Final nights do hit different. Looser, hungrier, like nobody’s ready to let it end. That was the tone inside The Pinnacle in Nashville on April 22nd, and it carried through every set of the night. It had also been a minute. This was Gov’t Mule’s first time back in Nashville since May 12, 2023, and they didn’t waste a second reminding the room what that absence meant.

Holy Wars aren’t interested in competing for volume anymore. They’re aiming for something that sticks long after the noise dies out. On their latest release, Shadow Work/Light Work, the band trades in easy impact for something slower, heavier, and far more deliberate. This isn’t a record built on instant gratification or algorithm-friendly spikes. It’s a slow burn, one that leans into discomfort, tension, and the kind of emotional weight that doesn’t resolve cleanly.

Freely Fest made its debut inside Bridgestone Arena on April 8th, and from the moment the doors opened, it was clear this was built to be more than just another show on the live music circuit. This festival centered itself around the First Amendment, with a focus on artistic expression. That theme carried through every set, every speech, and every moment in between. I was there shooting for Rock DNA Magazine, but it quickly turned into something that felt bigger than a standard assignment.