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Tabernacle – Atlanta, Georgia
July 8, 2026

The Tabernacle remains one of my favorite venues, with excellent acoustics and a setting that always makes a show feel special. I made the trip with two of my regular concert buddies, Brian Tanguay and Steve Morse, and this was my first time seeing all three bands on the bill.

Heal The Hurt made the most of a short opening set. I had interviewed Trevor Tyson about a year ago and had met him at a Cleansing of the Temple and With Blood Comes Cleansing show in Greenville, so it was good to finally catch the band live. Trevor spoke between songs about hope, reminding the crowd that they are loved and not alone. That message matched the band’s performance, which was energetic, heartfelt, and strong enough that my friends actually preferred them over Wolves at the Gate that night.

Wolves at the Gate delivered exactly what you would expect from a veteran Christian metalcore band. Their mix of screams and clean vocals hit hard, and their set kept the energy moving. The frontman worked the stage constantly and did a great job engaging the crowd, while the band continued to show why they have set such a high standard for heavy music with substance.

This was my first time seeing Flyleaf, and getting to see them with Lacey Sturm made it even more memorable. The band is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its self-titled debut album, and there was a real sense that Atlanta was witnessing something special as the first night of the tour. Before Flyleaf took the stage, “The Red” by Chevelle blasted through the PA in tribute to their late sound engineer Rich Caldwell, a meaningful moment that gave the opening even more weight.

Flyleaf’s set mixed nostalgia, emotion, and gratitude. Lacey spoke openly about hope and reminded the packed room that they are loved and not alone, and it came across as sincere rather than rehearsed. One of the biggest moments of the night was hearing “This Close” played live for the first time ever. She also shared how thankful she was that Sameer Bhattacharya was able to be there after recovering from a motorcycle accident. Meanwhile, Pat Seals brought nonstop energy on bass, and the whole band looked fully locked in.

Songs like “All Around Me,” “I’m So Sick,” and “Fully Alive” had the crowd moving, while “Cassie” and “Sorrow” brought plenty of singalongs. Flyleaf’s catalog has clearly held up, and this lineup still knows how to connect with a crowd.

After the show, it was good to see Cindy Blankenship, aka The Mothership, another familiar face from several concerts this year. It was a fitting end to a memorable night and a strong opening date for Flyleaf’s anniversary run.