Turnstile
with Citizen, Ceremony, Ekulu, and Truth Cult
Showbox, Seattle, WA
04.30.2022

I forgot what it was like to be inside a mosh pit. Sweaty strangers congregating together for participation in fast hardcore/punk music. Movin’ and groovin’, pushin’ and shovin’, yellin’ and screamin’, all together as one synchronized unit.

Moshing is a fun activity. Outsiders often view it as a violent act of people trying to hurt one another but they’re wrong. There’s actually a very strong sense of community found within a mosh pit. I can attest to that. When someone falls down, you immediately pick them back up. In response to a question about why some people misunderstand the hardcore and punk scene, Turnstile singer Brendan Yates said this “It’s a way to let people express themselves and throw their bodies around, but we’re also picking each other up. No one’s trying to hurt each other.” (Kinfolk, Issue 43).

I love to mosh and be in the pit. In some ways it’s a sacred space to me. Familiar territory where I can express myself through song and dance. A circle of space is created and opened up in the crowd to allow people to move and let loose. Spectators line the outside of the shape watching or avoiding the action as best they can. This was my experience on Saturday night at the Turnstile show. A community of fans gathered together to watch, listen, mosh, dance and live in the moment as one of todays best bands performed live in Seattle.

Hailing from Baltimore, MD, Turnstile started as a hardcore band in 2010. They released 2 EP’s before releasing their debut album ‘Nonstop Feeling’ in 2015. I saw them in Minneapolis that year open for New Found Glory. Now they are playing festivals in new countries (South America), appearing on late night TV shows, rocking crowds at Coachella and headlining an entirely sold out U.S. tour. They have hit their stride and are a band so deserving of their success.

Tonight’s set started out with their song ‘Mystery’ which immediately got things movin’. I couldn’t help but stop in the middle of taking pictures and yell the words back at them to the song. I had waited a long time to see this band again and all that built up excitement was ready to burst out of me. As soon as their first three songs were up and I had my chance to photograph them, I pushed my way to the back of the venue, dropped off my camera gear at coat check and then fought my way to the center of the room to find the pit. It wasn’t too difficult to locate since it was taking up over half the room. I was quickly jumping into the middle of the chaos with the sweaty bodies colliding together all around me. Now I was a participant among a thousand others.

Most of their set were songs from their critically acclaimed third album on Roadrunner Records, ‘Glow On.’ They also sprinkled in a few older songs from their previous albums like ‘Real Thing,’ ‘Moon’ ‘Blue by You’ and ‘Generator.’ For most of their hour-long set, I was moshing. I’ll admit it’s really hard to mosh while wearing a face mask but I wasn’t going to let that ruin my fun (masks weren’t required at this show I just wore one as a personal choice). Every now and then I would find a small opening in the pit that allowed me to two-step (pogo/skank) or throw my arms around like a fighting ninja during some of their breakdowns. It was great to be able to move to their music.

Their latest album merges so many different genres from hardcore and punk to R&B, samba electronica and funk, turning mosh pits in dance floors. The heavy, thundering and pounding bass lines delivered with brute force from bassist Franz merge with Daniel’s tight drumming on the kit. Then you have Brady and Pat who bring fat and crunchy guitar tones, amped in clarity while vocalist Brendan leads the band with sheer force and grace in his voice as well as with his dance moves. He glides, jumps, swings, and commands this symphony of hardcore musicians. Their music isn’t afraid of making you want to slam dance while also shaking your butt.

The crowd matched their energy on stage as people were constantly in motion. Audience members clapping along in sync with the beat, singing along to every song and crowd surfing to the front just to try and get a second or two on  the mic as they share their voice with Brendan’s.

During one of their slower songs, ‘Underwater Boi,’ inside the pit I witnessed three men loudly singing along. They soon put their arms around each other and formed somewhat of a small huddle. At once strangers but now brothers, joining together in a mutual love of music. That’s the community that Brendan was talking about. This community and scene is something that drew me into this scene many years ago and a reason why I continue to be a part of it today.

“I want to thank you for letting me c myself
I want to thank you for letting me b myself”

Set list:
Intro
Mystery
Real Thing
Big Smile
Blackout

Unda Wata (Underwater Boi)
Don’t Play
Endless

No Surprise
CB4M (Come Back for More)
Fazed (Out)
Drop
Blue (By You)
Canned XX (Heat)

LUDE / Interlude
Moon
Alien Love Call
Wild World

Holiday
TLC

See Turnstile return to Seattle this summer at Day In, Day Out Festival, Saturday, August 13th at Seattle Center.

Photos and review by Cole Whitworth