Flipturn Enchants Tallahassee Crowd
Image courtesy: @ajpgphoto
You finally arrive at the venue. It’s dim from the outside, little to no lighting in the parking lot. A tall, frightening man visually scans your ID, as you pray he doesn’t snap it in half. The inside of the bar is small, and as you enter the crowd of young adults, you can barely move your arms. Suddenly, the lights go out, and you’re transported back to the moment when you heard one of your favorite songs for the first time. Nothing matters, and you feel ethereal. This is how I felt the night I saw Flipturn perform at 926 bar in Tallahassee.
The timid atmosphere of the bar was brought to life as hundreds of fans basked in the blissful scene the band inspired. Flipturn began their setlist with “The Fall,” one of their fan favorites from their newest album, “Shadowglow,” released in August of 2022. Like their debut EP “Heavy Colors,” the band’s first full-length album depicts themes of adolescence and youthful optimism. This spirit was reflected in the college-aged crowd; they embraced the music like they were hearing it for the first time all over again. The concert concluded with “Nickel,” one of the band’s more upbeat, enthusiastic songs, turning the passionate crowd into what you could consider an indie moshpit. Overall, this concert was an incredible experience, and one of the best I’ve been to in the world of alternative music, coming from a live music enthusiast.
Image courtesy: @ajpgphoto
The charisma and allure presented by the band makes it difficult to remember that they only began their career as musicians a few years ago. It started in Fernandina Beach, when lead singer Dillon Basse, bassist Madeline Jarman and guitarist Tristan Duncan began practicing in Jarman’s garage after school. Since then, their chemistry has accelerated into a whole new lifestyle.he band is steadily acquiring fame, with 1.5 million listeners on Spotify. The popularity of the musicians comes from their modest yet charismatic appeal, as they continuously spotlight their music and their fans over themselves. In fact, a lot of support for the band in north Florida Areas comes from students from the Jacksonville area who knew them from high school. University of Florida student A.J. West shared his experience growing up with Flipturn as a local band, watching them grow throughout the years:
“Growing up, I had never been one to go to many concerts or anything. My freshman year of highschool, I attended my first concert which was held at Amelia Island’s Annual Shrimp Fest, in which Flipturn performed. They were all so young at the time. I think most were still high schoolers. Many of them had siblings my age, making them all seem like a sort of big brother or sister; everyone my age always revered them. It made the idea of being a talented performer so unique since many of my own friends were close with the lead singer, Dillon’s, whole family. Their music has matured so much over the years and I love how well their storytelling has evolved along with their lives. Listening to their music always makes me think of when we were a bit younger too, creating a really sweet nostalgia. Especially considering that I still listen to the new music they put out today it makes me feel like I’m growing up with their music — an anthem I guess!”
Image courtesy: @ajpgphoto
Flipturn has a connection with Gainesville specifically; Basse and Jarman started out as students at the University of Florida before deciding to pursue music full time. The eccentric atmosphere of Gainesville helped to jumpstart the band as the first place they performed with a proper venue. Gainesville remains a special place to the band, and according to Dillon in an interview with Sunstroke magazine, “[Gainesville] is still our favorite place to play because it's like a second home.”
Flipturn’s music is whimsical, nostalgic and modern all at once. Their concerts provide an inescapable sense of euphoria, creating a community within a crowd of hundreds of enthusiastic fans. Their modest appeal is juxtaposed by their energetic chemistry with each other, truly putting on a show for the crowd. The band is currently on tour, so I recommend you check them out to experience the sublimity yourself.
Strike Out,
Writer: Olivia Hansen
Editor: AJ Bafer
Graphic: Larissa Aguiar
Gainesville
