I have been to many concerts in my life thus far, and they all stand out in their own ways. However, some tend to stick in your mind better than others. Last week, I went to see a band called Twenty One Pilots. From Ohio, the band consists solely of two members: Tyler Joseph, the singer, plays the bass guitar, piano, and ukulele, and Josh Dun plays the drums as well as the trumpet in some songs. When put like this, the question has to be asked: How to do they perform live with only two people? Let me answer this for you: incredibly.
The stage presence of Joseph, is phenomenal, especially considering that he is the only one using the stage because the drummer, Dun, is mainly sitting at his drums. Whether climbing the side of the stage, running up and down the aisles at a seated show, jumping off his piano, or simply dancing around the stage, Tyler keeps the show interesting and energetic.
The music that they play includes mixtures of singing and rapping. However, the rapping is closer to a poetry recitation than what we typically think of when someone says "rapping." Twenty One Pilots also coordinated electronic screens into their show to add to the effect and overall presence of the band. Depending on the songs, the screens would display different images or patterns that could alter the mood of the show at that time.
Even with a very specific stage persona, the band breaks out of character a few times to interact with the crowd. For example, if a fan says they know how to do Joseph and Dun's handshake, they bring the fan on stage to do the handshake. Dun will even do backflips on stage, typically off of Joseph's piano. Also, they have a lightweight drum kit that they put into the crowd during one song. The fans hold it up and Dun drums while in the crowd.
While on stage, Joseph and Dun make it clear they are appreciative of every fan in the crowd and of their support. As this band is constantly growing in popularity, fans can see the band almost shocked at the size of some of the crowds they are playing for. So if you're looking for new music or a fun concert, Twenty One Pilots is my best recommendation.
