Back in June, we named Ohio synthpop duo twenty | one | pilots one of the Best 5 Bands at Bonnaroo About to Blow the ‘Eff Up, and blow the ‘eff up they have. Our former Bonnaroo Band of the Day rocked not only rocked that fest (to a massive crowd no less), but have also since played Lollapalooza, appeared on Conan, nabbed a VMA nomination, and scored spots opening on tours with Fall Out Boy and Paramore. Tonight, they’ll bring their unbelievable live show to Nashville’s own Cannery Ballroom, supported by EDM artist Robert DeLong and rapper Sirah. This is a Thursday show not to miss, from three great, diverse acts. Snag your tickets here, and continue reading for more about the lineup.
TWENTY | ONE | PILOTS
Though twenty | one | pilots are on Fueled by Ramen, the label home to the likes of Paramore, fun., and Gym Class Heroes, the group share very little in common with their labelmates. In fact, they don’t quite sound like any other band. That’s not to say the Ohio duo, consisting of Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun, are the most innovative group in the scene right now, but, still, their spazzy, dynamic, warped take on pop isn’t easily comparable. After two strong self-released efforts, twenty | one | pilots dropped their label debut, Vessel, back in January, and have been a seemingly unstoppable growing force ever since. With just piano and drums as their primary instruments, the duo rely on a myriad of samples, production techniques, and additional tracks to fill out their hip hop-tinged, radio-ready, impossibly catchy, and often unpredictable synthpop sound. It might be twenty | one | pilots’ music that’ll hook you, but their visuals, high energy music videos, and engaging performances will keep you around.
ROBERT DELONG
Washington native Robert DeLong is rooted much more in the realm of electronic music than twenty | one | pilots, yet still channels a similar palate of diverse, rock and roll-informed influences. Bred from the indie rock scene, DeLong‘s brand of EDM is much more self-contained, vocally-oriented, and accessibly structured. On his recent, debut full-length, Just Movement, he flexes elements of pop, alternative rock, and dance music, without losing sight of a firm, EDM-rooted backbone, sure to appeal to not only purists, but also to casual electronic fans as well. It’s ballsy move for a dance-rock band to have a straight up EDM artist open, but DeLong and 21p are so tonally matched, that it makes perfect sense.
SIRAH
If you didn’t catch Sirah when she recently passed through town with Icona Pop and K.Flay, you missed out. Though her breakout success came from the Grammy winning Skrillex hit “Bangarang,” the NY-bred, LA-based rapper is carving out a solid solo career of her own. A talented vocalist as well as MC, and with a strongly electronic-rooted aesthetic, Sirah’s ferocious yet laid back delivery, coupled with her intense performance skill, make her an up and comer you seriously don’t want to miss. We’ve seen her once before and we can confirm- she lives up to the buzz. Show up early or risk missing this lineup’s MVP.
twenty | one | pilots, Robert DeLong, and Sirah will perform TONIGHT at Cannery Ballroom. The show is 18+, begins at at 7:30 p.m. (doors at 6:30 p.m.), and tickets are available for $18 online or $20 at the door.