Music

Not only have Turnstile become one of the premier artists of the ongoing hardcore resurgence, but they’ve grown into that role with a noticeable amount of grace. Though born in the punk intimacy of crammed clubs, the Baltimore act has proven over the last few years that they can light up a sprawling festival stage or sold-out amphitheater as efficiently as anyone. Last night in Chicago, at the Huntington Bank Pavilion, they did just that.

The gig was, to take a phrase from their 2021 breakout album GLOW ON, a true TURNSTILE LOVE CONNECTION. Despite hitting a few recent snags on their ongoing “NEVER ENOUGH TOUR” — primarily a seemingly organized (?) phone-stealing ring and a security blunder in Richmond that resulted in a sheriff’s deputy appearing to pepper spray a fan — the Chicago crowd was undeterred in their commitment to the band and their excitement to glow on, phone thieves be damned. Not only did the band feed on such energy, they pumped it right back into the audience.

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Before they graced the stage, though, the night started with a trio of support acts that, in their own ways, each represented different anchor points of Turnstile’s crossover styling: hip-hop, classic hardcore, and hooky indie punk. Hyperpop up-and-comer Jane Remover (who celebrated her birthday on the same night as the gig, turning 22) kicked things off by rapping and auto-crooning over abrasive club bangers before Australia’s Speed lit a fuse with their true-blue, hardcore fury. Mannequin Pussy, who began playing just as the venue finished filling up, then ripped through their righteous anthems with such urgency that an uninformed bystander might have assumed they were headlining.

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Together, the three acts primed an energized crowd for the main event. Soon enough, the signature synth pads of Turnstile’s current era flooded the outdoor space, and the band launched into their set with a charged performance of the title track from NEVER ENOUGH.

And, let me tell you, those kids went nuts. The moshers moshed hard, the jumpers jumped high, and even those comfortably seated in the bleachers showed signs of life, getting on their feet and moving in time with the riffs. All the while, Brendan Yates stomped and hopped around the stage, leading the sold-out crowd in chants and amped-up sing-alongs.

The following set expectedly found the band leaning on their two most recent (and FULLY CAPITALIZED) efforts. Together, GLOW ON and NEVER ENOUGH accounted for 16 of the 23 songs that the band performed. Old-heads fear not, though, as they still found time to dip a little deeper into their catalog, pulling out the Time & Space gem “Real Thing” and unleashing a suite of three Step 2 Rhythm cuts. While such tracks weren’t met with the same eruptive reaction as, say, “HOLIDAY” or “MYSTERY,” their refreshingly straightforward aggression made for some of the most invigorating moments of the show.

All the while, the production of Turnstile’s stage show doubled down on their communal focus, something that’s driven them since the beginning. On the two massive screens positioned on either end of the stage, shots from within the pit focusing on fans (and sometimes even interacting with a mosher or two) were projected just as frequently as glamor shots of the band members themselves.

The implicit messaging was clear: Turnstile and hardcore music might have a tough exterior, but it’s all in the name of love and togetherness. Dancing alongside about 9,000 fans in Chicago last night, that couldn’t have been more apparent. And, really, what’s a push pit if not a big ‘ol group hug?

Turnstile’s “NEVER ENOUGH TOUR” continues through mid-October, with remaining dates going down in  Denver, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Houston, and more before wrapping up in Orlando, Florida, on October 19th. See the complete list of Turnstile’s upcoming concerts below, and get tickets here.

Turnstile Photo Gallery (click to expand):

Setlist:
NEVER ENOUGH
T.L.C. (TURNSTILE LOVE CONNECTION)
ENDLESS
I CARE
DULL
DON’T PLAY
Real Thing
Drop
LIGHT DESIGN
Come Back for More
Fazed Out
SUNSHOWER
7
Keep It Moving
Pushing Me Away
FLY AGAIN
SOLE
CEILING
SEEIN’ STARS
HOLIDAY
LOOK OUT FOR ME
Encore:
MYSTERY
BLACKOUT
BIRDS

Turnstile’s Remaining 2025 US Tour Dates:
09/27 – Minneapolis, MN @ The Armory ^
09/28 – Des Moines, IA @ Lauridsen Amphitheater at Waterworks Park ^
09/30 – Denver, CO @ Project 70 Under the Bridge ^
10/03 – Sacramento, CA @ Aftershock *
10/04 – Los Angeles, CA @ Exposition Park +
10/05 – San Francisco, CA @ Bill Graham Civic Auditorium +
10/07 – Seattle, WA @ WaMu Theater +
10/08 – Portland, OR @ Edgefield Concerts on the Lawn +
10/10 – San Diego, CA @ Gallagher Square at Petco Park +
10/11 – Phoenix, AZ @ Mesa Amphitheater +
10/14 – Austin, TX @ Moody Amphitheater +
10/15 – Houston, TX @ White Oak Lawn +
10/16 – Fort Worth, TX @ Panther Island Pavilion +
10/18 – Miami, FL @ III Points *
10/19 – Orlando, FL @ Orlando Amphitheatre +

* = festival date
^ = w/ Mannequin Pussy, SPEED, Jane Remover
+ = w/ Amyl & The Sniffers, SPEED, Jane Remover