In a dark kitchen in the middle of a sweaty night in Las Vegas, all 6’4” of Dan Reynolds is hunched over a laptop, slapping beats on the table and crooning lyrics into a tiny microphone. Before long, he and the other three members of indie rock band Imagine Dragons would be playing “It’s Time,” that same laptop-demo-turned-supersized-anthem, from the roof of a parking garage to a wave of thousands of screaming fans. This song title to the single from their 2012 debut KidInaKorner/Interscope release “Continued Silence EP” is an all too apt descriptor of the band’s hard-earned success—but it’s also emblematic of the deep-seated anxiety Reynolds and the rest of the band experienced leaving behind any realistic expectation of a normal job to do the thing they love most.

A third-generation Las Vegas native, Reynolds is no stranger to the adage “the house always wins,” choosing to pave his musical career with a near obsessive work ethic and hundreds of unused demos rather than roll the dice with the first songs that sprung from his mouth. It’s no surprise, then, that he was drawn to guitarist Wayne Sermon, another founding member of Imagine Dragons. Having practically grown up in a recording studio and graduated Berklee College of Music, Wayne had been practicing his guitar through meals and other socially inappropriate situations as long as he could remember; he challenged Dan in a way that was both uncomfortable and exactly what they both needed. When they began writing songs together and recognized something special was happening, Wayne called up his Berklee friend Ben McKee, who promptly dropped out of school with only a few credits left, moving across the country to play bass for the band. This sort of reckless/genius behavior is typical for Ben, who has an uncanny penchant for spicy food and a suitcase full of unbelievable road stories. More recently, the band was joined by drummer Daniel Platzman, another Bostonian schoolmate who seems way too nice to be playing rock and roll until you actually see him in action.

Several tours and three self-released EPs later, Imagine Dragons had made a serious name for itself, particularly in the west coast circuit. Although their songs vary from nearly whimsical and light to brooding and powerful, listeners are drawn to the inherent honesty in the music. The only rule of thumb for the band, it seems, is to write from a true place; the result is songs that literally run the spectrum of human emotion. Attend a concert, and it becomes clear that the live performance of deeply personal songs has a real effect on people. And the band itself is not immune, as demonstrated when Dan literally passed out into the drum set during a finale song, sending cymbals and drum stands crashing while the rest of the band played on until the close.

Great songwriting is bound to be noticed eventually. As proof that the harder you work, the luckier you get, one of those people who noticed was Grammy winning producer Alex da Kid (Eminem, Rihanna). Alex and Dan began collaborating on projects, and soon the band had developed a relationship with Alex and his team. The alchemy resulting from Alex’s hip hop sensibilities and Imagine Dragons’ anthemic rock is nothing short of explosive. The byproduct of this creative collision is “Continued Silence,” a six song in-your-face sonic grenade that breaks musical boundaries and yet is strangely relatable by its improbably diverse audience.

Despite it all, on any given day when they aren’t on the road playing shows, you can still find Imagine Dragons huddled away in a rehearsal room somewhere, banging out song after song in search of the next perfect track. Like most things in Vegas, the band is angled at going big or going bust. For the sake of those who love great music, we hope it’s the former.

Strong Soul is a hard-hitting, New Jersey based Alternative Rock band comprised of 
Holden Brandt- Lead Vocals and Bassist, Jake Neal- Guitar and Backup Vocals, 
Dylan Wesley- Guitar and Backup vocals, and Drew Stevens- Drums and Percussion. With these 4 different influences and distinctive writing styles, you get Strong Soul.

They emerged onto the Jersey Shore music scene in 2013 with their unique sound influenced by the intersections of blues, rock, and punk. Pulling from these creative sources, the band is in the process of completing its first album and appearing regularly at legendary, local venues such as, The Stone Pony, The Brighton Bar, etc.

 You can also follow us on Twitter @StongSoulNJ and on Instagram @Strong_Soul_NJ

Hailing from New Jersey, The Catching features lead singer and bassist Holden Glazer, guitarists Jake Farbman and Evan Hemwall and drummer Drew Stevens. The pop rock band draws inspiration from Fall Out Boy, Coldplay and Imagine Dragons. Their carefully-crafted style is highlighted by a sonic palette of polished guitar hooks, Holden's rock-based vocal rasp, a driving low end coupled by a booming backbeat.

The members of The Catching met at a young age while performing together in local New Jersey music programs. Quickly realizing they shared amazing chemistry, and a common vision, this group of talented musicians began collaborating on writing original music. Ultimately, The Catching was formed in 2014.

The Catching released their first EP, "Teenage Fiction Part 1," in 2016 and toured extensively throughout the US, gaining a national fan base along the way. They have recently been in the studio writing and recording with Matt Squire, a world-renowned songwriter and producer, who has produced albums by Panic! At The Disco and All Time Low while also writing and producing top 40 hits for One Direction, Ariana Grande, Katy Perry, and Selena Gomez. This powerful collaboration resulted in a new wave of songs that showcase The Catching’s sonic diversity.

Already garnering praise in the press, MTV.com called The Catching one of the "9 Boy Bands that can fill the void of One Direction's Indefinite Hiatus" and Kings of A&R cheered "I was hooked after the first listen."

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