It’s not every day you get to see a highly successful band that has sold out countless arenas at an intimate club or theatre— but if you’re one of the lucky fans attending the Twenty One Pilots Takeover tour, then you’ve been fortunate enough to experience this rare opportunity.

Off the back of live music making a comeback this year and the release of their latest studio album Scaled and Icy, Twenty One Pilots announced the unique concept of a tour in which they play an array of venues in select cities— essentially playing a residency on a sliding scale of venue capacities. In Chicago, the duo started their sold out run at Bottom Lounge before performing at House of Blues, Aragon Ballroom and The United Center.

I attended the third night of the Chicago dates, which took place at the Aragon Ballroom last Thursday night with support from Arrested Youth and Half Alive. Both groups had high energy and intense stage presence that provided the perfect primer for the main event of the evening. Half Alive even upped the theatrical element of their set but including moments of interpretive dance movement and visual art a la canvas and spraypaint.

With the crowd warmed up and ready for Twenty One Pilots, the anticipation in the room was palpable— fans held up signs and chanted for band members Josh Dun and Tyler Joseph. The pair made their entrance to the middle of the stage moments later, donning their signature ski masks and taking a moment to stand side by side before moving towards their respective instruments to play “Good Day” from their new album.

From the onset, it was obvious that we were all about to witness a full blown spectacle and a special experience that would fill the room with endorphins and adrenaline. I think the reason that Twenty One Pilots has seen so much success is driven by the element of connection— the connection to Tyler Joseph’s words and vulnerability as well as the connection to one another as listeners. After being deprived of live music during the pandemic, I’ve felt so much joy to be back at concerts, but there was an even higher level of intangible joy that I felt radiating throughout the room at Aragon Ballroom last week. Joseph and Dun’s stage presence still had a humble and genuine nature to it that traces back to their beginnings, and the smaller venue amplified the intimate vibe of this particular performance. However, there was a juxtaposing element of polished production that made this show that much more captivating.

To elevate the live experience from the album versions of their songs, Joseph and Dun were joined onstage by a full backing band for a majority of their show—although they did have moments with just the two of them performing. The pair carefully crafted the setlist to include many unique arrangements and mashups of their musical catalog, an element that allowed fans to experience more of their favorite songs while still keeping the show a reasonable length of time. For example, they mashed up “Migraine” with snippets of “Morph” and “Holding on to You” during the early part of the show. About halfway through the set, Joseph, Dun and their live bandmates set up a makeshift campfire and played stripped-down arrangements of some songs, including “House of Gold” and “We Don't Believe What's on TV.” Fans were also treated to covers of songs like “Bennie and the Jetts", “My Girl,” and “Low Rider”— the first of which was performed in tandem with “Mulberry Street.”

The live arrangements and sprinkling of unexpected covers in the set showcased the creativity and musicality that has been a mainstay in Twenty One Pilots’ catalog from the get go. Along with the sense of connection that the band is rooted in, I’ve always admired their refusal to be pigeonholed into one style or genre and their ability to keep refreshing and expanding their sound. Their song “Lane Boy” examines this tendency in a meta fashion, and speaks to this exact sentiment. There truly is a Twenty One Pilots song for every mood, and that versatility added another dynamic layer to their performance.

Throughout the evening, Joseph’s passion for what he does and his appreciation for the audience never wavered as he jumped around the stage (and at some points jumped off the stage). His energy matched the top notch production level of the show— from the elaborate lighting to the costumes to the confetti, there were so many moments that left the audience in awe.

After Joseph introduced the live bandmates and thanked their own crew as well as the venue staff, the set came to a close with a few more special moments. During “Car Radio,” Joseph made his way to the back of the main floor and climbed a rafter to finish the song, before he and Dun wrapped up the set with their hit “Trees” from atop of the crowd.

As Joseph was introducing their last song, he told the crowd that this was one of their favorite shows they’ve played in a long time, and I can honestly say this was one of my favorite and one of the best shows I’ve been to in a long time as well. Based on the energy swirling around the Aragon at the end of the night, it was clear how much Twenty One Pilots means to their fans, and vice versa.

If Twenty One Pilots is performing in a city near you, don’t miss the opportunity to see their incredible show. See their upcoming dates here, and view photos of the Aragon Ballroom Takeover show, including Arrested Youth and Half Alive, below.