by photojournalist Dan Fernandez
Saturday night October 11th, MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheater came alive with sights and sounds provided courtesy of Twenty One Pilots, the magnetic duo from Columbus, Ohio. As part of their highly anticipated Clancy Tour: Breach, the band drew fans of all ages with attendees lining up for merch before even entering the venue. The concert was an additional leg of the bands Clancy World Tour that was held in support of their album I Am Clancy (which marked a significant conclusion to a 4 albums long narrative arc that began back in 2015 with the Blurryface) and extended to support their newest album Breach as well, both being released in 2025.
The evening got started off with an engaging performance from opening act Dayglow, the indie-pop project spearheaded by Texas native Sloan Struble. With a colorful synthesis of indie and bedroom pop soundscapes, Dayglow presents sets filled with vibrant melodies and presented with an uplifting spirit. The touring members of the band, including bassist Peyton Harrington, drummer Brady Knippa, keyboardist Norrie Swofford, and guitarist Colin Crawford, complement Struble’s vision perfectly. The groups newest album, self-titled DAYGLOW, is available everywhere music can be streamed.
While Dayglow did well to open the night, the headlining group Twenty One Pilots truly set the night in motion, taking the stage in spectacular fashion with Tyler Joseph, the energetic vocalist in the duo, launching himself off a piano seemingly defying gravity, as a flurry of pyrotechnics and Josh Dun’s inspiring drumming lit up the amphitheater both literally and figuratively. Their set (found at the bottom of the review) was a dynamically diverse 28 jam composite of their hits and deep cuts alike. The songs chart position, however, being of no consequence to fan recognition, as die hard concertgoers, adorned in the black paint and duct taped clothing that has come to embody the band’s trademark style, belted out the lyrics to each and every ballad.
Early in the show Joseph made sure that everyone knew what kind of evening this was going to be as he engaged the audience, instructing everyone to crouch down as low as they could before jumping up in unison in attempt to create a seismic ripple throughout the venue. Joseph’s interactive approach mixed with Dun’s oft hooded and mysterious aura reflected the band’s unique ability to connect with their fans while remaining an enigma. As if the performance was not enough for you to write home about, the stunning visuals and ferocious pyrotechnics had to be enough to tip the scales, with Joseph dropping on his back and writhing on stage while not missing a note during the most chaotically fantastic fire walls of the evening. I have seen a lot of solid use of pyrotechnics lately, but this show takes the cake with Cage the Elephant being a close second. Sorry guys, you still rock!
As the concert progressed to around the 11 song mark, the duo made an unforgettable move, leaving the stage and dancing through the audience, giving high fives and taking selfies along the way to perform a few songs atop a car that the crew had lit on fire in the lawn area. Two small stages flanked the flaming vehicle, set up with a mic on both sides of the platforms ensuring that every audience member got the taste of front row seats regardless of their ticketed location.
During the latter parts of the second half of their set that included a fan joining the band for a rendition of “Ride” and a performance of “Drum Show” on the island stage near the smoldering car Joseph delivered a message to the audience, especially the younger fans. Telling them to “pick up and learn an instrument” and if they “already started to not give it up,” continue learning as a positive outlet, no matter if your goal is to play for yourself on the couch or for a crowd on stage. He then took a moment to deliver a heartfelt thank you from the entire Twenty One Pilot family and crew for their unwavering support over the past decade and a half, closing the show with a poignant reminder of the power of music in our lives. Especially for those special bands like Twenty One Pilots that take the time to truly reach out, connect and are about their fan base in such an intimate way.
SET LIST
1. Overcompensate 2. The Contract 3. RAWFEAR 4. We Don’t Believe What’s on TV. 5. Tear in My Heart 6. Backslide 7. Lane Boy 8. Shy Away 9. Heathens 10. Next Semester 11. Routines in the Night 12. Message Man 13. Pet Cheetah 14. Polarize 15. Chlorine 16. Jumpsuit 17. Nico and the Niners 18. Heavydirtysoul 19. The Line 20. Garbage 21. Doubt 22. Tally 23. Ride 24. Drum Show ENCORE 25. City Walls 26. Guns for Hands 27. Stressed Out 28. Trees (with a recorded version of Lavish as their exit music)
