As I was walking out of the Arena, a girl who appeared from behind me asked if she could write something on my notepad.
Although slightly surprised, I obliged and handed it over.
She wrote ‘Awesome!!!’ with a love heart drawn below and said that was all I needed for my gig review.
While I’ve decided to write a bit more, you get the gist of the reception the gig got.
As soon as Sunset Sons, the warmup for Imagine Dragons came on stage, the girl in front of me began dancing wildly, clad in a Sunset Sons t-shirt.
She only broke from her exuberance to take pictures every few seconds; she must have had a hundred pictures just of the warmup act.
@SunsetSons You guys were amazing supporting @Imaginedragons in #Manchester tonight 🙂 Any chance of a follow back? pic.twitter.com/q90SrS5Pj5
— Myles (@MxlesW) November 13, 2015
The band themselves proved to be a strong warm-up act, proudly managing to make large sections of the crowd put their lights on during Bright Lights.
Lead singer Rory admitted this was a first for the band.
The band finished by posing for photos in front of the crowd before the standard half an hour break, in which the girl in front of me managed to change into an Imagine Dragons t-shirt.
She continued taking numerous pictures throughout the gig probably exhausting her phone’s memory.
MANCHESTER! get ready to party hard with us @Imaginedragons @DanielPlatzman @benamckee @WilliamFWells pic.twitter.com/3mh0Ah8iie
— +the wolfpack+ (@wolfpackdiary) November 13, 2015
It was a typically fast start by Imagine Dragons beginning with Shots which once hit number one on the USA iTunes chart.
Showing there was no easing into the gig here and the song was accompanied by searing blue flames.
The seamless switches between the high tempo songs in which lead singer Dan Reynolds would actively cover most of the stage, and the emotional numbers, was what made this gig so strong.
It was their Forever Young cover that really inspired the crowd.
This is a particularly emotional song given new meaning due to Reynolds’ revelation in Leeds on Wednesday that he suffers from ankylosing spondylitis.
This is a rare autoimmune-type disease which will result in less elasticity of the spine, making it extremely hard to stand up straight. Essentially turning him into an old person at a young age.
You could sense the emotion as he sung ‘I want to be forever young‘.
This was not the only display of emotion throughout the performance.
+fire+ pic.twitter.com/OupATcF7pe
— Imagine Dragons (@Imaginedragons) November 7, 2015
Later in the piece Reynolds did a speech about the refugee crisis stating that whatever political party we support, no-one is in favour of starvation.
Due to this, all proceeds from the song I Was Me will go to the refugees.
Furthermore, there was humour littered throughout the performance.
At one point, Reynolds lamented his inability to grow facial hair and stated those who can should feel privileged.
There was constant interaction with the crowd. Fans were encouraged to sing parts of most songs and this worked superbly, particularly on the ‘oh’s’ in Polaroid.
The energy displayed by the lead singer was incredible.
This was showcased particularly in On Top of the World where he ran all the way from the stage up to the top of the lower tier, which is probably a good 30 rows back.
Then across the top row asking adoring fans if they were enjoying the gig.
Hearing this song live was my pick of the performance.
It was the song that really got me interested in the band’s music when it came out in 2012.
The mountain scene graphics that came with this song really added to it, and the graphics provided really did add to the spectacle of the gig.
Manchester has such a great energy, thanks y’all pic.twitter.com/M2VDi24wu8
— Daniel Platzman (@DanielPlatzman) November 13, 2015
The band finished on their biggest number, Radioactive.
It was testament to the band that noise levels did not really grow for this song compared to their others.
Fans had been equally as loud throughout the gig, reflecting the consistent level of power from their songs that they had provided.
There was vibrancy amongst people whilst leaving the gig, a hyperactive mood with people discussing their favourite songs performed.
The fact that I haven’t even mentioned some of these songs shows the quality across the board during the gig.
Truthfully, I’ve never had the same level of desire to listen to a band as soon as I get home after a gig, as after this one.
The girl who wrote in my pad was not wrong; it really was an awesome performance.
Image courtesy of Dan DeBold, with thanks.
