TWENTY ONE PILOTS
Twenty One Pilots, Hershey Park Stadium, Hershey, PA 10/2/2025
Ten years ago, Blurryface had just been released, and I was standing directly beneath Tyler Joseph as he pounded away on his drum during “Trees.” It was the Blurryface Tour at Festival Pier in Philadelphia—about 5,000 fans packed into a general admission crowd. It was the first time I’d ever gotten emotional at a concert. I remember walking out in tears after hearing “Goner” live for the first time.
Not long after, the band announced the Emotional Roadshow tour, taking Blurryface to even bigger stages. I always regretted missing their Hersheypark Stadium show—30,000 people strong, their biggest yet. I was so proud of them, even from afar, and I never could have imagined that one day I’d be photographing them at that very same venue.
Fast forward a decade, and Twenty One Pilots have maintained their hold on fans around the world. Their return to Hersheypark Stadium felt poetic, especially since much of the setlist drew from Blurryface. Tyler even acknowledged how long it had been since they last played there and how good it felt to return. To mark the occasion, they added “Tally” to the setlist, a song they’ve continued to play at subsequent shows.
I’ve seen Twenty One Pilots during every album cycle. I missed the Scaled and Icy tour, but the Clancy tour more than made up for it. It had been roughly six years since I’d last seen them, and the emotions hit hard. The transition between Clancy and Breach worked beautifully live, even though they only played five songs from the new record. Tyler mentioned how thrilled he was that fans already knew all the lyrics—and that he regretted not adding more Breach tracks to the set, which explains the addition of “Tally.”
Getting into the show was overwhelming in the best way. The sea of fans, many dressed as “Torch Bearers” or “Clancy” was electric. Navigating press access was a bit chaotic, but once inside, I met up with other photographers to capture Dayglow’s opening set. It was my first time photographing him, and I hope it’s not the last.
A friend of mine, Ryan from i99 Radio, brought out a Polaroid camera during Dayglow’s performance and started handing photos to fans afterward. It was such a touching moment, giving people a tangible memory to hold onto, and I was lucky enough to catch it on video.
When Twenty One Pilots took the stage, Tyler jumped over the piano to kick off “Overcompensate,” and I managed to capture him midair. They tore through “Overcompensate” and my personal favorite, “RAWFEAR,” with both Tyler and Josh masked for the first three songs. As a photographer, I wished I could’ve caught more of their faces, but thankfully, I always carry a point-and-shoot film camera for moments like that.
After stowing our gear, the photographers returned to the crowd to soak in the rest of the show. Hearing “Lane Boy,” “Message Man,” “Polarize,” and “Doubt” again after so many years felt surreal, and getting to experience “The Line” live for the first time was a real treat.
Of course, they closed with “Trees,” their signature finale. Tyler and Josh made their way into the center of the crowd, but not before Tyler had to call out fans struggling to form the traditional circle: “I said a circle, not a bean!” he joked, drawing laughter before the chaos gave way to one final emotional moment.
As confetti rained down and the band shouted their trademark farewell, “We’re Twenty One Pilots, and so are you” I felt that same connection I did a decade ago. Few artists end their shows with such a simple but powerful reminder of community.
As I packed up and headed home, I couldn’t help but think about what comes next. Tyler now has three kids, and Josh and his wife Debby Ryan are expecting their first. The Clancy album closes a chapter that’s been unfolding for more than ten years, but whatever the next one brings, I’ll be there, camera in hand.
If you haven’t seen Twenty One Pilots live yet, don’t wait. They’re always worth it. Just don’t forget your bandana and Bandito tape.
Shot and Written by Dylan Sheridan.
