The Grammy-award winning duo Twenty One Pilots are embarking on their Icy Tour in 2023, which includes a stop at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on March 10th. As one of the most highly anticipated tours of the year, fans are eagerly awaiting details on who will be joining Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun as opening acts for the show. Twenty One Pilots are known for bringing exciting and innovative artists along with them on tour to provide fans with a full evening of entertainment. In this article, we will take a look at who concertgoers can expect to see warming up the stage in Detroit before the main event.
About Twenty One Pilots
For those unfamiliar, Twenty One Pilots burst onto the music scene in 2009 when Tyler Joseph posted their first songs on a SoundCloud account. The indie pop/rock duo from Columbus, Ohio consists of lead vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Tyler Joseph along with drummer Josh Dun. Their breakthrough album “Blurryface” was released in 2015, featuring hits like “Stressed Out” and “Ride” and bringing the band mainstream success. They are known for their high-energy live shows, unique genre-blending sound, and candid lyrics dealing with mental health and insecurity. The Icy Tour is supporting their 2021 album “Scaled and Icy”, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart.
Opening Act Speculation
The official opening acts have not yet been announced for the Detroit show, leading to plenty of speculation among fans on social media. Twenty One Pilots have a history of choosing rising talent, lesser known independent artists, and even local bands to kick off their concerts. Here are some of the possibilities that have been generating buzz online as potential openers for Detroit:
Jake Scott
Jake Scott is a singer-songwriter from California who has been gaining popularity from hit songs like “She’s Kerosene” and “Cautious”. He has a soulful pop/rock sound that would pair nicely with the headliners. Scott has opened for Twenty One Pilots before back in 2018 and just announced his new album coming in 2023, making him a prime candidate.
Mod Sun
Mod Sun is a rapper, singer, and drummer from Minnesota who has started to break through with viral hits on TikTok. His music blends hip hop, pop punk, and emo, which would bring some stylistic diversity to the show. Mod Sun has toured with Twenty One Pilots member Josh Dun’s previous band House of Heroes, so there is already a connection.
Oxeye Daisy
Oxeye Daisy are an emerging synth-rock band out of Silver Spring, Maryland who have been compared to twenty one pilots for their blend of genres. They recently released their debut EP “Marching Orders” and have quickly built a passionate social media following. As a relatively unknown act, Oxeye Daisy would fit the mold of an artist Twenty One Pilots like to feature.
Michigander
Michigander is an indie pop/rock solo project of Michigan native Jason Singer. He has gained a loyal regional fanbase with mellow, emotional tracks like “Nineties” and his 2021 album “We Will See Ourselves Then”. Twenty One Pilots make it a point to include local openers and Michigander’s style would smoothly transition into their set.
Past Examples
Looking back on past tours provides insight on the types of artists Twenty One Pilots tend to choose as supporting acts. Here are some notable openers from previous shows:
The Icy Tour So Far
The first leg of the Icy Tour featured indie pop singer Beabadoobee and rock band Carolesdaughter as opening acts. Beabadoobee performed songs from her acclaimed album “Fake It Flowers” while Carolesdaughter got the crowd excited with their high energy alt-rock. These types of rising indie artists seem to be the target for Twenty One Pilots.
The Bandito Tour
In 2018-2019, the Bandito Tour included alternative bands Max Frost and AWOLNATION alongside regional openers like COIN, half•alive, and thingsido. Max Frost brought an edgy pop/rock sound while AWOLNATION represented more electronic and nu metal influences. The regional acts spanned genres like indie rock (COIN), R&B/soul (half•alive), and alt hip hop (thingsido).
Blurryface Tour
Back in 2015-2016, opening acts for the Blurryface Tour included rock bands Echosmith and Finish Ticket. Their upbeat, youthful music matched the headliners’ energy. The shows also featured then little-known DJ-production duo Cheat Codes. This demonstrated Twenty One Pilots’ knack for discovering talent before widespread popularity.
Tour | Opening Acts |
---|---|
Icy | Beabadoobee, Carolesdaughter |
Bandito | Max Frost, AWOLNATION, regional openers |
Blurryface | Echosmith, Finish Ticket, Cheat Codes |
Potential Opener Criteria
Looking at past openers and speculation around the Icy Tour Detroit date, we can break down the likely criteria Twenty One Pilots use when selecting supporting acts:
- Up-and-coming indie/alternative artists that match their energy and stylistic diversity
- Opportunity to highlight unknown regional talent
- History of collaboration or connection with band members
- Fresh, youthful sound that will engage the fanbase
While the official opener has yet to be announced, we can expect it to be someone who checks most if not all of these boxes. An relatively obscure indie/alt artist or band that meshes well with Twenty One Pilots’ genre-blending experimentalism has the best chance. Locals like Michigander provide the opportunity for regional representation. Those with existing relationships like Jake Scott and Mod Sun make sense from a partnership standpoint. And active social media/streaming followings among Gen Z listeners doesn’t hurt.
What to Expect From the Opening Act
While the specifics are still uncertain, we can predict that whoever opens the show in Detroit will play a 30-60 minute set focused on high energy hits and singles to get the crowd excited. Songs will likely come from a recent album or EP release. Covers that showcase the artist’s style and musical influences are also a possibility. Stage production and performer energy will be just as important as the music itself, as the opener’s role is to hype up fans and prime them for the headliner’s elaborate theatrical performance.
Banter with the audience in between songs gives a chance to introduce the act’s identity and backstory. The opener’s goal is to make an impression and stick in the minds of concertgoers, potentially winning over some new fans. So we can anticipate an upbeat, lively show with non-stop engagement. For those attending, the opening act provides a great opportunity to discover an emerging artist you may not have heard before. Fans who show up early will be among the first to experience fresh talent hand-picked by Twenty One Pilots to share the stage.
How the Opener Fits the Icy Tour Theme
The Icy Tour is named after Twenty One Pilots’ most recent album “Scaled and Icy”, which has a wintery, chill vibe. From the name to the stage production, we can expect an icy aesthetic throughout the show. So it will be interesting to see if the opener chosen also fits this theme. Michigander’s melancholic indie folk would match the chill. Oxeye Daisy’s synth-driven rock has a cool, icy electronic sound. An act like Awolnation could represent icy in a more metaphorical sense with their moody, dark electronic rock catalog. Even though the options are wide ranging, look for an opener that complements the icy motif in their music, style, or both.
Conclusion
While Twenty One Pilots have kept the opening act announcement under wraps leading up to shows on the Icy Tour, examining past supporting acts and speculation provides clues. We can expect an emerging indie/alternative artist or band that matches the headliners’ energy and genre diversity. Locals like Michigander seem plausible to showcase regional talent. Relationships like Jake Scott or Mod Sun give artists with connections an edge. Whoever it ends up being, they are likely an unknown now on the verge of breaking out. The Thirty to sixty minute opening set will get the Detroit crowd hyped through high energy hits and stage production designed to complement the icy theme. Concertgoers who show up early will be rewarded with first exposure to the next big thing hand-picked by Twenty One Pilots.