Imagine Dragons returns to Las Vegas in the wake of its 2018 hit “Thunder” becoming its fourth song to achieve diamond status sales and streams (as in platinum times 10). It’s the latest career highlight for the ever-ascending quartet that played every Vegas venue it could in its formative years. That grew a fan base that now fills venues such as Allegiant Stadium (the band is supported by Macklemore and Kings Elliot on this leg of the Mercury World Tour) in singer Dan Reynolds’ hometown .
It’s easy to forget Reynolds is afflicted with a debilitating spinal condition when seeing him in concert with guitarist Wayne Sermon, bassist Ben McKee and drummer Daniel Platzman. “Every day is a battle,” he said by phone during a stop between two concerts in New Jersey. “My quest for health … it’s not even health. Not to be in pain. Every day that I’m not in pain is a blessing, for sure.”
For Reynolds, being able to perform live is a blessing, precious time when connecting with audiences and losing himself in singing anesthetizes the pain that occurs throughout his body. Being in the creative zone has similar benefits, whether he’s creating music or honing skills in his nonmusical discipline, computer coding.
Game development may be in his future, but Reynolds lives very much in the present. Imagine Dragons’ most recent recording project, Mercury–Acts 1 & 2, was produced by Rick Rubin. Rubin understood Imagine Dragons’ music was “genreless,” having recorded acts from across the spectrum of ’90s musical styles that influenced the bands’ sound.
“Rick certainly … he brought so many unknowns to the table,” Rey-nolds said. “He also is the first person who sat me down and to make me go over every lyric ...with him, which was really painful for me. I’ve never had to do that before with any producer. He’d be like, ‘What does that mean? Why that?’ And sometimes he’d say, ‘That feels cringey,’ or ‘I don’t like that. Is there a different way you can say it?’ Hard conversations. And it’s Rick Rubin, too, so it’s like extra painful.”
Allegiant Stadium, 6:30 p.m. Sept. 10, starting at $51 plus tax and fee. ticketmaster.com
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