Baltimore-based hardcore punk rock outfit TURNSTILE appeared on the latest installment of NPR‘s Tiny Desk (Home) Concert video series. The quintet delivered a seven-song set of tracks from its 2021 album, GLOW ON.
Filmed in drummer Daniel Feng‘s home, TURNSTILE somehow managed to create the look and vibe of an in-studio Tiny Desk appearance. Instead of bookshelves and office trinkets, the five-piece performed in front of a backdrop of stuffed animals pinned to the wall in an art installation by John Scharbach. Frontman Brendan Yates‘ Rhodes piano served as the eponymous desk, while the band even had a small crew of people in the room to clap at the end of each song.
The soft and fluffy stuffed animals didn’t fool anyone, as TURNSTILE immediately started into the hard-rocking, heavily distorted “ENDLESS”. Things seemed to slow down a bit as Brady Ebert led the group into “UNDERWATER BOI” with his reverb and flanger-laden guitar. As the song moved into the verse, Yates added melodic vocals over a rhythm section helmed by Feng and bassist Franz Lyons. Much like the other cuts, however, “UNDERWATER BOI” eventually descended into a more uptempo groove before settling into “BLACKOUT”, a blistering jam that included cowbell action from Feng and some whispy delay from Pat McCrory‘s rhythm guitar.
After a bit of hardcore dive-bombing from Ebert on”DON’T PLAY”, Yates crooned insightful lyrics on a jaunt through “MYSTERY”, a sultry ballad about committing to love amid uncertainty and self-doubt. The downtempo tunes didn’t last long. “T.L.C. (TURNSTILE LOVE CONNECTION)” followed, and included some ever-present gang vocals over chugging power chords and Feng’s jumpy beat before slowing things down once more on a performance-ending “ALIEN LOVE CALL”.
Watch TURNSTILE perform for NPR’s Tiny Desk (Home) Concert video series via the player below.
The band is scheduled to kick off THE TURNSTILE LOVE CONNECTION TOUR this February in San Francisco, CA (2/23) before circling the country throughout the spring months. Head to the band’s website for tickets and additional tour information.
TURNSTILE – Tiny Desk (Home) Concert