After over a year away, last night Twenty One Pilots’ made their triumphant live return at the O2 Academy in Brixton. Performing in a fairly intimate venue (at least, compared to their upcoming stadium shows), the duo debuted songs from their fifth album ‘Trench’ to an army of devoted fans. If you couldn’t get in, here’s what went down:
They brought the Heavydirtysoul car
The beginning of the ‘Trench’ era was visually marked in the ‘Jumpsuit’, with the car from the band’s ‘Heavydirtysoul’ video still on fire. So for the start of the band’s new live experience Tyler and Josh obviously wheeled the car onto the stage at the Brixton academy and lit it on fire.
Twenty One Pilots put a freaking burning car on stage tonight pic.twitter.com/o2AX0iuQ4W
— Jon Mahon (@jonmahonn) September 12, 2018
https://twitter.com/stonedangvish/status/1040034008346779650
The new stage show is madly brilliant
We knew it would be; but the band pulled out all the stops for their one-off show in Brixton. Aside from the Heavydirtysoul-car, there was a wicked lightshow, CO2 cannons and a shed-load of Trench-era confetti.
The backflips are back
Because would it be a Twenty One Pilots’ show without them?
The yellow confetti is here
As the band finished with their usual closer, ‘Trees’; but instead gone is the red confetti from the last album; instead the finale is now adorned with the yellow ‘Trench’-era confetti.
I love two (2) men covered in yellow confetti✨#ACompleteDiverstion #TwentyOnePilots #TheGroup #Pcas pic.twitter.com/EQKVew3jga
— mary (@somealien1) September 13, 2018
And now there’s going to be a third Wembley show
The guys used their Brixton show to announce a third date at Wembley Arena next year. that after selling out their two Wembley arena shows in three hours, the only thing to do would be to add on another night.
Tyler told the adoring audience: “we are coming back in March to play a full thing. And we just thought maybe tonight-there’s two sold out nights already happening…sold out in like three hours, which is unbelievable. But right now, I’m announcing – I talked to Josh on the way over here today and said, “Hey, let’s do a third night” so we’re gonna do a third night.”
thanks for hanging out with us tonight in brixton. we added a third show at wembley next year. register for first access at https://t.co/K9XReG96GO pic.twitter.com/c0w1qefnII
— twenty one pilots (@twentyonepilots) September 12, 2018
The setlist was banging
The first live show of the ‘Trench’ era featured a truly excellent set list, with live debuts of the four tunes already released from the upcoming album, as well as a host of old favourites.
Check out footage from last night below:
Twenty One Pilots // Levitate – Live in London pic.twitter.com/E4sLhtGRqb
— Strife Magazine (@StrifeMagazine) September 12, 2018
Twenty One Pilots – Nico And The Niners // Live in London pic.twitter.com/am64kUVOkN
— Strife Magazine (@StrifeMagazine) September 12, 2018
Twenty One Pilots played:
Heavydirtysoul (Intro)
Jumpsuit (live debut)
Levitate (Live debut)
Heathens
We Don’t Believe What’s on TV
The Judge
Nico and the Niners (Live debut)
Lane Boy
Holding on to You
Stressed Out
Ride
My Blood (Live debut)
Car Radio
Trees