From the Few, the Proud, and the Emotional

As I sat on the toilet at work, hiding away from the busy day I was having, I anxiously opened my Youtube app. After clicking on the new Drum Show music video, I watched the little timer start a count down from 2:30.

As the time went down, I thought of all the times I’d been here.

2:15

All the times I sat and anticipated a new song, video, album, and tour. All the pre-orders, conversations, and high emotions that came along with it.

So much time, money, joy, and connection.

Thinking about it all, I started to think about how funny it is that this all started over a decade ago. When I was roughly 16. 

One day I just happened to stumble across the Guns for Hands music video online. I fell into a rabbit hole and quickly became a huge fan of the duo.

Vessel was there for me in a way nothing else could be. It felt as if it somehow understood me. For once, I felt like someone experienced life the same way I did, or at least incredibly close.

I honestly can barely remember my problems at age 16, but I remember feeling like Twenty One Pilots was my main release from them.

When I needed to feel less alone, I listened to car radio. When I wanted to feel love and hope, I put on house of gold. When I was scared and confused, I put on guns for hands. 

2:00

I remember when Blurryface was announced. I remember pre-ordering it on Apple Music along with some merch from the website. I remember how excited I was to be able to do that, because I was finally old enough to work and spend my money how I pleased.

Back then, I had a bedtime, so instead of staying up (and getting in trouble), I opted to listen to the new album first thing in the morning on my school bus. I remember that confusion I felt on first listen. It was so different, but I was excited to get to know these songs. The first listen is never the same as knowing an album. You usually just jam to the singles and let everything else sink in.

Thinking back on that album cycle, I also remember my first time hearing Fairly Local.

The song that united the fandom. The few, the proud, the emotional. Even now I listen to that song and feel less alone knowing how many people out there also relate to this duo. Not to mention how strong the lyrics are in this song. “What I shouldn’t do, I will fight. I know I’m emotional. What I want to save, I will try.”

I could be here all day sharing lyrics that mean the world to me.

Now I’m sitting on a toilet, phone in hand, waiting for what might be one of the last times.

1:45

Tyler’s message to us was sincere. It was honest, straightforward, and thoughtful. These are things I could say about all aspects of the band. Their songs, their videos, their live performances. And this message was no different. Tyler just wanted to let us know what’s up. I don’t see this as any kind of clue or anything. It’s just what reality is right now. He doesn’t know when they’ll be back on the road, and they deserve this break. Permanent or not.

The main part that stuck out to me was at the end of his message.

“Guys, it’s going to be awesome.”

 I have no doubt in my mind that Breach is going to be an epic conclusion to a decade long tale.

“Thanks for doing this with us.”

It is our pleasure. 

Truly, it has been an epic decade of sitting on toilets, waiting, and feeling a euphoria that can hardly be found any other time.

1:05

Once again, I sat on the toilet and teared up a bit. Waiting for something I knew I’d love. Something I would relate to and find value in.

I wasn’t crying out of sadness or anything, more like I just felt so much emotion at once my body just reacted. I’m not being dramatic when I say very few things in this life can make me feel this overwhelmed with emotion. 

I thought about how only last year I was on my lunch break watching the Paladin Strait video.

0:45

They really gave us two epic years of this conclusion.

And I know it’ll all be worth the wait.

This isn’t really a review or anything, Drum Show was epic, as we all knew it would be. Josh’s part makes my heart melt, as I’m sure it does to a lot of you.

This is just a member of the skeleton clique reflecting on how much this band means to me, to a lot of people I’m sure.

I can only imagine how many fans are now adults, facing new problems and joys in their lives, looking back on the teenage years that connected them to this band. How many of us grew up alongside them.

I tattoo’d their last logo on my chest, because truly, Twenty One Pilots will always be close to my heart. I know that’s incredibly cliche, but I don’t really care. This band makes me emotional and I’ve learned to embrace that.

0:10

“Get jacked though, frens.”

The end of an era is a beautiful thing.

I can’t wait to see what awesome moments we have left before the story ends.

They know that it’s almost, they know that it’s almost over.

0:00

Here we are again. Excited, entertained, and united in this moment.

_

Here I am, in a bathroom stall savoring every moment of this. Letting the excitement overwhelm me, embracing the emotions, no longer holding back the tear that’s been in the back of my eyes.

I really couldn’t hold back when I saw Josh sing. It’s such a great character arch. The growth they’ve had this past decade is epic, and this was a great way to show that.

We’ve all grown this last decade.

–

I think Breach is a great time for us all to sit back and reflect on that.

_

Stay Psyched