Is it possible to fall in love with two bands from Baltimore that sit at opposite ends of the musical spectrum? Absolutely.
I’ve been riding with All Time Low since around 2012, but I’ll happily admit I arrived late to the Turnstile party. That changed the moment they hit Brisbane last night.
My introduction came on a warm night in late 2021, stumbling across an hour-long hate5six YouTube video documenting the release of Turnstile’s third album, Glow On. What unfolded on screen felt borderline unreal: relentless stage diving, a crowd moving as one organism, and a frontman radiating raw, unfiltered energy. Brendan Yates wasn’t just leading a band, he was commanding a moment. The vibe was electric, the band locked in, and it was immediately clear Turnstile were operating on another level.
Fast-forward to June 2025 and the release of their fourth album, Never Enough, a record that sees the band push boundaries in every direction. The accolades followed, including multiple 2025 Grammy nominations, all thoroughly earned. This world tour is proof that Turnstile are no longer just a band you watch. They’re a band you experience.
What Brisbane witnessed was an 85-minute, 20-song onslaught, blistering, euphoric, and flawlessly executed. Picture walking into a cathedral packed with thousands. Instead of a choir, out strolls Brendan Yates, disarmingly laid-back, dressed in a sloppy joe and long pants despite the Australian summer heat. He opens not with banter, but with scripture:
Running from yourself now
Can’t hear what you’re told
Never let your guard down
Anywhere you go…
It’s never enough
Never enough
Never enough
Love
The title track Never Enough ignites the room, and from that moment on, the congregation is fully converted.
The setlist leans heavily on Never Enough and Glow On, and the material translates ferociously in a live setting. One of the most striking aspects of the night was that this was an all-ages show. On paper, that feels risky given Turnstile’s reputation for chaotic pits and stage dives. In reality, it was beautiful. Kids on the barrier, no older than ten or eleven, screamed every lyric alongside their parents, experiencing the magic of live music firsthand. That kind of moment sticks for life.
As the band reached their final song, Brendan Yates delivered his closing sermon with “Birds”, the Grammy-nominated track for Best Metal Performance. The lyrics floated through the venue with poetic weight as fans flooded the stage, turning the finale into a breathtaking visual crescendo. The band never missed a beat as the believers lived out the night of their lives.
Looking up at the stars afterward, it felt fitting to think that if humanity ever needs ambassadors to spread the power, passion, and unity of live music beyond this world, Turnstile would be a perfect choice. There can truly never be enough love for what music does to the heart and soul.
Australia needs you back soon.
Photos by Gerry Nicholls
Setlist:
Never Enough
T.L.C. (Turnstile Love Connection)
Endless
I Care / Dull
Don’t Play
Real Thing
Drop
Light Design
Come Back For More / Fazed Out
Sunshower
7
Keep It Moving
Fly Again
Sole
Ceiling
Seein’ Stars
Holiday
Look Out For Me
Mystery
Blackout
Birds
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