Going into a concert not knowing much about the band is always a bit of a gamble. You can either be blown away by an artist you’d never considered or walk away thinking, “Well…that was fine, I guess.” That was essentially my experience with Twenty One Pilots at their Milwaukee stop in September 2025. I didn’t know much about them going in—just the general reputation: a duo who blend hip-hop, pop, rock, and a kind of theatrical angst—and I can safely say that, for someone like me, it was a pretty okay set. Not terrible, not mind-blowing, just…solid.
The evening kicked off with “Overcompensate”, a high-energy opener from their recent material. From the first notes, you could feel the crowd’s excitement, even if I was still trying to figure out what I was hearing. The song has a tight, punchy beat with Tyler Joseph’s vocals layered over the driving rhythm, and it’s clear why the fans go wild for it. For someone like me, though, who wasn’t familiar with the song, it just sounded…loud. The opening sequence of the concert had a lot of flashing lights and video elements, which immediately told me that Twenty One Pilots is as much a visual experience as it is a musical one.
Following that, they moved into “The Contract” and “RAWFEAR”, both of which continued the high-energy, genre-blending theme. The duo is impressive in that Tyler can switch from rapped verses to melodic choruses in a single line, while Josh Dun’s drumming is both precise and explosively physical. Watching him on the drums, especially on the live tracks like these, is fascinating. Still, for someone coming in cold, the rapid shifts between hip-hop, rock, and electronic pop can feel a little disjointed if you’re not familiar with their style.
It wasn’t long before they brought the audience into more familiar territory—or at least more widely recognized fan favorites. “We Don’t Believe What’s on TV” featured fans singing along to the intro video, which was undeniably impressive. The energy in the arena spiked as thousands of voices joined together, creating this unified, almost infectious vibe. If I had been more familiar with the song, I think this would have been the first moment where I genuinely got why people love Twenty One Pilots. The interplay between the stage visuals, Tyler’s vocals, and the crowd’s energy was something that a casual listener could still appreciate, even if I couldn’t sing along myself.
They eased into more emotionally resonant material like “House of Gold” and “Tear in My Heart”, which balanced the intensity of the opening numbers with a more melodic, relatable quality. These songs have the kind of lyrical honesty that fans often cite as one of the duo’s strengths. There’s a subtle sweetness in “House of Gold,” with its ukulele riff and heartfelt lyrics, that makes it accessible even to someone not steeped in the Twenty One Pilots catalog. “Tear in My Heart” ramps things back up with a slightly funkier beat and a catchy chorus that made me realize their ability to craft pop hooks is undeniable.
The midsection of the set included “Backslide”, “Lane Boy”, and “Shy Away”, songs that are more experimental and dynamic, showcasing the duo’s willingness to push boundaries. For a casual listener, this part of the set felt a bit uneven—some songs were instantly engaging, while others required a bit more attention to appreciate. What’s interesting, though, is watching the die-hard fans react. Every lyric, every drum fill, every syncopated beat was met with shouts, hand gestures, and collective energy that was impossible to ignore. Even if I didn’t get all the nuances of the lyrics, the passion in the room was contagious.
By the time “Heathens” hit, the crowd was fully locked in. This song, probably their most widely recognized hit to casual audiences, was one of the few moments where I felt genuinely engaged on a visceral level. The moody, ominous instrumentation paired with Tyler’s haunting vocals makes this track stand out, and seeing it performed live with the dramatic lighting and visual effects gave it a cinematic quality.
Songs like “Next Semester” and the B-stage segment, which included “Routines in the Night”, “Message Man”, “Pet Cheetah”, “Polarize”, and “Chlorine”, gave fans a more intimate experience. The B-stage move was a clever way to shift the energy and bring fans closer to the performers. For someone like me, it was a good opportunity to observe the intricacies of their performance style. Tyler’s engagement with the audience, the way he moves through the space, and Josh’s relentless energy on drums made it clear why their live shows are so popular.
Returning to the main stage, the setlist included some heavier-hitting, more rhythmically complex songs like “Jumpsuit”, “Nico and the Niners”, “Heavydirtysoul”, “The Line”, “Garbage”, and a demo version of “Doubt”. For a casual attendee, this section might have been the most confusing: the songs are intense, full of electronic layering, aggressive drumming, and rapid vocal shifts that reward repeat listening. Still, the crowd’s reaction was fascinating. Everyone around me knew the words and the choreography of hand movements, nodding and jumping in unison, and that kind of communal participation made even the songs I didn’t know much about feel like a shared experience.
“Ride” was a highlight for me as a casual listener, mostly because a fan was brought on stage to sing along. Watching the interaction between the performers and the audience highlighted their ability to create memorable, interactive moments that make the show feel personalized for fans. The drum show that followed was a spectacle in itself: Josh Dun on the drum island, performing solos with such precision and energy that it was hard not to be impressed, even if you weren’t deeply invested in the music itself.
The encore kicked off with “Paladin Strait”, “City Walls”, “Guns for Hands”, “Stressed Out”, and closed with “Trees”. By this point, the show had come full circle. The more accessible songs like “Stressed Out” offered a breather, giving casual fans something familiar to latch onto. “Trees,” with its epic closing feel and dramatic instrumentation, was a satisfying finale. Watching the arena light up with phone flashlights and hearing the collective singalong was genuinely moving, and it underscored just how skilled Twenty One Pilots are at crafting a live experience that balances spectacle with fan connection.
Reflecting on the show as someone who didn’t know much about them going in, here’s the takeaway: Twenty One Pilots is an act built for their fanbase, and the show succeeds in creating a shared, energetic experience for people who already know the music inside and out. For a casual listener, it’s an okay show. The mix of styles—pop, hip-hop, electronic, rock—sometimes feels disjointed, and the setlist requires prior knowledge to fully appreciate the depth of their songwriting and stagecraft. That said, the performance itself is polished, Josh Dun’s drumming is mesmerizing, and Tyler Joseph’s charisma makes the show at least moderately enjoyable for someone who doesn’t know every song.
In many ways, the Milwaukee show exemplifies why Twenty One Pilots has such a dedicated following. The choreography, the lighting, the B-stage moments, and the interactive elements all contribute to a sense of community. Fans sing along to songs I’ve never heard, they know every lyric, and they move as one organism. For someone not steeped in their discography, it can feel overwhelming at times, but the enthusiasm is undeniable.
Ultimately, the show is a reminder that Twenty One Pilots is a band whose strength lies in the intersection of music and performance art. If you’re familiar with their catalog, the Milwaukee stop would have been thrilling. If you’re new, it’s an okay entry point: you get to see why their fans are so obsessed, and even if you leave without knowing the words to half the set, there’s something enjoyable about the energy, the spectacle, and the commitment to the craft.
The setlist itself is a mix of hits and deeper cuts, balancing crowd-pleasers like “Heathens” and “Stressed Out” with tracks that reward die-hard fans. From the opening of “Overcompensate” to the closing epic “Trees”, the pacing keeps the crowd engaged, with dynamic shifts that alternate between high-octane tracks and more melodic, contemplative numbers. The B-stage segment was particularly effective at giving fans a different perspective of the band and breaking up the main-stage intensity.
By the end of the night, I had a better understanding of why Twenty One Pilots is more than just a “popular band” — their music is layered, genre-blending, and theatrically engaging. But as someone who didn’t know them going in, I walked away thinking: the show was solid, the energy was high, the fans were devoted, and the duo’s performance was skilled. Yet without prior exposure to their songs, some moments didn’t land as strongly as they might for a true fan.
In conclusion, the Milwaukee performance in September 2025 was a testament to Twenty One Pilots’ ability to craft a visually and musically engaging live show. For fans, it was likely unforgettable. For a newcomer like me, it was…okay. Still, even as a casual observer, you can’t help but be impressed by their command of the stage, the passion of their audience, and the creativity that goes into every set. Twenty One Pilots has built a show that rewards knowledge of their work, but even without it, the spectacle, energy, and moments of connection make it a worthwhile experience.
Setlist – Milwaukee, September 2025
Main Stage:
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Overcompensate
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The Contract
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RAWFEAR
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We Don’t Believe What’s on TV (With fans singing intro video)
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House of Gold
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Tear in My Heart
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Backslide
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Lane Boy
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Shy Away
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Heathens
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Next Semester
B Stage:
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Routines in the Night
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Message Man
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Pet Cheetah (Snippet)
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Polarize
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Chlorine
Main Stage:
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Jumpsuit
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Nico and the Niners
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Heavydirtysoul
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The Line
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Garbage
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Doubt (Demo Version)
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Ride (Fan brought on stage to sing)
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Drum Show
Encore:
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Paladin Strait
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City Walls
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Guns for Hands
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Stressed Out
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Trees