Words by Ella Donovan. Photos by Madalyn Schaller.
After more than two years, Flipturn finally stopped in Pittsburgh this past April on their Burnout Days Tour. The last time they were here, they played at the Thunderbird Music Hall- a 380 capacity venue. This time, they were playing Stage AE, a 2,400 capacity venue that is loved by Pittsburgh concert-goers.
Back in 2022, I saw Flipturn for the first time when they opened for Wilderado, an American indie folk band from Tulsa, Oklahoma. This was my introduction to the band; I had no clue what to expect, but I was blown away by their performance.
It was my freshman year of college, and I saw the show with a huge group of my best friends. Honestly, that show formed so many core college memories for me, and ever since then their songs have been on repeat. Now that I have graduated, I realized that I started and ended college with Flipturn.
A year later they returned to the Thunderbird, but this time as the headlining act. I had the amazing opportunity to sit down with the band for an interview and Mads got to take some sick portraits – each band member was wonderful to talk to! This made me love them even more, getting to know the dynamics between the bandmates. You can check out that interview here.
The Stews
Opening the show was The Stews, a rock band formed at Auburn University in Alabama. After seeing them live though, it is very obvious that they aren’t just another college band; this group creates music that is catchy, complex, and overall impressive.
The instrumental breaks during their set were probably my favorite parts. Each bandmate was absolutely entranced by the music they played, and that quickly transferred to the crowd as well.
Flipturn
It began to reach 9pm, and the air was becoming thick with anticipation and excitement. The lights went out, and instantly the crowd erupted in screams, cheers, and hollers.
Flipturn opened their set with “Juno,” one of the singles they released before Burnout Days was out. The lights on stage were dreamy and colorful, creating a beautiful comparison to the dreaminess of the song.
Fans along the barricade sang back to lead singer Dillon Basse, connecting with him instantly. There was happiness and excitement radiating from the band; they looked just as excited to be there as all of the fans.
Bassist Madeline Jarman and drummer Devon VonBalson were so tuned into the show. Their energy was so contagious and their focus so sharp, it was impossible to look anywhere else.
The energy in the room never dipped. As they moved into “Burnout Days,” it became obvious that this show was going to be special. It was the kind of set where every song feels like a highlight—“Sad Disco” had everyone dancing; “August” was pure nostalgia. By the time they played “Playground,” the whole crowd was singing so loudly you could barely hear the band.
The setlist was curated by the band wonderfully, leaving high-energy fan favorites for the second half of the show. During the encore, when they broke into “Chicago” and “Nickel,” the crowd was fully locked in—people jumping, dancing, and grabbing their friends. These were songs that felt made for big rooms, and I am so happy Stage AE was one of them.
Each time Flipturn returns to the Steel City, they outdo themselves. If you aren’t familiar with their music, definitely check out their latest album Burnout Days!