Imagine Dragons help Radio 104.5 celebrate the station's birthday

June 25, 2018

The story of Imagine Dragons and Radio 104.5 goes back to the very beginning when the band played a Summer Block Party in 2012 early in their career, this well before the chart topping success, multiple stadium/arena tours and more that they are known for today.

‘Radioactive’ went on to be the one of the biggest songs of 2012 with numerous singles to follow from ‘Night Visions’ and of course the two consecutive albums since their debut that were both loaded with successful singles. Radio 104.5 has been pivotal to the discovery of countless amounts of great talent over the years and has continued to actively promote both upcoming and established artists with their annual Birthday Shows. The station has also continued to grow their free concert series all summer long with the ‘Block Party Series’ and ‘Winter Jawn’ show in early January.


Few stories in alternative music are as good as the massive success of Imagine Dragons as the band has nominated the charts for the past 2 years. Their return to the area for night two of the Radio 104.5 11th Birthday show marked an incredible full circle moment for both the band and the station. Along the journey both the band and Dan Reynolds have evolved into the most committed activists in alternative music as they’ve become very outspoken for the LGBTQ rights movement. Doors were set to open at 1PM but the line in front of the venue spanned a long distance of Imagine Dragons fans who were ready to camp out in the pit for hours to come – many of them holding pride flags and wearing Imagine Dragon shirts proudly. The band and Reynolds just released a powerful documentary titled ‘Believer’ that was filmed in the past year of their efforts to support the LGBTQ community with both a festival in Utah and constant support from the band. Posters for the feature were set up in the lobby of the BB&T Pavalion but many fans ran right past to get the closets spots to the stage – conversations could be overheard later that seemingly many in attendance had already watched the freshly released film earlier that weak in anticipation for the band’s return.

As the stage was set the house lights came on to reveal a diverse crowd of adults and children alike who were their to experience the best alternative music of this century. It is easy to get caught up in the statistics of Imagine Dragons with their numerous singles, their massive success touring and their incredible digital sales in an era that has shown signs of fatigue but their true appeal is their universe message of hope and love with their music. Reynolds has become the activist this generation needed as mentioned earlier but even before his outspoken outbreak the band had always managed to find beauty in the impossible and hope in the dark. This thread extends through their entire discography and is the unifying force that helped bring 25,000 to Camden on the hottest day of the year.


Imagine Dragons wasted no time that evening as the stage burst to life in orange light as the band rose from behind the drum kit as they played an original introduction to ‘Radioactive’ before Dan Reynolds came running down the thrust on the stage and Co2 burst around him to kick the night off in dramatic fashion. The band has come a long way their since Radio 104.5 debut under a white tent in the summer sun on a stage no bigger than a hundred square feet – though the fans remain the same as they jumped forward with joy from this first song to the last note of the last song. Reynolds took some time to both introduce the band and thank everyone including the radio station for coming to see them after the first song; it was then that he saw a fan in the front row holding a pride flag up that he reached out to grab for a few moments.

A brief but impactful message was delivered then as the crowd roared as Reynolds held the flag high above his head as he gave an strong message that asked for this concert to be a place of safety, inclusion and no judgement as fans were united by music. He kept the flag as he turned around to Wayne Sermon on guitar with a smile as they began a slow building version of ‘It’s Time’ to the approval of the crowd. Reynolds eventually went on to return the flag to it’s owner in the front of the crowded pit but the message remained the same all night long from the band and the show pressed on as Ben McKee on bass and Daniel Platzman on drums led the band into one of their more recent songs ‘Whatever It Takes.’


Across eighteen songs the band showcased their evolution as a band and a long the way treated the Radio 104.5 crowd to a truly beautiful performance. The show spanned their entire catalog but leaned heavily on songs from their newest album ‘Believer’ as it should have – these songs hold the truest to who Imagine Dragons have become as people and performers as well as translating into stunning tracks when performed live. A highlight of the set came just about midway into it as a passionate and emotional ‘Mouth of the River’ was bled into a very new song that was made with Kygo titled ‘Born to Be Yours.’ There was confetti rain, there were giagantic beach balls that fell from the ceiling, their was more confetti that was shot across the the entire venue and most of all their was hope. Reynolds has become a true frontman and no longer shys away from speaking his mind both on and off stage. While the band was performing ‘Demons’ he took some time to speak on depression and the importance of life as he asked no one to take their life from those who love them as a Make Chester Proud sign was displayed from the crowd on the massive split screens behind the band.



The night wasn’t somber or down, as Reynolds said he himself suffers from depression but it wasn’t about feeling down about it. The concert was about having the ability to move past that and live a great life. Radio 104.5 helped give Imagine Dragons the tools in their earliest days to grow to a band of this size and importance that has sold out almost every show across the country. The work that Reynolds and the band has done in the past two years has been remarkable but a lot of credit is owed to the stations like Radio 104.5 who took a chance on them from day one. The station has constantly put talented artistry first over the past eleven years and they did so yet again with Imagine Dragon’s homecoming being supported by such talented bands. It is hard to think about but harder to resist wondering where Imagine Dragons and Radio 104.5 will be in eleven more years – maybe by then the world will be a different place but if not I think they will be right where they are now fighting the good fight on stage with support from the best radio station around.

Article Written By:

Matt Christine

Trivium and Jinjer bring the 'Ascend Above The Ashes Tour' to Lancaster

By Matt Christine • November 14, 2025
Trivium is back on the road in 2025 — and this time, they’ve brought Jinjer along for a blistering run across the U.S. on the “Ascend Above The Ashes Tour.” Over the last four years, the rock and metal world has seen a wild expansion of dream-team co-headlining and powerful support on tours, the kind fans never thought they’d see outside of wish lists. Rising metal powerhouse Jinjer has been in the international spotlight ever since they were forced to exit Slipknot’s 2022 tour to return home and support Ukraine’s war efforts. In the years since, they’ve become global ambassadors for both their country and the metal community. And even as the supporting act on this tour, the band was greeted by a massive turnout and a stage setup that matched their well-earned status in the scene. Their addition on this tour with Trivium was a match made in heaven (or hell) and a perfect compliment sonically. The band's 9 song setlist got the mosh pit moving and crowd surfers flowing ahead of the main event that evening. It may have been a Wednesday night , but you wouldn’t have known it based on the crowd’s energy leading up to Trivium’s 9:50 p.m. arrival. Pennsylvania showed once again why it has a reputation as one of the weirdest and yet strongest markets in the country for rock and metal. When the band’s massive stage slowly illuminated to reveal a dramatic backdrop, Trivium launched into their set with explosive force as strobes burst to blinding effects all around them. Trivium's 14 song set was a blistering pace of their greatest hits and new material that left little time for the band to chat with the crowd as they moved quickly from song to song. Frontman Matt Heafy nearly blended into the elaborate backdrop thanks to a jacket patterned almost identically, but he was impossible to miss as he tore across the stage from mic to mic, shredding through one technical assault after another. Much like Jinjer’s opening performance, Trivium delivered a razor-sharp, 80-minute set that pulled from across their expansive catalog. From the first crushing riff to the final crack of the snare, they gave Lancaster everything they had — and the packed pit gave it right back. Opening nights can often feel unpredictable, but Lancaster showed up ready, proving once again that this city doesn’t just attend shows — it sets the bar. If the rest of the “Ascend Above Ashes Tour” follows this lead, Trivium and Jinjer are in for one unforgettable run.

Taylor Acorn returns home to Pennsylvania at the Archer Music Hall

By Matt Christine • November 12, 2025
Taylor Acorn’s return to Pennsylvania to the Arrow at the Archer Music Hall in Allentown was a homecoming a long time coming after a massive year of touring and festival appearances. Just a few weeks after performing at the When We Were Young Festival in Las Vegas - and fresh off wrapping The Summer School Tour - Taylor Acorn returned to Pennsylvania with clear momentum behind her. Touring in support of her newly released LP, she arrived at The Arrow at the Archer in Allentown with a setlist shaped around this new chapter of her sound. The fresh material wasn’t just sprinkled into the night; it was the thread that held the entire show together. And while Acorn hasn’t forgotten her roots in the pop-punk world, it’s obvious that these newer songs give her a wider lane to move in and let her shine bright onstage. The Arrow itself proved to be an ideal setting. The room was full but comfortable, with that sweet spot where you can feel the crowd’s energy without fighting for space. Warm lighting and a clear sightline from almost anywhere in the venue helped create a sense of connection the moment Acorn stepped out. It didn’t take long for the entire place to settle into a rhythm—heads nodding, hands in the air, and plenty of voices shouting back the lines they knew. Between songs, Acorn kept the energy light and the banter genuine. She shared quick stories, poked fun at herself, and made it clear she appreciated being back in her home state. Nothing dragged, nothing felt overly rehearsed—it all stayed grounded in the good-natured vibe that filled the room. By the end of the night, The Arrow at the Archer felt less like a tour stop and more like a celebration of where Acorn is right now: an artist still rooted in the scene that raised her, but growing fast and sounding sharper than ever. The crowd felt it, the room carried it, and Acorn made sure everyone left buzzing. A strong show, a great space, and the kind of night that makes you want to catch her again before the tour moves on.

Kaleo bring the 'Mixed Emotions Tour' to from Iceland to Allentown

By Matt Christine • September 19, 2025
On September 16, 2025, Icelandic rockers KALEO brought their Mixed Emotions Tour to Allentown’s Archer Music Hall, with Quarters of Change and Júníus Meyvant on the bill.