Turnover @ The Garage, Glasgow, 9 Mar

Bringing the easy-going jazz melodies of last year's Altogether to Scottish soil, Turnover return for another clinical, professional display

Live Review by Dylan Tuck | 17 Mar 2020
  • Turnover live at King Tut's, Glasgow, 29 Oct

Turnover's return with their jazzy new record Altogether certified their distinct talent for penning laid-back indie melodies ready-made for a wide-spanning audience of stoners, scene kids and hipsters alike (other listeners may vary). Such is their infectious, comfortably accessible songwriting style, that they seamlessly fall into a bracket of ‘easy listening’; not due to a dullness, but thanks to a relaxing, nod-along quality that’s perfect for quiet nights in your bedroom. Transitioning that easy-going trait to an exhilarating live setting may seem a little more complex, but on tonight’s evidence, these fellas are model musicians in many aspects.

Understandably, with Altogether being their fresh-out-the-oven release, the band are leaning heavily into tracks from the record with a mighty eight tracks from that LP on show tonight. There’s clearly a more groove-laced jazz direction with their newer material, exemplified by Austin Getz, with his small keyboard, sitting front of stage stabbing soft synth rhythms as Still In Motion kicks off proceedings. His vocals are buttery and smooth, backed by a pitch-shifted matching harmony that sounds like a little Getz is sat on his shoulder singing quietly and angelically in the background. “Thanks for coming out to us on a Monday night”, he says, clearly underestimating the party-every-night attitude of most Glaswegians.

For a band with all the stage presence of a group of school kids playing a talent show, the contrast to that in their overall professionalism and tightness as musicians couldn’t be further away. Where sweaty school teens would likely be out of time and duffing notes all over the gaff, Turnover are clinical and barely miss a note all night, totally making up for their staticity.

Heads are bobbing along to the snazzy tones of groovier numbers like Plant Sugar, Sunshine Type and Number On the Gate, but as seems to be the case at most Turnover shows now, the majority in attendance tonight are hoping for snippets of golden oldies from fan-favourite records Peripheral Vision and Magnolia. While the latter is seemingly one the band wish to put behind them (having grown to be a completely different band from their earlier pop-punk days), the hits from the former like Dizzy On the Comedown and New Scream are well worth the wait.

Voices are raised, hands are held to the ceiling, and there’s a sense of relief at finally hearing the classics rings around The Garage's G2 space. That is, until Casey Getz's drums completely cut out on the final burst of finale Humming, leaving the band to look around confused and chuckle at the annoyance of oh so nearly making it to the end without any errors. 

Turnover don’t tend to bring a party, but their delicate, gentle tracks are certainly well delivered nonetheless.

https://www.turnovermusic.net