Twenty One Pilots:  Blurryface Concert Review 

BY LAUREN SHOOK

A&E EDITOR

 

On a hot September evening at Festival Pier, the excitement grew as the fans of Twenty One Pilots waited eagerly for their chance to catch a glimpse of the performers.  Following Echosmith’s opening set, the crowd surged forward as Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun finally appeared onstage.

The album “Blurryface” was released on May 15, 2015.  Before the official album release, Twenty One Pilots had posted several music videos for their new songs.

Twenty One Pilots has quickly gained attention from the media over the past year.  Their swift rise in popularity led them to a performance at the MTV Video Music Awards this past August.

The first concert of the Blurryface Tour began on Sept. 8 at Echostage in Washington, DC.  I attended the following performance on Sept. 11 at Festival Pier in Philadelphia, Pa.

The event started at 7:30 p.m., which was when Echosmith began their opening set.  The seating was general admission, and there was a crowd of devoted fans who arrived hours in advance to get a front row spot by the stage.

The atmosphere of the concert was spirited upon arrival.  Near the entrance there were picnic tables for those who arrived early and wanted a seat before proceeding to the stage.  There was also a merchandise table set up for those who wanted to buy their memorabilia before the concert began.

Around the perimeter of the venue, various venders set up their stands.  They provided food and drinks for sale, which were especially helpful considering the heat and humidity of the outside concert.

People roamed around and tried to find the best spot for viewing the stage.  As the concert began, the energy from the audience was palpable.  I’ve never been to a concert with such a lively and invested audience before.

The loyalty and dedication of Twenty One Pilots fans was undeniable as the show progressed.  Many people knew most of the words to the songs, which gave those at the concert a feeling of comradery.

Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun played hit songs both from their new “Blurryface” album and also from “Vessel,” which they released in 2013.

Some of the more dedicated fans may have also recognized songs such as “The Pantaloon” and “Addict with a Pen” from their earlier, self-titled album, which was released in 2009.

What really made the concert worthwhile was the interaction between the performers and their audience.  Joseph interacted often with the fans, and the fans actively responded in an overwhelmingly positive manner.  He led the audience in a round of singing to accompany their song “Doubt.”

The drummer, Josh Dun, even crowd surfed while playing his drum set during the performance of one of their new songs “Ride.”

The drum set was placed on a platform that was held up by security in the audience, giving the fans a chance to see him close-up.

The relationship between Jospeh and Dun is another aspect that made this concert so special.  During the performance, you ccould tell how close the two band members are.  Their friendship seems genuine, which leads to a more enjoyable show to watch.

“I want you to know, this guy’s the coolest guy I’ve ever met in my entire life,” said Joeseph, frequently acknowledging his appreciation for Dun throughout the show.

From start to finish, this concert was nothing but captivating.  The audience was entertained from the more upbeat songs off their new album through the acoustic covers of “Somewhere over the Rainbow” and “Can’t Help Falling in Love.”

Twenty One Pilots will continue to tour throughout the rest of the year and into February 2016.

Many of their remaining shows in the United States are currently sold out, with a few exceptions.

They will also be playing in the United Kingdom, Belgium, Germany and Canada among other countries according to the tour list provided on the official Twenty One Pilots website.

For more information about merchandise, upcoming shows and band news visit them at www.twentyonepilots.com.

Overall, I have nothing but good things to report about my experience at the Twenty One Pilots performance, and I expect great things from them in the future.