Before Las Vegas shows became spectacle, they were about showmanship. Vegas’ Imagine Dragons brought that showmanship to Calgary with the Evolve tour.

Much of the show’s success lies in Imagine Dragons’ charismatic front man. Dan Reynolds never stopped moving, seeming to make eye contact with everyone in the pit at the front of the stage all the way to the back. Handsome but humble both onstage and lyrically, it’s evident why the band has such a rabid fanbase.

That is the key to the bands connection with its fans. Reynolds spoke about his own battles with depression and how those experiences lead to him being a musician prior to Demons. The crowd gleefully sang out the word "yesterday" during the chorus of the song of the same name, about looking forward. A gorgeous rendition of Bleeding Out hit the emotion of loss and loneliness. The audience even got a treat as the band played Amsterdam for the first time on the tour.

Visually the show was the definition of classic Vegas showmanship. An impressive laser show, elevated screens, laser pyramids, soap bubbles and giant balloons bouncing around the audience added to the experience. It’s classic arena rock.

Early in the show Reynolds acknowledged the recent tragedy in the bands hometown, and throughout the night the message was simple. Empowerment. Equality. It was a night that as he said allowed fans to "forget about work, school and your problems and just enjoy yourself." There’s a lot of challenges facing the world and many of the youth in attendance. Imagine Dragons are the kind of band that anyone should be proud to have influencing the next generation.

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Contributor Jason Clevett |

Locale Calgary |

Person Imagine Dragons |

Topic Concert Review |