Text by Ana Clara Martins
Can you imagine that one of the most memorable moments in the history of hardcore/punk in Rio de Janeiro occurred on the very first working day of the week? That's exactly what happened on the night of last Monday, the 15th, when the American band Turnstile performed at Sacadura 154, in downtown Rio de Janeiro.
Even before the scheduled start time of the show, and without any sign of the band taking the stage, the audience was already brimming with energy, initiating the first waves of crowd surfing . The background music grew louder and the venue increasingly crowded, until finally, at high volume, Whitney Houston , a song that has been played as the introduction to all the shows on the tour, resulting in choreographed dance steps and the first mosh pits.
After the song ends, Brendan Yates (vocals and percussion), Daniel Fang (drums), Franz Lyons (bass), and Pat McCrory (lead guitar) take the stage with Meg Mills on rhythm guitar. Franz appears with his powerful precision while wearing a Flamengo shirt—practically a true Carioca!
“Mystery”, the opening track from the acclaimed album GLOW ON (2021), was also responsible for opening the setlist. This is an excellent choice, as it's a song that showcases other facets of the band beyond hardcore. This is precisely why Turnstile stands out within the genre, as the group blends elements from various styles, such as alternative rock, grunge, metal, shoegaze, and even funk and soul, combining bass and drums with groovy .
The hits from GLOW ON were prominently featured in the show, comprising the majority of the setlist, including “ENDLESS”, “NEW HEART DESIGN”, “DON'T PLAY”, and “WILD WRLD”. However, the rest of their discography wasn't left out: the band played songs from older albums, such as the fervent “Drop”, “Big Smile”, and “Real Thing”. At one point, Daniel Fang delivered a drum solo that lasted several minutes, leaving many fans speechless.
All the band members seemed to be having a great time, dancing and giving off a lot of energy, especially Brendan. Amidst his penetrating voice, the audience also put on a real show, continuously and simultaneously wildly shouting all the lyrics and jumping during the mosh pit and crowd surfing — which lasted practically the entire show, except during calmer songs like “UNDERWATER BOI” and “ALIEN LOVE CALL”.
One of the highlights of the night was the transition from “ALIEN LOVE CALL,” a soft and slow song, to “HOLIDAY,” which features vocals and guitars full of fury. The performance ended with “TLC (TURNSTILE LOVE CONNECTION),” with everyone shouting “ I want to thank you for letting me be myself .”
Turnstile proved that the hardcore/punk community is more alive than ever, contrary to what nostalgic old-timers think. It's undeniable that rock hasn't died and continues to strongly influence the current generation.
Our contributor Bruno Fernandes also went to the show and captured the evening. Check out our photo gallery below.
