Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — Two bands with origins in Utah have found their places among today's popular bands, at least by one indication of success: the iTunes charts.
Neon Trees and Imagine Dragons, bands that both found their origins in Provo, broke into the iTunes top-10 alternative songs chart late last week and held their positions through the weekend. At number four is Neon Trees' "Everybody Talks"; at nine, Imagine Dragons' "It's Time."
Neon Trees is perhaps the more well-known of the two groups after the band's first single, "Animal," in 2010 reached number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the top spot on the alternative rock chart.
The band was well-known on the Provo music scene before getting nationwide exposure in 2008 by opening on multiple North American tour dates for The Killers. The band was eventually signed by Mercury Records and in 2010 released their first full-length album, "Habits."
Imagine Dragons, too, was popular on the Provo music scene for years before gaining a national audience. The band has said in a previous interview with ksl.com that the members chose not to sign with a recording label for years due to their desire to remain in control of their music, but in 2011 they were signed by Interscope Records.
"We got to a point where it works for us," lead singer Dan Reynolds said at the time. "And the reason we signed with Interscope Records is because we agreed that we still have creative control. We will still sound like Imagine Dragons."
"It's Time" was released off their recent EP, Continued Silence. A music video was released in late April.
Imagine Dragons and Neon Trees are only the latest in a growing number of Utah Valley bands who have gained a nationwide following, including rock band The Used, who formed in 2001 in Orem and rose to fame after their 2002 release of a self-titled album. Alternative-rock band Fictionist formed in 2009 in Provo and is currently working on a full-length album with Atlantic records.
