The crowd at BP Pulse was a packed-out sea of red beanies and red tape, already energised following the support set from New Zealand based Balu Brigada.
At the cue of Josh Dun’s pelting drum-beat, many in the seating arena clambered to their feet eager to have the perfect view of the duo – although, as the night progressed it was clear that Twenty One Pilots know how to stage an arena show that makes every fan feel they have the best seat in the house. Opening with ‘Overcompensate’, Tyler Joseph launched himself onto the stage in front of the word-perfect crowd. Matching the musical skill of the pair was the theatrics and production, with 2013 hit, ‘Holding On To You’ seeing Joseph stood on a platform that the fans who had queued for hours made it their life’s mission to hold up. Never dropping the audience’s attention for a second, the blue lit up arena was soon filled with the opening lines of ‘Car Radio’, before Joseph proved teleportation was top on his list of skills – for those less familiar with Twenty One Pilots lore, we won’t ruin the magic – as the rest of the song was performed from the seating arena as the surrounding fans realised they picked the best block from the seventeen BP Pulse had to offer.
The band’s connection with their fans was apparent throughout, a short film made earlier in the day of fans talking about why Twenty One Pilots are so special to them was followed after ‘The Judge’ with a heartfelt “it’s just us and you” from Joseph. The slow in pace was continued with the almost ballad-like ‘The Craving’.
As yellow and white lights cascaded the audience, lighting up excited faces screaming along, the energy shot straight back up with ‘Tear In My Heart’, also written for Joseph's wife Jenna, before he took command of the whole arena in 'Backfire', choreographing a double arm wave from everyone watching. Waltzing around their decade spanning discography, the set featured ‘Shy Away’, Suicide Squad’s ‘Heathens’ into ‘Next Semester’ and ‘Routines In The Night’ from their latest album ‘Clancy’.
Somehow creating an intimacy in a sold-out, 15,000 capacity arena, the band took to the B-Stage towards the back of the arena with a gorgeous piano introduction into ‘The Line’ from Joseph, closing with a humble “thank you”. The moment of vulnerability was not last as they upped the tempo for a jazzy rendition of ‘Mulberry Street’. Joseph interrupting the track with a moment of piano practice, the crowd were treated with some experimental chord progressions, fans online noting their similarity to 'Taxi Cab', and continuous commentary of “nah, predictable” and “interesting…” Returning to the 2021 track, a coordinated light routine from the audience’s flashlights led to a “Birmingham you look beautiful tonight”.
Navigating vulnerable stripped-back moments with high-production drama, all eyes turned to Dun, ominously holding a flamed torch before processing back to the stage as we entered Dema. Flames across the stage added to the already bleak towers on screen, as the set continued with ‘Navigating’ and ‘Nico And The Niners’. As Joseph slips effortlessly between rap and being a swaggering tambourine player in ‘heavydirtysoul’ the heat from the blazing pyrotechnics was felt beyond the barrier. Hushed conversations in the queue had questioned whether Twenty One Pilots would play the ‘Doubt (demo)’, released last month ahead of the ‘Blurryface’ 10 year anniversary. The audience were treated as they were transported to a blurry night in a club with heavy bass, skeleton face mask and a slightly trippy, almost x-ray esque video link to the screens. ‘Guns For Hands’ got everyone jumping followed by a now topless Dun rocking the red heart glasses in ‘Lavish’. Soon, the word-perfect crowd showed off in ‘Ride’, taking the entire second verse solo. Returning to the B-Stage, Joseph brought up young fan Jonas for the final chorus prompting cheers and ‘awhs’ from the arena.
You would not expect Twenty One Pilots have been touring since 2024, with a high-energy set with very little break in momentum across the 2+ hour concert. ‘Paladin Strait’ was the final pre-encore song, scatters of red and yellow phone lights spread across the arena evidence of fan projects, closing with Dun performing, his drum kit floating on top of the front audience. The band opened the encore with ‘Jumpsuit’ before moving to ‘Midwest Indigo’. Joseph, now clad in a white t-shirt emblazoned with ‘CLANCY’ backwards brought together the infectious dance drum beat and choir of an audience singing at the tops of their voices to create one of the energetic peaks of the night. Now matching half the arena wearing a red beanie, Joseph chanted ‘What’s My Name’ to cries of ‘Blurryface’, as more pyro and another jump from on top of the piano was soundtracked by ‘Stressed Out’.
With ‘Trees’ as the final song, Twenty One Pilots closed the Birmingham night of The Clancy World Tour up, close and personal with their fans, performing the entire song on the arena floor surrounded by the audience. In the final moments of the show, Joseph and Dun were pounding drums held up by the lucky fans in front of them as red confetti rained onto the dancing crowd. As the pair faced each other, rhythmic beats now in unison, it felt a poignant moment of togetherness - part of the Twenty One Pilots community they have created.
Maisy Neale
Images: Lucy Craig
