The Day flipturn Became My Favorite Band: The Burnout Days Tour Live Show Review

flipturn at the Georgia Theatre in Athens, Georgia. The photo was taken by Keegan Nelson (@keegan.photo and @rkeegann on Instagram).

On April 17, 2025, flipturn played a sold-out show at the Georgia Theatre in Athens, GA, and it felt like watching the band with brand new eyes. From the very first note, it was clear: this wasn’t just another concert. It was a cathartic and completely unforgettable experience. The band hit every beat. The crowd screamed every lyric. People were jumping, dancing, and beaming with joy. It was one of those rare nights where everything feels aligned, and flipturn gave the kind of performance that makes you fall in love with music all over again.

Two days earlier, on April 15, I had seen the same band on the same stage. I had a photo pass that night, so I took pictures during their set before settling into the back of the crowd. It was a great show–tight, lively, well-performed–but I knew I wasn’t getting the full experience. From the back, I felt like I was watching the show unfold rather than being swept into it. I saw the energy, the lighting, the crowd’s reactions, and I knew I had to find a way back. I needed the full experience.

The next day, I searched endlessly for a ticket to the second show but came up empty. By the morning of April 17, I had accepted defeat. For the first time in three years, I would miss flipturn’s show in Georgia. I was crushed. But out of nowhere, a friend texted me– she’d found someone selling their ticket. Without hesitation, I bought it, threw myself together, and raced to the venue. I got in line with fans and friends I’ve come to know through flipturn’s shows. The sense of community, the anticipation–it all reminded me why this band means so much to me.

Once inside, I found myself in the third row on the right side of the stage, a huge shift from the back of the room just two nights before. Gatlin opened the night, performing her second show in over a year. Her set was a mix of previous releases and new, unreleased tracks, and she did a great job warming up the crowd. But the energy in the room shifted the moment flipturn stepped onstage.

From the second they appeared, I knew this night would be different. The room erupted into cheers, the kind that make your heart race before the first chord is even struck. The band launched into three tracks from Burnout Days– ”Juno,” “Burnout Days,” and “Inner Wave.” Played back-to-back, the songs felt like a story, a bold introduction to where the band is on their artistic journey. It wasn’t just a setlist; it was a statement. The instrumentals were sharp. The vocals soared. The lighting design was insane in the best way possible. Everything clicked: the band’s chemistry, the fans’ energy, the music itself. It was flawless. For me, those first three songs felt spiritual. I realized just how far flipturn has come since I first saw them in 2022.

Without missing a beat, they transitioned into a crowd favorite: “Sad Disco” from their debut album Shadowglow. The stylistic shift from Burnout Days to Shadowglow could have felt jarring, but the band made it seamless. The songs flowed into each other like chapters of the same book, different moods, but the same unmistakable voice.

As the show went on, flipturn jumped between eras with ease. I was completely starstruck–watching them felt like watching a band in their prime. What struck me most was their connection on stage. They weren’t just playing music; they were sharing something with each other and with us. There was a mutual joy between them, an unspoken understanding. They locked eyes, nodded along to each other’s parts, and seemed fully intertwined with their music. That kind of trust and synchronicity only comes from years of growth and belief in the music and each other. Flipturn isn’t the same band I discovered three years ago–they’ve matured into true performers.

That growth hit me hardest during “Moon Rocks.” It was one of my favorite moments of the night. The softness of the vocals, the layered instrumentation, and the slow, steady build-up to Dillon Basse’s soaring belt gave the song a whole new dimension. I was totally mesmerized. I’ve always liked “Moon Rocks,” but hearing it live gave me a completely new appreciation for it.

The energy never dipped. Flipturn kept the crowd on their toes, weaving through their catalog with purpose. When the main set ended and the band stepped offstage, the crowd erupted into thunderous cheers. It wasn’t a polite applause–it was a roar of gratitude and love. Everyone in that room knew they had just witnessed something special. And when the band returned for an encore, the energy only intensified.

The encore felt like a celebration, a nod to their roots. They opened with “Churches,” a single from their 2018 EP Citrona. “Churches” ended up being my favorite song of the night. The band was on fire. The crowd bounced and belted out the lyrics alongside them, and I felt something deeper than just excitement; I felt connected to the music, the band, and the people around me. I’m genuinely grateful I got to experience the moment live. They closed the night with “Chicago” and “Nickel,” two tracks from their debut project Heavy Colors, bringing everything full circle.

As the band left the stage for good and the crowd slowly filtered out, I stood there in awe. It felt like I had been exactly where I was meant to be. flipturn delivered everything I had hoped for and more. My friend and I turned to each other, still buzzing from the experience, and said what we were all thinking: that show was insane.

In the days that followed, I found myself looping flipturn’s discography, hearing every song through the lens of the night. That show didn’t just make me love their new album–it reminded me why they’ve been one of my favorite bands. And if that night proved anything to me, it’s that flipturn isn't just a band I listen to. They’re a band I’ll follow again and again.