Concert Review: Flipturn at the Windjammer

Joined by Illiterate Light and local musician Brooke Garwood, Flipturn are hellbent on capitalizing off of recent success. The band has been touring relentlessly, including opening slots with Mt. Joy and Rainbow Kitten Surprise. Their debut full-length album, Shadowglow, is set to be released this August and features the band's single "Playground".

Illiterate Light has been joining Flipturn on the road as direct support. The duo, hailing from Virginia, have also had quite the rise in recent years. Combining guitar and a standing drum kit, Illiterate Light have a very forward facing stage presence. Every note is calculated and pounding, with the band's earnest songwriting cascading over the limited production. Both members bring an exciting factor to the stage, from singer Jeff Gorman's electric solos to drummer Jake Cochran's impending percussion. They were a stellar start to the night.

This quintet of rambunctious Florida twenty-somethings bring the force of arena-caliber bands into a tightly packed coastal bar. Originally set to headline the outside stage, a tropical storm forced the band inside. This didn't stop Flipturn however, with the band delivering an explosive and cathartic night of energetic and glistening indie music. 

On stage antics should be expected with this band, but Flipturn over delivered on this show. The band has an incredible amount of energy, and frontman Dillon Basse had an incredible command of the stage. Bassist Madeline Jarman and guitarist Tristan Duncan also contributed to the downstage presence, with Mitch Fountain (synth, guitar) and Devon VonBalson (drums) contributing to a pounding backline. Everyone on stage felt integral at all times, with their combined talents truly realizing Flipturn's highest potential.

Flipturn did not fail to live up to expectations. Covering songs from across the band's EPs as well as unreleased tracks from the band's forthcoming album, Flipturn captured the feelings of angst, hope, and joy for a stellar night. "Brooklyn Baby", "Did I Love You (Like I Promised To)", and "Chicago" were easy favorites. The band's full setlist is below.

         1. Six Below

         2. Vanilla

         3. Brooklyn Baby

         4. Playground

         5. Whales

         6. Glistening

         7. Halfway

         8. Everybody Wants to Rule The World (Tears for Fears cover)

         9. Sad Disco

         10. Space Cowboy

         11. August

         12. Did I Love You (Like I Promised To) 

         -

         13. Chicago

         14. Nickel

The band is quickly approaching the end of this run of shows, with a run up the east coast and appearance a Lollapalooza culminating in the band's own music festival, Playground Music & Arts Festival. In its first year, Playground will feature Flipturn, Lunar Vacation, The Hails, Hotel Fiction, and close to a dozen more artists.

         7/02 Outer Banks, NC — Outer Banks Brewing Station*

         7/03 Virginia Beach, VA — Elevation 27*

         7/05 Atlantic City, NJ — Anchor Rock Club^

         7/06 Asbury Park, NJ — Asbury Jams^

         7/08 Marshfield, MA — Levitate Music Festival

         7/09 Amagansett, NY — Stephen Talkhouse

         7/10 Rowayton, CT — Rowayton Summer Music Series

         7/16 Tampa, FL — Crowbar<

         7/29 Chicago, IL — Lollapalooza

         8/27 Gainesville, FL — Playground Music & Arts Festival

         * with Illiterate Light

         ^ with The Haunting

         < with Rohna

Flipturn is a band to keep an eye on. They are without a doubt rising stars and one of the best bands touring right now. I fully expect to see this band hit new heights in the next 18 months, if not sooner. Flipturn's album, Shadowglow, will be released everywhere on August 19th, 2022.