This experience was a fever dream. Being in the same building as Twenty One Pilots was too much to handle, making it nearly indescribable. No words could give the band and their show the credit they deserve. But it would be unfair of me to not share this glorious occasion with the world. So, buckle up and get ready to experience the Twenty One Pilots Takeover tour from the perspective of a crazed seventeen-year-old clikkie.

On September 21st, 2021, the Twenty One Pilots Takeover Tour officially began, the first stop being the Bluebird Theater in Denver, Colorado. This show follows their third studio album, Scaled and Icy. Typically they would tour around the whole country, but this tour stops in five American cities (Denver, Chicago, Columbus, Los Angeles, and Boston) as well as Mexico City, Mexico and London, England, having multiple shows at different venues in each city.

October 30th was the third and final show at their Columbus stop, which I was lucky enough to attend. All three Columbus shows were played at the beautiful Nationwide Arena. Because this is both Tyler Joseph’s and Josh hometown, a “Twenty One Pilots Blvd” street sign was installed outside the venue, welcoming them back to their origins.

To get ready for the concert I visited Big Fun Columbus, the toy store where the Choker music video was filmed. It was surreal to walk through that saturated building filled with vintage items. I got emotional as I walked down the alley right by the store where Josh Dun chased Tyler Joseph in the same music video. It was w i l d. 

After visiting Big Fun, I arrived at the Nationwide Arena. Shaky and in awe, I nearly cried. They weren’t on stage yet, but what a blessing it was to breathe the same air as them. The openers were Jay Joseph (Tyler’s brother ; 100/10 would recommend listening) and Half-Alive (also amazing). Sadly, I missed the wonderful Jay Joseph, but Half-Alive put on a wonderful 45 minute performance. They’re known for their 2 dancing band members who add extra spunk and movement to the act. One of my favorite moments was when they danced behind a giant sheet, with spotlights making them look larger than life, even from the back of the monstrous stadium (nose-bleed seats are not lame, by the way).

Then, the lights went out. The crowd let out a thunderous roar. I let out a high pitched screech, one I wasn’t aware I was capable of. A video played, expressing their joy in coming back to their home for a show. Two people began to walk through the crowd, spotlights following them. They walked on stage, and began to perform Good Day, which half way through transitioned to No Chances. They ripped off their masks, and through watery eyes, I saw Tyler and Josh. Wow. Throughout the show I was wonderstruck and full of emotion.

For the first time on tour, they had a full band on stage. They wore the same jumpsuits seen on the Scaled and Icy Release Livestream Concert, with Tyler Joseph’s rectangular tattoo and a simplified map of “Dema” (the government and prison-like creation that represents depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideations). It added a unique element to their performance, seeing more than two people on stage.

After seeing them for the Bandito Tour in 2019 I thought nothing could be better, but I was severely mistaken. The show was astonishing. Between Tyler’s graceful dance moves and Josh’s sick drum solos, Twenty One Pilots blew the crowd away once more. It started on the main stage, Josh on stage right, band on risers in the back, and Tyler running around. On center stage was a giant sai (Korean war weapon), which lit up and brightened the stage. In the middle of Mulberry Street (my favorite Scaled and Icy song), Tyler moved to the B-Stage to play piano for Bennie and the Jets by Elton John and Redecorate. 

Next the show moves back to main stage, and Tyler shows off his new guitar skills during the powerful bop, Never Take It. 

“The summer I watched the tube I saw enough. Taught myself to play guitar, tearing it up. My advice on these two things that I picked up: you better educate yourself, but never too much.” (Joseph, Tyler Never Take It)

Then the whole band moved center stage, for a vibey campfire set. This was one of the best parts of the show. They performed three “mash-ups”. Two containing their own songs, and one featuring Johnny Nash’s I Can See Clearly Now, The Temptation’s My Girl, and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes’ Home. My Girl paid homage to the cherished friendship between Tyler and Josh, where Tyler sang, “I’m talking ’bout ✨Josh Dun✨”. They also performed classics such as House of Gold and Tear in My Heart. 

Josh did a trumpet solo. Well, Dr. Blum played while Josh held it up. Then Josh played his own little ditty, and shortly after they returned to the original stage set.

Continuing their outstanding set, they performed Saturday, Level of Concern, and Ride. At the end of Ride, Tyler went into the audience, and they held him up for the remainder of the song. Oh to have floor seats at a twenty one pilots concert. But even from the back, it’s an amazing thing to witness.

And then, Car Radio began. This wonderous song, first heard on Regional at Best, but also released on Vessel, speaks beautifully into the overwhelming thoughts that the mind pushes on us when all we can do is sit in silence. Around the end of the song, Tyler ran through the crowd, heading towards the B-Stage, where a tower of metal bars stood. During the heaviest part of the song, while he screams, “and now I just sit in silence”, he climbed to the top of the tower. Each time he said, “silence”, a drift of forceful smoke surrounded him. After the final line, he ripped of his ski mask, and ran out of the stadium to get backstage.

While waiting for him to arrive once again, the crowd began to sing Car Radio together. It was beautifully emotional. Flashlights came out, as well as tears. We knew the finale was coming.

I wonder what it must feel like, Tyler and Josh sitting backstage, hearing a stadium, thousands of people, screaming their songs. Not just knowing the words, but feeling them, understanding them. I could only imagine it could put pressure on them, but also a sense of relief. What they do makes an impact, one larger than most musicians have even attempted to make.

The second to last song was the first Scaled and Icy single, Shy Away. The energy radiating from this song exploded through the crowd, then turned into an emotional abyss when they transitioned to I’m Not Okay by My Chemical Romance. They put us on a rollercoaster. A really bumpy rollercoaster.

Josh, still at his drum set, and Tyler back to his piano, the band was now gone. We took a break to watch some of the Ohio State game. Mind you, this was the third time during the show. “Maybe if I’ll play for them they’ll score”, Tyler said, laughing at the nonsense going through the crowd. Aggressive screams grew, then turned into electric cheers once they finally scored. Ohio State fans scare me. Especially Tyler Joseph.

After the seemingly long break, tears erupted when Trees began. We sang in unison, sometimes overpowering the sounds of Josh and Tyler. The final celebration of the show began when they walked off stage and onto their famous drum islands, held up by fans on the floor. As the drumsticks hit the drums for the first time, an explosion of confetti was shot from the stage, covering the stadium like a heavy snowfall. This is always a bittersweet moment  It’s a tradition for this to be the finale. A final thread of hope before being sent on our way, collecting confetti on the way out. But what an immensely magical experience.

Before walking off, they made us feel like we belonged, once again saying:

“We are twenty one pilots, and so are you |-/”

Gallery • 17 Photos

SETLIST (October 30, 2021 – Columbus, OH – Nationwide Arena)

1. Good Day (shortened and transitions to next song)
2. No Chances
3. Stressed Out
4. Migraine/Morph/Holding On To You
5. Heathens
6. The Outside
7. Message Man
8. Lane Boy (elements of Nico and the Niners) (Clancy Letter Intro)
9. Chlorine
10. Mulberry Street
11. Bennie and the Jets (Elton John) (Tyler Joseph on B-Stage with Piano)(Mulberry Street Outro)
12. Redecorate (Just Tyler on B-Stage – Piano)
13. Jumpsuit
14. Heavydirtysoul
15. Never Take It (Tyler does guitar solo during bridge)
16. Formidable/Doubt/Tear In My Heart – Campfire on Stage
17. I Can See Clearly Now(by Johnny Nash)/My Girl (by The Temptations)/Home (by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes) – Campfire on Stage
18. House of Gold/We Don’t Believe What’s On TV – Campfire on Stage
19. Saturday
20. Level of Concern
21. Ride (Tyler does a crowd stand)
22. Car Radio (Tyler climbs a tower by the B-Stage)
23. Shy Away (with “I’m Not Okay” by My Chemical Romance)
24. Trees (Drum Island – Confetti Cannons)