Twenty One Pilots doesn’t disappoint with “The Clancy World Tour”
With the release of its 2024 album “Clancy,” the 13-year-old “clickie” in me knew immediately that Twenty One Pilots would soon be going on tour. Now, at 20 years old (I am still an emo teenager) seeing the duo in concert for the third time on Oct. 8 for “The Clancy World Tour” was just as exciting as it was when I was 13 and listening to the music.
Members Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun work hard to ensure a space of closeness and belonging at their concerts. Though Gainbridge Fieldhouse holds roughly 18,000 people, according to Indy Encyclopedia, Twenty One Pilots concerts feel more intimate than any other concert I have attended. Tyler and Josh address every area of the arena, thank local venue staff and their team members for their work multiple times throughout their set and fist-bump security as they walk around the pit. They make a point to appear all around the Fieldhouse throughout the night to introduce different parts of their show. I was fortunate enough to be in a lower section where Josh was feet away from me in the middle of the concert. It was one of the coolest parts of the night for, not only me, but everyone in attendance. Even venue security near the aisle he stood in took their phones out to take a picture of the famous musician.
Twenty One Pilots did a great job of playing with visual and vocal dynamics. I appreciate its dedication to singing and playing live at every single show. The crew works hard to ensure a consistently captivating image is projected on the big screens, and that the backdrops match the vibes and energy of the song being performed. There are traditions that have been done at every show since they first got big, such as putting platforms on top of the pit, who they trust to hold them up for the closing song “Trees,” and the pit has never let Tyler or Josh fall.
To be in a room full of fans who have all gathered in one space for the same reason, our connection to the same songs and same band, is always a meaningful thought that comes to my mind at Twenty One Pilots concerts. Friendship bracelets and bandanas are exchanged between fans, and the crowd works in unison to light up the arena with their phone flashlights during more emotional songs. The same things hold true for every show in every city.
Tyler and Josh appeal to members of all ages at their shows. They played niche songs from their earliest albums for the dedicated fans in the room who know the ins and outs of the band. A part of the concert that made me giggle was when they called a member of the “new generation of Twenty One Pilots,” a boy no older than 12, on stage to sing (though off key and off tempo) the ending of “Ride.” Everyone applauded him for his energy and enthusiasm.
I love the energy at concerts, and, overall, Twenty One Pilots remains unmatched. I hope their journey as a band is not done yet, because you can guarantee I will be present next time they tour.
