Beach Fossils With Turnover: 11/2/23
Beach Fossils at The Novo. Photo by Atikis Curiel
Brooklyn-based band Beach Fossils is a band that has been on my radar since late 2021 after listening to their song "Sleep Apnea." It is a gripping, melancholy, and thought-provoking song, and with that, I instantly became a fan. And I went on a binge-streaming spree on all their music. Then, I would begin a wait for them to announce a tour.
Luckily, that wait ended this year when they announced a couple of months back that they would be doing a North American Tour with a double headliner with a band called Turnover. The tour announcement came after their album "Bunny" was released on June 2nd of this year. Their album is excellent; Beach Fossils stays true to the sound that fans have come to love while always taking some new artistic directions on some tracks, which could be inviting to others who never gave any mind to the band. I definitely would recommend you give it a listen.
For this show, I was returning to The Novo. It is an excellent venue for a band such as this, from the ambiance to the sound. I was excited to hear the band live. I got there about half an hour before the doors opened to ensure I got an excellent spot to see the show and get good photos.
Turnover at The Novo. Photo by Atikis
When 8 p.m. rolled around, the opening act came on. It was a band called Provoker. The band was different from the type of music I usually listen to. I'm not saying the band was terrible by any means, but I was not a fan of their sound. It is unique, but someone else is the target audience. The lead singer knew how to perform for the crowd. At one point, he went into the pit area, singing and dancing with concertgoers.
When Provoker finished their set around 8:45 p.m. The stagehands started to get the stage ready for Turnover. I had never heard of Turnover before this show, but I was still interested in how they sounded. And when I say I was in for one of the night's biggest surprises, I really was.
Turnover took the stage around 9 o'clock. Before they played anything, a projection screen behind them started to display what looked like artwork with an overlay of the band that looked like an old VHS tape recording. The first song they played was called "Tears of Change" from their latest album, "Myself in the Way." The music reminded me of Pink Floyd's sound, very psychedelic, partnered with the woozy, spacey guitar. After that song, I was locked into their set; each song kept getting better. The fans reciprocated the band's energy, moshing, dancing, and having a great time.
Turnover at The Novo. Photo by Atikis Curiel
I will note that throughout the show, about four people jumped from the floor area to the pit area, and all of them fell on their faces and crawled on all fours into the middle of the pit. One was caught, and one spilled a drink on one of the concertgoers.
As Turnover's set was nearing an end, the last three songs they played instantly became my favorite tracks from them. Those tracks are "Humming," "Dizzy on the Comedown," and "Take My Head." I cannot recommend this band enough. It was such a fantastic set, and now I must wait until they return to LA. Once their set ended, the stagehands and the band members cleared the stage in preparation for the main act, Beach Fossils.
Lead Singer Dustin Payseur. Photo by Atikis Curiel.
At 9:55 p.m., Beach Fossils took the stage, and the crowd erupted with cheers and yelling, chanting the names and telling the band they loved them. The energy was lively and boisterous. The band started their set with "Don't Fade Away," a popular track from their new album, and that song sent the crowd into a frenzy. The show went on, saying it was electric is not good enough. They had the crowd reeled in, and everyone's focus was on the band and their music.
Near the later part of their set, they performed "Sleep Apnea," the lead singer, Dustin Payseur, asked the venue to cut the lights and for everyone to turn on their flashlights. It was an immersive moment with an emotional song like "Sleep Apnea."
When their set ended, the crowd cheered for one more song for about three minutes, and then the band came back and played their most famous song, "Down the Line," and two more after that.
The show was one of the more memorable ones I have been to. My first double-headlining show, a unique experience but one I could see myself going to again. Overall, Beach Fossils and Turnover put on a fantastic show and cemented me as a fan of theirs.
Beach Fossils at The Novo. Photo by Atikis Curiel
Overall rating: 9.5/10
Recommended Tracks:
Turnover:
Humming
Tears of Change
Supernatural
Dizzy on the Comedown
Beach Fossils:
Don’t Fade Away
Dare Me
Sleep Apnea
Seconds