Live Review: Twenty One Pilots @ Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne

Twenty One Pilots (TØP) commence a thrilling week of Australian east-coast dates, dropping the starting pin off in Melbourne for a night of music-defying possibilities. From old tracks to new, there’s something in it for everyone. With a show as extravagant as it is grand, TØP offers a master stroke of a concert experience. 

A sea of red beanies pours into the arena, ready for an evening of post-emo anthems; millennials and Gen Z united against the onslaught of the band’s enriching stories and songwriting. Overcompensate opened the show with a scintillating drum solo by Josh Dun before lead singer Tyler Joseph literally bursts onto the stage with a high jump and an explosion of fireworks. “Is there anyone out there!” he yells before sliding behind the piano to play Holding On To You.

It’s just the two boys on stage, but their presence is enough to make the atmosphere gigantic, pulling their fans into the centre with many strobes and dynamic moving lighting rigs beaming out into the crowd. The whole show is structured as an adoring love letter to the fans who are happy to lap up every second, absorbing Tyler’s pristine vocals before directing their own back to him tenfold. “It’s been way, way, WAY too long,” he admits. Six years, to be exact, and you can tell Melbourne has been eagerly awaiting their return. 

The Craving sees a spotlight flicker above the lead singer as he effortlessly strums a ukulele. Right on cue, phones are lifted around the arena before transitioning into the rambunctious Tear In My Heart. A full-fledged rock ballad that fills you with euphoria, with a light, strobe and laser show to rival 70s Pink Floyd.

Seeing them live is a whole experience in itself, unique to your typical musical performances. It’s something so connected and tangible that you can’t grasp it through your headphones. Every single member of the 15,000-piece amateur choir is heightened and buzzing with adrenaline. The stage design is minimal, with just instruments, an LED screen, and an insane amount of lighting. But with the incredible talent on stage and crowd energy, it becomes larger than life itself.

You can tell they’ve built a real cult following on a massive scale. There’s an energy in the arena, unlike anything you’ve felt before. Even if you’re not a fan, you can’t help but bop along to every song with the biggest smile. It’s just that much fun!

On Backslide, the crowd waves their hands back and forth at the boys’ whim to hypnotic lyrics. Then, as the energetic pulse of Shy Away commences, a keyboard and percussion board are brought out to the back of the stage as the boys face each other, playing the most pop song TØP has ever written.

“Alright, I need your help. At the top of your lungs. You’re gonna scream, watch it!” The words “Watch it” flash on stage as an eager crowd screams at full force repeatedly, setting off the familiar sound of the Suicide Squad soundtrack song Heathens in all its glory. 

Next Semester is a hard-hitting bop as the drums pelt like thunder against a heavy guitar rhythm, culminating in an almighty roar of a tune before crashing down in the softest ukelele strumming you ever heard. Routines In The Night sees Josh shift to a platform in the crowd as a cameraman follows Tyler, making his way through the audience, teasing the camera as he does. 

“If it’s cool with you, we’re gonna play a few older songs,” Joseph says, and the crowd lets out an inhuman screech of approval. The boys play on either side of the crowd now on tiny platforms at the back of the arena, chugging out fan faves like Addict With A Pen, Migraine, and Forest. Each one received a louder applause than the one before ending the B-Stage performance with Mulberry Street. A jazzy piano bounces around the notes as Tyler conducts the crowd in sections to throw their lights up and down on his word. 

Josh appears at the top of the arena holding a flaming torch as a sinister tune plays out his descent. Every single space in the arena you can think of has been used tonight. Meeting back on stage, the boys now gaze at a dystopian city set ablaze. This is very highbrow art. 

The final half of the show sees things kicked up to a level you didn’t even know existed. Flames erupt and burn through the stage. Yellow strobes blast out into the crowd like searchlights. A city in decay burns in the distance. The drums go harder, the guitar faster. It’s a high-speed chase that takes you through the eclectic Navigating, the Afro-inspired Nico And The Niners transitioning into the entrancing Heavydirtysoul ending with a climactic explosion of sound, fireworks and fire. 

There’s a lot crammed into the two-hour-long show as Josh takes his shirt off and throws it into the crowd on Lavish, receiving an almost threatening scream of approval. Then Tyler brings out young Bailey from the “New Generation of TØP” fans to help him sing the final chorus of Ride, and what an incredibly cute job she does, receiving a crowd chant for her efforts. 

For an encore treat, the boys amp up the stakes even further with more strobes and more flames. Jumpsuit shreds through the speakers, transitioning into the just as vibrant synths of Midwest Indigo as little confetti butterflies rain down like ashes. Then, the all too familiar notes of Stressed Out send the room into a frenzy of panic and hysteria.

The atmosphere has reached octane levels as a mosh is created in the centre of GA with the two musicians at its core. The final smack of Trees erupts through the room in a final goodbye kiss, setting Rod Laver ablaze (figuratively, though it very well could have with all the pyro).

It’s a show where you can tell they’re not taking themselves too seriously and having a lot of fun, but the actual final product is an incredibly polished and engaging performance. It's a true world-class rock show and a catalogue of hits, front to back.

They’ve managed to cultivate something bigger than themselves that shows their love for the craft and their fans. The duo brought their very best performance to Rod Laver Arena, a mix of thunderous rock complimented by soaring ballads and a near-flawless, polished production that only added to the drama and intrigue of the night. TØP are at the very top of their game, with their live show bordering on the unmissable next time they’re in town.