Twenty One Pilots ‘paint the town’ at the United Center
November 1, 2021
Performing in its fourth venue in the city in five days, Twenty One Pilots finished the Chicago series of their Takeover Tour in front of a packed house at the United Center.
Lead vocalist and instrumentalist Tyler Joseph and drummer Josh Dun entered the stage in ski masks before lighting up the stadium with their signature theatrics and energy. Joseph was very active on stage, at one point jumping off a grand piano. Dun played the drums at what felt like 90 miles an hour, matching Joseph’s enthusiasm.
About halfway through their Oct. 16 set, the band slowed things down. Joseph sat at a realistic looking campfire with his ukulele, playing acoustic melodies that rippled through the arena. During the acoustic portion of the show, the band played some of their older songs, including multiple tracks from their album “Blurryface”.
As is customary, Twenty One Pilots finished off their set on raised on platforms while performing their song, “Trees.” Fog Machines filled the stage with smoke and multicolored confetti rained down upon the concertgoers in the arena.
Arrested Youth and Half Alive opened for Twenty One Pilots.
Arrested Youth played the ukelele-led song “98 Degrees” from their album “Nonfiction” in addition to pop-punk songs from their album “Others.”
Half Alive played songs from their electronic-infused pop album “Now, Not Yet,” as well recently released songs such as “What’s Wrong.”
TJ Hayes, a junior social media and digital strategy major, came to the show to see Twenty One Pilots but said Half Alive’s “whole set blew [them] away,” with their stage presence and choreographed dances.
“It was like they were telling a story … they really put on a show,” Hayes said.
The Takeover Tour will continue through November and resume nationally and internationally in the summer of 2022.
