I’m not going to waste any time on an introduction because some stories are so exciting that they need no introduction or build up really; every part of the story is exciting and cool! I heard about this being a thing (a phenomenon, if you may) but I never thought I’d live through it. Thankfully, Diwali 2018 had a surprise in store for me. I got to the airport expecting to attend a concert, but what I got was a fan experience like nothing I’d have imagined.
So, what exactly was the big idea?
The big idea was that Corning Incorporated, the company behind Corning® Gorilla® Glass, thought way outside the box and decided that there had to be a way for technology to come together with music. After all, we consume most of the music we listen to through our smartphones and watch it through a screen almost surely protected by Corning Gorilla Glass, it wasn’t such a stretch to see the connection. So they decided to team up with pop arena rock band Imagine Dragons, just ahead of their latest album release and organise the kind of experience a true fan of the band wouldn’t ever forget. They invited fans of the band from across the US, China and India to win a chance to get to travel to none other than Las Vegas, the entertainment capital of the world, and watch their favourite band live! What’s more, they had an even better VIP surprise in store that blew our socks off—a listening party of the latest album before the rest of the world, as well a chance to see some band memorabilia and collectables.
Corning Gorilla Glass’ guiding philosophy of “Always Tough, Always Innovating” fits in perfectly with the band of choice as well as the way they chose to play out what could’ve otherwise been a pretty straightforward concert.
First, I met the band…
I’m not one to usually be star-struck, but when I walked into the meeting room that first day, I felt like a teenage girl! I was so excited to get 10 minutes to ask the band all sorts of questions. Obviously, I tried my luck at guessing what their anagram name was, but they utterly straight-faced about it, so I didn’t get any clues. But the rest of the time, they spoke about how much they loved coming back to their hometown, Las Vegas to perform, how they loved Indian food and ate it everywhere and even the idea behind Origins, the band’s latest offering.
Off camera, they told me that they’d been talking about Indian food so much that they had started craving a dosa. Yes. A dosa. They’re like you and me, with food cravings at least, haha!
Then, I got a VIP tag and walked in a door…
Once inside, it was like our own private party right before the actual performance. So it was like a proper bonus. While we could see the stage setup and the area right in front of the stage below us, on our level there was free-flowing beer (and other choices) and a line of pizza. All the while, hearing all the songs of the new album, Origins. But don’t let me distract you with the food and drink because the real stars of the event were the band memorabilia on display. The way it was done was that each screen played the music video from which the corresponding item was. For instance, behind a completely torched drumset was a scene from the Whatever It Takes video and pasted on the drum was the explanation that this was the exact drum that was torched on that set.
In the same way under a screen playing Believer and Thunder were the boxing gloves and shoes and the new-age costumes worn in those music videos respectively. Can I get three cheers for random band trivia?
And finally, the live performance!
There is not much I could say to describe the feeling you get having being part of such a fantastic experience, in such an intimate setting. The band was right in front of us, playing all the songs I listen to on loop almost every day of my life and I had goosebumps the entire time. I even got close to tears as they sung Demons, one of my all-time favourites, right after getting fully amped up when they were playing Shots, which is like my friends and my party anthem. Honestly, my emotions were all over the place.
The entire performance was also peppered with sweet and poignant moments, as each band member stopped to talk about and thank key people that played such a significant role in who they are and what they have accomplished today. It was fitting of the fact that they were back home in Las Vegas amongst the people that supported them from the beginning as well as their fans who were swooning over their high-energy and very involved performance. Images don’t do justice, but here are some so you just may get the idea:
Las Vegas
The Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas
Imagine Dragons Fan Experience
Imagine Dragons Fan Experience
Imagine Dragons Fan Experience
Imagine Dragons Fan Experience
Imagine Dragons Fan Experience
Imagine Dragons Fan Experience
Imagine Dragons Fan Experience
Imagine Dragons Fan Experience
It was a Happy Diwali indeed.
You can also watch a special message that Imagine Dragons recorded for their Indian fans here:
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*This post is in partnership with Corning Gorilla Glass.