So tales of two Dragons this month. One who can fill Leeds Arena, the other as yet unsigned. One from Las Vegas, the other from our very own Leeds!
However, both bringing tight rock music where the comparison between them is negligible.
First, Imagine Dragons. American rock band from Las Vegas, Nevada. Imagine Dragons’ line-up consists of lead vocalist Dan Reynolds, guitarist Wayne “Wing” Sermon, bassist Ben McKee and drummer Daniel Platzman. It may come as a surprise that a band with only two albums under their belt, Night Visions and Smoke and Mirrors can sell thirteen thousand tickets. They were excellent though performing a set that belies the fact that they, essentially are new to stadium and large venue tours as the headline act.
Maybe the band being nominated for a total of fourteen different Billboard Music Awards, including Top Artist of the Year and a Milestone Award and a Grammy helped. Of course Radioactive was the stand out on the evening when the band essentially played their whole catalogue from the two albums previously mentioned. More importantly every song was greeted with rapturous delight and the band clearly had a lot of fun.
The other Dragon play just as inspiringly as the Imagine bunch. Chasing Dragons though may not have hit the higher echelons of rock music yet. Indeed, they are currently in the midst of organising their new album via a fund raising page (oversubscribed by over two per cent).
Nevertheless the thousand or so who saw them perform as opening act at Whitby Goth Weekend held them in the same esteem as their considerably more famous namesakes. The Whitby crowd recognizing innovation and creativity of different artists across different genres of music. It was a tough act to follow as far as the Goth Weekend went. But the joy of the whole weekend is, simply, difference is accepted and celebrated. Maybe it is just luck that some bands get to where they are. Maybe it is hard work.
If it was the latter then Chasing Dragons would be easily be filling stadiums just as easily as Imagine Dragons. The Munity, Breaking Jaws and Throw Down Your Kings are all songs that reverberate long after they have finished and fairly burst the venues I have seen them performed in. Even the Spa at Whitby, one of the biggest venues they have played, could hardly contain the exuberance of the performance.
The award winning Live At Leeds is back for 2016, celebrating its 10-year anniversary. Officially kicking off the festival season, Live At Leeds hosts the biggest names alongside the best in new and upcoming acts, and this year is no different. Paving the way amongst the first series of artists to be announced is the fantastic Jess Glynne, who will be bringing her chart-topping hits to Live At Leeds 2016.
Breaking onto the scene after her appearances with Clean Bandit, this year saw Glynne release her acclaimed debut album I Cry When I Laugh, which was jam packed with singles that will no doubt sound massive when played at the UK’s premiere metropolitan festival for new music. Also joining the bill are indie legends We Are Scientists. Undeniable icons, it’s fair to say the duo hold fond memories in any indie fan’s heart, releasing countless hits over the last decade, from classics like ‘The Great Escape’ and ‘Nobody Move, Nobody Gets Hurt’.
Finally, Shura will surely get a mention when the year-end “best of” accolades come around and it will be a huge surprise if she is not. Last year she was on the BBC Sound of 2015 list, the major accolade for new talent. Updating pop and R&B sounds from the ’80s and ’90s, West London-based singer/songwriter/producer Shura made an impression with the gauzy ballads “Touch” and “Just Once.”. Her new record White Light is one of the best records of 2016. Pop down to the Brudenell later this month to find out how good she is.
