Imagine Dragons, the band that electrified the 2014 Grammy’s with their collaboration of their song “Radioactive” with Kendrick Lamar, brought that same electrifying and blood pumping performance to St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center. As frontman Dan Reynolds striked his accessory bass drum, its rumble filled the entire arena. One of the band’s concluding numbers was perhaps the climax of a performance that stands as evidence that Imagine Dragons might be the next arena band in the making.

Following the band’s elaborate opening, they were quick to play one of their most recognizable hits, and the one that put them on the map.

Where Dan Reynolds, frontman of Imagine Dragons, usually delivers a heartwarming and tear-inducing speech about a close friend of the band who passed away from a rare form of cancer called Rhabdomyosarcoma, he instead focused on the recent tragedy to befall Las Vegas, the band’s hometown. Referring to the recent shooting that occurred at Route 91 Harvest music festival, Reynolds launched into an emotional speech about the connecting power of music.  

“No one will ever take music from us, no one will ever take gathering in public places from us,” Reynolds said. From here he led the crowd in singing one of the band’s most recognizable hits, “It’s Time.”

From there the show exploded into one of pristine showmanship and electric performance. Weaving in classics and fan favorites from their freshman and sophomore albums, Night Visions and Smoke and Mirrors respectively, with songs off their newest album, Evolve, Imagine Dragons presented a set that pleased all.

A notable moment was Reynold’s preface to “Yesterday,” a track off Evolve. He explained the notion that regret is a meaningless emotion that prevents progress and growth. He called upon the crowd to chant “yesterday” with him as a way to acknowledge their attempts to live without it.

“There is no purpose of regret,” Reynolds said as the rest of the band began to play.

Shortly after, Reynolds launched into yet another speech as an introduction to “Demons.” Reynolds spoke about his own personal battle with depression as well as the need for individuals to seek help as as not to fight alone.

“I love my therapist…please, don’t struggle alone,” Reynolds said.

From here, the band transitioned to a B Stage, where they played a tribute to the late Tom Petty as well as acoustic versions of some of their lesser popular tracks.

Following this short set, the band returned to the A Stage to finish off with some of their biggest, and more energetic, hits.

The show culminates to an explosive ending during “Believer,” one of the singles off the newest album. From here, the band takes a final bow before exiting the stage. What the crowd is left with is not just a performance of songs, but rather an experience that aims at uniting humanity through music.

“Music reminds us of something very important and that’s that color is meaningless, class is meaningless, sex is meaningless. You’re all humans trying to coexist, that’s it,” Reynolds said.