The Holy Ghost Tabernacle Choir held service at Will’s Pub in Orlando, FL for those in need of catharsis and understanding. Hailing from the beautifully haunted streets of Savannah, Georgia, their music is summed up best in their own words, “We deserve to be ourselves. We just have to make the request non-negotiable.”
Their first EP, all-american, made its way into the world in 2020 during the first treacherous summer of the pandemic, a timely release for the frustration at the state of the world portrayed in the six songs. The band’s first album, 2022’s Slow Murder, picked up where its predecessor left off, continuing to evolve their sound while diving deeper into topics surrounding the struggle to stay afloat in a broken system.
Despite the frantic energy of their stage presence and the rage felt in their music, there was a tenderness to their performance not typically seen in the genre, even amongst the most poignant of lyricists. Vulnerability and honesty permeated the topics discussed between songs, the audience intently listening. The band reminded them of something their tour mates, Clavus, had brought up earlier in the evening. “The revolution is not in here. It’s out there.”
The crowd came to participate, dancing and lending their voices to the performance. As the set unfolded, the stage was extended into the pit and even outside to the venue’s patio. At the end of the 10-song set, the audience begged the band for more. One encore could not satisfy them, so the night ended with a second.
It’s only a matter of time before The Holy Ghost Tabernacle Choir graduate to larger congregations. Though their current Florida/Georgia tour is at an end, rest assured that they will most likely be donning their white button-downs and black ties in a city near you soon.
