While touring is still a bizarro state of constant motion, it's become normal for the Florida indie act flipturn — even playing summer festivals such as Bonnaroo then promptly heading over to Europe for a run.
“I have my favorite restaurant in France now,” says guitarist and synth player Mitch Fountain, even though he can’t remember what it’s called. “It’s some French name, but it was really good. It’s to the right of the Eiffel Tower.”
“It’s the only place Mitch ordered food in French,” adds vocalist Dillon Basse.
That sense of familiarity is comforting — and even a bit mundane — for the five-piece. It’s also evidence that flipturn has come a long way since 2015, when it was only a college band and a gig anywhere around the University of Florida was a reason to celebrate.
“Just being able to play in a legitimate venue in Gainesville or Jacksonville was a huge deal," Basse recalls. "We would tell every single person we knew.
“Now we go on tour...and we’re playing 3,000-capacity venues," he continues. "Playing shows has become such a regular part of our life it’s hard to grasp how much we’ve done it.”
“I mean, I have habits in a lot of different states, which is really funny to say,” Fountain adds. “But I’ll get out of the bus and be like, ‘I know where I’m going in New York City right now. Then tomorrow, when we’re in Boston, I know where I’m going to go.’”
While Westword catches up with the flipturn, the members — which also include guitarist Tristan Duncan, drummer Devon VonBalson and bassist Madeline Jarman — are enjoying some downtime in Seattle before heading to soundcheck. It’s a city they’ve performed in before, but this go-round included a visit to the famous Pike Place Market abutting the busy Elliott Bay.
While getting out as much as possible is still the lifeblood of the band, no one is immune to the rigors of the road. Instead of taking an extended breather, flipturn found it most beneficial to pour any feelings of weariness into its sophomore album, Burnout Days, released in January via Dualtone Music Group.
We're not sure if this is a picture of flipturn running to the next show or just enjoying some time outdoors.
Courtesy Shore Fire Media
Burnout Days deals with themes of addiction, codependency and, well, burnout — but you don’t necessarily pick up on that at first listen. Such songs as “Rodeo Clown,” “Juno” and “Sunlight” are infectious indie-pop that deliver hook after hook. Now, flipturn is ready to get back out there and share Burnout Days with the masses. For the record, this band is not actually burnt out. “If we were burnt out from this," Basse says, "we wouldn’t be touring."
Flipturn will come to Denver on Saturday, March 15, to play the Mission Ballroom with Salt Lake City indie-rockers Krooked Kings (the tour visits Frisco's 10 Mile Music Hall on Friday, March 14, too). In case you were wondering what some of flipturn’s favorite Mile High spots are, the members are excited to visit Atomic Cowboy and Corvus Coffee Roasters again.
The band got a little taste of Hollywood recently after being invited to share “Rodeo Clown” on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on January 16. “It was a weird experience doing one song after all this built-up adrenaline. Normally, we’re doing an hour-long set, then we play for four minutes and we’re like, ‘Whoa, we have all this energy; what are we going to do now?’” VonBalson says.
A couple of drinks from the green room bar helped take the edge off, and Kimmel himself couldn’t have been kinder, the bandmates all agree. “Jimmy Kimmel has the softest hands I’ve ever shaken in my whole life, respectfully,” VonBalson adds. “Everyone was just so nice.”
Go figure. “It’s been something that we’ve been hoping to get, especially for this record,” Jarman adds.
Who knows, maybe flipturn will become TV darlings, too, but for now, the long and lonesome highway is a home away from home.
“Playing shows is obviously still a big deal, but now it almost feels like a 9-5, Wednesday through Sunday that’s our work week. We’re in a different city every day,” Basse says. “People are checking in, but nobody’s being like, ‘Yo, how was that show?’ every night. Our families will maybe check in once a week. It’s a little different.”
“My mom just called me for the first time today after being on tour for three weeks,” Duncan shares with a laugh.
“It’s just part of normal life now,” Jarman concludes.
flipturn, with Krooked Kings, 7 p.m. Saturday, March 15, Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop Street. Tickets are $91.
