March 17, 2025
Flipturn's Really Good, and Only Getting Better
By: Lily Rutherford
Photo Credit: Lily Rutherford
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Flipturn is truly an indie band for the ages -- their biggest song, "August", has become an indie anthem. They're known for their soft, mellow sound, punctuating through each of their albums and their rowdy, diehard fan-filled concerts. Their newest release, Burnout Days, is different. Released on January 24 of this year, the album creates a new sound for the band. It's harder, rawer, and deeper than anything they've ever released. It was evident during their show at the Complex on March 13 that they're getting better with every release.
Their energy was clear as soon as they stepped on stage, as was the crowd's; Flipturn fans don't mess around about the band and that was evident. Some fans had queued for the show since 3pm -- those were a part of the later bunch -- so it's easy to see that Utahns love the band.
They're the perfect accent to a scene engulfed in The Backseat Lovers and Ritt Momney, bringing their "Florida sound" all the way to Salt Lake. From the jump, lead vocalist Dillon Basse stood out. His energy is truly unlike any other frontman, with his passion for the new album being clear in his performance. Accompanied in the front row by guitarist Tristan Duncan and bassist Madeline Jarman, the trio was an absolute force in playing a combination of newer and older songs.
Their setlist was the perfect mesh of new Burnout Days tracks along with deeper cuts from former EPs. It was clear the crowd was there to hear all of it, but "August" was the loudest, with the crowd absolutely lighting up at the first notes. Flipturn, as a band and unit, feels like a community. There were very few people who didn't know the words to every single song, with Basse's vocals seeming like they echoed throughout the entirety of the 2,500 person room.
The band functions beautifully on stage, making it clear that it's where they're meant to be. In addition to the front three, drummer Devon Von-Balson and guitarist Mitch Fountain create a depth unlike any other band that we've seen live. Their music is really meant to be heard live, as the layers of instrumentals create a truly beautiful sound. In a venue like the Complex, full of devoted fans, Flipturn shined and absolutely made a name for themselves in Salt Lake.
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