Hallie Barnhart | DesignerThe Courier October ‘1527REVIEW

Nothing can TOP thisConcert Review:Twenty One Pilots

Twenty One Pilots performed at the Schottenstein Center on Friday, Sept. 18. This concert was one stop on their “Blurryface” tour, following their latest album “Blurryface”.

After an immense first week of album sales - selling more than 150,000, copies it is no surprise that band members Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun were able to sell out the 13,000 plus seating arena in their home state of Ohio.

The two performed songs on their new album, as well as songs from their previous project, “Vessel”.

Not being a Twenty One Pilots fan prior to this concert, it was interesting to see the show as it played out in front of me.

With every passing minute, I could tell the crowd became more and more anxious, waiting for the band to emerge onto the stage. Even the smallest signs of the show about to begin-lights around the stage, smoke on the floor-made the crowd cheer in excitement.

Finally, Joseph, the band’s lead singer, leapt into the spotlight, followed by Dun, the band’s drummer. The two began their electrifying performance, continuing it song after song.

I thought the two separate platforms on the stage, along with a piano allowed the performance to be very energetic, as Joseph often leapt from one stage prop to the next. Joseph also made a lot of interactions with the crowd, often allowing crowd participation in songs, along with talking aloud between songs.

The diverse audience that ranged from small children to adults had no shame in portraying the die-hard Twenty One Pilots fan image, as people wore mostly black with red hats - an

image closely similar to what Joseph was wearing. This made me think that people didn’t just go to the concert because they could, but because they were actually fans of the band, which I found fascinating.

Along with the musicians’ performance, Twenty One Pilots had an insane digital background, which included four large screens playing one image simultaneously, as well as a variety of laser and stage lights. Often the lights were in sync with the drums, so as Dun played, the lights changed accordingly.

The performers kept the crowd on it’s toes as a number of surprises took place throughout the night. These instances included Joseph standing on a 50 ft. platform, Dun doing a backflip off the piano and a special guest appearance from Brutus the Buckeye.

I was highly entertained by this concert, and I felt myself becoming more and more of a fan as the two played on.

I would highly recommend going to a Twenty One Pilots concert as they have a colossal amount of potential to give fans a night they will not forget. I’ve been to many concerts of many different genres and this was one of my favorites.

On Sept. 18, the Central Ohio natives Tyler Joesph and Josh Dun, duo of Twenty One Pilots, were nothing but welcomed home as they performed to a sold out Schottenstein Center. With skeleton-like face paint and signature red beanies, the fans known as “clique” had no trouble keeping up with every lyric of the band’s fast-

EDDIE FOLDS |WRITER

MICKEY FATH |WRITER

Illustration by Hallie BarnhartPhoto by Mickey Fath

paced alternative hip hop songs.Since the release of its newest

album, “Blurryface”, in May, the duo has gained a number of new fans, leading them to a variety of gigs such as their performance with A$AP Rocky on the MTV Video Music Awards. As a fan of the band since the beginning, this growth in popularity made me hesitate to buy tickets because I did not think the duo could maintain its reputation to be interactive with the crowd in such a large venue.

Every doubt I had about the concert was completely wiped away the moment Joseph and Dun stepped on the stage. Within seconds, Joseph managed to have the entire arena clapping, singing, and even to his request, sitting on the shoulders of each other (one of Joseph’s signature crowd requests.

Joseph continued the night with an unusual halt to the typical set list. The duo, set up with only a keyboard and drum set at center stage, performed a mash-up of some of the band’s older songs, including a few from its very first album released in 2009. Dedicated fans, including myself, were left speechless by this performance; the band had never forgotten its roots.

As a fan that is used to standing in the pit for a Twenty One Pilots concert at the LC Pavilion, I felt just as connected to the band sitting in the lower bowl of the Schottenstien Center. As Dun did his normal back flip off of a piano and Joseph did his usual time of crowd-surfing, the “clique” and I felt right at home. We were all left with one more tradition .

Beijing Accupuncture & Healing

Joseph J. Zhuang OMP. Dipl. Ac. &CH Shufeng Ding OMP. Dipl. Ac. &CH

Provider of OSU, UHC and BWC Insurance We accept Insurance & Offer Chinese Herb Medicine

801 Bethel Road, Columbus, OH 43214 Tel: 614-783-9527 or 614-537-2759

www.Acuhealingoh.com Email: Jxzhuang@att.net

Camryn Perone| Business ManagerThe Courier September ‘15 26AD