to Chadwick Calmes, the late Tyler Robinson’s best friend and Ben Lomond High School senior, Tyler was among the band’s earliest fans and developed a personal relationship with lead singer Reynolds. Upon his passing, the band contacted his family about starting the foundation in his name.
Prior to their WSU performance, the band paid a visit to Primary Children’s Hospital, where they played a special performance for patients and their families. They left the hospital after donating $5,000 from the Tyler Robinson Foundation to the medical center.
The band dedicated their song “It’s Time” to Tyler during their performance at the Dee Events Center. They also dedicated “Radioactive” to Kennedy Hansen, a West Haven teen battling Batten disease, who was in attendance.
The concert closed to roaring applause and a standing ovation from the crowd following the band’s encore performance. Imagine Dragons will return to Utah sometime in 2014, following the completion of their world tour.
