Turnstile returned to the Coachella stage with a performance that mirrored the volatility of their current reality: boisterous, unhinged and deeply powerful. For a band that has spent the last few years translating the raw, claustrophobic energy of hardcore music for a Gen Z audience, the set was more than a musical showcase; it was a public exercise in resilience.
The high-octane energy of the hour-long set existed in stark contrast to a harrowing legal battle unfolding behind the scenes. Just days before the festival, news broke that former guitarist Brady Ebert had been arrested and charged with attempted murder for an attack on the father of frontman Brendan Yates. The case is fraught with complexity, involving reports of vehicular assault, substance abuse, restraining orders, and blackmail.
Despite the gravity of the charges, the band leaned into a strategy of transparency and musical catharsis. The most poignant moment of the evening arrived before a single note was played, when a pre-taped Blood Orange, Brendan Yates’s father video segment appeared on the festival screens. In the clip, Yates’s father spoke with visible pride, reminiscing about the band’s humble beginnings practicing in his basement before they eventually graduated to a professional studio. The inclusion of the video served as both a tribute to the man targeted in the attack and a defiant signal of family solidarity.
A Set Defined by Contrast and Collaboration
The musical trajectory of the set began with “Never Enough,” a synth-driven slow-burn that built tension before exploding into the first of several high-energy sing-alongs. Current guitarist Meg Mills anchored the sound, alternating between expansive, reverb-heavy textures reminiscent of The Edge and the chunky, aggressive power chords that define the band’s hardcore roots.
The emotional peak of the performance occurred during “SEEIN’ STARS,” when Turnstile surprised the crowd by bringing out Blood Orange. Dev Hynes, the artist behind the Blood Orange project, joined the outfit on stage to play the cello, adding a melodic, melancholic layer to the track that highlighted the band’s willingness to experiment with genre and instrumentation even under extreme pressure.
The setlist continued to pummel the audience with staples like “Endless” and “Blackout,” which triggered massive circle pits—a hallmark of the band’s live experience. The performance culminated in the slamming chords of “Birds,” where Yates urged the crowd to jump in unison, transforming the festival grounds into a space of collective release.
Timeline of Recent Events
The intersection of the band’s professional peak and this personal crisis has created a chaotic timeline for the members of Turnstile and their associates.
| Event | Detail |
|---|---|
| Legal Action | Brady Ebert arrested on attempted murder charges regarding Brendan Yates’s father. |
| Coachella Intro | Pre-taped video of Yates’s father plays to the crowd. |
| Guest Appearance | Blood Orange performs cello on “SEEIN’ STARS.” |
| Set Conclusion | Brendan Yates ends the set with a prolonged crowd surf. |
The Weight of the Hardcore Community
For many in attendance, the performance felt like a victory lap in the face of trauma. The hardcore scene has long been built on a foundation of community and mutual support, and that ethos was evident as the crowd surged toward Yates during his final crowd surf. The physical support of the fans seemed to mirror the emotional support the band has sought following the violent incident involving Ebert.
Although the music did the majority of the talking, the subtext of the evening was clear: the band refused to let the actions of a former member diminish the legacy of their growth or the safety of their inner circle. By centering the father’s voice through the video segment and inviting a collaborator like Blood Orange to add depth to their sound, Turnstile signaled a commitment to moving forward without erasing the hardship they are currently navigating.
The legal proceedings against Brady Ebert remain ongoing. As the case moves through the court system, the specifics of the vehicular assault and the associated blackmail allegations are expected to be further detailed in upcoming hearings. The band has not issued a formal statement regarding the specific trial dates, but they continue to tour and perform, using the stage as their primary medium for processing the crisis.
Note: This article discusses incidents of violence. If you or a loved one have been affected by domestic or targeted violence, resources are available through the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233.
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