From Thunder to Therapy: Imagine Dragons’ Setlists and the Sound of Survival

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Imagine Dragons have been balancing commercial success and emotional resonance since they entered the music industry. But with their currently headlined 7th career tour, the “Loom World Tour,” the rock band have managed to elevate their artistry into something far more sacred, placing them beyond the norms in the industry.

They are not just another rock band headlining gigs in a stadium and rocking chart-topping anthems – they now seek to create a therapeutic experience for their audience with their craft. In a bid to reflect the true condition of their fans, Imagine Dragons make sure each show amidst their current career tour is beyond a casual concert experience – rather, a carefully crafted emotional journey.

The decision to embark on this emotional journey came after the release of their 6th career album, “Loom,” in 2024, and it was well received by their fans. The album itself is a collection of 9 powerful tracks that complement both their songwriting skills as a team and their collective effort as live performers. It allowed them to blend electro-rock textures with themes of spiritual reckoning and personal reinvention.

Also, creating an avenue for Dan Reynolds, the band’s lead vocalist, to be open about his life. As someone who battles with depression, chronic illness, and a divorce, the “Loom World Tour” gave him the liberty he needed to lean into his vulnerability. This explains why their fans find it easy to do the same since it’s an act that’s coming from the heart.

The “Loom World Tour” is the centre of this article, but it’s just another addition to the track record of live performances that Imagine Dragons have. While it stands aside as one of their best yet, it has one thing in common with the rest of their previous tour. This isn’t what you might expect, but the setlist of their current tour has connections with their previous tours.

Yes, the current tour is in support of their latest album, “Loom.” That has already been established. But the setlist contains songs from different albums that they’ve released over the years, and these songs when grouped into acts, collectively tell a story that you might miss without proper understanding. To avoid that, we intend to look at the setlist of the “Loom World Tour” as acts, hoping the story Imagine Dragons tells will be clearer the next time you attend their concert.

The band will be spending the whole of July in Europe, so you might as well pick one of the days they’ll be here and make it a date with them, especially since you can bypass traffic and secure Imagine Dragons tickets now on Seatsnet. With that said, here’s Imagine Dragons’ setlist in a way you’ve never thought of before.

Act 1 – Opening: Igniting the Inner Storm

Imagine Dragons have been headlining their gigs with a tradition that we’ve followed closely since they started making waves in Europe. This is the act of picking a particular song and consistently using that as the opener for their live gigs. For the “Loom World Tour,” the band has consistently used “Fire in These Hills” as their opener, and here’s the story behind why.

The song is a mid-tempo opener that’s emblematic of their current tour’s themes, which revolve around exhaustion, self-observation, and the will to change. Once that’s been established at the beginning of the show, their next move is usually a song that sets the mood of their fans the way they want the rest of the concert to go. That is, energetic.

This part is where they play songs like “Bones,” “Thunder,” and “Take Me To The Beach.” Songs like these confront the norms, offering a momentary reprieve. Eventually, they reset the emotions of their audiences, and then dive right back into the rollercoasters, which serves as an invitation to the emotional turbulence that lies ahead.

Act 2 – Descent into Vulnerability

Act Two doesn’t fall far from the initial tempo of Act One. But they make a slight change – those who’ve attended any of their concerts can attest. In this phase of the concert, Imagine Dragons try to be constructive with their entertainment, and it works like magic.

They give volume to some of their new tracks in the “Loom” album, like “Bad Liar,” “Whatever It Takes,” and “Nice To Meet You,” but they do this strategically, weaving them with some of their old tracks as well, such as “Radioactive” and “It’s Time.”

These songs collectively tell stories of identity and the will to navigate life-shaking situations, with a direct reference to Dan, since he finalised his divorce in 2024. They also touch on some aspects of fears and vulnerability, of which they preach to their fans to face and come out stronger. In essence, the collection of songs played in this part of the show is selected to express the experience as a communal healing space, and it works.

Act 3 – Triumph & Resolution

We’ve observed that Imagine Dragons concerts usually end with the mood shifting from confrontation to transcendence. This is because the essence of them coming to live in the first place would be defeated if they didn’t give their fans the will to survive regardless of what they faced in life.

So, they have songs like “Sharks,” “In Your Corner,” and “Eyes Closed” to aid in preaching this message, and these songs collectively serve as a battle cry that reflects the true personality of a survivor. Most of the songs in this section resonate with division and distrust, but they are arranged in such a way that they ensure survival at the end of it all.

Part of the “Loom” also reflects revelation through songs like “Eyes Closed.” The definition of such songs revolves around toughness and withstanding, even though one is near breaking. And we have “Believer,” which preaches about the daily struggles we go through to survive. This song is usually accompanied by fireworks and confetti altogether ensuring a collective rebirth for everyone present at the concert.

Setlist Silence, Sound, and Shared Healing

The idea of a tour supporting an album with some songs from the same album not being played live can be wild. However, know that with Imagine Dragons, what isn’t played on the “Loom World Tour” has the same effect as what is. We’ve walked with the band for years now to notice the absence of some fan favourites from their setlists.

Regardless, they ensure to pass the message in accordance with the theme of their tour. As we’ve seen, this must be achieved, even if it means borrowing songs from their past recordings. Moreover, the notable absence of such songs is more evidence of their evolution in the industry. By sidelining some nostalgic tracks, they make room for songs that express their present intentions, which revolve around passing a central message that reflects emotional maturity, letting go, and acceptance.

Important to note that the “It’s Time” singers also don’t rely on one way to pass their message to their audience, which is why their concerts feel so electric. They make use of everything they can, including the visuals and sonic designs of their concerts. This is regardless of venue, so don’t even think that one venue has it better than the other. It is a commitment they made to ensure that their fans find healing even amid the noise.

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