Shimmering Sensation: flipturn’s “Something More” Tour
Isabella Bernstein
05.10.2024
“‘Shadowglow’ captures that moment in time between the yearning of youth and the sobering weight of adulthood.” - Tristan Duncan, flipturn guitarist
Indie rock band flipturn’s “Something More” Tour gave me something – no, everything – I needed. The Florida five-piece sensation has won over the hearts of lead singer Dillon Basse’s home city of Boston at their House of Blues show this March. With Richy Mitch & the Coal Miners as their openers, flipturn’s most recent and ongoing tour has set an impressive precedent for the new generation of electric and eclectic rock artists everywhere.
flipturn toured with a proficient mix of their beloved soft rock from their previous EPs and their new, gritty, introspective songs from their recent debut album, “Shadowglow.” Hearing all the songs I was most excited for (although I did prematurely check the previous set-lists in the agitated hope the songs I love would not be forgotten), I can confidently say that Basse and the rest of flipturn hit a home run while sporting the coveted Boston uniform (a RedSox jersey, of course).
Richy Mitch & the Coal Miners’ dazzling opening performance set the scene for what the audience knew was going to be an captivating night. Lead singer Mitch Cutts blew it out of the water with his melodic and heavenly voice. His intentional voice cracks and soft smile drew the audience in and laid a blanket of heartwarming and heartbreaking glimmering magic, with songs like “Evergreen” and “Lake Missoula” (which I will admit, I definitely almost cried during). Truly a perfect pairing for a tour, Richy Mitch & the Coal Miners prepared audience members for the marvel yet to come.
Starting off the show with “Churches” from their fan-favorite EP, “Citrona,” Basse entered the stage with a raging energy that pulsed into the crowd. Basse’s raspy voice and guitarist Tristan Duncan’s rocky and electronic riffs, paired with their flashing and colorful lights (there definitely should have been an epilepsy warning pre-show), let the audience know exactly what to expect: a fun fucking night.
Whoever was in charge of lighting for the show deserves a serious raise. Lighting can make or break a performance – especially in a venue the size of the House of Blues (too big to be considered acoustically “intimate”, too small to have lighting go unnoticed by audience members farther from the stage). Filled with blues, reds, purples, pinks, and bright whites, the flashy and melodic lighting perfectly matched the intensely colorful and groovy music, highlighting the band members during their moments to shine. Needless to say, there was nothing subtle about flipturn’s time on stage.
The fiery and flowy set-list prohibited any moment during the show to be rendered dull or unenjoyable. Playing classic fan favorites, such as “Chicago”, “Glistening”, and “August”, and their newer yet touchingly familiar songs, such as “Playground” and “Halfway,” made for the perfect blend of excitement and catharsis. The band slowed it down for some sweet and sentimental moments with songs like “Take Care” and “Savannah” (another time I almost cried), as well as dialed it up for the feverish and angsty rumble of songs like “Weepy Woman” and “Goddamn.” Enchanting and hypnotic lyrics like, “In the afterglow, is there something more?” in “Space Cowboy” had the audience swaying with full and bleeding hearts; rough and tumble lyrics like, “Die young or you can grow old, until they bury you six below” in “Six Below” riled audience members up to sing along in their most raspy, guttural voices. Needless to say, flipturn’s stage presence is not only phenomenal, but emotionally moving to the highest degree. Even the performance of their currently unreleased song, “Juno,” had audience members excited and enthralled.
A vocal talent like Dylan Basse is an uncommon find. Seamlessly switching from smooth and soothing to raspy and fervent, Basse has a talent for singing to the heart. Audience members could hear the indulgent yearning and passion in every word that he sang. A voice so punctual and surreal, tinged with longing and vulnerability, encapsulates the enigma of youth and new experiences. It is easy to say that Basse’s voice is just as good live, if not better, than the recordings. The rest of the band’s musical talents, as well, go unmatched by any other in the realm of the modern indie rock genre.
Basse and the other members of flipturn mastered the art of stage presence at their show. Their casual clothing and relaxed demeanor between songs lended greatly to their friendly and inviting persona – they appear as real people creating genuine music that is relatable and raw. flipturn broke the artist-audience barrier multiple times throughout the show, like when drummer Devon VonBalson gave his sticks to an unsuspecting young girl in the audience, and when Basse hopped off stage and stood on the barrier, singing a cover of “Reptilia” by The Strokes during the encore (an insane and electrifying crossover moment that had me in literal shambles).
flipturn’s raw and reflective music and performance bathed the audience in colorfully gritty nostalgia, leaving fans feeling like they were just immersed in an old film photograph. Their dynamic setlist and intoxicating live performance established a monopoly in our minds and ownership of our indie rock hearts. With the “Something More” tour, flipturn solidified themselves as an up-and-coming sensation to watch out for.
