Experiencing Twenty One Pilots on the 10th anniversary of their breakthrough has been one of the absolute highlights of my 2025. The O2 Arena hosted the final two nights of The Clancy World Tour, which kicked off in Denver back in August 2024. Could night one in London be topped? Let’s find out.
Twenty One Pilots – The Clancy World Tour
The O2 Arena, London – 14 May 2025
Words: Carol Giannattasio
Photography: Antonio Giannattasio
Just as Overcompensate opens their latest album Clancy, released on 24 May 2024, it also opened the last night of the tour. And from the second Josh Dun and Tyler Joseph stepped on stage, they delivered a show that was electric from start to finish.
With Tyler’s face hidden behind a mask, fireworks bursting, and Josh flipping off Tyler’s piano, Holding On To You and Vignette instantly send the crowd into overdrive.
Tyler crouches on the floor, playing a tiny keyboard. Seconds later, he is literally standing on a wooden plank held up by fans, floating over the crowd. And yet, that is just the beginning of what will be an unforgettable two-and-a-half-hour ride.
The duo delivered 27 of their most beloved songs, mixing old fan favourites with fresh tracks from their latest album, Clancy.
Car Radio was easily one of those moments that fans in a certain section of the arena will never forget. Tyler, or someone who looked exactly like him, sat at the piano for an emotional rendition of Car Radio.
But just as we were caught in the moment, he disappeared below the stage only to reappear seconds later in section 403 of The O2 Arena.
And all we could think was: how did he do that?
But the truth is, we did not care about the how or whether it was really him on stage or not. What we do know is that it turned into one of the most magical moments of a Twenty One Pilots show.
As he slowly removed the mask, revealing his face from the stands, Tyler finished Car Radio, a powerful gesture that began to show the deep connection he shares with his fans.
That feeling only grew stronger when he picked up a ukulele back on stage to perform The Craving, a song dedicated to his wife. With the whole arena lighting up their phones, it was a tender, emotional moment.
The seamless transition into Tear In My Heart brought pure energy, joy, and a full-on celebration shared between the band and the crowd.
And then there was Backslide. Tyler sang it casually, sitting down as if he were right at home. I loved the moment when, during the chorus, the entire O2 Arena waved their arms side to side in perfect unison. It was one of those scenes you just do not forget.
Of course, Heathens could not be left out of the setlist. It flowed straight into Next Semester without a pause, one massive chorus echoing through the arena, with Tyler back on the ukulele, leading the crowd like a conductor with his fans.
The night took a new turn when Josh made his way to the B-stage, set up right in the middle of the pit on the right-hand side, where a drum kit was waiting for him. Meanwhile, Tyler moved to the opposite side during Routines In The Night, to another B-stage, where a piano stood in the spotlight.
Once in position, both platforms began to rise above the crowd. With a single spotlight on Tyler, he delivered a breathtaking, emotional, and truly speechless performance of The Line. You could hear a pin drop, until the mood shifted completely with Mulberry Street, bringing a more playful and uplifting energy.
For this one, Tyler got creative. He turned the entire O2 Arena into part of the act by dividing the crowd into sections, each one responsible for lighting up their phones on cue with a syllable from Mulberry Street. The result? A mesmerising wave of light and rhythm, perfectly synchronised and utterly electrifying.
Mulberry Street is more than just a song. It represents hope, change, and escape from an oppressive system. In the world of Twenty One Pilots, that means Dema. And right after it ended, Josh took centre stage again for a theatrical, symbolic moment that marked a key turning point in the show and the Clancy World Tour itself.
At the end of the song, Josh approached Tyler with a lit torch in one hand and a black jacket in the other, while the crowd chanted “Clancy.”
When Tyler refused to take the jacket, it became one of the most powerful theatrical moments of the night: a visual and emotional symbol within the band’s ongoing story.
The black jacket represents the control of Dema, the fictional city ruled by nine corrupt bishops who enforce despair, silence, and strict conformity. Clancy, the character central to this narrative, is trying to escape that system.
So when Tyler rejects the jacket, he is not just saying ‘no’ to a piece of clothing. He is embodying Clancy’s resistance. It is a statement: a refusal to accept the identity and fate imposed by Dema.
Josh and Tyler then returned to the main stage, now transformed into a fiery scene, with flames surrounding them and barrels hanging ominously from the ceiling.
It was a vision of Dema itself. Oppressive, intense, and unforgettable.
Navigating, Nico And The Niners, Heavydirtysoul, and Jumpsuit were also part of the setlist, three of them being key tracks in the narrative arc that began with Blurryface and Trench. Navigating hit especially hard, bursting with emotion.
If you had asked Tyler and Josh before the tour what kind of special effects they wanted to use, their answer must have been: everything.
Because honestly, not a single thing seemed to be missing: flames, fireworks, smoke, confetti, you name it. And every effect felt intentional, perfectly timed, and visually stunning. Personally, I thought it was all incredibly well done.
As the night began to wind down, there was no way they would leave out Ride. The crowd sang it at the top of their lungs, one of those moments where you could feel the entire arena breathing in sync.
Then came a heartwarming surprise. Luke, a young fan, joined Tyler once again at the B-stage to sing the final chorus together. It was one of those moments that stay with you. A pure, genuine connection that reminded us all why we fell in love with this band in the first place.
Later in the show, Paladin Strait brought one of the most moving performances of the night. Josh sang a short snippet of Bandito before jumping off the stage and heading into the crowd. This time, it was his turn to climb onto a wooden platform held up by fans, drum in hand, finishing the song in the most epic way possible.
Not long after, we were treated to a fun little dance moment during Lavish, followed by an explosive performance of Jumpsuit that had the whole arena shaking.
And just when I thought I could not feel more, they hit us with Stressed Out. It took me straight back to 2015, when I first discovered Twenty One Pilots. Ten years ago. Total nostalgia.
Unfortunately, The Clancy World Tour came to an end with Trees, and in true Twenty One Pilots fashion, they made sure the finale would stay etched into our skin, our hearts, and our memories forever.
As Trees began, Tyler asked the crowd to form a circle in the centre of the pit. He and Josh then stepped down into the crowd, climbing onto two mobile platforms: one with a piano, the other with a drum kit.
What followed was pure magic.
The duo turned the arena into one giant choir and dance floor, inviting everyone to be a part of the moment. The synergy between the band and the fans reached its peak as Tyler and Josh, lifted by the crowd, drummed together in perfect rhythm.
Red confetti rained down from above, and in that moment, visually stunning and emotionally overwhelming, you could feel it. This was not just a concert.
It was a celebration, a farewell, and a promise all at once.
Seeing Twenty One Pilots was like a dream come true for me. The night was filled with a mix of emotions and an energy I have never felt at any other concert. Every detail was carefully crafted, and Tyler’s vocals, backed by Josh’s incredible performance, left a powerful void in the hearts of every single fan.
This evening was not just the end of a world tour. It marked the closing of an important chapter for Twenty One Pilots.
With a performance that blended raw energy, deep introspection, and pure spectacle, the duo confirmed their place as a global musical phenomenon, leaving an unforgettable mark on the London fans’ hearts.
