On June 3, Eagle Rock Entertainment released Imagine Dragons’ newest combo pack, Smoke & Mirrors Live. The set is available as either a Blu-ray/CD or DVD/CD combination and it’s everything we’ve come to love from this band. It has great music, amazing vocals and astonishing visual graphics.
The concert starts off strong with danceable beats and Dan Reynolds’s soaring vocals. His range is truly remarkable and equally suited for ballads and fast songs alike. The band does a prodigious job as well. The drum solo by Daniel Platzman is impressive and the guitar work on ‘Hopeless Opus’ has a cosmic feel that is matched by the visual effects on stage. The band moves easily between slow pieces and harder ones like ‘Friction,’ which they use to get the crowd pumping before ending on a sing-along ballad.
The group has an easy banter with the audience throughout the show and graphics on the back screens mesh well with the songs while being visually appealing. The special effects on ballads like ‘Amsterdam’ are bare-boned, really letting the music take the spotlight. The camera work uses interesting angles and effects without being overly cheesy.
Overall, this concert lives up to fans’ expectations. It’s a wonderful representation of the band’s music over the last two albums. You’ll find the full concert on the Blu-ray while the CD is missing a few songs due to timing, but either is an enjoyable experience. If you’re a fan, this set is worth your while.