TWENTY ØNE PILØTS recently announced their return to their hometown, Columbus. The mega-popular band will be playing four shows in Columbus, Ohio in late June. The venues are The Basement, Express Live!, The Newport, The Schott, and Nationwide Arena.

To make sure that buying tickets was as fair as possible, fans registered for a code, and a select few fans were randomly picked for an opportunity to purchase tickets to The Basement, Express Live!, and The Newport shows. Then, the presale for the shows at the Schott and Nationwide went on sale, but sold out within minutes. I was lucky enough to score tickets to The Schott show. Granted, they are nosebleed seats, but I will take what I can get.

Even with their skyrocket to fame, the band has never left their roots up to question. Their song "Fairly Local", from their 2015 album Blurryface, starts with the lyric,"I’m fairly local, I’ve been around. I’ve seen the streets you're walking down. I’m fairly local, good people now." They discussed the song in a interview with Paper Mag, "Josh and I are right now sitting in Columbus, Ohio, at my house and we love it here. It's our hometown and it always will be. So I think in the song "Fairly Local," it's more metaphor. We had a lot of conversations with a lot of people who like listening to music or using music to get through tough times. If anything, I think Josh and I learned when we were traveling the world during the last album cycle that everyone's the same, everyone feels the same issues."

In an older interview the band also discussed Ohio by saying, "The whole state, they believe in us, and we tell them it’s because of them that we’re getting some more recognition."

While accepting the Grammy for Best Pop Duo, Tyler said, "This story, it starts in Columbus, Ohio..." They went on stage pant-less, since the two watched The Grammys in their underwear before fame and promised to accept their Grammy just like that if they ever won one. Even when being recognized for one of the biggest achievement in music, Tyler and Josh gave a shoutout to their beloved hometown.

They also proudly wear their Ohio background on their sleeves, quite literally, selling merchandise with the outline of the state. In 2015, TØP released a limited edition record for Record Store Day tilted the LC LP, recorded live at the LC Pavilion in Columbus (The LC was later renamed Express Live!). The unique record is shaped like the good ole OH-IO. Of course I had to get it for my record collection.

Me being very excited with my LC LP.

I grew up in The Columbus area, so their return means a lot to a hometown kid like myself. Tyler and Josh are personifications of the idea that even kids from Ohio can make it big, something that I always need a reminder of. I spent a lot of my time wanting to escape from Ohio. But TØP and their dedication and love for Columbus reminded me that I should be proud of my hometown, not ashamed of it. They also remind me that there are bigger things out there, and to never stop exploring and working towards your goal. Their slogan is "Power to the Local Dreamer", which is phrase that I have always found motivation and comfort in.

Seen on a building in Columbus, Ohio.

So thank you, Tyler and Josh, for never forgetting us, the hometown kids, here in Columbus. We can't wait to see you in June.