Turnstile recently kicked off Part 2 of their NEVER ENOUGH tour, making a stop in Pittsburgh, PA on September 15th. This tour consists of a rolling list of supporting bands, and Pittsburgh was lucky enough to get the perfect mix of jazz and hardcore music in the line-up for the night.
Nourished by Time opened the show during golden hour, bringing his synth-pop, R&B sounds to an eager crowd. From Baltimore, Nourished by Time’s smooth music, accompanied with a supporting band member on the guitar, brought the crowd together in the pit early. It was the perfect opener for the mixed genres of the evening.
Right before sunset, Angel Du$t hit the stage… and I mean HIT. This hardcore punk band came out with incredible energy, with lead singer, Justice Tripp, and his magnetic stage presence running across the stage. The crowd went wild, imminently starting circle pits. A change of genre and a change in vibe. Tripp engaged fans early and multiple times, hopping between the stage and the barricade. The rest of the band was equally as exciting – and I don’t say this lightly because I always feel like there’s one who looks like they’re struggling to get through the night, but these guys BROUGHT IT to Stage AE. I’m incredibly disappointed I didn’t know about them sooner. Angel Du$t will definitely be a regular in my music rotation so I can join the pit the next time around.
Thundercat joined the stage rocking a Steelers jersey and nearly in complete black and yellow – showing up for Steelers Nation. I clearly need more culture in my life, because how did I have no idea this man played for Suicidal Tendencies! As well as the rest of his unbelievable resume (please look him up, if you don’t know). Calming the crowd back down again with his smooth funk, jazzy sound – the show felt like an emotional rollercoaster, in only the best way. The entire band was a whole vibe, with the drummer’s disco ball helmet, Thundercat’s glistening gold Sonic the Hedgehog themed bass guitar, and the guy in the back on the synthesizer. Everyone grooved and rested to prepare for the notoriously high energy headliner of the evening.
I first learned about Turnstile through their NPR Tiny Desk performance (late… I know! Read some of my past articles to understand why). At that moment, I knew they were a special band, but I didn’t get into them until this past summer. I knew after seeing the Tiny Desk Concert, I couldn’t miss a live show – I’m a sucker for a lively mosh pit, crowd surfing, and stage diving. Turnstile did NOT disappoint. Opening with Birds from NEVER ENOUGH was the perfect song to suck you in. Frontman and singer, Brandon Yates, doesn’t miss a beat – dude shows up with the same spirit… Every. Single. Time. At least what I’ve seen in every video. But, honestly, every member of Turnstile killed it, running across the stage and engaging the fans.
Getting ready for my first festival next weekend, I decided to use the show as an opportunity to practice getting shots from the crowd. Despite the absolute chaos in the pit, I’m an expert at positioning and found the perfect place for shots. Everyone was rocking out, two-stepping, offering lifts above the crowd, and even asking me questions about my photography. There’s a reason I gravitate towards these genres like hardcore, punk, metal… the fans never disappoint.
The encore set was brilliant, with HOLIDAY, BLACKOUT, NEVER ENOUGH, and closing with T.L.C. I was in the pit, I was out of the pit, I was running around to the side of the pit to get the perfect spot for the close – where the whole band engaged the audience and Yates stage dived into the crowd for one final moment of the night.
And I SWEAR I saw a video of Thundercat stage diving during the Turnstile set. Which song was that and how did I miss it?? Unbelievable night. Take me back.
