Twenty One Pilots will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of their 3rd album, Vessel, with a LIVE Youtube stream this Sunday, January 8th at 3 pm ET. This is super fun news for all thirteen million of their subscribers and their many more loyal fans across the globe. This beloved collection of songs is significant for many reasons — one being that it’s the first project the duo released under a major label. It featured six revamped versions of previously released fan favorites, including the now iconic hit, Car Radio, along with six brand-new songs. I decided to celebrate this musical milestone by taking a look back at their path to stardom and reflecting on my own fun memories of discovering and meeting the genre-melding rock/rap dyad in person!

These Ohio-bred boys have an incredibly devoted following that has supported their journey since their early youth ministry camp performances. I still recall the day my best friend came home raving after experiencing them play at our church’s winter retreat. She passionately recounted the tragic and convicting story behind their name before playing their music. I was initially inspired by what they stood for, but it was seeing them open for House of Heroes at a RadioU concert that officially solidified my fandom. They were sensational. Their movements were wild and somewhat disturbing. Their lyrics were raw and emotionally satisfying. Their energy was electrifying and contagious, enrapturing the crowd in skeleton-mask hoodies, beating savagely on a giant drum propped up solely on the audience’s hands. What happened after the show is something I’ll always remember. Normally, an opening act is just the appetizer; but after 21 Pilot’s set, half the crowd was ready to go. Each person, however, returned to their standing spaces in response to Tyler Joseph and Josh Dunn’s noble petition for us to remember our manners and stick around for the headliners. It was like, Whoa! Everyone is here just for them? They remained in the lobby to sell their merch afterward. I remember the look on Joseph’s face when I aggressively requested that he sign my copy of Regional at Best. It remains preserved like a National Treasure in my home. 

That was one of their final shows as an unsigned act. After that, they sold out the Newport Music Hall, a popular concert venue in their hometown of Columbus. They continued to garner the attention of major labels, but had already made the uncompromising decision to only sign if it meant not censoring their authentic interpretation of faith and the human condition. Eventually, they were picked up by Fueled by Ramen and would soon create the Billboard-record-breaking hit, Heathens, for the movie, Suicide Squad. Their influence exploded and the subculture and lore surrounding the band’s themed projects were born. Every album is the beginning of an era, a new chapter in an unfolding cryptic story artistically woven into each visual they put out. Heavily populating Reddit threads philosophize and create theories as to the meaning behind the cinematic music videos, And their most diehard fans are willing to wait all night and sleep on the ground just to be an extra in one of them. Don’t ask me how I know that… (clears throat). 

So what can we expect if we tune in to the Livestream this Sunday? According to the pair, we’ll see some behind-the-scenes footage, go through tons of photos, listen to songs together, and talk about what’s coming next. I’m down if you are! You can subscribe to their channel and click the bell to be notified about this online event here. 

Author: Gabrielle Solange