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+# Clancy Tour
+
+2024-10-10
+
+This is my wallpaper right now:
+
+![Tyler and Josh performing under red stage
+light](img/clancy-tour/overcompensate.jpg)
+
+I've had twenty one pilots-inspired wallpapers in the past, but this one
+is different — I took it myself.
+
+Last Sunday, on 2024-09-29, I went to Detroit to see the boys on Clancy
+Tour. It was a magical night for sure. I've been waiting for this night
+since April — no, since 2021.
+
+Let's first begin with the D2A2 bus.
+
+## Blake Transit Center
+
+I arrived at the bus station at 16:00. Laura has been waiting there. I met
+her weeks ago, and we made plans how to get there, what to do in Detroit,
+and how to come back. We had planned to visit a museum, but all museums
+close on Sunday evenings, so we opted for the Concrete Pyramid instead.
+
+At least a quarter of the bus wore some form of merch or tape. I am not
+a merch person, because I would rather spend the money on more music. Just
+as I was wondering if I could connect with a few more frens, someone
+tapped my shoulder. She is Marisa, whose Scaled And Icy shirt gave away
+her identity. "Are you going to the show?" she asked. I removed my jacket
+to reveal the red tape on my shoulders and replied, "what do you think?"
+
+Laura and I invited her to tour Detroit with us.
+
+## Detroit
+
+As we set foot on Detroit, we opened the map to look for the Pyramid, but
+first, a bathroom break at a Dunkin Donuts, and a meal at Potbelly. Marisa
+showed us her crocheted balaclava and disposable film camera, and I shared
+my "EAST IS UP" stickers.
+
+![Sticker with an "M" logo, the text "EAST IS UP", and a checked
+box](img/clancy-tour/east-is-up.png)
+
+Canada was on the other side of Detroit River. As we walked along the
+bank, we joked how the General Motors towers looked like those in Dema,
+and that the new record is essentially about Clancy escaping to Canada.
+
+The Concrete Pyramid is Not Impressive™. It's just a spiral that converges
+at the center, which is no taller than three meters. Nevertheless, we
+walked up like children would, because it is not about the pyramid, it's
+about the time spent together.
+
+We grew bored of the pyramid very soon, and it's time to go to Little
+Caesars Arena (LCA). We walked to the QLINE station, and boarded the tram
+free of charge. From a distance we recognized the boys on the LED
+billboard across the road.
+
+The ticket person guided me to the wristband table. I promised to take
+photos to send Laura and Marisa, before I entered the pit.
+
+However, the lady wouldn't let me in with my spool of red tape, so I left
+it at the sink in the men's bathroom:
+
+![Red tape on a sink. A paper towel under it reads "Free Tape — security
+won't let me bring it in"](img/clancy-tour/free-tape.jpg)
+
+By the time I came back again, it was gone, but since I bought it
+specifically for the show at a negligible cost, it has served its purpose.
+
+## In the pit
+
+![Mosh pit crowd. Most are wearing some sort of yellow or red
+item.](img/clancy-tour/pit.jpg)
+
+A person was wearing a badge that says "it's my birthday!", so I said
+"happy birthday".
+
+I arrived just in time for Balu Brigada to start playing. They're the
+opening band for the night, and they nailed it. They thank us, they leave.
+The crew came and removed their set.
+
+Suddenly at some point, the crowd began doing a wave. It goes clockwise in
+a circle, until a robotic voice came on the PA: "What's your ETA?"
+
+"Two minutes!" yelled the crowd in unison.
+
+Two minutes pass, and —
+
+Piano chords. Synth. Diese kleine unheimliche Insel hat mich zu einer
+Waffe gemacht. Wir glauben beide —
+
+Then French, then Spanish, then Josh, as the curtain drops to the floor.
+
+## Show begins
+
+The show kicks off with _Clancy_'s opening track, "Overcompensate". That's
+when I took the wallpaper photo.
+
+
+Notable events during each track (Link to [setlist on
+setlist.fm](https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/twenty-one-pilots/2024/little-caesars-arena-detroit-mi-7babaaac.html)):
+
+### Main stage
+
+- HOTY: after six years I finally saw Josh's backflip in person
+
+![Josh does a backflip from the piano](img/clancy-tour/josh-backflip.jpg)
+
+- Vignette: Tyler's synth noodling
+- Car Radio: magic track where Tyler gets "transported" to the mezzanine
+- Judge: fan video
+- Craving: big sad i cried
+- TIMH: not much
+- Backslide: Tyler sitting on a chair Shinji-style
+
+![Left: Tyler sits on a chair with head drooping. Right: Shinji Ikari from
+Neon Genesis Evangelion does the same
+thing](img/clancy-tour/tyler-backslide-shinji.jpg)
+
+- Shy Away: Josh playing drumpads
+- Heathens: Josh's drum solo
+- Next Semester: not much
+- Routines: Tyler literally yoinked a chair from backstage and decided to
+ sit ~2m next to me
+
+![Tyler sitting on a chair, singing very close to
+me](img/clancy-tour/tyler-routines.jpg)
+
+### B stage
+
+- Addict/Migraine/Forest/Fall Away: old fans rejoice! Tyler still
+ remembers RaB!
+- Mulberry Street: we took turns shining our flashlight in the chorus.
+ Also, Josh walked past me as well
+
+![Josh walking proudly down the aisle next to which
+I stood](img/clancy-tour/josh-mulberry.jpg)
+
+### Back to main stage
+
+- Navigating: not much
+- NATN: The Dema towers at the back of the stage
+- Heavydirtysoul: I could literally feel the pyro heating my face
+
+![Fire and explosions on stage](img/clancy-tour/pyro-heavydirtysoul.jpg)
+
+- My Blood: not much
+- Oldies: Tyler's last line was improvised to shoutout his daughter:
+ "She's in the crowd… and I love her. I love you Rosie!" and I cried
+ again
+- Fake: Tyler played keytar
+- Guns: not much
+- Lavish: Tyler & Josh had a "mock wedding" where they walked arm in arm,
+ and Josh threw his jersey like a bouquet to a lucky person in the crowd
+- Ride: they invited a girl named Evelyn up on the stage to sing the
+ chorus. By the time the song stops, everyone was chanting "E-VE-LYN"
+- Paladin: Josh playing the keyboard _and_ singing
+
+### Encore
+
+After the one-minute bird chirping and Nico jumpscare, the final part of
+the show began.
+
+- Jumpsuit: pyro and confetti (I caught some in a plastic Kroger bag)
+- Midwest: everyone yelling at the top of their lungs "2 MINUTES!!"
+- Stressed Out: completely reworked backing track, much cooler
+- Trees: HELLOOOO(HEY)OWO (HEY) HELLOOO(HEY)OOOO (HEY) HELLOOOOOO(HEY)OWO
+ (HEY) HELLOOOO(HEY)OOOOOO (HEY) (more confetti)
+
+![The boys bow to the
+audience](img/clancy-tour/we-are-top-and-so-are-you.jpg)
+
+"We are twenty øne piløts and so are you. We'll see you next time,
+please."
+
+The moment I checked the timestamps, I realized the crew timed the show to
+the precision of one second: the last image I took was exactly 23:00:00.
+
+## After the show
+
+I had a small amount of confetti, but that's not enough. As I was exiting
+the pit, I grabbed a handful on the floor, which is hopefully enough to
+share with Laura and Marisa. I stash some in a ziploc (I came _prepared_).
+
+A man in a green shirt with the Blurryface-era logo saw my Michigan Pride
+shirt, said "Go Blue", and then gave me a hug. It was the first hug
+I received since I said goodbye to my parents at the airport.
+
+I walked up the stairs to ground level, filled up my water bottle and
+started drinking. Laura found me and I gave her the ziploc of confetti. It
+is now time to head home.
+
+We carpooled with an acquaintance of mine and his dad, hurtling down the
+highways onto the brightly lit Ann Arbor streets. After dropping Laura
+off, I let out a sigh of relief, as it is finally over. The driver turned
+back to send me home — just like he did on 2024-09-04, when he drove me
+back from Green Day. I paid him $50, which I split with Laura, and then he
+gave me another bottle of water.
+
+## Total cost
+
+- Ticket: 187.1 (service fee & tax included)
+- D2A2: 6
+- Potbelly: 10.59
+- Carpool: 25
+- Total: 228.69
+
+## Comments on the show
+
+The boys did a great job as always — there was never a dull moment. They
+held themselves to such high standards only they can reach. _The_ major
+breakthrough compared to all previous tours, I would argue, is Josh's new
+roles. He used to only do two things, drumming and backflips. Now he plays
+the keyboard and sings, skills he's been gaining since MTV Unplugged. Josh
+once said that, out of the 21 pilots he'd be 5 and Tyler would be 16, but
+I believe now he's at least 8. Call that personal growth. I'm really glad
+that the band is growing increasingly versatile as a whole.
+
+Only complaint I have is the lack of At The Risk Of Feeling Dumb. Even if
+it's played from tape at the end of the show. Like come on.
+
+It feels surreal to me that what was once a dream is now a reality; the
+person who I used to see through a strand of fiber optic cable now stands
+before my very eyes.
+
+## Comments on the crowd
+
+The whole arena was extremely enthusiastic. You can just tell from the
+crowd wave. The pit was not too crowded, and generally well-behaved.
+
+However, some people tried to touch (pet?) Tyler and Josh without consent,
+which is generally frowned upon. I raised my palm in an attempt to get
+a high five. That did not happen, which is bummer, but at least I did not
+cross anyone's boundaries. I also noticed plastic cups littered on the
+floor during the transition from main stage to B stage. Probably
+unintentional.
+
+At 21:16, around 30 minutes into the show, some dude on my right yelled
+"Tyler have my baby". No comment.
+
+## Comments on myself
+
+A professor once said their life philosophy was to behave in a way that
+you would be proud of yourself afterwards. I am proud to announce that
+this describes me that night.
+
+I am pretty confident that I have obtained the Good Concert Goer's
+License.
+
+## Monday
+
+I woke up at 09:30 with a slight feeling of hangover. Still can't believe
+I checked off one of the most important items on my wishlist.
+
+I walked into a classroom and had the following conversation with my
+professor:
+
+> Me: Sorry I'm a bit tired. Got home at 1.
+
+> Prof: Oh I got home 12:30. Was at a show.
+
+> Me: Which show?
+
+> Prof: twenty one pilots.
+
+> Me: Fuck me I was there too!
+
+It turns out my professor was at the show per her kids' request, as
+a birthday present. They were seated in the center front seats, and her
+elder kid has been a clikkie since the Vessel era. We then spent ~20
+minutes discussing the show (she knew as much lore as I do), and I gave
+her two of my EAST IS UP stickers for her kids.
+
+## Wednesday
+
+After the German class, I sneaked into Laura Okkema's (my German professor
+last year, not the Laura I went to the show with) office and shared with
+her the videos I took with a visible grin of achievement. We had a long
+chat. It's always a good day when I chat with her.
+
+At 10:30 I met Marisa at the MLB and gave her a bag of confetti. And thus
+my mission is complete.