Twenty One Pilots perform during a livestream even on May 21, 2021. Images courtesy: Maestro.

By Mason Meyers

Twenty One Pilots dip into the world of coronavirus-necessitated livestreams is quite possibly one of the best to have been crafted. Have a favorite song? They played it! Have a favorite Tyler Joseph look? He wore it! Got a favorite fan theory about the lore of the band? Well, they probably just proved it correct.

Twenty One Pilots perform during a livestream even on May 21, 2021.

Twenty One Pilots outshined themselves in almost every aspect with a perfectly condensed one-hour-long live performance, and it was enough to make even the most stone-cold, emotionless Pilots fan giddy with excitement.

Starting off with lead singer Tyler Joseph sitting on a sofa with two self-proclaimed members of DEMA (the organization that runs the world in which the past three albums have been set), it was clear that we were getting into some real mind-boggling stuff, indeed.

Pushing forward the “Scaled and Icy is propaganda” theory that has been doing the rounds of the Clique side of Twitter recently, Twenty One Pilots pushed their new album down viewers’ throats constantly, but in a self-aware, post-modern style, working as a critique on capitalism. However, this did become annoying with the countless pop-ups to buy the band’s merch embedded into the website.

Twenty One Pilots perform during a livestream even on May 21, 2021.

Apart from this meta problem, the 60-minute show was arguably perfect, with incredible remixes of everyone’s favorite tracks like “Stressed Out” and “Level of Concern,” which were perfect for anyone replacing those now oh-so-forgotten Friday night concert vibes.

The Columbus, Ohio artists provided a perfect setlist throughout the night, including tracks like “HEAVYDIRTYSOUL” and “Migraine,” two fan favorites that haven’t been played in years. They also provided fans of new album Scaled and Icy with a party in the street reminiscent of the 1975’s “Sincerity Is Scary” with tracks “Mulberry Street” and “The Outside” having big dance numbers in the street (production lot set).

Tyler Joseph also performed a ukulele rendition of “Heathens” and the usual show-ending song, “Trees,” all while sitting in a rowboat under the stars. To say this moment was a tearjerker would be an understatement. It’s quite possible that his boatwas sailing down a river of stagehands’ tears; it was that beautiful.

Twenty One Pilots perform during a livestream even on May 21, 2021.

“Trees” didn’t actually close the show, however, leaving viewers with underwhelming performances of “Car Radio,” minus the giant tower the song’s live performances have become synonymous with for the past decade, and “Never Take It,” released only hours earlier.

Despite the slightly unimpressive end, Twenty One Pilots’ performance was gigantic for nearly its entirety, and the use of a full band, dancers and incredible cinematography throughout made this an unforgettable show.