New arrivals make inroads with punk sound that packs a punch

Groove Tube with Cian O’Connell

Despite only forming a few months back, Turnstiles have fast built a reputation as one Galway’s liveliest and most entertaining acts.  Looking to emulate some of the bands on the thriving punk scenes in Ireland and the UK, the group matches a raw, dominant intensity on-stage with appropriately authentic, rebellious lyricism.

In the space of the last couple of months, the five-piece have released two anthemic debut singles in Wasting Away and Moving Forward.

Their chemistry on both tracks, as well as on stage, belies the limited amount of time they’ve spent together. It’s something that lead singer Callum Mitchell can see outside of playing together.

“It’s not as if none of us knew each other,” he notes. “Me and Jake were quite close and I knew Colm for years but then Cillian didn’t know anyone in the band – he’s just one of those people that gets along with anyone and Luke is the same.

“We’re all fairly easy going so it gelled fairly quickly and beyond that, we all have the same sort of ideas and interests music-wise.”

Alongside Callum, Turnstiles consists of Luke Mulliez on drums, Jake Tiernan on bass and Colm Sweeney and Cillian Ryan on guitar. Given the strength of the band’s identity, it is fair to say a common approach to music has been crucial.

“[The post-punk scene] is really taking off,” Callum says. “When we started up, my favourite bands were the likes of Fontaines D.C., Idols and Shame.

“That definitely had an effect on me…it sort of made me sing the way I do. It was something we found naturally. When we first started jamming we were covering Oasis tunes so it just wasn’t the same. What we’re doing now is the complete opposite and it suits all of us.”

Turnstiles have cultivated one of Galway’s most exciting local music nights in the form of ‘Free House’, a monthly showcase for original music in Áras na Gael. The event has been a huge success on each of the three occasions it has been held.

“Jake wanted us to put on our own gig somewhere,” Callum recalls.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.