Concert review: Twenty One Pilots, Powerstation

Josh Dun and Tyler Joseph of Twenty One Pilots.

Ever wonder where all the post-emo scene kids ended up? At Twenty One Pilots' sold-out Auckland show, of course. The American duo, comprised of singer-songwriter Tyler Joseph and drummer Josh Dun, took over the Powerstation for a night of mania, and their devoted fans lapped up every second of it.

It's incredibly difficult to pin down Twenty One Pilot's sound, and it's obvious that they make an effort not to be. Playing a mix of old and new tracks - including songs from their latest album, Blurryface, the band moved rapidly though indie pop, alternative hip-hop, reggae, screamo, rap and back again. TOP made the genre-bending mishmash work for them, creating an intensely fun live show.

From the second they stepped on stage, the crowd was screaming, jumping and singing along to every word. Joseph rapped Heavy Dirty Soul into a lit-up mic hanging from the ceiling, wearing a skeleton mask underneath his black jumper with the hood up.

Mimicking their Stressed Out music video, Joseph donned a bright red beanie, hands stained with black paint as he spit out the lyrics to the spooky rap-influenced track. Dun pounded the drumkit, which was elevated on a platform to the side of the stage - bright red lining the bottom of his eyes.

The moshpit quickly turned into a dance floor for the pop heavy Guns For Hands, synthesised notes swelling atop smashed piano keys. Joseph soon swapped his hoody for a Hawaiian shirt, white-rimmed sunglasses and a ukulele, while Dun tooted a few notes out on the trumpet, pulling off an indie-folk vibe. Lane Boy changed gear from reggae into an EDM rave - after TOP had the entire audience crouch down and leap back up again, sending fans into a thrashing frenzy.

Throughout the night there was never a dull moment. From an odd choice cover of Bob Marley's No Woman No Cry, to Dun doing a backflip off the standing piano during fan favourite Holding On To You. Despite all the stage antics deeply personal lyrics showed their substance. "I don't know if this song is a surrender or a revel / I don't know if this one is about me or the devil", Joseph sang on The Judge.

TOP brought something new out with every song. The Run and Go saw Joseph instructing the crowd to find a partner and get on each others shoulders - about half the room managed the feat, making a human wall before the stage.

During the solemn, airy synth and deep bass of Car Radio, Joseph pulled on a black ski mask, scaled a speaker and the railing of the venue's second level. Finding a spot at the back-centre of the balcony standing on a table, the lead singer urged the eager crowd below to beat their hands into the air. The floor vibrated from everyone jumping in unison.

Finally on the emotional ballad, Trees, Joseph and Dun both stood on boogie boards above the crowd, bashing drums filled with water as the song intensified - spraying the first few rows of delighted fans.

Playing for just over an hour, Twenty One Pilot's show was a night of musical mayhem, in the best possible way.

Who: Twenty One Pilots
Where: Powerstation, Auckland
When: Thursday, July 9
What: Twenty One Pilots' new album Blurryface is out now.

- nzherald.co.nz