The Best Night of My Life-Imagine Dragons

So as I said in my last post, I attended the Imagine Dragon's concert in May, and it deserved it's own post. In part because it was that good and partly because the night of the concert I came home with my adrenaline rushing and wrote the following post: 

Ears ringing. Heart beating as fast as a locomotive train. Eyes focused and alert. The smell of liberation. Screaming at the top of my lungs. All of my senses heightened to their fullest extent as they experienced the best night of my life.

I just experienced the best night of my life family and friends. Tonight I attended a concert by Imagine Dragons. This group changed my life when I heard the words to their album, Night Vision. You see, I was driving cross country from Branson, Missouri to Lehi, Utah-a 23 hour drive. I heard their song Radioactive and was instantaneously drawn in with no intention of being drawn out. The two days I drove back to my home I was driving back to reality once again. I was getting divorced. I was selling my home. I was leaving the life I had known for over four years! I was freeing myself from the bondage I was once in!

Imagine Dragons' music touched my heart and soul, the way no other music could or ever has. I know it sounds silly to say such a thing if you haven't had such a connection, but their lyrics are the lullabies to my soul! Their music spoke to me, when no words could seem to console my anguish or when I had no one to wipe away my tears. "Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent." -Victor Hugo

Late last year, I experienced the darkest times, such dark times I can never imagine living through them again. It was during this time I prayed to my Heavenly Father and promised that I would do more spiritually (going to the temple monthly, go to institute, and continue reading my scriptures and praying daily) and in return petitioned Him to get my through this time. I have been strengthened each day as a result of many prayers and fasting by friends and family I am sure, but I know Heavenly Father has kept His end as I have kept mine.

Tonight as I was at this concert it hit me. The times when I couldn't bear to go on, I kept my hope that good times lie ahead for me, if I would keep pushing. As I was jumping up and down, singing along, and screaming at the tallest tip of my lungs, it was then that I knew I had made it! I made it through the times and the moments I would try and imagine being truly happy again-it was happening right then and there! I made it! I made it and I love life again! I love my life! What a relief to say that again!

All day today, I was anxious with anticipation of the concert. I have only been two concerts before tonight but this one was different. This concert was one of the five things I had to do this year of the list I made. Going to this concert meant so much more than actively participating in a concert-it signified my liberation, my reclamation. 

 

 

Thanks to my amazing friend Curtis for taking me! Here we are killing time before the concert started. I couldn't have asked for a funner person to go with :)

 

I got a little "selfie" while waiting but I was just so happy!

The opening acts of the concert seemed to take five or so years, so when Imagine Dragons finally took the stage, EVERYONE was ecstatic to hear them, including myself! I dressed a little edgier tonight, because sometimes when I dress a little different it helps me to not feel so much myself, which can be liberating as well.  

Video of when Imagine Dragons took stage & started playing

I would have to say the best parts of the concert was the Radioactive performance, the ENCORE!!, It's Time, and jumping up and down like a fool and loving every minute of it!!!

Most everyone knows the song Radioactive and you know what an exhilarating song it is. So imagine that times 100,000,000,000! I kid you not, it was amazing. Everyone in the crowd was jumping, waiving their hands, singing along, cheering, and the lead singer-Dan Reynolds expressing how much he loved to be back in Utah where the group was first loved and accepted. He said they have been soo exhausted and we rejuvenated them when they needed it the most-well it was just an outpour of good energy and love in that arena! So back to Radioactive. The song is getting to the chorus, it's hot, the lights are pacing around the arena, people are singing along to the music in the dark as the music leads their eyes to the center of the stage. All of the sudden we realize Dan is up above us! He is in the air and starts beating on a drum along with the chorus. The energy and excitement could not get any louder, enthusiastic, or amazing than this!!!

 

Playing the drum in mid air

 

Radioactive 

 

Radioactive II

We thought he was going to keep beating the drum the rest of the song but then he drops the stick, which is attached to him, and he has a microphone attached to his belt. Dan picks up the microphone and finishes the song as he soars above all of his fans. He is lowered down slowly, his feet high in the air, while he head comes down first. He reaches his hand out to his fans to touch them quickly while still singing the song. He goes back up in the air and finishes the song and the crowd is magnetic, electrifying! 

Words could not describe the energy I felt in that moment and I suppose you had to be there to experience it. I will never be able to listen to the song the same again as it will always bring back a memory of such positive energy. It was the best part of the concert by far!!

 

Underdog clip

 

It's Time

I enjoyed letting loose and jumping up and down to the music. I have such a hard time, not worrying what other people might think of me and my self-consciousness usually prevents me from relaxing and having a fun time. When Dan said he wanted every to shake off whatever stressed them in life, let it all out, forget about it, and don't worry what everyone thinks, "leave it out there". I thought to myself, I am going to just live in this moment. Because I knew the words to each and every song, I was in heaven. I jumped up and down with the crowd, I swayed back and forth, I rocked my hips and ran my fingers through my hair, I fist pumped, and waved my arm in the air, I swayed my phone back in forth in the darkness with hundreds of other people. I screamed my lungs out!!! I never scream and screaming, singing, jumping, and all of that energy was sooooo liberating!! I felt so rejuvenated! I didn't care about what people might have thought-although most everyone was doing the same as I. This concert had such a great load of people that helped make it such a great night!

When Dan sang Demons and It's Time- I had a few moments when I felt "alive" more than I have in such a long time. The song Demons is amazing and It's Time is another popular one I'm sure all of you have heard. It's Time has the very popular line "It's time to begin isn't it, I get a little bit bigger than this I admit. Why don't you understand? I'm never changing who I am!" I love that last line. "I'm never changing who I am. It speaks to me about myself as a person and my body. As I was healing and would hear this song it spoke and testified that I loved myself and I'm Never Changing Who I am. I got a little bit choked up during this performance, as of course the entire crowd was engaged, and I was throwing my hands up in the air, singing along with Dan I shed a few tears. This was one of my moments when my soul proclaimed with a great magnitude-this is your life to live, to be happy, to have faith, and to experience. This was a moment when I felt like I was liberated! I felt like I was living like I was dying! What a surreal and majestic moment!

I just want to wrap up my last memory as it was a pretty cool experience. As I said, the love flowing from the band to the fans and fans to the band was enormous and contagioius. Dan said, and I quote "Utah crowd is the best crowd. We love you! I wanna tell you-this summer we've  been to Prague, Vienna, we've been to Germany we've been to France, we've been all over. And to come home to this side, to the states, to Utah, you guys have made us felt like we're home today. We can't tell you how much that means to us. We are all tired and I feel rejuvenated. Thank you. Thank you for this".

Video of Dan thanking the fans

It was so nice to hear a musician thank you, when you want to thank them for helping you through a dark time, helping you smile about life, making everyday a bright day when you listen to their music and to know you helped them feel that back it was amazing! So it should have come as no surprise when they closed with the song, I'm On Top of the World. The crowd was feeling the love and energy as it oozed out of every since inch of the events center. Imagine Dragons left the stage and we all screamed, we all cheered, and just stood in amazement. Everyone was saying how it was the best concert of their life. But we couldn't stop cheering, screaming, and so we started cheering "One More Song....One More Song". When that didn't work we all started beating on the bleachers in front of us and we screamed and shouted again "One More Song". Well what do you know.......they came back out and gave us an Encore! It was legit...epic....ahhhh! 

For the encore I they performed Nothing Left to Say-which was so fitting. At the very end, Dan strapped in again and soared above us and completed the song by doing back flip after back flip.


Oh and did I mention they sound amazing in person! This concert was no let downs whatsoever. Nothing but pure enjoyment and raw talent. Thank you Imagine Dragons for your gift of music, energy, and the best night of my life!


Calissa