“BALTIMORE — FREE SHOW — MAY 10 — RAISING DONATIONS FOR HCH”
On May 2, Turnstile, a hardcore punk band that started in Baltimore in 2010, posted this graphic on their social media. The hometown heroes brought a concert to the Wyman Park Dell for free and created an incubator for community, dancing, moshing, stage diving, and donations for Healthcare For The Homeless.
For the thousands who converged upon Wyman Park Dell, the opening roar of Turnstile’s new single “Never Enough” wasn’t just the start of a free concert; it felt like a collective exhale, a vibrant declaration that Turnstile Summer had unequivocally arrived in Baltimore.
If you’ve followed their rise, this concert felt like a significant milestone. I recall documenting their electrifying energy at the Clifton Park Bandshell in 2021. To witness this band, born and bred in our city’s fervent hardcore scene and now Grammy-nominated, offering such a massive free show feels particularly resonant in these unprecedented and very scary times. In a time when the cost of everything seems to climb relentlessly, this act of generosity underscores their unwavering connection to the roots that nourished their explosive growth. Turnstile and Unregistered Nurse Booking formed a moment that felt like a meticulously curated moment of pure, unadulterated energy.
From Baltimore basements and DIY spaces to their upcoming June 29 performance at Glastonbury Festival, Turnstile’s trajectory has been nothing short of meteoric. And with even pop visionary Charli XCX proclaiming it a “Turnstile Summer” at Coachella earlier this year, their Wyman Park Dell homecoming felt like a celebratory coronation, a moment to bask in the glow of their well-deserved ascent.
Turnstile began their performance around 6:50 PM, opening their set late with the live debut of “Never Enough” and concluding with the first live performance of “Seeing Stars/Birds.” The setlist featured energetic performances of popular tracks such as “ALIEN LOVE CALL” and “MYSTERY,” both from their Grammy-nominated album “Glow On.”
The setlist was a journey through Turnstile’s evolution, a seamless blend of the raw intensity of their early work and the expansive, genre-bending sounds of their breakout album “Glow On.”
Their upcoming album, “Never Enough,” scheduled for release on June 6, marks the first album with Turnstile’s new guitarist, Meg Mills, alongside Brendan Yates (singer), Pat McCrory (guitarist), Franz Lyons (bassist), and Daniel Fang (drummer). Baltimore is the first city in which Turnstile performed songs from “Never Enough” live. This will be their first album in six years.
Through the lens of photographer Jarett Loeffler, this photo essay captures not just a performance, but a moment — a vibrant testament to the enduring bond between Turnstile and Baltimore, a city that rightfully and fiercely calls them their own. (Teri Henderson)
Brendan Yates, Meg Mills, Daniel Fang, and Pat McCrory (clockwise from top left)
