Live Report: Twenty One Pilots rock 3Arena

Twenty One Pilots rocked Dublin's 3Arena on Friday, selling out the 13,000 capacity venue.

Opening up the night was New Zealand alt-pop duo, Balu Brigada. The two brothers walked on stage, bathed in glowing red light.

“Dublin, how ya feeling?” said Pierre Beasley, gripping a light blue bass. The pair kicked off their set with ‘Moon Man’ off their 2022 album I Should Be Home. The light, airy song gripped the audience, clapping along to the bridge of the track. Strobing white lights nearly blinded me, as the Beasley’s jumped around stage.

"You guys, the energy is amazing!" said Pierre. "It's our very first time in Ireland, so thank you guys so much! This next one is called 'Designer.'"

The song, coming off their 2023 EP Find A Way, is a heartfelt testament to the power of love. The track features a dreamy guitar and layered backing vocals, creating a dynamic effect.

"Thank you so much Dublin!" Pierre said before leaving the stage. "Have a beautiful night, and enjoy Twenty One Pilots!"

Balu Brigada supporting Twenty One Pilots at 3Arena on May 9th, 2025. Copyright Abigail Ring/ hotpress.com

The crowd churned in anticipation for the Ohio duo, shielded by a large black veil. The covering dropped to reveal Tyler Joseph donning a black balaclava and gripping a green glowing microphone, a long white chord trailing behind.

They kicked off their set with 'Overcompensate,' the opening track off their most recent album Clancy. Josh Dun went absolutely wild on the drums, setting the tone for the rest of the night. Joseph's voice glided over the beat, blending indie pop with alternative hip-hop. He approached the barricade, singing with the crowd as sparklers exploded on stage.

The pair quickly transitioned to 'Car Radio,' a fan favourite of their 2013 album Vessel. Listeners around me knew every word, rapping along to Joseph's quick lyricism. The audience jumped wildly, and thick smoke blew from the stage. At the end of the song, the camera zoomed in on what appeared to be Joseph's face, before the figure jumped down into a pit on stage. Disappearing from view, the real Jospeh emerged on a platform above the arena, wowing the crowd with his apparent teleportation.

Immediately following this trick, a video played showing fans queuing outside the venue before the show.

"So I've been listening to the band since I was nine years old," one woman told the camera. "Seeing these little kids who are like 9, 10 11, and they're with their parents, it's just such a lovely thing to see because I was once that age as well listening to them. Now these younger generations, these younger fans, are growing up with the band like how I did."

The video continued as fans sang along to 'The Judge,' which played quietly in the background. It was a touching moment, showing the true power music has in building community.

Twenty One Pilots at 3Arena on May 9th, 2025. Copyright Abigail Ring/ hotpress.com

The night was absolutely electric, with even more theatrics in store. During 'Paladin Strait,' a platform was placed over the audience, who held it above their heads. The platform supported both Dun and a small drum kit, with the musician continuing to perform while held in the air.

Another stand-out moment was during their performance of the 2015 track 'Ride.'

"I'd like to invite up a new friend that I made today to help me sing this part," said Joseph. Standing beside him was a little boy named Cian, wearing a white Clancy graphic tee and red Twenty One Pilots beanie. The crowd chanted his name, and the boy smiled. "I want you to try to sing louder than me, okay? With that microphone held all the way up to your lips, we're gonna do it together, okay?"

It was an incredibly sweet moment. When Cian was finished singing the chorus, he walked along the barricade of fans, outstretching his arm to touch hands with the crowd.

Nearing the end of the show, Joseph asked the audience create a pit in the middle of the floor. On the ground was a large red circle, which he instructed fans to completely clear. Once the circle was visible, Dun and Joseph made their way to two small stages in the middle of the crowd. After they climbed onto the stages, fans immediately flooded back in, surrounding the performers in a sea of adoration.

They performed their final song 'Trees,' as the stages they stood on slowly extended further into the air. The musicians then revealed two large drums, pouring water on their surfaces before banging wildly. Fans went ballistic, as red confetti rained from the sky. The energy was unlike anything I've seen, with the duo soaking up every moment.

"We're Twenty One Pilots, and so are you!" shouted Joseph at the end of the song. "We'll see you next time!"

See the full photo gallery here.