Twenty One Pilots: A Breach in the City Walls
10/05/25 - Bristow, VA
All photos by Cody Cooksey
Virginia was delightfully treated to what was arguably one of the best shows put on at Jiffy Lube Live, courtesy of ever-popular Twenty One Pilots. The duo, famously composed of vocalist Tyler Joseph and drummer Josh Dun, brought their absolute all to the show, and the nearly sold-out audience returned the favor, as Tyler himself said, “This audience right here… I’d take you all around the world if I could.” A concert experience filled with theatrics, set pieces, lore, costumes, and interactions is everything you could want and more in a show!
Right off the bat, the Jiffy Lube Live amphitheater in Bristow, Virginia, was an excellent venue to hold a show such as this one, as the early October air fit perfectly for what was in store. The amphitheater was packed with thousands of attendees, dressed in everything from past tour shirts to duct tape to obscure lore pieces only true fans would understand. To start off the night, the ever-growing sensation, Dayglow, provided an opening act performance that gave off nothing but good vibes! His infectious smile and stylistic guitar rhythms put everyone in a better mood than they were already in, thanks to the help of his band and songs like “Hot Rod”, “Can I Call You Tonight?”, and “Close to You”.
The night officially kicked off with red, and lots of it, as it is a signature color. Josh, fully masked, made his way to his drum set and began playing “Overcompensate”, as Tyler, wearing his Clancy mask, literally jumped to the front of the stage, followed by an explosion of fire and lights! He swung his golden microphone around and filled the stage camera lens with his face… a perfect introduction to an eventful night. After a few songs with this aesthetic, the duo went through a wardrobe change and revealed their faces, filled with eagerness and smiles to share. Tyler was very happy to play his ukulele, and Josh was very happy to continue his drumming.
Tyler was very, and I mean VERY, interactive with the crowd, and not just the pit. There were multiple instances in which the duo left the main stage and walked around the amphitheater, even making their way to the B-stage in the lawn! This had a car set piece that was lit on fire, with flames that could be felt all around. They made their way around the venue, notably during “Routines in the Night” and “Ride”, giving everyone in attendance a good and close seat at some point during the show.
Throughout their setlist, the band unveiled newer songs off their latest release Breach, with highlights coming from “City Walls”, “The Contract”, and “Drum Show”. They did not “Shy Away” from their older hits, as they performed classics like “Tear in My Heart”, “Heathens”, and “Heavydirtysoul”. Josh also revealed a giant yellow flag that branded the city name BRISTOW, with hundreds of fans' signatures plastered all over it. During “Ride”, Tyler found a young fan and invited him onto the main stage to help him finish the song, which warmed the hearts of just about everyone. Moments like this, alongside Tyler’s continuous gratitude towards his fans, showed just how loved this band feels, as well as how much they want to return that love. Twenty One Pilots proved in just one night that they are a worthy band, they have been for quite some time, and they are showing no signs of stopping.
