Turnstile: From Hardcore Roots to Stadium-Sized Euphoria
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Turnstile’s ascent from the Baltimore hardcore punk scene to headlining festivals and arenas is a testament to the power of raw energy, community, and a willingness to defy genre boundaries. On a Wednesday evening in September,approximately 6,000 people converged on Brown’s Island,a bucolic park nestled in the James River in Richmond,Virginia,to witness the band’s electrifying live performance – a scene emblematic of their remarkable trajectory.
The cathartic Power of a Turnstile show
The Richmond show began with a shimmering keyboard intro to “Never Enough,” the title track from their latest album. A departure from their typically frenetic pace, the song unfolded as a tender confession of self-doubt, building to a cathartic singalong that immediately connected with the audience. That moment of vulnerability was instantly shattered as the band launched into “TLC (Turnstile love Connection)” from 2021’s Glow On, unleashing a wave of unrestrained energy. For over an hour, the crowd became a swirling mass of flailing limbs, strangers screaming lyrics into each other’s faces, each riff and tempo change igniting a fresh surge of euphoria.
This intensity is a hallmark of Turnstile’s live shows, a tradition cultivated over years of playing in intimate venues.In their early days, gigs in dive bars and church halls were less about a defined stage and more about a complete immersion of performers and audience.Frontman Brendan Yates frequently dove into the crowd, with fans rushing the stage to grab the microphone and contribute to the performance before leaping back into the throng.
Building From the Underground
Yates’ musical journey began in 2009 when, as a teenager, he dropped out of college to become the drummer for the influential Baltimore hardcore band Trapped Under Ice. A year later, he formed Turnstile with close friends, quickly gaining traction within the underground hardcore scene. By the time their full-length debut,Nonstop Feeling,arrived in 2015,they were already considered one of the biggest bands in hardcore.However, Turnstile distinguished themselves from their peers with their dizzying hooks and vibrant aesthetic, attracting a growing fanbase beyond the confines of the subculture.
Drummer Daniel fang recalls a particularly dedicated performance in Washington D.C. in 2018, where he played in a hospital gown. He had been advised by doctors that playing the show would lead to kidney failure due to a tour injury, but refused to cancel. “I was delirious in pain, but than felt the kind of amplified beauty of it, too. It was so, so joyous,” Fang explained. This dedication, and the palpable joy it generated, became a defining characteristic of the band’s performances. One attendee described Yates seemingly hanging in the air for an extended period before completing a flip and landing in the crowd – a moment that transformed fans into fervent evangelists.
glow On and the Breakthrough Moment
turnstile’s third album, Glow On, released in 2021, proved to be their breakthrough moment. Collaborating with veteran pop producer Mike Elizondo, the band embraced a sunnier, more expansive sound, blending shimmering hooks and percussive breakdowns with their hardcore roots. The album’s release coincided with the easing of Covid-19 lockdowns, and its infectious energy resonated with a public eager for communal experiences.
The band’s audience exploded, leading to Grammy nominations, tours with Blink-182, and even a spot as the sole rock act at rap festivals like Rolling Loud in
