Columbus-born alt-rock duo Twenty One Pilots embarked on The Clancy Tour: Breach, one of their last runs of live shows for a while after wrapping up over 10 years of lore and storytelling as a band. Vocalist Tyler Joseph and drummer Joshua Dun have been creating music together for over a decade, building a world for fans to escape into as they navigate different phases of their lives. After releasing Breach in September, the band stopped by Connecticut’s Xfinity Theatre to deliver an immersive and unforgettable night of community and music. Fans dressed in grunge, black ensembles and covered each other in red and yellow tape, symbolizing the Banditos and rebels from the fictional storyline created by Twenty One Pilots. These characters hail from “Dema,” the cement city in “Trench,” ruled by nine power-hungry bishops. Across five studio albums, both lyrically and visually, the band and their fans have fought to break the vicious cycle. This tour tradition of fans taping each other is a symbol of how loyal their fans are, showing that they are always ready to go to battle for them.
A line extended across the spacious parking lot far before doors opened, with fans flooding in immediately at 6:00 pm. Many headed to the amphitheater’s lawn, named the “Bandito Camp” during this leg of the tour. Fans had the opportunity to pose for pictures in front of a campsite with tents, yellow flowers, and ukuleles thereby getting ‘recruited’ to join the Bandito cause. Each person signed a flag with the city’s name on it, one that Dun would later carry during the show. This interactive element was the first of many thoughtful details the band curated during the show to honor their fans, making the world of Trench real for one vivacious night.
Beloved indie-pop artist Dayglow kickstarted the night with smiles, energy, and hypnotizing tracks. Songs like “Can I Call You Tonight” got the crowd up and dancing to the sharp percussion provided by his three-piece band. Dayglow’s airy vocals floated around the amphitheater, warming it up right as the sun began to set. Sparkling instrumentals infused hope into the crowd, which was the perfect way to usher fans into a night of unity and fun while reliving the past ten years of music. The band bounced energy off of each other the entire set, with Dayglow coming together with his guitarist to shred during each song. He ended his set with “Run The World!!!,” an upbeat, pounding track with more cynical lyrics if you listen closely. This juxtaposition is another shared artistic style of Twenty One Pilots, making Dayglow a natural fit for the bill.
Soon after, the lights dimmed again, and the venue released deafening cheers. The buzzy opening notes to “Overcompensate” began to play as Dun walked out, wearing a black mask with red, glowing eyes. He raucously hit each beat, infusing energy into the venue. Joseph appeared out of nowhere, stepping up onto the wooden piano and explosively jumping off the top, a feat even difficult for my 24-year-old knees. He began rapping in an addictive, gritty, and melodic style, with fans singing so loud that they almost drowned him out. Joseph carried a camera and a tripod during “RAWFEAR” to film himself, Dun, and the crowd. His lively camera work reflected the intimacy of the song, capturing close-ups of himself during lyrics like “Learnin’ all that really matters is a slow and painful lesson.” The band used their visuals to propel the set, displaying a video of fans filmed before the show to the song “We Don’t Believe What’s On TV.” This moment showcased and celebrated fans’ clever outfits and excitement for the show.
There was an ominous B-stage on the lawn, featuring the black car from many of their music videos. During “Routines In The Night,” Dun and Joseph wandered around the venue, taking the time to sing and high-five fans on their way to the stage. Daring pyrotechnics defined their time on the lawn as the car exploded in flames, perfectly timed to the beat during tracks like “Pet Cheetah,” underscoring the charged and emotional music. During the fan favorite track “Chlorine,” Joseph made the trek back to the main stage. He stopped to sing the bridge, surrounded by fans dressed up as the adorable horned creature ‘Ned’ from the song’s music video. This once-in-a-lifetime singalong underscored how the fan experience is of the utmost importance to the band when creating this show. Dun followed closely behind, as the head Bandito, he was in charge of carrying the signed Hartford flag back to his drum set, forever immortalizing fans in the story.
Later in the set, Joseph revealed they hit a snag. Apparently, the Fire Marshall did not give them the green light to use some of their special effects. Dun typically also carries a lit torch through the crowd with his flag, and was not able to do so this night. Although the detail may have gone unnoticed by fans, Joseph was visibly distraught, apologizing for not being able to deliver the show they wanted and revealing the high standards he holds the band to. Of course, he put his signature humorous twist on the situation, cheekily dedicating the next track, “Garbage,” to these sticklers. This song was a point of catharsis for the crowd and anyone who has felt like a misfit as they screamed the lyrics, “Don’t give up on me.”
The band held the energy impossibly high the rest of the night, giving back every drop of passion they received from fans. Joseph executed his signature screams effortlessly during emotional songs like “The Line” and “Tally,” an impressive feat given that he has been screaming for almost 20 years. For The Clancy Tour and this year’s The Clancy Tour: Breach edition, the band has instated the new tradition of celebrating the next generation of fans. During the hit song “Ride,” Joseph sauntered through the crowd to pick a child to sing the final chorus with him. He returned on stage with the fearless Chase, who belted out the notes with confidence. An unsuspecting fan may have gotten whiplash from all the crowd interactions. Just then, Dun traveled to the back of the amphitheater to be thrusted onto a platform with his drums that were only being held up by the crowd beneath him during “Drum Show.” Their ability to utilize each corner of the amphitheater was a testament to their commitment to making every seat in the house the best one.
They returned for a charged four-song encore, ending the night with “Trees,” a staple finale on their setlists dating back to the early 2010s. At the end of the song, they traveled back to the crowd one more time to stand on platforms held up by the pit; they have quite strong fans. The crowd also held up one drum for each member as they tossed water on the drumhead. Confetti filled the venue, fans pumped their fists in the air to the beat, and the band looked around to take in all they had built. Make sure to catch Dayglow and Twenty One Pilots live before The Clancy Tour: Breach ends later this month. Buy tickets here.
Check out all of Samantha’s photos from the show below.
