Twenty One Pilots make a stop at the Oracle Arena in Oakland for the Bandito Tour.
By: Alana Penn
Following the release of their new album “Trench,” American music duo Twenty One Pilots embarked on the Bandito Tour. I had the fortune of attending their concert on Nov 11, when they made a stop at the Oracle Arena in Oakland. Considering the band’s remarkable performance that night, now it’s easy for me to see why their live shows get so much hype.
The concert had two opening acts, starting with indie pop singer Max Frost before moving on to alternative rock band AWOLNATION. Both acts put on energy-packed sets and made good efforts to keep the crowd entertained. However, this was quickly proven to be difficult because a great deal of the crowd did not appear to be very familiar with their songs. Many people, myself included, could do little more than clap at the end of each song as a result. However, this is usually the case for opening acts at concerts.
The setlist for the Bandito Tour had been very well thought out. The band played newer songs like “Jumpsuit” and “My Blood” but also included some older fan favorites like “Holding On To You” and “Taxi Cab.” They transitioned between fast paced rock songs and slower, more mellow tunes with ease. At one point in the show, TOP even surprised fans with covers of “Iris” by the Goo Goo Dolls and “Hey Jude” by The Beatles. In addition to this, Frontman Tyler Joseph and drummer Josh Dun brought their energy to the stage with their signature flips and high-flying jumps.
The tour featured the use of two stages, unique background visuals, and a suspended sky bridge, so there was never a dull moment. The band utilized the space well, with Joseph running past cheering fans as he sang. In between songs Joseph and Dun also stopped to interact with the crowd, telling jokes to make everyone laugh. They had established an incredibly intimate relationship with their fans, and these interactions made that very clear. Joseph spoke to the crowd as if they were his good friends instead of his fans.
While TOP put on a spectacular performance, the concert venue and its staff weren’t as great. Trying to navigate my way around the arena was tough, and the Oracle’s staff did not offer me a whole lot of help. The lines were also incredibly chaotic as people gathered to enter the venue, purchase tour merch, and such. Overall I felt like the Oracle Arena could have handled the event better, judging by the obvious lack of organization that night. Nevertheless it had only been a small part of my concert experience, and it can be resolved easily if some action is taken.
Twenty One Pilots closed their show with an encore of two songs, “Leave The City” and “Trees.” As part of a concert tradition, they performed their signature confetti-filled drum battle before saying farewell. Looking back, it is safe to say that this was one of the best nights of my life. I doubt I’ll forget the feeling of pure elation as the curtain dropped to reveal Joseph and Dun waiting on the other side, or the sound of thousands of people singing in unity. It was an incredibly emotional, surreal night and a memory I’ll treasure for a long time. Joseph’s farewell still rings out clearly in my mind:
“We’re Twenty One Pilots, and so are you.”