Twenty One Pilots Climb To New Heights at the iHeartRadio Music Festival

Twenty One Pilots are on top of the world. Frontman Tyler Joseph and drummer Josh Dun brought a stunning, high-energy performance to the 2016 iHeartRadio Music Festival on Friday night (September 23), proving why their undefinable, genre-blending sound has broken chart records and made a profound emotional connection with millions of fans. 

From their humble DIY days handing out tickets door-to-door in their hometown of Columbus, Ohio, the two have skyrocketed into fame over the last four years with their mega-hit "Stressed Out" off 2015's Blurryface. The group has accomplished a near-impossible feat this year by having two songs, "Ride" and "Heathens" simultaneously on the Billboard Hot 100, an achievement held only by Elvis Presley and The Beatles. When Alt 98.7 host Woody asked them backstage about their catapult into fame and how it felt to be in the same caliber as two music legends, Joseph responded "It's been fun. We get to play a lot of shows that we didn’t know we could play." He continued, "I think what’s interesting is that our day-to-day hasn’t changed much," a nod to their hard work and grassroots approach to spreading their message.     

Sporting trademark ski masks, their visually-arresting aesthetic almost acts as a third member of the group. The duo opened with the breakneck "HeavyDirtySoul," with Joseph switching between mics, one for rapid-fire rhymes and a second reserved for a soulful prayer begging for salvation. They then changed gears to the chart-topping "Heathens," a melancholy anthem for the outcasts, as the frontman alternated between bass and acrobatics off an old war-torn piano. 

After a quick beanie change, the reggae-inspired "Stressed Out" had the entire T-Mobile Arena rapping along to every word. Josh Dun's drumming expertise was on full display as he jammed on the bridge of "Ride", almost as if his alien ski-mask gave him extraterrestrial powers. 

During the introspective "Car Radio," Joseph made his way into the crowd where he scaled up a scaffolding. Lit angelically as he towered above the audience, a moment of reflection could be seen on the frontman's face. Two boys from humble beginnings have been hurled into the limelight; not because of luck or connections but because of hard work, a deep love of their fans, and a distinct passion for their craft.  

Twenty One Pilots have carved their own path through the music industry by being unconditionally authentic. Despite being on top of their game, don't expect the duo to slow down. They know there is still much work to be done in their career. Joseph took the moment in backstage, saying, "We're not always going to be on this high."

Photo Credit: Getty