Flipturn returned to Boston with an exhilarating, sold-out performance at Roadrunner on April 5th. The band featured lead vocalist and guitarist Dillon Basse, lead guitarist Tristan Duncan, bassist Madeline Jarman, synth and guitarist Mitch Fountain, and drummer Devon VonBalson. For Basse, it was also a meaningful homecoming. With the release of their sophomore album, Burnout Days, the Florida-based band has emerged as a rising force in the alternative scene, known for their emotionally charged indie rock and electrifying live performances. From the stripped-down VIP pre-show experience to a soaring, confetti-streaked set, Flipturn vividly showcased their range and spirit.  

The experience began as concertgoers waited outside the venue, sharing stories and excitement in the rain. Fans distributed handmade pins and colored paper in Burnout Days hues meant to tint phones’ flashlights. New friends obsessed over DIY’d Flipturn clothing and merch from years prior. 

I was invited as part of the press for a small listening session before the concert. Following the VIP fans, I sat cross-legged on the floor, taking in the music and soft smiles on everyone’s faces as Flipturn performed acoustic renditions of “Hippies,” “Something You Needed,” and “Six Below,” drawn from earlier EPs Something You Needed and Citrona. 

The Burnout Days Tour features the band’s first opportunity to meet so many fans in an intimate setting. After a soundcheck, the room opened up into a Q&A — fans asked questions and shared how the music had shaped their lives, while the band, in turn, expressed over and over how much it meant to share the room with people who’ve supported them. Prompts ranged from inquiries about their inspirations to references to 100+ rubber chickens and the amusing abuse of Nerf guns backstage, reaching a perfect balance of sincerity and absurdity. 

As someone who’s been listening to Flipturn for years, it was surreal to sit in that room surrounded by others who felt the same connection. Their music has been a part of my life for a long time, and getting to share that moment, even briefly, with others who felt the same made it all the more special.

That sense of connection runs deep, not just for fans, but for the band itself. Jarman recalled that she, Basse, and Duncan first knew they wanted to pursue performance as a career after playing their very first show at High Dive in Gainesville, FL — “hooked from day one,” she said. They later welcomed VonBalson, who found his spark while opening for his father’s band in a Jacksonville dive bar, and Fountain, whose passion ignited during a hometown gazebo gig. The details varied, but the instinct was the same: they knew this was what they were meant for.

As the session wrapped up and the venue filled, a different kind of energy started to take hold. Opening act Arcy Drive — composed of vocalist and guitarist Nick Mateyunas, guitarist Austin Jones, bassist Patrick Helrigel, and drummer Brooke Tuozzo — closed out their stretch of the tour with a nostalgic, restless, free-spirited sound. Their blend of grit, storytelling, and defiance built momentum ahead of Flipturn’s official appearance. 

The moment Flipturn took the stage, their presence was electric. Every element of their set demonstrated years of experience, reminding Boston exactly how they earned their rise: consistently powerful performances. Between fan favorites like “August” and “Chicago,” they played the entirety of their newest album, Burnout Days — something Jarman later mentioned the band was particularly excited about. The set showcased the band’s evolved sound through heavily instrument-forward, rhythm-driven tracks, all held together by Basse’s impressive vocal range, shifting from quiet pensiveness to charged with anger.

Though the album was born out of exhaustion, their performance never faltered. The show pulsed with the same energy that fills their recordings — a testament to their roots in euphoric, high-energy live shows. When I asked Jarman what it felt like to be back on the road with a record so deeply contextualized by burnout, she said a similar question comes up often. “People ask, ‘Don’t you get tired?’ The truth is, we really don’t because of the nature of the work. We love it so much.” Perhaps the record instead is a testament to the band’s passion for their art against all odds, situating burnout as not a finality but simply an obstacle to confront. 

And that drive was unmistakable in their performance. VonBalson’s drumming radiated power, his whole body in motion. Basse poured himself into every hit and fell to the ground at the finale. Fountain expertly spun between synths and guitars, and Duncan and Jarman anchored the energy on either end of the stage. 

They closed with “Space Cowboy,” confetti raining down at the emotional peak, followed by an encore of old favorites. The show proved to be just as Jarman described it: cathartic. Flipturn left Boston buzzing and already eager for their return. 

// Jenni Arakaki ‘26 is a staff writer for Record Hospital.