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Famed alt-pop group Twenty One Pilots brought their highly-anticipated Bandito tour to United Center in Chicago, IL on 10/17. Having just released their latest album "Trench", TØP played a lot of those new songs. This was my second time seeing TØP, both times from a seated section. While I would have died for the opportunity to see them from the pit and experience aspects such as the drum islands, I was fortunate to be able to see them live again. This show brought the same energy and appealing effects as the last time I saw them, so this was a concert I would definitely recommend going to (if you can manage to get tickets).
There's a reason TØP concerts sell out so quickly. Not only do Tyler and Josh produce amazing music together, they are also incredibly talented and engaging performers. So many aspects of this show were exciting and interesting, from the lighting effects, to the immense amount of interaction Tyler and Josh have with the audience. It is very evident that these two deeply care that all their fans have a great time. One of my favorite aspects of TØP shows is the A stage (main stage) and the B stage (smaller stage near the back of the pit). This allows for everyone at some point during the show to be close to the band and be able to see well. This show added a new element to the B stage, as Tyler and Josh walked across a large beam to cross stages, which was another cool aspect of the show.
While I heard online that many fans were upset with the setlist of this tour, I honestly enjoyed it. I thought all of the songs they chose sounded excellent and had a ton of emotion and energy behind them. It was a good mix of upbeat and relaxed songs. I was also very excited that "Taxi Cab" was on the setlist. I love that song, and it reminds me of some very emotional times in my life. Hearing it live was like a dream. The fact that it was on the B stage made it even better. Another song I was very happy about was "Holding Onto You." This is another song that brings me back to when TØP's music got me through some really rough times, so it was definitely an emotional experience for me. "Pet Cheetah" was another one of my favorites from this show. Not only is it my favorite song off of "Trench", but it is very fun to dance to. The beam was another fun element of this song. Overall, I was happy with the setlist and the overall energy of their performance.
The time and energy that Tyler and Josh put into perfecting these shows is impeccable, and makes for an unforgettable experience. If you are able to get tickets to a show on the Bandito tour, I would guarantee it is worth the money. Be sure to check out the band's latest release "Trench" if you haven't already. Top tracks (in my opinion) on that album are "Pet Cheetah", "Morph", and "Neon Gravestones." I will say that I think the songs off of this album that were on the setlist stood out much more to me after hearing them performed live.Whether you are a big fan of TØP or not, I have no doubt that this show would be enjoyable for anyone to experience.
