If there is one band with the most unique style in modern music, it's Twenty One Pilots. Their conscious blend of pop, rock, rap, and reggae creates something that has never been done before. But what really captures the listeners' ears is their message. It's one of positivity, fighting through pain, and embracing life. Tyler Joseph, the band's frontman, has stated that his biggest goal is to make his audience think. Their show at the Infinite Energy Center in Atlanta on August 6th did just that.
Chef'Special, a band from the Netherlands, opened the show. They have recently been signed to Fueled by Ramen, which is the label that Twenty One Pilots is on.
Mutemath, the show's second opener, has been touring for thirteen years. Their alternative rock style and unique stage presence influenced Twenty One Pilots. Their drummer, Darren King, always makes their performances as unpredictable as possible. Towards the end of Twenty One Pilots' set, drummer Josh Dun plays his drum set on top of the crowd while the fans hold him up, which was inspired by Darren.
One of the most special parts of Twenty One Pilots is the pure energy that comes from their fanbase. Many of these fans have been around long before singles like "Stressed Out" and "Ride" became so popular. While Tyler and Josh have an energetic show in themselves, it's the energy of their fans that fuels them and pushes them to give their all.
Tyler and Josh opened the show with suspense, fog machines, and a song written exclusively for their fans, "Fairly Local". Tyler writes all of his own music, and he and Josh collaborate on the best ways to make the show truly special for their fanbase, also known as the "clique". One prop they've used in their sets for a long time is their ski masks, which represent the fact that they are on the same level as their fans. Tyler and Josh wore the masks throughout the first three songs.
"Fairly Local" blended seamlessly into the fast paced rap of "Heavydirtysoul," which is the first song on Twenty One Pilots' most recent album, Blurryface. After that, Tyler and Josh played "Migraine," one of their most loved songs on the album Vessel. They played these well known, fast paced songs in order to build energy in the crowd and show their fans that this is no ordinary concert.
This fact was emphasized at the end of "Migraine" as Tyler sat at his piano (the same one he has used since before his band even existed) and a black sheet was thrown over his head. A few seconds later, the sheet hit the floor and Tyler was standing on the opposite side of the venue with a spotlight on him, mic in hand. He pulled off his mask, as if to prove to the crowd that yes, it really was him.
From there, the band played a mix of old and new songs, and even took their places on a makeshift stage in the middle of the crowd to play a medley of songs from their first album. One of the greatest parts about a Twenty One Pilots show is that no matter where your seat is, you will get to have a unique view of the band and the way they perform.
The concert closed with one of the band's most powerful songs, "Trees". The song is very simple in terms of lyrics, but it has this amazing drum beat that gives you chills. For this song, Tyler and Josh are held up by the crowd with huge drums, and you can see their passion and their love for the music as they give everything they have. Confetti shot up into the air, enough for everyone to be able to take home a tangible piece of the show they just took part in. And it's true: anyone who goes to one of these shows plays just as important of a role as Josh and Tyler, because "We are Twenty One Pilots, and so are you." |-/