Imagine Dragons Reignite the Stage in Southern California with a Nostalgic and Modern Twist on Their Evolve Tour

Imagine Dragons returned to Southern California in 2025 with a revamped version of their legendary Evolve World Tour, blending nostalgic hits with fresh sounds and breathtaking production. Now nearly a decade since the original tour launched, the band proved that their music — and message — still hit just as hard.

Performing at a sold-out arena in Los Angeles, the Las Vegas-based quartet delivered a show that honored their past while embracing their artistic growth. The Evolve era remains one of their most iconic, and this year’s reimagined tour celebrates that legacy with new arrangements, modern visuals, and surprises for longtime fans.

The night kicked off with a reworked, cinematic version of “I Don’t Know Why,” setting a tone of reinvention. The band then launched into “Believer,” which had the crowd roaring, echoing the familiar chorus that helped define Imagine Dragons’ sound during the late 2010s.

Lead singer Dan Reynolds, now a seasoned frontman with a decade of stadium tours behind him, delivered a passionate, high-octane performance. He moved effortlessly between anthemic power and emotional vulnerability, often stopping between songs to reflect on how much has changed — personally and creatively — since Evolve was first released.

“California has always been a second home to us,” Reynolds told the crowd. “We wanted to bring something special this time — something that looks back and looks forward.”

And special it was. The production featured state-of-the-art visuals with AI-generated animations, immersive lighting, and a sound system that wrapped the arena in bass, harmony, and heart. The stage design included a runway-style extension that allowed Reynolds to get closer to the audience, while bandmates Wayne Sermon (guitar), Ben McKee (bass), and Daniel Platzman (drums) played with energy and precision.

The setlist mixed timeless tracks like “Demons,” “Thunder,” and “It’s Time” with deeper cuts and even two unreleased songs teased for their upcoming project. One of those new tracks — rumored to be titled “Phoenix” — received an ecstatic response, with soaring vocals and introspective lyrics that felt like a continuation of the emotional themes rooted in Evolve.

Midway through the concert, the band performed a stripped-down acoustic set, highlighted by a stunning rendition of “Walking the Wire.” Reynolds, seated on a stool with nothing but a mic and a single spotlight, reminded fans of the sincerity and humanity behind their polished studio sound.

The concert’s emotional peak came when the band paid tribute to their late producer and mentor with a brief montage and an instrumental interlude. It was a rare quiet moment in an otherwise electric show, reinforcing the band’s message of resilience, loss, and healing through music.

As the night closed with a massive, pyro-filled performance of “Radioactive,” the crowd was on its feet — singing, dancing, and reliving a part of music history that still resonates today. Confetti rained down, lasers lit up the sky, and Reynolds stood center stage, visibly moved by the outpouring of support.

In 2025, Imagine Dragons aren’t just reliving the Evolve era — they’re reimagining it for a new generation while staying true to the fans who’ve been there since the beginning. Southern California got a front-row seat to a band still evolving, still believing, and still bringing people together through sound, soul, and spectacle.