Leo Bungay reviews Baltimore punk band TURNSTILE's take on Rock City.
TURNSTILE are often referred to the most exciting bands in hardcore punk, as well as one of the best live acts around. So, naturally, I couldn’t wait to walk through the doors of Rock City and experience one of their acclaimed shows for myself.
TURNSTILE are a hardcore punk band from Baltimore, formed in 2010. Although at this point, they have transcended that hardcore label, after incorporating different genres such as dream pop and many alternative influences to create their own unique sound. Their latest album GLOW ON is their most accessible record yet. It received love from fans and critics alike, and has resulted in a big jump in popularity for TURNSTILE, something which they were looking to capitalise on in this U.K. tour.
TURNSTILE were supported by Chubby and the Gang, a London based band who brought a huge amount of intensity to the stage, putting the eager crowd in the perfect mood for the night that lay ahead. Once it was time for TURNSTILE to hit the stage, the venue was packed out to full capacity, and when bassist Franz Lyons sang the words of NO SURPRISE acapella, Rock City erupted into noise, joining in with Franz. This was swiftly followed by the opening chords of MYSTERY, and instantly circle pits were formed in front of the stage which disappeared into a sea of bodies as soon as the monstrously loud guitars kicked in. With arms, legs and whole bodies flying through the air, the energy was off the charts from the very start and TURNSTILE managed to maintain this excellently throughout their performance.
''Although the mosh pit would have looked like chaos from the outside, there was a real sense of community''
This gig at Rock City was the first in their U.K. tour, and this was evident with how much intensity TURNSTILE played with, only pausing for the briefest of seconds before the wall of sound began all over again. TURNSTILE were jumping between their new songs from GLOW ON, and the finest from their 10 year catalogue, such as Keep it Moving and Fazed Out, creating a setlist to remember. As the show continued, the temperature rose and after a few songs everyone was dripping in sweat. Although the mosh pit would have looked like chaos from the outside, there was a real sense of community, something which can only really be experienced at shows such as this. If anyone fell, the surrounding people froze until everyone was back up and okay to continue enjoying this awesome performance. The pit was also a very cathartic experience, allowing us all to release our emotions without a care in the world.
There was a brief moment of rest at about an hour into the gig, as Brendan Yates sang the quieter ALIEN LOVE CALL out into a silent but encapsulated room. This dreamy moment was soon ended by the bass riff of HOLIDAY, and once again the pit descended into chaos with multiple people crowd surfing above me. Legs appearing upside down in the air before disappearing again, the performance of this song was a definite highlight of the night. The set ended on TLC, which served as a thank you to the crowd for coming out and supporting them. TURNSTILE left the stage with feedback from the amps reverberating through the room, and to the warmest of cheers from the now exhausted crowd. I woke up the next morning after the gig covered in bruises, a loud ringing in my ears and with no voice, all of which was worth it for what was probably the best concert I have been a part of.
Leo Bungay
Edited by: Amrit Virdi
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