TWENTY ONE PILOTS TAKE OVER LOS ANGELES
Photo: Nikkie Marie
What a treat for Los Angeles, California. Fans were given not just one chance but four chances to see Twenty One Pilots, Half Alive, and Arrested Youth. It’s not every day we see a tour like this. The concept is unique and special all on its own for fans. TOP toured 6 major cities in the United States. Starting each city with a small intimate club, two medium-size club dates, then closing that city with an arena show. How special is that?
Photo: Nikkie Marie
That’s not all! A full band will be seen on stage for the first time backing Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun! A decade of performing alone has come to an end. This change was seen during their 2021 Billboard Music Awards performance. Welcome to the stage Skyler Acord on bass, Todd Gummerman on keyboard and guitar, Paul Meany on the keyboard, Dan Geraghty on guitar, Jesse Blum on trumpet, and backup singers Kenyon Dixon and Danielle Withers.
Leading up to The Wiltern, fans camped outside for a week. Waiting and hoping for a chance to obtain tickets to this sold-out event. 24 hours before the show, TOP announced 300 tickets will be available at the door on their Instagram. Preventing scalpers to jack up the prices to this already affordable show. Most fans spent less than 120 dollars to be in the front row pit. To be able to enter this show, attendees needed a negative covid test or a vaccine card present.
Photo: Nikkie Marie
Arrested Youth opened up the show with technical errors on the spot causing the band to cut songs. Fans cheered on the band and kept them motivated to keep going. While frontman, Ian Johnson kept his exposure and a smile ear to ear. The energy in the room was full of life and excitement to be there. Playing top hits “Find My Own Way”, “The Kid I Used To Know”, “Mirrors”, and many more.
Photo: Nikkie Marie
LA’s very own Half Alive stole the show with their epic performance. Performing a full 45 minute set on stage. Setting the tone and mood for the night. Frontman Josh Taylor pulled out all the stunts for the crowd. Starting out slow and moody behind his piano. The lights are dark and low. Building every second while pulling on every heartstring possible. They really tapped into the simple moments and expanded them. Performing top singles and hits, “Make of It”, “Still Feel”, “RUNAWAY”, and many more. As the beat grew in the room and everyone’s dancing shoes broke out, Josh Taylor did as well. Stunning fans with live dancers on stage and his dance skills along with them. The crowd roared as the mood grew. Hands in the air on the beat. Throwing Josh into unexpected backflips and transcending dance moves throughout the entire set. Half Alive was definitely feeling fully alive at The Wiltern. Surprising fans with a light show and free one-of-a-kind banner on stage.
Photo: Nikkie Marie
The Take Over Tour will be uniquely different each night. From different setlists to different production values happening on stage. On this night, we saw half their production value on stage. Canons, confetti, medium size LED walls, and the usual show stunts they are known for.
Twenty One Pilots hit the stage at 9:00 pm and performed for two hours straight. Opening the night with, Good Day. Tyler and Josh came out wearing matching outfits head to toe. Black pants, white jackets, ski masks, and a pair of stylish Willy Wonka-looking glasses. They took a moment to stand silently in front of fans. Soaking up all their success before giving fans a show of a lifetime. It’s no secret with TOP, that they go all out for their fans. The show has never been about the duo. It’s always been about making the fans smile and cheer.
The choice of songs for the night was perfect. We heard half their entire new album, ‘Scaled and Icy’. Each new song was perfectly sprinkled in between hits off of ‘Blurry Face’. Two single appearances from ‘Trench’ and ‘Regional at Best’. They performed a total of 21 songs. It must be a lucky number. Halfway through the show, TOP transitioned into a campfire acoustic set. They had a fake campfire to sit around. The room went dark and was lit up by the cyber sea of phones. When looking around, fans as young as 5 and as old as 60 were hand in hand. Singing all together in unison. It was a beautiful sight.
This was a new personality to see on stage. The band is known for their moody theatrical sets. From trippy dark visualizers to dark mini shorts on screen. The band paid tribute to their past with themes and specific outfits on stage.
Photo: Nikkie Marie
It felt like a lawless version of TOP. Fans were seeing new things for the very first time. Bending all the rules and succeeding with no fan backlash to change.
Powerful slapping bass solos from Skyler Accord to thrilling guitar solos by Dan Geraghty. Something fans have never seen on stage with the duo.
One lucky fan caught Tyler’s attention from the balcony. He was a 7-year-old boy that knew every single word to every song. Tyler being a new father was choked up from on stage. He stopped the show to have a full conversation with the young boy's mother. We found out that he was a drummer and wanted to grow into Josh’s shoes.
While surprising fans during '“Car Radio”, Tyler appeared out of the dark to give the young boy knuckles from the lighting rig he was standing on upstairs. Tyler is known to go into the crowd halfway through the track to surprise people. The crowd went nuts like always over this and broke out into chants with Tyler, “I ponder something great. My lungs will fill and then deflate. They fill with fire, exhale desire. I know it's dire of my time today”.
Photo: Nikkie Marie
The band made sure to get back all their time they missed out on with fans. It was dire on both sides to see live music again. Especially after the disappearance, the band made to the public during the making of ‘Trench’.
By the time they closed the show with “Trees”, fans were all holding each other crying. This is a multi-generational band that is going far. They closed the show out with their famous, confetti cannons while drumming on top of the audience together. It was a true takeover of Los Angeles.
