2023-07-08 03:10:26
Perfect scenario on the Plains of Abraham, Friday evening: despite a few drops of rain, a monster crowd which forced the closure of the site attended the thundering performance of Imagine Dragons which Quebecers had been hoping to attend since 2019.
Yes, the sky got overcast while Imagine Dragons was playing Bad Liarduring the second part of the show, but there was no question that Mother Nature would deprive us of this exquisite communion between the guys from Vegas and the Plains, as was the case following two songs, four years ago.
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“It’s tradition,” singer Dan Reynolds quipped sarcastically. “We’re going nowhere, we’re staying on this stage,” he immediately promised, continuing with Demons.
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It was circumstantial. After two failed attempts at the Summer Festival, Imagine Dragons have finally tamed their Plains demons. And the rain, as if by magic, stopped. To hell with the meteorologists.
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He twisted his ankle
This reunion took place in front of the Plains filled to bursting. Shortly following 9:30 p.m., the Summer Festival closed all entrances. It’s hard to estimate how many festival-goers squeezed in, but when the official record was set, in 2015, during the Rolling Stones concert, a crowd of 93,000 was announced.
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However, what we didn’t know, and which Reynolds revealed along the way, was that he twisted his ankle last week and was worried regarding having to cancel the concert.
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We had a double narrow escape.
The sweater takes the edge
A chance because the dragons put the package quickly. Putting their feet on the boards, they fired a first salvo which had its effect: Believeraccompanied by confetti and jets of smoke.
Photo Didier Debusschere/Le Journal de Quebec
Taking advantage of a footbridge installed in the middle of the stage, Dan Reynolds was able to approach the public, always ready to sing with his idols.
“We wanted to do this show,” said the singer, who followed another tradition, that of taking off his sweater, during an electrifying Thunder.
Photo Didier Debusschere/Le Journal de Quebec
Full Membership
Public support for Imagine Dragons was total. Even when the band slowed down on a track like Birdsno one picked up.
“I love this city,” Reynolds said.
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This heartfelt confession launched Radioactive, one of the many moments of collective fervor in an evening full of pop hits. In a short but intense program of 18 titles, the crowd was able to roar to the sound of Enemy, Bones et Whatever It Takes.
The latter ended in a rock whirlwind, while Wayne Sermon and Ben McKee, who had played a more subdued role until this moment, were able to showcase themselves by joining Reynolds on the catwalk.
The triumph of the dragons was sealed by a combo Walking The Wire/My Life inflamed which sent everyone home in happiness and joy.
Talk: in love with Quebec
Between the singer Nicholas Durocher, alias Talk, and Quebec, the current passes. The charismatic artist from Ottawa continued his work of seduction with a bang, Friday, on the Plains, a year following a remarkable passage at the opening of the Luke Combs concert.
“I was here last year and it changed my life. I want to say a big thank you to everyone here tonight or who was there last year,” said Talk, who appeared with a Quebec flag on his back and another tattooed on his shoulder.
Cast in rock with Bon Jovi and Collective Soul covers, his delivery suited a rock environment more than country, like in 2022. The guitars were incisive and Talk’s vocals, while a bit shrill, had bite. He even concluded his performance by smashing his guitar to pieces following a hectic replay of School of Rock.
It’s also this guy from Ottawa who came to tell us that it’s important to sing in French” and who went from words to deeds by singing the ziguezon. “I really like La Bottine Souriante,” confided this lover of Quebec.
Respect!
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Grandson: boosted
Warming up a crowd before the star of the night is a command that Canadian-American rock singer Grandson takes seriously. Two minutes following the start of his performance, the whole proscenium on the general admission side was agitated madly under the impulse of this hyperactive man.
He had yet launched his concert sitting on a park bench, looking depressed, but it was only a decoy.
“Hello, my name is Grandson,” he yelled in French. “We came here to have a good rock show estie. Are you ready?”
Said audience was ready and responded well to the incantations of the one who basically presented a selection of songs from his albums Death of an Optimist et I Love You, I’m Tryingthe latter published last May.
The highlight came when the overexcited fanatic decided to climb a ladder between two giant screens and finished a song, perched 5-6 meters in the air. Much to the delight of security guards, presumably.
Grandson, not restful, opening evening, Friday, on the Plains of Abraham. Photo Didier Debusschere/Le Journal de Quebec
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