CONCERT REVIEW // Twenty One Pilots

CONCERT REVIEW // Twenty One Pilots

• Monday, October 26, 2015

(written October 22nd at 1:22 AM)
It's 1 AM on what's technically a Thursday morning, and I can't imagine falling asleep for several more hours at least. Why is that? 

Because on Wednesday night, I went to see Twenty One Pilots' performance at the Revolution Center and I'm still riding the high that comes from an incredible concert.

Wow. Just wow. 

My brain is still trying to absorb what I experienced. 

For one, the openers were really good. Discovered a new band, called Finish Ticket that was energetic, spunky, and easy to get into. Followed by the quickly-rising-in-popularity, Echosmith, the openers did their job in preparing the crowd for the main attraction.

What felt like an eternity later, Twenty One Pilots took the stage, their faces hidden behind masks, and the deep thrums of "heavydirtysoul" started playing. Tyler leapt from the top of the piano down on to the stage, setting the scene for the rest of the show - HIGH. ENERGY. 

The crowd was unbelievable too. There was some crowdsurfing going on, and if you follow me on Snapchat (the_dragonfruit), you'd have seen the brief snap of this guy's legs spun up and around in the air as he dipped low before rising up again on the hands of others. A girl passed out in the middle of the set (from heat and dehydration no doubt), and Tyler stopped the show and made sure she was alright. He then made sure we knew we should look out for each other. Another crowd member was fortunate enough to be picked out of the masses and was pulled up on stage to participate in their infamous handshake.

 I had no idea there were so many Pilot fans in Boise. Tyler barely had to sing for a lot of verses (we were seriously all singing in unison, overriding his microphone-enhanced voice), and when he realized that, he happily included the crowd in his songs. We sang-shouted every word back into his grinning face and the outstretched microphone.

Josh and Tyler have prepared an awesome show for their Blurryface tour, and I'm so psyched I got to see it! I can't believe they decided to make a pit stop in little ole Idaho, but I believe they felt the love. Actually, in an interview I read recently, they said how they missed playing in small venues and wanted to do that again - so that probably explains why they decided to visit Boise.  

The show itself is spectacular, considering it's just two guys and a piano and a drum kit up on stage. Yet between the two of them, their love for music, the quirky-yet-totally-relatable lyrics that fuel their songs, and genuine souls that shine through, they didn't need anything else. 

Well, and the lights, steam, and confetti touches really amped things up of course.

So Tyler is basically an acrobat, and there were many perfectly timed leaps to climactic moments in songs, his thin, muscular frame highlighted by steam lit up by flashing lights. Our fists pumped in the air, perfectly timed to the beat and his flying body. Josh partook in the gymnastics and did a backflip off the piano that Tyler stood on during "Holding On To You."

Towards the middle-end of the show, we all started cheering-screaming when we realized Tyler was climbing out onto the crowd's hands. With security guards and fans ensuring he remained stable, he stood up above the pit, held up by their strength. 

Later, a drum kit emerged from the sideline, hoisted up in to the air by more security and crew members. Um, wait, what?

Yup, Josh got in on the action and PLAYED DRUMS WHILE BEING HELD UP ABOVE THE CROWD.

For the finale, both boys climbed out into the outstretched hands and were held above the crowd while banging furiously on barrels that exploded with red and white confetti. The steam exploding in the background, timed with every hit on the drum, lit up by thousand watt lights, and more exploding confetti was set to the driving finish of their song "Trees."

Man, what a way to end a show.

Twenty One Pilots has seriously gained my respect. While I was no die-hard fan before this show, I definitely am now. I'm looking up ridiculous facts on the duo and really researching their start and what-not. So far, I'm pleasantly surprised by what I'm finding. They're true artists in their own right, and I both respect and am inspired by their creativity and the meaning behind their lyrics.

This feeling of incredible euphoria and ecstasy is why I go to concerts. It's honestly my drug of choice, and I know I'm addicted to the high that accompanies them. There's an inexplicable connection to be found between the crowd and performer that makes you fall in love even more with music and the artists that make them.

Phew! Sorry if you actually read all of this - I was feeling rather inspired and pumped up while drafting this. However, I hope it does the same for you and you go out and check in on live shows! Check out Twenty One Pilots and tell me what you think!