Standing in their Shadowglow – Flipturn at Tallahassee’s Own 926
Image Courtesy: Strike Magazine Tallahassee
SATURDAY, FEB. 25 – 926 Bar & Grill
In a fog-saturated crowd, I stand shoulder to shoulder with strangers whose nervous excitement passes through me like a current. As we wait with every pause between each song, our hearts race until the sound engineers return onstage to fiddle with the cords once again. My friends and I have all firmly placed our feet on the ground, refusing to give up our perfect view of the stage. The tingle of anticipation reaches a peak within me as the lights come down and the music stops. It’s time.
Image Courtesy: Amanda Laferriere for Flipturn
A tune familiar to anyone in our age group starts to play – the Wii theme music. I cackle; they tricked us with this last time I was here. The room fills with ad-libs for the wordless music. If any other band or artist were to essentially Rickroll me at their concert, I think we would have some real beef. Luckily, I have a soft spot for Flipturn. Following the end of the ultimate hold music, the band walks onstage, and I scream, my voice lost in a sea of cheers.
Image Courtesy: Isabel Wilder
Originally from Fernandina Beach, FL, Flipturn was conceived in bassist Madeline Jarman’s garage alongside lead singer and guitarist Dillon Basse and lead guitarist Tristan Duncan. While spitballing ideas for a potential group name, Jarman – a former swimmer – suggested “Flipturn”, inspired by the technique for turning to swim in the opposite direction during relays. The trio wrote songs after classes in high school, continuing the tradition as they entered college in Gainesville, where they added drummer Devon VonBalson and synth and guitar player Mitch Fountain.
On the second leg of their Shadowglow Tour, the indie rock band returned to Tallahassee almost exactly one year after their first appearance while promoting their EP, Citrona. Their 14-track debut album features hits like The Fall, Playground, Sad Disco, and Space Cowboy, which instantly became fan favorites. They were accompanied by their indie pop openers Hotel Fiction, an otherworldly duo from Athens, GA, whose hits Man on the Moon and Astronaut Kids playfully explore themes of love and growing up. The two groups paired together nicely, seeing as they both had complementary vocals and similar lyrical tones.
Image Courtesy: Isabel Wilder
Flipturn played 16 songs ranging from their newest album, fan favorites, and one iconic cover of Tears for Fear’s Everybody Wants to Rule the World, which was a pleasant surprise to all. During their first song, The Fall, VonBalson took apart his drum set during the interlude, placing pieces of it to lay atop the crowd. As fans white-knuckled his drum and cymbal, VonBalson emphatically performed his solo, sending fans into a frenzy.
Throughout their set, the chemistry between Jarman and Duncan was palpable, as the two wailed on their guitars all while echoing each other’s movements and playing in perfect sync. Fountain switched back and forth between his synth and guitar as needed, while VonBalson engaged in a full-body workout on the drums. Basse led with his Josh Kiszka-esque vocals, doing his high-knee dance and iconic hair flip as he sank further into the music.
Image Courtesy: Amanda Laferriere for Flipturn via Instagram
As for their older material, the band played Chicago, Six Below, and, at the request of the fans in the front row, the heartwarming Glistening. Fans sang along the entire night – including myself – with some likely losing their voices somewhere along the way. Flipturn took us on a journey, transitioning perfectly from slower, more contemplative, and emotional songs to their more upbeat and high-energy ones, never losing the audience’s attention, even for just a second. The camaraderie between the fans and the “hippie” atmosphere made for a wonderful experience, matching the welcoming vibes of 926 with their array of various pride flags decorating the walls of the venue.
The concert lasted a good two hours — the perfect amount of performance time that’ll keep me satisfied until next year without having my feet going completely numb in the process. So, although I was disappointed by the night coming to an end, I couldn’t wait for the encore. With each passing minute following their last song, our pleas increased by the decibel until the band finally returned to appease us. Flipturn rounded off their set with two of my and my friend Nina’s (shoutout Nina Bellon-Garcia) favorites, August and Nickel. It felt like a coming-of-age moment, and I could hear the music vibrating in my ribs – it was absolutely phenomenal.
Image Courtesy: Amanda Laferriere for Flipturn via Instagram
Shoutout to Flipturn, Hotel Fiction, and 926 Bar & Grill for putting on another amazing show and doing it again the next day. Until next time, Tallahassee and I will be streaming Shadowglow, excited to see what comes next for you guys.
Socials:
926 Bar & Grill: @926bar
Flipturn: @flipturnband
Hotel Fiction: @hotelfiction
Strike Out,
Writer: Isabel Wilder
Editor: Jayna O
Graphic Designer: Mallory Reale
Tallahassee