Sad Dads Vol. 4 - Turnstile Summer: Is the cure for the male loneliness epidemic a Turnstile moshpit?
These birds not meant to fly alone
With the death of brat summer, Turnstile summer is upon us. Those of us not blessed to live in the surrounds of Baltimore, MD, watched online in envy as 10,000 hardcore kids, alt rock enthusiasts, and art pop obsessives descended onto a public park for an album launch show for the history books.
And so as Turnstile announced their European tour, I was more than thrilled to see them include a Prague date.
Experiencing the absolute chaos unleashed in a Turnstile moshpit is just as crucial to being a fan as listening to their music on record. Non-stop crowdsurfing, stagediving and masses of bodies pushing and spin kicking into each other can be usually violently intimidating. However, with Brendan Yates’ soaring vocals, and the crowd’s enthusiastic gang chants and singalongs, a Turnstile show feels more joyous and celebratory than a Terror or Converge show ever would.
As this particular show was in an early 20th century art deco theatre, and Czech crowds being more reserved than many other countries I’ve been to gigs in, I had my doubts. Would the energy be the same? Would we be set up for disappointment after having a taste of the Turnstile show online? Would Czech security be a bunch of meatheads as brave individuals attempted the full Turnstile experience (shout-out to security though, they actually did a great job that night)?
As soon as the lights went down and the opening chords of ‘Never Enough’ filtered through, my doubts proved unfounded. What followed was a 75 minute set of frenetic, sweaty madness. While barricades were set up, adding a gap between the stage and the crowd, the fans were unphased, using the barricades themselves as launchpads for crowdsurfing. Circle pits opened and closed organically. Everyone was singing, smiling and punching the air in unison.
For that sweet hour and a bit, if you would allow me to butcher two pop literary quotes: “I swear we were infinite, and nothing hurt”. (except my elder emo back, neck, legs, jaw, shoulders etc etc)
Much has been said of the male loneliness epidemic, so much so that it has become something of a 2025 zeitgeist meme. After experiencing this Turnstile show, I can unironically say that the cure is indeed a Turnstile moshpit.
To lose your individuality in a heaving mass of bodies, everyone exorcising their emotional demons through the physical exertion of a mosh, is cathartic to say the least. Psychologists even study it, proving improved processing of negative emotions and ‘extreme metal music’. Or to meme-ify it, men missed physical touch so much, they invented the moshpit.
For those of us in the older age bracket, the pit is also a place where we can attempt to reconnect with that youthful energy. It’s physically draining yes, but for me, it is always spiritually rejuvenating to be in the mosh. I’m proud to say I even managed to get up above the crowd a couple times myself.
Which brings me back to why right now I believe a Turnstile summer is more crucial than ever. The band has been proving themselves worthy of the hardcore scene for 15 years. As they achieve breakthrough success on these two last albums, I have been reflecting on the parallels the way us Sad Dads are coming to grips with the realities of fleeting youth.
How can we reinvent ourselves in these middle years of our lives, while maintaining the vital optimism and energy of our youth? In the face of mounting global and personal crises, how can we teach our own children to be positive agents of change in this chaotic world?
A Turnstile moshpit might not give the direct answers, but it’s a hint of the hope and the beauty that always lies behind the veil. If you feel victim to the male loneliness epidemic, this might be a good step in the right direction. For me, live music and a sneaky mosh will always provide that right step.
As the melodies, quiet interludes and rainbow backdrop get juxtaposed with the ‘violence’ in the crowd, I’m grateful to have been able to actually experience this this Turnstile summer. I’m even more grateful that as I play the songs on repeat at home, even my own almost four year old daughter can sing along, reminding me that we can always find the warmth and hope in existence: “So I can never feel the cold/Now it’s a holiday!”.
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Good one. Even your four-year-old likes Turnstile