A Sold-Out night at The Aztec Theatre!
Long before the lights dimmed inside The Aztec Theatre, fans were already filling the sidewalks around the venue. Some wore original Flyleaf shirts that had clearly been around for years, while others showed up in newer tour merch, proving just how many generations this band has reached over the last two decades. It was one of those crowds where parents stood next to teenagers, longtime fans traded stories about seeing the band in the mid-2000s, and everyone seemed equally excited for the same reason. Lacey Sturm was back.
The 20th Anniversary Tour felt less like a celebration of an album cycle and more like a reunion between a band and the people who never stopped listening. You could hear conversations about favorite songs while fans compared old concert memories and guessed what might make the setlist. Once the doors opened, the room filled quickly, and every trip to the merch table came with another familiar face wearing vintage band shirts.
With Aka Bobby and Resident Hero opening the evening, the lineup covered everything from intimate singer-songwriter moments to loud, melodic rock before the headliners took over. By the time Flyleaf walked onto the stage, the anticipation had been building for hours, and the room was more than ready.
AKA BOBBY
Opening a rock show with nothing more than an acoustic guitar can be intimidating, but Aka Bobby made it feel effortless. The Texas singer-songwriter kept things simple, letting the songs do the work instead of relying on a huge production. That approach fit the room surprisingly well, especially with an audience that had arrived early and was willing to listen.
Songs like “Fool,” “Lazybones,” and “WDYLG???” highlighted his ability to switch between thoughtful lyrics and catchy melodies without forcing anything. Midway through the set, he moved to the keyboard for a few moments, giving the performance another layer without changing its intimate atmosphere. It was a nice change of pace before the heavier bands later in the evening.
His conversations with the audience felt relaxed and genuine. There was no pressure to win people over because he simply seemed happy to be there. That confidence translated into a performance that steadily pulled more attention toward the stage as the venue continued to fill.
Closing with “Pretty Things,” and “DYTM” Aka Bobby left a strong first impression. His music may have been quieter than what followed, but it never disappeared into the background. Instead, it gave the audience a chance to settle into the night while discovering an artist who deserves a closer listen beyond the opening slot.
RESIDENT HERO
If Aka Bobby eased everyone into the evening, Resident Hero made sure nobody stayed comfortable for long. The three-piece immediately turned up the volume and gave the audience exactly what a rock crowd hopes for before the headliner arrives. Their chemistry stood out from the opening song, with Ryan White, Jay Warren, and Luke Agajanian playing with the confidence of musicians who know how to make every minute count.
Tracks like “Vendetta Black,” “Dark Things,” and “Once” kept the momentum moving, while “Send The Chariot”and “Happy (Without Me)” encouraged more movement from the crowd. Heads started nodding, phones came out, and the pit near the front became noticeably more active. Even fans who had never heard the band before quickly understood why they were on this tour.
For a trio, their sound felt remarkably full. The guitars carried plenty of weight, the rhythm section stayed tight, and the vocals cut through the mix without losing any intensity. Rather than trying to imitate bigger bands, they leaned into their own style and made every song feel direct and energetic.
Ending with “Funeral Season,” Resident Hero walked off after delivering exactly what an opening rock band should. They left people talking between sets, checking the merch table, and searching for the band’s music before Flyleaf even took the stage.
FLYLEAF
The 20th Anniversary Tour
The second Flyleaf walked onstage, the reaction said everything. The cheers were immediate, but when Lacey Sturmappeared, they became even louder. Her return to the band has meant a lot to longtime fans, and seeing her back performing these songs in person felt like something many people had waited years to experience.
From the opening moments of “In The Dark,” the connection between the band and the audience was impossible to miss. Lacey rarely stayed in one place, constantly moving across the stage, leaning toward the crowd, and making eye contact with fans singing every lyric. Her voice still carried the same emotional intensity that helped define the band’s early years, shifting naturally between softer passages and heavier screams without losing control.
The setlist balanced deeper cuts with fan favorites. “Chasm,” “Again,” “Fire Fire,” and “Cage On The Ground” kept longtime listeners fully invested before the room exploded during “I’m So Sick.” Nearly everyone in the theatre screamed the chorus back at the stage, creating one of the loudest moments of the night. “All Around Me” followed with another massive singalong, proving those songs continue to resonate years after their release.
Behind Lacey, Sameer Bhattacharya, Jared Hartmann, Pat Seals, and James Culpepper played with remarkable precision while still keeping the performance loose and exciting. Ending with “Arise,” Flyleaf closed the evening with the same passion that had defined the entire show, reminding everyone why these songs have remained part of so many fans’ lives for twenty years.
Lacey Sturm’s Return Made the Night Feel Complete
For many people inside The Aztec Theatre, this concert was about much more than celebrating twenty years of Flyleaf. It was about finally seeing Lacey Sturm back where so many fans felt she belonged. After leaving the band in 2012 and returning a decade later, her reunion has become one of the biggest stories in modern rock, and San Antonio embraced every second of it.
You could see how much it meant to the audience. Fans weren’t just singing along because they knew the lyrics. They were singing because these songs had been part of their lives for years. Every time Lacey stepped toward the edge of the stage, hands reached out, phones went into the air, and smiles spread across the front rows. There was a genuine feeling of appreciation between the band and the audience that never felt forced. It wasn’t about reliving the past. It was about celebrating where Flyleaf is today while honoring everything that brought them here.
Two Decades of Flyleaf
Formed in Temple, Texas, in the early 2000s, Flyleaf quickly became one of the defining voices of alternative hard rock. Their self-titled debut album introduced fans to a sound that balanced crushing guitar riffs with deeply personal lyrics, all driven by Lacey Sturm’s unmistakable voice. Songs like “I’m So Sick,” “Fully Alive,” and “All Around Me” helped the band reach audiences well beyond the rock scene.
Following Lacey’s departure in 2012, Flyleaf continued with different lineups while maintaining a loyal fanbase. When she officially returned in late 2022, it reignited excitement from fans who had waited years to hear these songs performed by the original voice behind them. Two decades after the band’s formation, Flyleaf continues proving that honest songwriting, powerful musicianship, and a genuine connection with fans never go out of style.
