After postponing their original date, Turnstile have finally arrived in Manchester. Since last year the Baltimore band’s name has grown to unimaginable heights, and now over 3000 fans eagerly anticipate their only UK show of the year.
UK based High Vis kick off the evening demanding energy from the crowd instantly. The band look angry on stage, that’s not to say they’re not enjoying it though. Vocalist Graham Sayle prows the stage and barks lyrics into the microphone, before breaking into a series of jumps and kicks. High Vis got the job done and had raised the excitement in the room ahead of the headliners.
Before Turnstile take to the stage the room is treated to a playlist of 80’s dance songs, weird choice for a hardcore gig but everyone appeared to be loving it. Whitney Houston’s ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’ blasts through the sound system encouraging everyone to hit the highest notes of the evening before Turnstile arrive on stage.
Opening with arguably their biggest song, the intro chimes of ‘MYSTERY’ ring out before the band launch into the song. From the start it’s non-stop movement from the both the crowd and the band. With no time to let energy levels drop the band go straight into another song off the album that launched them to global stardom GLOW ON and play ‘ENDLESS’.
‘UNDERWATER BOI’ begins acapella with the crowd singing in harmony with Brendan Yates before going into the full song. ‘7’ and ‘Keep It Moving’ take it back to their early EP Step To Rhythm both filled with huge chugging riffs that thrash metal bands would be proud of.
It doesn’t take long when watching Turnstile to realise how they’ve got to this point. With massive bass sections that vibrate the room, guitar that can rival any band around, Daniel Fang blasting drum beats at a ridiculous speed and Brendan Yates constant orders to the crowd to keep moving or singalong – Turnstile makes you feel alive.
‘Real Thing’ and ‘Big Smile’ were the only two songs from Time and Space this evening and were welcomed by the crowd with deafening cheers. The spotlights hit Daniel Fang who works through a drum solo before the rest of the band re-join him on stage for ‘Blue By You’.
With four songs left, they opt to fill the end of the show with more songs from GLOW ON. The lights go down and the opening riff to ‘BLACKOUT’ begins with the crowd singing every word back to the band. Slowing it down and giving the opportunity for more singing the band go into ‘ALIEN LOVE CALL’.
After this Yates thanks everyone for changing their plans and making it to the rearranged show. He tells the audience he doesn’t know when Turnstile will be back but that he appreciates everyone for showing up. I think we’re all hoping they don’t stay away for long.
‘HOLIDAY’ makes sure everyone gives the band the last bit of energy with a sea of banging heads moving in unison across the room. Closing with ‘T.L.C (TURNSTILE LOVE CONNECTION)’ the room is showered with confetti as the crowd and band chant the last lines “I want to thank you for letting me see myself, I want to thank you for letting me be myself”.
From being a band coming out of an underground Baltimore hardcore scene, to playing to a packed venue in Manchester. Turnstile are bringing hardcore to the mainstream and transcending genre boundaries, and this gig seemed like special celebration of that. If one band can break the genre boundaries there’s room for many more, Turnstile are pioneers and this gig lay down a marker.
