Twenty One Pilots blows away the Tower Theater, twice

Alternative pop/rock duo Twenty One Pilots lit up the Tower Theatre in Upper Darby last night. The Columbus, Ohio band attracted enough fans for two sold-out performances, both Saturday and Sunday. I, along with four city blocks of people, waited outside to get a prime spot for the general admission performance. (Some devoted fans claimed to have spent the night outside the Tower in order to get a front row spot.) Omitting the numerous severely exhausted early birds, these determined fans were not disappointed. The band constructed a set list to satisfy everyone. They even brought back two songs from their album Regional at Best that has become very difficult to find. The set list included every song from their most recent album Vessel along with a couple of their oldest tunes from their debut, Twenty One Pilots.

Their performance at the Tower contained an energy that I had never before thought possible. The last time the boys were in our general area was Dover’s Firefly Music Festival, where they played only a 45-minute set in the afternoon. The enormous turnout was astounding, but that summer show paled in comparison to last night’s performance. There is something about the small indoor venue that creates a secluded atmosphere that fits the band’s energy. The band kept their trademark stage presence and flair alive throughout the performance, including lead singer, Tyler Joseph’s signature floral shirt and black beanie, and his soaring jumps. Drummer Josh Dun also tested the crowd during “Semi-Automatic”, with his drum island floating over the ocean of eager hands. The duo sported ski masks for the beginning of the performance along with their trademark skeleton hoodies. The played a few cover songs, including an entire take on Lana del Rey’s “Summertime Sadness.” Encores included the huge hit “Car Radio” (which had Joseph appearing magically in the balcony mid-song) and the crowd favorite “Truce.” They closed the night with “Trees,” as they have several times in the past. Twenty One Pilots brought with them a musical uproar, and a slew of fans (appropriately named “The Skeleton Clique”) to match its energy. Check out photos from the show below.

Setlist
Guns for Hands
Migraine
Ode to Sleep
Screen
All I Do is Win (DJ Khaled cover)
Bugatti (Ace Hood cover)
Drunk in Love (Beyoncé cover)
Can’t Help Falling in Love (Elvis Presley cover)
House of Gold
Forest
Fall Away
Addict with a Pen
Kitchen Sink
Holding on to You
Semi-Automatic
The Run and Go
Fake You Out
Summertime Sadness (Lana Del Rey cover)

Encore:
Car Radio
Truce
Trees