“…dual vocals, catchy hooks and anthemic choruses…”- Dyingscene

“Turnspit has been on our radar for all of 2017 thanks to their heavily melodic punk.” (’36 Chicago Bands & Artists that Kicked 2017’s Ass’)- Do312

Midwestern melodic punk 4-piece Turnspit will release their debut full-length ‘Desire Paths’ on February 16, 2018.

The Chicago band’s 12-track LP was self-produced and engineered by Dan Tinkler (drums), with assistance from Justin Yates, Chris DeQuick and Paddy McGuire. The album was recorded at Atlas Studios in Chicago, IL.

Pre-orders are now available at: https://www.dodgeballrecords.com/shop/.

Stream a track titled “Irish Name” now on Brooklynvegan: http://www.brooklynvegan.com/chicago-punks-turnspit-releasing-debut-lp-stream-irish-name/.

The band has performed at Riot Fest, and has played shows with the likes of Alkaline Trio, Beach Slang, Flatfoot 56 and many others.

A music video for the deeply personal track “Breath Taking” recently premiered on Riotfest’s website.

Guitarist/vocalist Jason Swearingen tells Riotfest, “A few years back, I finally started going to therapy. It helped me begin to get a handle on my mental health, and it encouraged me to seriously reevaluate, while coming to terms with a handful of things. One of the most difficult things I’ve struggled with is how my religious upbringing and obsessive-compulsive disorder kept me from exploring a lot of who I really am.

Over the past few years, I’ve come out as pansexual, and have begun to explore gender in ways I always felt I couldn’t before. I’ve been learning to do things that make me happy, rather than let guilt control my life. A lot of my songs on this record, “Breath Taking” included, deal with how it’s easier to control a people who are kept miserable; and how revolutionary an act it can be to simply do what makes you happy — in a positive way — in the face of others telling you that happiness is shameful.”

Turnspit will be playing a hometown record release show at GMan Tavern on February 17 and a special acoustic set at Chicago’s Blue Island Beer Company on March 2. Additional shows will be announced soon.

Upcoming shows:

Feb. 17 at Gman Tavern with Retirement Party, Blood People, and Third Twin Sister

March 2 (acoustic set) at Blue Island Beer Company with Jaclyn Heuser and Nick Sintos

Tracklist:

1. Irish Name

2. Breath Taking

3. Walk Away

4. Apologies, I Have So, So Many

5. Desire Paths

6. Skin

7. Home Is Run No More

8. Given

9. Taproom

10. Midsentence

11. Invisible

12. If It Meant Heaven Was Free

Turnspit is:

Gillian McGhee – Guitar/Vox

Brad Davis – Bass/Background Vox

Jason Swearingen – Guitar/Vox

Dan Tinkler – Drums/Salmon pants

About Turnspit:

Made of grit, sweat and soulful prowess, Turnspit were born out of a moment of bliss during a Samiam set at Riot Fest in 2014 when they were “feeling the itch” to ditch the solo gigs and form a band. Since 2014, Turnspit have been leaning into the music scene non-stop with recording singles and EPs at Atlas Studios to playing frequent shows in the city. Having shared a stage with bands like The Lawrence Arms, Worriers, Dowsing, Meridian, RVIVR, Worship This!, and Alkaline Trio since then, the group felt their biggest moment of joy when they played the Heather Owen Stage during Riot Fest 2017.

The punk foursome grasp the livelihood of the city’s music scene when they’re not making their own tracks. Drummer Dan Tinkler is a sound engineer at Atlas Studios, guitarist and vocalist Jason Swearingen is a graphic designer and illustrator/artist, vocalist and guitarist Gillian McGhee works at Cobra Lounge and volunteers at a local animal shelter (One Tail At A Time) and Bradley Davis is a stage manager at Thalia Hall. Not only does the group give back to the scene they love, they’re socially conscious with their performances and donate proceeds from some shows to organizations like RAINN, Girl Forward and spread the message of inclusivity.

Weaving influences into their midwestern skate punk tracks with poetic sensibility, Turnspit are in the wheelhouse of their favorite bands: The Gaslight Anthem, The Menzingers, Rise Against, Lucero, Hot Water Music and Against Me! Taking some pointers to heart, McGhee said Chuck Ragan’s Covering Ground influenced her iconic “growl.”

“I wanted to be able to produce that sound with my voice and put my own spin on it,” McGhee said. “I’ve worked on my vocal delivery for years and am very proud of my ability to go from soft and pretty to harsh and gritty.”

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