REVERED LAS VEGAS ROCK BAND IMAGINE DRAGONS PREPARES TO LIGHT UP THE HOLIDAYS
Most bands go big on New Year’s Eve. Imagine Dragons is going intimate, opting for an audience of about 1,800 at The Venetian Theatre for Imagine Dragons: Live in Las Vegas. The band will be coming off a short rest after winding up the Loom World Tour in Japan, where stadium-sized crowds came out to hear new songs such as “Wake Up,” “Eyes Closed” and set opener “Fire in These Hills” laced among legacy hits “Enemy,” “Thunder” and “Believer.”
Whether ex-drummer Daniel Platzman, who amicably stepped away from the career pressures of being an Imagine Dragon in August, will be around for the special show remains to be seen. Founding member Andrew Tolman returned to the drum stool after Platzman first went on hiatus in 2023 and seemed to be enjoying himself, so he’s all warmed up and ready to go.
Officially, Imagine Dragons is a trio consisting of Dan Reynolds, guitarist Wayne Sermon and bassist Ben McKee, who should be well on his way to having a ZZ Top-length beard by Dec. 31 if he abstains from trimming. Expanding to a five-piece for an evening could make for an interesting footnote in rock history, but whether Tolman is invited to come back into the fold permanently and Imagine Dragons becomes a quartet for its next album remains to be seen. –Matt Kelemen
The Venetian, 9:30 p.m. Dec. 31, starting at $139.95 plus tax and fee. ticketmaster.com
Most bands go big on New Year’s Eve. Imagine Dragons is going intimate, opting for an audience of about 1,800 at The Venetian Theatre for Imagine Dragons: Live in Las Vegas. The band will be coming off a short rest after winding up the Loom World Tour in Japan, where stadium-sized crowds came out to hear new songs such as “Wake Up,” “Eyes Closed” and set opener “Fire in These Hills” laced among legacy hits “Enemy,” “Thunder” and “Believer.”
Whether ex-drummer Daniel Platzman, who amicably stepped away from the career pressures of being an Imagine Dragon in August, will be around for the special show remains to be seen. Founding member Andrew Tolman returned to the drum stool after Platzman first went on hiatus in 2023 and seemed to be enjoying himself, so he’s all warmed up and ready to go.
Officially, Imagine Dragons is a trio consisting of Dan Reynolds, guitarist Wayne Sermon and bassist Ben McKee, who should be well on his way to having a ZZ Top-length beard by Dec. 31 if he abstains from trimming. Expanding to a five-piece for an evening could make for an interesting footnote in rock history, but whether Tolman is invited to come back into the fold permanently and Imagine Dragons becomes a quartet for its next album remains to be seen. –Matt Kelemen
The Venetian, 9:30 p.m. Dec. 31, starting at $139.95 plus tax and fee. ticketmaster.com
I am a very loyal fan of Imagine Dragons and I am continuing to search out new songs that I have not yet heard from the beginning of the bands history together. I don’t think that there is a song that I have heard that I don’t like ,after researching and listening to the early demos on YouTube. I am still amazed by the way of talent that connects me to the music performance of this favourite band of mine! I have never been able to make it to a live concert in the past years as a firebreather dragon wagon fan, but it is something that I have always dreamed of. Hopefully this will happen for the Future New Year’s Eve event in Las Vegas 2024!
It’s great to hear how passionate you are about Imagine Dragons! Their music really resonates with so many people, and it’s clear that their sound and energy have a special place in your heart. You’ve definitely taken a deep dive into their music, from the early demos to their more well-known tracks. The fact that you haven’t found a song you don’t like says a lot about their unique style and consistency. It’s also exciting that you’re hoping to catch them live at their New Year’s Eve event in Las Vegas! Seeing Imagine Dragons perform live is an incredible experience—there’s something about the energy of their shows that makes it even more special for long-time fans like you. I really hope you get to make that dream a reality in 2024! Keep an eye on ticket sales and details as they’re likely to come out soon for that event. Do you have a favorite song or album that you keep coming back to?