Twenty-One Pilots: a Cinematic Experience

Do you all remember during the pandemic when concerts were strictly online as livestreams? I know you do. It wasn’t that long ago, but it certainly feels like it with everything going on in the world.

Well, out of all those bands and artists I’m only talking about one, because they hold a special place in my heart and I know a lot of people feel the same: On May 21, 2021, Twenty One Pilots did their first and only livestream concert, where they pulled off a Las Vegas-worthy spectacle filled with different sets, amazing choreography and some awesome footwork from the leading man himself, Tyler Joseph.

They had support dancers and singers, which is definitely new to see for a duo that normally does this stuff on their own. They even had Easter eggs thrown in for the fans that not only acknowledged their new album, but also brought a knowing nod from their fan base, the ever-knowing skeleton clique.

Between the new songs and the fan favorites , the décor and the sets and just the overall energy, the band managed to bring to the table! It made you feel like you were right there with them, even though you were just watching through a livestream.

Bringing us back to the present, with everything seemingly going back to a version of normal that’s not normal but as good as it gets – while back on tour the Pilots decided to take their livestream to the big screen in select theaters worldwide, for one night only and an encore night in some theaters.

It definitely was a gift from God, so to say, for some of us that missed that actual livestream. Not only were we getting to finally see the concert, but the band also included an extra 20 minutes of never-seen, behind-the-scenes footage.

I was lucky enough to score an early bird ticket for May 19, and it was definitely worth it! The moment I walked in, I was immediately immersed in energy. The theater was packed with fans of all ages, from small children to older adults, but in the moment age didn’t matter because we were all like children, giddy with excitement showing off various merchandise and talking about past concerts we had been to.

When the lights dimmed, a loud cheer echoed off the walls before silence came. After the intro, as the movie continued people were quiet for sake of the enjoyment of others but that didn’t stop a soul from head banging and dancing around in their seats to songs we all knew and loved.

It was almost magical in a sense of seeing one of my communities come together and being able to celebrate something like this with them. Even though this wasn’t a traditional concert, that didn’t stop anyone from having a good time.

There was a moment in the film, in one of the never-before-seen moments, where we got to take a look at Twenty One Pilots back when they were just starting out. They were playing side gigs and weren’t even sure if they were going to make it, but they knew that they wanted to and would do anything to make it happen. So, they gave this their all – and I can’t remember the exact quote from Tyler Joseph, but I remember he said that if it wasn’t for their fans, none of this would have been possible. It’s because of us that they continue to keep preserving and I thought that was not only so sweet but just amazing, that we, a fan base, helped make this possible.

Being able to watch these two boys and to see their growth in this film and see how far they have come was truly inspiring. It shows that no matter who you are and where you start in life , you can always achieve your goals and nothing can hold you back from something if you truly desire it.