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Flipturn and The Stews – A Night of Glitter, Grit, and Guitars

Indie music is alive and well in Washington, DC

Flipturn, an indie band I was introduced to by a good friend of mine, is playing at The Anthem in DC tonight. There are several reasons I love this venue; the spacious photo pit and stunning night view of the water are two of my favorites. I’ve been to tons of shows here, I’m in familiar territory and pleased as punch. I separate from my concert buddy and enter the venue through the media entrance. Entry is a breeze, as usual, the staff here are always professional and quick. I reunite with my concert partner and make a realization. Shit, I forgot my earplugs in the car. A rookie mistake. I NEVER do this, I can’t believe I forgot them. The line at merch (where pairs are available for $1) is way too long, and I’m too close to the start time to risk it. Thankfully, a security guard came through with a spare pair—an absolute lifesaver. I thanked him excitedly, rolled up my little foam guardians, and inserted them into my ear canals. 

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The Stews opened the night under a haze of rainbow lighting. It’s very saturated, and wow, is it stunning. There was quite a bit of darkness during their first three songs, but it morphed into a frenzy of bright beams and aggressive strobes that, to me, felt more like an assault than an ambiance. To be fair, I’m not a big fan of speedy strobing lights. Some fans probably dug this lighting arrangement, but it wasn’t for me. The crowd was reserved, cheering, but mostly still. They’re in good spirits, though, and I do happen to spot a few fans singing along and recording with their cellphones. 

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Frontman Preston has the boundless energy of a young kid; he swings his guitar all about and thrashes his head, too. He’s very expressive while performing. 

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The three songs I am in the pit for bled into each other, heavy with jammed-out guitar and flashing lights. For me, the photo pit is a place of deep focus, so unless I’m very familiar with an artist, usually the songs do bleed together because I’m so damn locked into getting the perfect shot. (So that wasn’t a dig.)

I did preview The Stews a bit before showing up this evening, two songs I found enjoyable were actually on the setlist, lucky me. “Chicken Fight” and “Make It Out” are performed, and I recognize them straight away and bounce along to the beat. 

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The Stews closed with their strongest performance: a high-energy, more-music-than-lyric track saturated in red and white lights. Preston stepped into a beaming spotlight whenever the lyrics cut in, adding a bit of drama. It was a treat for the eyes, I enjoyed this light work a lot. The drummer delivered a long, impressive solo, and the frontman played his guitar behind his back for a few seconds as a bonus. The crowd finally came alive—shouting what sounded like boos, but was really just an enthusiastic chant: “Stews!”

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Flipturn took the stage next, and from the jump, the difference was obvious. The bass hit hard, and the lighting—still flashy—was softer, dreamier, and more pastel-toned. Within seconds, the crowd was rocking and rolling. After photographing the first three songs, I made my way to the balcony where damn near everyone was dancing. Even some folks way off from the crowd near the bar were swinging each other around, having the best time. Flipturn didn’t just play music, they conducted a collective sway.

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Down at the barricade were the diehard fans: sporting self-made shirts, beaming expressions, and euphoric energy. It wasn’t just the fans either. Every member of Flipturn looked like they were having the time of their lives, grinning at each other between lyrics and basslines. There’s something contagious about a band that’s enjoying themselves, I caught myself smiling too, just being in the presence of all that positive energy. 

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Midway through their set, Flipturn used a short intermission to retune their instruments and thank The Stews, letting the audience know it was their final show together. The house lights came on, revealing a jam-packed venue, something even the band seemed a little awestruck by.

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The crowd? Pretty much what you’d expect for an indie band: a mix of sorority girls and tousle-haired guys with ironic mustaches. On the walk to the venue, you could spot the Flipturn fans from a block away. They’ve got a certain look, a certain vibe. I swear I’ve never seen so many flannels in one room. 

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I’ll be honest, I am not a diehard Flipturn fan. While I do love their music, I’m only familiar with a few songs. One of those songs, probably the one they’re best known for, is “August”. I was thrilled when I heard the first few notes and raced down from the balcony to behind the soundboard so I could witness the magic that was to come. When I tell you the venue came to life and sang this song in complete unison, I mean it. Every. Single. Word. “August” is a beautiful tune with hopeful energy, the venue lit up red to the beat of the song, and the entire place echoed with the lyrics. 

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Seriously, if you know Flipturn, you know “August”. 

The band just released a new album titled Burnout Days, so I got to hear some new tracks live. “Swim Between The Trees” was one of those tracks, and man, did it slap just as hard live as it does on the album. Another few worth mentioning (that I am familiar with at least) were “Sad Disco” and “Moon Rocks”. 

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Toward the end, Flipturn played a song about their hometown, Jacksonville, Florida—a track rooted in nostalgia and river-house memories. Between the glitter-like flickers of light and the heartfelt lyrics, this one got me in my feels. All in all, what an incredible show it was. The Stews preheated the oven, and Flipturn cooked a hearty musical meal. Definitely a band I would recommend seeing live if they’re in your neck of the woods, especially if you’re a fan of the indie alternative type of jams. 

And yeah, it was loud. Good thing I lucked out on those earplugs. Always wear your hearing protection, kids! 

See the Full Gallery of the Night Here!

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If you captured any shots of the night, feel free to tag us on social media at Shutter 16 Magazine and throw in #Shutter16 and #TwitFromThePit for the world to see. 

The “Burnout Days” Tour marches on! Catch Flipturn in a city near you!

APR 16

BIRMINGHAM, AL

AVONDALE BREWING CO.

APR 17

ATHENS, GA

GEORGIA THEATRE

APR 18

ORLANDO, FL

HOUSE OF BLUES ORLANDO

APR 27

CHARLESTON, SC

HIGH WATER FESTIVAL

MAY 2

CHARLOTTE, NC

LOVIN LIFE FESTIVAL

JUN 13

MANCHESTER, TN

BONNAROO MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL

NOV 1

AMSTERDAM, NL

LONDON CALLING FESTIVAL

NOV 3

BERLIN, DE

GRETCHEN

NOV 4

COLOGNE, DE

LUXOR

NOV 5

PARIS, FR

LA MAROQUINERIE

NOV 7

MANCHESTER, UK

ACADEMY 2

NOV 8

GLASGOW, UK

CLASSIC GRAND

NOV 10

BELFAST, UK

THE BELFAST EMPIRE

NOV 1I

DUBLIN, IR

THE BUTTON FACTORY

NOV 13

BRISTOL, UK

THE FLEECE

NOV 14

LONDON, UK

02 FORUM KENTISH

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