7ftSicilians

Gianca

Well, well, well, if it isn’t my first addition to this section of the blog. For my second concert in LA, I decided to buy tickets to see Turnstile on their first night in LA, with a lineup of JPEGMAFIA, and Snail Mail as their openers. The concert was gonna occur on the first Wednesday of November but, in a twist, the band could not play due to health reasons, so they moved it to a Friday evening. And we all know that an Italian on a Friday night in the mosh pit is the most dangerous type of human. So Friday afternoon came, and I drove over to my friend’s house that I was going to the concert with. Our trifecta hopped in an old Volkswagen station wagon, started at track 1 of NonStop Feeling, and started flying down the highway at 20MPH due to LA traffic to The Shrine Palace for the show.

Having just moved to LA, I had never been to this venue before, but it was a MASSIVE GA arena in the heart of USC’s campus. The boys and I grabbed a brewski upon entering the venue and made our way into the crowd. We made it in as the first and only opener was playing.

Snail Mail

Some of the most chill vibes with amazing vocals occurred as we walked into the crowd in the middle of Snailmail’s set. Lindsey Jordan’s voice just floated over the guitar riffs; it felt like she was whispering in my ear in the most endearing way during the song Pristine.

The drums by Ray Brown were also a highlight for me; they were perfectly choreographed in every track, always being the perfect accompaniment/buildup to the tracks. During the track Heat Wave, Jordan’s vocals cut deep as you can hear the pain in her voice talking about an ex-lover; we’ve all been there. The real standout was the lead guitar by Benjamin Kaunitz. His riffs and playful solos, when all the other instruments were a standout on this track. The last standout track for me was glory, a story about two lovers in LA and the vices and pain that come with it. The guitar and bass on this track interweaving while Jordan talks about her person overdosing in the bathroom are phenomenal. Truly a grim track but phenomenally done. Overall I wish I could see the whole set, but I was very impressed with their output while I was there.

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Turnstile

Ah yes, what we all have been waiting for, the main event. As soon as snail mail hopped off, my heart rate went up by 20BPM like a grandson waiting for his nonna to let him get under the Christmas tree at midnight. I had seen Turnstile twice before this, and I was even more excited this time than the previous two. After 20 minutes or so of waiting, the sign they were coming on had begun, and I Want To Dance With Somebody by Whitney Houston started playing.

It’s a Turnstile signature; it’s the song they play right before it’s time for the band to get out on stage. The crowd was electric and singing the track at the top of their lungs; I was dancing like no one was watching. And as soon as the song ended, the lights went purple, and we heard only some bass strumming from Franz and a little cymbal from Daniel; we all thought it was a sound check until we heard the iconic bleeping intro to HOLIDAY and the boys came out SWINGING.

The crowd was bumping; I was neck deep in the mosh pit, headbanging and pushing everyone in sight; it was an electric opener. After the track finished, the music stopped. I was able to catch my breath for probably 1 second until I heard Brendan go, “Can I keep it all together, but can I keep it all together” and oh, I knew what was coming. The band, which was silent not 2 seconds ago, has heated up an entire dish of pasta and shoved it down my throat, an entire serving of the Real Thing.

As soon as the song ended, the band played that sparkly sound, so I assumed Underwater Boy was up next, but then Brendan picked up the microphone and screamed, “I…..DONT NEED YOU BIG SMILE,” and the mosh picked up right where we left off, the guy next to me lost one of his black vans. I hope he found it later on, but I was too busy jumping around to the insanity that was Big Smile. The guitar by Pat on this track was nuts, his solo work when the music cut out was phenomenal.

Now, this next track is one I have not heard live before and is one of my favorite songs off of GLOW ON. They did it, they played NEW HEART DESIGN, and it blew me away. That guitar riff had my mouth dropped to the floor as I danced my little heart away. Brendan’s vocals made me feel like my eyes were blurred, and I was losing my design; I just felt so in tune with this entire song. Daniel’s percussion was so simple yet stood out the entire song. It was the perfect mix. I always wanted to hear it live, and it did not disappoint.

The boys did not even hesitate; as soon as New Heart Design, we heard the guitar riff that is probably the most iconic on Glow On. The beginning to BLACKOUT, the riff is as heavy as a Sicilian meal on thanksgiving; it had me moshing double time. Daniel’s drums are at the forefront of the entire track, and Franz has a HEAVY bass line; this entire song is insane. The breakdown towards the end has the entire crowd moshing, and I do not exaggerate when I say the entire crowd. On the breakdown, the whole Shrine was a mosh pit; it was magical. I needed a break in the worst way, and it’s almost like they heard me.

Underwater Boy was next up on the setlist, which was the much-needed wholesome track I needed. I could hear the entire crowd singing this song along with Brandon. There was even a point where he probably didn’t sing for 30 seconds, and the crowd held up their end of the deal and did it. The guitar playing on the track was always a standout for me because it shows off their sound’s versatility. It’s not all heavy, and they can make a melodic track with beautifully sounding drums and guitars. Even Branden was showing off his vocal range by doing such melodic quiet vocals compared to some of their other tracks. It was truly a magical track.

But the crowd was sent back to rage mode as soon as DONT PLAY began. BUT DONT YOU TAKE MY THRILL AWAY the entire crowd sang as the band absolutely ripped through this track. Branden’s vocals sent shivers down my spine as he screamed, “NO, IM NOT THE ONE TO SET YOU FREE,” followed by some heavy guitars and drum playing.

The guitar solo on this one gets me every time; I love how short, sweet and technical it is. So far, many of the tracks were from their newer albums, but the next track was a throwback to 2013 Turnstile with Canned Heat.

This track has zero build-up… it’s all gas, no brakes from the start. The track was RAW and had me dive headfirst into the pit as if I were a professional at the Olympics. It’s a 1 minute mosh anthem, a taste of raw hardcore with heavy unpolish riffs and hard-hitting bass lines. I also had not heard this one live before, and it created one of the most brutal pits of the evening.

At this point, Turnstile had been on for about 35 minutes, and the lead singer took a second to ask if everyone was okay. I love when the band checks in because they know how hard everyone is going. Following a quick checkup like a Sicilian father on a Friday night, he asked “if we were ready to drop,” and I was prepared. YEAHHHH DONT NEED THE FUTURE DONT NEED THE PAST, it was time to DROP, one of my favorite songs off of Nonstop Feeling.

The guitar riff on this track is so heavy, and you feel it in your chest; the drum also pierces your ears. Every time there was a buildup to the drop, the entire pit would jump on the drop, it felt like the entire arena was having an earthquake. Of course, being in California, that is totally possible, but Turnstile caused this one, not the San Andreas fault.

Now I know I haven’t mentioned my two friends I went to the concert with because I lost them in the first song, but we were reunited after the band finished playing DROP. It was magical. I saw them in the crowd, and we were all back together. We all looked towards the stage, hearing the piano from Fly Again, only for it to stop on the final note.

Branden looked into the crowd and said, “Hey Daniel, Let’s fly” as the drums, guitar, and bass all came in. My friends and I reunited and were all together, looking like a group of bobbleheads in the pit. We all looked at each other, screaming, “STILL CANT FEEL THE HOLE YOU LEFT BEHIND,” with the lead singer. It was indeed a moment that we all mentioned after the show. It’s a core memory, and that song was just lights out.

After the track, the whole band left the stage except for Daniel, the drummer. I was confused because I thought it was pretty quick to be over, but I didn’t realize he was about to put on one of the best drum solos I’ve ever heard. He was so technical and changed his sound so many times throughout the 8 minutes he was soloing, but I was blown away. I couldn’t stop clapping at the end. He transitioned his solo into the band, coming on stage and starting to jam with him until Brandon said, “Let’s take this one to the moon,” and oh, I was excited.

Franz stepped up to the mic and started his vocal solo for Moon. It’s a unique track because it has one of my favorite breakdowns Turnstile has ever done while also having Franz on vocals. His voice is perfect for the track, and you can hear the distress in it. The drums are insane and steal the show on this track. They stand out so much and carry the track. At this point, again, I was exhausted and needed a breather in the worst way, and again they delivered. Alien Love Call is a softer and more melodic song, but don’t let that be a bad thing.

The guitar on this track is so buttery smooth and soothing. The vocals from Brandon and the background vocals from Blood Orange are just magical. They brought out a fucking alto saxophone solo to play on the track, and I was all horned up about it. That guy blew me away with his sax solo. All my glow is on, guys; I am glowing; I am horned up and ready for whatever song you throw at me next.

And they did not disappoint with the next song chosen; it was time to face Gravity.

This song made my entire chest vibrate. I felt like my heart was the drum beat. Brandon’s vocal performance was so incredible it sounded like I was wearing a pair of headphones listening to the studio version. IT’S JUST THE GRAVITY THAT I KEEP AROUND. The riffs on this track are so heavy and raw, probably one of their more mainstream-sounding ones. I love the premise of this song and its structure. The beat switch at the end is phenomenal and knocked my socks off. Not even having a chance to put them back on, I hopped right back into the pit to mosh to ENDLESS; at this point, I was convinced I would never stop moshing, and this was my new life.

Endless is a short, sweet anthem for people that need to keep going through the struggle, and boy, was I struggling to keep this energy up. I was kicking it into overdrive. My head was still banging, and I was getting air from every song drop. The following track was No surprise, another song that is rarely sung by Franz. It has one of my favorite lyrics on GLOW ON “you never really feel it til you die from it.”

It was the perfect little comedown from an insane set of songs to mosh to. And after the comedown, you immediately hear this magical sparkly sounding intro, and it’s time to solve a mystery. AND ITS BEEN SO LONG SO THE MYSTERY GONE.

This track is everything: the guitar, the vocals, the structure, and the shirt I’m wearing with the lyrics on it. The guitar solo started, and it sent shivers down my spine. The bass outro from Franz with Brendan’s vocals was the perfect way to end the concert.

Until I realized Brendan announced he was ready to leave us with some TLC.

THIS TRACK WENT SO HARD.

As tired as they were, everyone in the crowd went so hard it was insane. It unlocked something in everyone as Brandon screamed A LITTLE TLC, A LITTLE TLC! The drums are flying, Daniel is going so fast, and the guitar and bass are shredding. THEN WE GET THE BOOM BOOM BOOM and a final buildup leading to a drop. The roof exploded, and pink glow-on confetti was raining down on the crowd; it was so picturesque. The perfect ending to one of the best concerts I have ever been to.

Every turnstile concert I have ever been to has been phenomenal. The band knows how to put on a show, the music is insane, and the crowd energy is higher than I’ve ever seen. The atmosphere is electric, and everyone should go and see them. Even if you’re not into punk/metal/moshing, the environment is a safe space for everyone. The number of people I met who were just pure, kind souls throughout the night was beautiful—a truly magical evening.
Sicilian approved, Nonna Loved; this makes it home to Momma.

Sicilian Score 10/10