Still touring on the back of 2021’s breakout album Glow On, Turnstile returned to DC for a recent *very* sold-out show at The Anthem after two sold-out shows at the 9:30 Club in May. 

I missed those shows (I actually hadn’t seen them since their show at Songbyrd in 2015), but the band has grown comfortable in much larger spaces and had no issues adjusting their show to such a large venue. The band has had plenty of practice in similarly sized arenas on this tour and you have to wonder if their next area performance might be at Capital One Arena or Merriweather Post Pavilion.

At The Anthem on Oct. 9, the set leaned heavily on Glow On, with 11 of the night’s 19 songs belonging to that album, with a few deep cuts from previous albums thrown in for good measure. Quite simply, this show ruled. Multiple pits formed all over the floor as the crowd fed off the band’s energy and gave it right back to them. 

Stream Glow On by Turnstile on Spotify:

After one fan needed medical attention late in the set, the band stopped the show, got the house lights turned on and the crowd parted like the red seas so that medical professionals could get to the person in trouble. They were able to walk it off and after the brief respite, the band and crowd picked right back up where they left off.

Two other DMV-adjacent acts opened the show. JPEGMAFIA got the night started with his incredible brand of high energy hip-hop. The list of acts that can challenge Turnstile’s energy on stage is short but JPEGMAFIA is on it. In addition to multiple songs from his latest album, LP!, he performed my personal fave “I Cannot Wait Until Morrissey Fucking Dies” and a cover of Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe.”

Ellicott City, Maryland’s Snail Mail followed, with Lindsey Jordan’s brand of ’90s-influenced alternarock also winning the crowd’s favor. 

This was one of the best three band bills I’ve seen in a while and it looks like we won’t have to wait long to see Turnstile again, as they have just been announced as the opening act for Blink-182’s 2023 reunion tour including a date at Capital One Arena on May 23, 2023.

Turnstile’s setlist:

HOLIDAY
Real Thing
Big Smile
NEW HEART DESIGN
I Don’t Wanna Be Blind
BLACKOUT
UNDERWATER BOI
DON’T PLAY
Out of Rage
The Things You Do
Drop
FLY AGAIN
Drum Solo
Moon
ALIEN LOVE CALL
ENDLESS
NO SURPRISE
MYSTERY
T.L.C. (TURNSTILE LOVE CONNECTION)

Here are more photos of Turnstile, JPEGMAFIA, and Snail Mail performing at The Anthem on Oct. 9, 2022. All photos copyright and courtesy of Kyle Gustafson.

Snail Mail

JPEGMAFIA