The Turnstile Love Connection was out in full force on Tuesday evening as Turnstile dazzled Melbourne with a performance that will live long in the memory of those in attendance. 



Visiting Australia for the first time since 2019, and the first time since their critically acclaimed record Glow On dropped, the Baltimoreans showed exactly why it is that they've become one of the most hyped bands on the planet, proving that not only is that hype real, it is absolutely justified.  Playing a set comprised of songs predominantly lifted from 2021's Glow On and 2018's Time & Space the band emitted a unique and rare energy throughout the set, creating a jubilant vibe, that was wholly embraced by the crowd, resulting in several of those memorable moments that only live music at this level can provide. 



For those not lucky enough to attend or those who did and wish to relive the night Turnstile turned up and transformed The Forum into the only place to be, we've put together a list of the five most memorable moments from an evening when we all felt that Turnstile Love Connection. 



Five Memorable Moments From Turnstile's Massive Melbourne Headliner 



Mystery/The Real Thing

Taking to the stage after fast-rising Sydney hardcore band SPEED had whipped the room into a frenzy (mark mywords, that band is about to be massive) Turnstile hit the stage to a rapturous applause bringing The Forum to life with a magical rendition of Mystery that had everyone in the room moving and wearing smiles as wide as the room. Frontman Brendan Yates led the crowd in the first of what would prove to be many mass sing-a-longs, as both band and fans threw themselves around with reckless abandon. When Time & Space highlight The Real Thing followed and the pit well and truly burst to life, it was clear this was going to be one memorable night. 

Brendan Yates and Franz Lyons Dancing During Blackout

One of the things that make Turnstile such a must-see live act is the unbridled freedom with which they perform. In a scene full of acts that can often take themselves a little too seriously, Turnstile standout with the way they move with unapologetic joy on stage. Perhaps nowhere was this more evident than during their barnstorming performance of their GRAMMY-nominated song Blackout which saw Yates and bass player Franz Lyons cutting shapes as they traversed the stage. The way Yates moves is reminiscent of a combination of Fugazi era Ian MacKaye and Midnight Oil's Peter Garett, while Lyons can and does groove with the best of them while laying down some seriously impressive bottom end. Their antics were also a highlight during Underwater Boi. 

 

Drummer Daniel Fang's Drum Solo 



Drum solos aren't a common occurrence at hardcore shows, but if the one that Daniel Fang put together is anything to judge them by, they should be. Left alone under the spotlight for five minutes, Fang put on a masterful display, blending styles and techniques that showcased exactly why he is revered for his craft. Having recently sat in with Seth Meyers backing band on Late Night, budding drummers could do worse than to watch this solo, when the YouTube videos inevitably hit, it was superb. 

 

Holiday



On a night that felt genuinely celebratory, Turnstile brought the party during Holiday. As simple but effective lighting provided the perfect backdrop, Yates played the role of party starter, throwing himself into every syllable as the crowd sang the refrain "holiday" with all the voice they could muster, with the songs danceable rhythms inspiring more than a few buff looking dudes to bust a move rather than mosh.  Holiday felt like a celebration, not just of how far Turnstile have come since we saw them last, but how well we've all done to make it through all that has happened in the world during that time. 

T.L.C (Turnstile Love Connection)



Most bands would struggle to find a song more worthy of closing a set than Holiday, but Turnstile's choice to finish on the genre-bending brilliance of T.L.C (Turnstile Love Connection) was an inspired one. The way T.L.C takes all the elements of Turnstile's sound, from D.C hardcore to psychedelia and indie-inspired passages conjures a bold statement of musical identity. Hearing an audience comprised of people from visibly all walks of life and genre fandoms finishing out the night by yelling "I want to thank you for letting me by myself, I want to thank you for letting me see myself, I want to thank you for letting me be myself" captured the essence of both the band and the night.  What a positive way to say goodbye. 

Buy Turnstile Merch and Vinyl now.

Listen to Turnstile now.