A decade out from the release of the album Blurryface, which saw Twenty One Pilots skyrocket to fame on the backs of hits like “Stressed Out” and “Ride,” the September release of new album Breach proved that there’s still plenty of demand for the duo’s brand of alt-pop.
That was evident during the group’s set at PNC Music Pavilion on Wednesday, as vocalist Tyler Johnson and drummer Josh Dun conjured up all the emotions for a nearly sold-out crowd with a 28-song set.
While Dun slowly walked out to his drum set before hammering away in the lead-up to the first song, “Overcompensate,” it was Johnson who literally launched himself into the performance by running up to and leaping off of his piano. Thus began Twenty One Pilots’ Charlotte tour stop.
From there, the duo cruised through song after song as a sold-out crowd sang and cheered their hearts out. The group made the most of the amphitheater grounds, at one time performing from a B stage that might be one of the largest I’ve seen at Charlotte’s largest outdoor music venue — it fit a whole car, after all.
While there is only two members of the band, their music resonates with fans deeply. The show is a full performance, leaning on camera visuals projected on the screens, different lighting techniques and plenty of pyrotechnics to create a full experience for the senses.
With nearly 15 years performing as a duo and eight studio albums to their name, Twenty One Pilots has long established themselves on the national and international music scene. Touring in support of Breach, the set combined a solid mix of old and new songs, including “Heathens,” “Heavydirtysoul,” “Ride” and “Stressed Out.”
The Twenty One Pilots tour will continue through Oct. 26, with two pre-Halloween performances in Los Angeles to wrap things up.
The night opened with an abbreviated set by indie-rock quartet Dayglow. The group’s mellow approach felt like a nice blanket meant to warm the crowd up without taking anything away from the energy that was about to descend upon them. The group appeared to be having a good time before illness cut the set a bit shorter than planned.
Twenty One Pilots setlist
Overcompensate
The Contract
Rawfear
We Don’t Believe What’s On TV
Tear In My Heart
Backslide
Lane Boy
Shy Away
Heathens
Next Semester
Routines in the Night
Message Man
Pet Cheetah
Polarize
Chlorine
Jumpsuit
Nico and the Niners
Heavydirtysoul
The Line
Garbage
Doubt
Tally
Ride
Drum Show
Encore
City Walls
Guns for Hands
Stressed Out
Trees
Dayglow setlist
Ricochet
Hot Rod
Can I Call You Tonight?
False Direction
Listerine
Close to You
Change
Run the World!!!
Be sure to check out Queen City Nerve’s Soundwave, Charlotte’s most comprehensive live music listing, so you don’t miss out on any shows or concerts coming up. And hell, if you’re looking for something else to do, you can check out our events page as well, which runs the gamut of things to do in Charlotte. You don’t ever have to be bored again. You can check out more of Jeff’s pics and live reviews here.
