The word “flyleaf” is defined as the blank page at the beginning and end of a book. For the band that adopted it as its name and identity, it represents “a moment of clarity before the story begins and after it’s over,” according to lead singer Lacey Sturm.

The Belton, Texas, band, originally known as Passerby, was founded in 2002. A year later, its set at South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin caught the attention of record executives, earning the group a deal with Octone Records. The band changed its name and released its major-label debut, Flyleaf, in 2005.

The album spent a staggering 133 weeks on the Billboard 200 and launched the band into the mainstream. The small-town group with a grassroots following was suddenly one of the biggest acts in rock. Flyleaf — comprised of Sturm (vocals), Sameer Bhattacharya (lead guitar), Jared Hartmann (rhythm guitar), Pat Seals (bass) and James Culpepper (drums) — toured with powerhouse bands such as Korn, Deftones, Stone Sour and Three Days Grace while also performing on the main stage at multiple editions of the Family Values Tour and other major music festivals.

The band’s breakout single, “All Around Me,” is certified four times platinum; “I’m So Sick” is certified two times platinum; and “Fully Alive” is certified platinum. Their songs also appeared on the soundtracks for Live Free or Die Hard, Resident Evil: Extinction and Underworld: Awakening. Most importantly, their sound inspired a generation of kickass female vocalists.

Flyleaf’s second album, Memento Mori, debuted at No. 8 on the Billboard 200. When asked about the album’s title, Sturm said, “Remember you’re mortal, remember that you’ll die, and remember that your life is short and precious — and so are the lives of those around you.”

With those impactful words in mind, Sturm left the band in October 2012 to prioritize her family following the birth of her son.

Kristen May assumed lead vocal duties for the band’s 2014 release, Between the Stars. Two years later, Flyleaf went on hiatus, with May officially stepping away as well. Many fans viewed these developments as the end of the book. That is, until earlier this year, when Flyleaf surprised fans by announcing its 20th Anniversary Tour, featuring the return of Sturm. The 14-city run, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the band’s platinum-certified debut album, sold out every stop.

On one of the hottest days of 2026, with temperatures reaching triple digits in Silver Spring, Maryland, Flyleaf made its highly anticipated stop at The Fillmore, with support from Tiny Ships and Convictions.

For this reunion tour, the band chose Memento Mori‘s “In the Dark” as the opening track. Lyrically, the song is about stepping out of darkness while confronting fear and shame in search of hope and redemption. It served as a powerful and fitting way to begin the evening.

Two songs later, the band launched into “Again,” which explores themes of betrayal and recurring cycles of hurt. Sturm’s vocals shifted from vulnerable to explosive in the blink of an eye.

“Cassie” was one of the most anticipated songs of the night, so when it appeared earlier in the set than on previous tours, it received an especially warm ovation. For those unfamiliar with the song’s backstory, it was written in honor of Cassie Bernall, who was killed in the Columbine High School massacre in 1999.

One of the many reasons “Fully Alive” remains a fan favorite is its inspirational message. Sturm penned the platinum-certified single in honor of a relative’s battle with cancer after they awoke simply grateful to be alive despite the circumstances. It’s a welcome reminder about perspective and choosing gratitude, even in suffering.

My personal favorite moment of the night came when the band played “I’m So Sick,” the double-platinum single about addiction, obsession and the desire to be free — about searching for a cure while feeling a devastating disease growing inside one’s soul. Seeing the song performed live again, especially after Sturm’s departure and the band’s subsequent hiatus, felt almost too good to be true. Almost.

As the performance drew to a close, Flyleaf saved its biggest hit for last. “All Around Me” is certified four times platinum, with lyrics centered on overwhelming love, whether romantic or spiritual. Their 80-minute set, spanning the band’s first three albums with a heavy emphasis on its debut for obvious reasons, was nearly flawless. Many in attendance admitted they never thought they’d have another opportunity to see Flyleaf perform live, making it especially fitting to end the evening with an uplifting anthem about love.

Caleb Shomo’s musical journey started with a lesser-known band called Attack Attack! The Westerville, Ohio act featured a teenaged Shomo on the keyboard. While the band’s career was relatively short lived, it’s worth noting that their lineup also featured Austin Carlile (now with Of Mice and Men) and Johnny Franck (also known as Bilmuri).

At the age of 10, Shomo suffered from depression and anxiety and was misdiagnosed with ADHD because he had trouble concentrating. While still with Attack Attack! Shomo began writing songs for the band that would eventually become known as Beartooth as an outlet for his mental health.

Since their debut album dropped in 2014, Beartooth has been on a steady trajectory, thanks to an ever-expanding catalog of hits and one of the best live shows in the industry.

On this night, Beartooth set the tone early with “Might Love Myself” as their opening number. The popular single addresses the importance of self-acceptance, recovery and learning to be okay with yourself, and was presented in a slightly stripped-down rendition for Baltimore. The band’s most popular song, “In Between,” was up next and immediately got the blood pumping. It’s always one of the loudest audience participation songs and this performance was no different. 

Midway through their set, Shomo and friends unveiled their latest single, “Free,” a testament to letting go of past burdens. Caleb’s raw and unfiltered vocals carried through as he sang about his emotional liberation. As I’ve said in previous reviews, Shomo’s search for inner peace and happiness is incredibly personal and uplifting, and his willingness to share with others is incredibly noble and important.

Beartooth’s final two songs of the evening were “The Past Is Dead” and “Riptide.” Both high-energy anthems have received ample love and attention since their release and closed their set on the highest of notes.

Nothing More was formed back in 2003 when Jonny Hawkins and Mark Vollelunga met as teenagers at a church camp, bonded over music and began jamming together. The San Antonio-based musicians launched the band after high school and spent the 2000s recording independent releases and touring regionally while undergoing frequent lineup changes. They’ve come a long way since those early days, back when Hawkins wasn’t even the lead singer. Initially, Hawkins was the band’s drummer.

During the subsequent two decades, Nothing More has continually evolved and is now a mainstay on hard rock stations across the country. The band’s critically-acclaimed seventh studio album, Carnal, features four chart-topping singles and had some of the biggest names in the industry lining up to collaborate with them.

Nothing More — with support from Catch Your Breath, Archers and Doobie — kicked off the North American leg of the “Carnal Nature World Tour” at The Fillmore, in Silver Spring, Maryland. The show marked the first of 37 headlining shows across the United States and Canada, rampaging into 2026 in style.

Each of the supporting acts put on a fantastic show and, by the time frontman Jonny Hawkins, guitarist Mark Vollelunga, bassist Daniel Oliver and drummer Ben Anderson all took to the stage, the standing-room-only crowd roared its approval.

For the first song on the first night of the tour, the three-time Grammy nominated performers opted for “House of Sand” (which features Eric Vanlerberghe from I Prevail on the album version). It’s an aggressive, in-your-face manifesto designed to kick the doors in and get the party started as quickly as possible. Mission accomplished.

The second track of the night was “Angel Song” (which features David Draiman of Disturbed on the album version). This radio-friendly anthem was another smart choice as an early tone setter for the evening, showcasing each member of the band in a highly-energy fashion.

As always, Hawkins took to the stage both shirtless and shoeless. With boundless energy, he prowled every inch of the stage ensuring fans in all corners of the building were acknowledged and felt appreciated. It’s also worth noting the jacked frontman donned body paint, creating an aesthetic that would make a professional wrestler proud. After the show, Hawkins admitted on his social media that he had dealt with a serious migraine throughout the show, but much to his credit, no one else in attendance had a clue.

Witnessing “Let ‘em Burn” live and in person was a high-intensity experience that felt both visceral and deeply personal. When Hawkins bellowed “Everybody!” he could have been talking about all those in attendance hanging on his every word.

“If It Doesn’t Hurt” is the sort of track designed to be blasted at full volume on a road trip or during an all-day music festival. At this point, the connection with this evening’s audience was readily apparent. A constant theme during Nothing More live shows is a sense of community and passion. While they draw a diverse crowd — ranging from little ones up way past their bedtime on a school night to crowd-surfers dressed in Slipknot masks and jumpsuits — everyone was smiling and singing along.

“Go to War” is arguably the band’s most popular and successful song. It was Grammy nominated, featured in promotional material for “War for the Planet of the Apes” and used in several television spots and sports broadcasts. The band’s high-octane performance of the smash hit was easily a highlight of the night. Another incredible moment was when the charismatic frontman slowed things down to honor the memory of his sister with a touching performance of “Jenny.” Had the band only played those two tracks and then called it a night, it would have been worth the price of admission alone.

The video for “FREEFALL (featuring Chris Daughtry)” tells the story of a firefighter struggling with his mental health who unexpectedly finds a new life direction after a chance encounter with a homeless dog. The touching video features actor Michael Lombardi, who previously played a firefighter in the hit show “Rescue Me.” Additionally, Nothing More partnered with K9s For Warriors, an amazing organization that provides highly-trained service dogs to military veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury, at no financial cost to the veteran.

Music with a message is nothing new for the band. They previously donated money from ticket sales during past tours to a non-profit named To Write Love on Her Arms — an organization dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide.

Because of their willingness to address important themes, like mental health, social injustice and personal growth, it’s easy to support a band like Nothing More, especially when they come to town. The final track of the night was “This Is the Time (Ballast),” which longtime fans likely know is the song that helped put Nothing More on the map, in many ways. After years of independent released music, it helped them break into mainstream rock radio and touring circuits. Twelve years later, the track still delivers.

These four gentlemen pour their hearts and souls into their music and continually raise the bar with both their music and their live performances. If this is what they deliver on a night when members of the band were less than 100 percent, it’s easy to see why Nothing More has such a tight bond with their audiences as they sell out venues across the country.