How Turnstile Is Bringing Hardcore To The Mainstream

From small basement performances to receiving three Grammy award nominations, Turnstile has come a long way from a group of friends making music for fun. But before learning about how Turntile has catapulted hardcore to new heights, I must address: what is hardcore?

Hardcore (in full Hardcore Punk), is a subgenre of punk rock that began in late 1970’s America. Often characterized as heavier, faster, and more aggressive than its predecessor, this genre captivated a generation of disgruntled teens. Bands such as Black Flag, Bad Brains, and Minor Threat were amongst the first of the genre and played a critical role in establishing the scene in various U.S cities. 

Mid-action shot of a Bad Brains concert, highlighting the energetic nature of hardcore shows. (The Washington Post)

As hardcore became prevalent in many areas, numerous subcultures emerged. One of these subcultures was “straight edge,” whose central tenets are anti drugs, alcohol, and promiscuous sex. Inspired by Minor Threat’s song “Straight Edge,” the movement grew as a counter-response to punk’s debaucherous lifestyle. Harcore also heavily emphasized a “D.I.Y.” culture, with bands often managing their own production, publicity, photoshoots, and merchandise.

Musical Legend Henry Rollins performing with Black Flag in the early 80’s. The “X” mark on his left hand was used as a means for straight edgers to identify themselves. The symbol originated from bouncers marking the hands of underage attendees at shows so bartenders knew not to serve them alcohol (Reddit)

In terms of fashion of the time, punk-esque garments like combat boots, heavy chains, leather jackets and spiked hair still pervaded shows. This attire began to slowly dissipate however due to the Los Angeles scene developing an anti-fashion stance that rejected the provocative looks of 70’s UK punk. Keith Morris, the lead singer of the band Circle Jerks, once stated that “the LA/Hollywood punk scene was basically based on English fashion. But we had nothing to do with that. We looked like the kid who worked at the gas station or submarine shop.” Black Flag front man Henry Rollins was even more critical about fashion. To him, “Getting dressed up means wearing a black t-shirt and some really basic dark pants…F*ck clothes. The more time you spend worrying about clothes, the less time you have to grab life by the balls.” Many others in the scene carried this sentiment, often wearing plain t-shirts and jeans. 

While punk remnants can still be seen sparingly at modern day shows, clothes are typically based on what is practical for moshing in the pit. Denim jeans, cargo shorts, hoodies, windbreakers, flannels, and athletic wear are recurring themes, as well as the classic band tee, of course. Running shoes and tennis shoes are very common; you are more likely to see a pair of New Balances or Vans over heavy-stomping Dr. Martens boots. In terms of accessories, carabiners full of keys, beanies, and baseball caps are quite popular. Influenced by a variety of sources thanks to the outreach of social media, the style can generally be characterized as a mix of minimalist utilitarian and streetwear. But despite classifications, a mindset of “I’ll wear whatever I want” holds true, resulting in a wide-range of ensembles sported with utmost confidence.

Photograph by Iyas Lawrence

Hardcore’s self-sufficient and anti-mainstream mindset cultivated a tight-knit community, providing a place for underprivileged and underrepresented kids to feel accepted. At live shows, people could express themselves freely, whether that be through what they were wearing or by 2-stepping to their heart’s content. In line with hardcore’s ideals, Turnstile has also sought to create this inclusive space through their music. 

Turnstile emerged from Baltimore’s hardcore scene in 2010 and was co-founded by lead vocalist Brendan Yates, bassist Franz Lyons, drummer Daniel Fang, lead guitarist Brady Ebert, and rhythm guitarist Sean Cullen (who was later replaced in 2016 by Pat McCory from the band Angel Du$t). Brendan Yates already saw success as the drummer of popular hardcore band Trapped Under Ice, yet he viewed Turnstile as a fun space where he could express his creative mind without restriction.

A 2011 band promo picture (Flickr)

The band’s first two EP’s, 2011’s Pressure to Succeed and 2013’s Step to Rhythm, received a lot of positive attention from the hardcore world, putting them in the minds of many as a group to look out for. This momentum continued in their 2015 studio album Nonstop Feeling, which yielded a mix of gritty, aggressive lyrics alongside softer, melodic vocals. This on top of bouncy grooves and up-tempo instrumentation made Turnstile’s distinct sound shine through, further establishing the band’s prominence in the scene. 

Photograph by Cody Cowan

It wasn’t until the release of Time & Space in 2018 where Turnstile really started pushing the boundaries of what hardcore music could be. While still maintaining a classic harcore sound of heavy breakdowns and fast-paced rhythms, the album contained r&b interludes, psychedelic harmonies, and even a Diplo feature on the song “Right to Be.” Sleek production, catchy hooks, and passionate lyrics permeated the record and created a refreshing, enjoyable listening experience. When discussing this album, Brendan Yates expressed that, “We don’t like to limit what can influence us, or put what the influences ‘should’ be in some sort of box;” this willingness to implement influences and explore their creative minds is a large reason why people gravitate towards their music. 

The creative influences present in Time & Space were amplified substantially on Turnstile’s 2021 release GLOW ON. The band’s most ambitious album to date, Turnstile skillfully incorporates elements of indie, shoegaze, and alternative rock into their aggressive musical roots. Deemed by illustrious music reviewer Anthony Fantano as “Dream punk,” the record consisted of groovy rhythms, spacey synths, and reverbs that do not feel out of place in the slightest. Songs like “HOLIDAY” and “T.L.C. (TURNSTILE LOVE CONNECTION)” are impossible not to bop your head to, while tracks “UNDERWATER BOI” and “ALIEN LOVECALL'' are reminiscent of a dreamy indie rock that makes one feel as though they’re floating in the clouds — similar to the ones present on GLOW ON’s album cover. Turnstile has found an impressive balance of creating genre-fluid music that appeals to hardcore purists while still sounding good to those who don’t even know what hardcore punk is. The risks Turnstile took creating this record paid off as this album made many “top of the year” lists for 2021, including ones from Rolling Stones, Pitchfork, BBC, and The Guardian — often ranking in the higher end of the list. 

GLOW ON’s album cover serves as a visual guide that fully immerses the listener into the dream-like record (Pitchfork)

The high praise GLOW ON received from various media outlets earned Turnstile attention from the mainstream. In the months following the album’s release, Turnstile performed on multiple talk shows, including: Late Night with Seth Meyers, Jimmy Fallon’s the Tonight Show, and Jimmy Kimmel Live. In addition to these appearances, they performed a Tiny Desk concert for NPR and were featured on Coachella’s 2022 lineup. Most significant of all, Turnstile received three grammy awards nominations this November; Their song “HOLIDAY” was nominated for best rock performance and their song “BLACKOUT” for best rock song and best metal performance. 

Turnstile performing songs from GLOW ON on Jimmy Kimmel Live! (AlteRock)

Besides Turnstile’s inventive, sonically-pleasing music, it’s their attitude and personality that has made them resonate with so many groups of individuals. The Baltimore band puts great emphasis on the live show experience, which was even expressed in their song “No Surprise” in which Yates sings,  “You really got to see it live to get it.” Daniel Fang, in an interview from the band’s Oslo tour stop, concurred with this sentiment by saying, “We definitely grew up playing super D.I.Y. basement venues where everyone did come from a very common thread of preference in terms of culture and music. But while that’s really beautiful and grounding, it’s cool to have a really shocking variety of people come from different backgrounds and somehow feel an even greater sense of solidarity at these shows even though the only thing tying it together is that feeling that’s spontaneously created at the live show.” 

But how is this sense of solidarity created? 

“It’s a natural result of being interested,” says Brendan Yates. “Whether it’s the kind of places we play, the opportunities we take, the bands we play with—that direction is a result of building the world that you want to see around you.” The eclectic band diversifies who they perform with, resulting in them reaching many audiences and bringing hardcore to multiple different genres.  This diverse mindset is evidenced by their recent Fall 2022 US tour, which featured opening acts from indie rocker Snail Mail and rapper JPEGMAFIA. Amazingly, these collaborations are done in a way that doesn't feel forced or unnatural. In an interview with Revolver Magazine, Yates mentioned that their band “turn[s] down great opportunities sometimes just because it doesn't feel right with what we would be excited about and all feel good about it.  Other people might be like, 'What? You're crazy.' But I think it's something that keeps us inspired and keeps us excited to make Turnstile music."

Photograph by Jimmy Fontaine

Turnstile only wants to do what feels natural to them and this authenticity is noticed and appreciated by their audience. Small deeds such as providing ponchos for their audience at a rainy New York concert or holding a reddit q&a with fans and giving thoughtful responses go a long way in making supporters feel a deeper connection with the band. While Turnstile’s commercial success is far from hardcore’s intimate D.I.Y. roots, their down-to-earth nature makes them somebody you want to root for.

Photograph by Jimmy Fontaine

Despite the recent departure of co-founder Brady Ebert this past August, the band has continued to move forward and has exciting plans in the near future, including touring with pop punk legends Blink-182 this upcoming summer. Feats like this inspire a new generation of hardcore bands to fully step into their creative bag and be their authentic selves, not feeling restrained by what hardcore “should be.” Turnstile has done this all the while making hardcore more popular than it's ever been–themselves serving as a gateway for listeners to find these up-and-coming bands.  As Turnstile continues to ascend to new heights, they will continue to bring hardcore’s warm, embracing community to a whole new audience. As Brendan Yates puts it, “I want Turnstile to maintain the sense of community we found in hardcore…But I want a bigger community, to connect with as many people as possible. I’d like them to feel like I did when I discovered music – like magic existed, like anything was possible. That’s such an amazing feeling, isn’t it? I think we should all try to carry that as far as we can in our lives.”