Live Review: The Funeral Portrait + Dead On A Sunday + Sarah & The Safe Word + Glimmers @ The Masquerade, Atlanta - January 17th, 2026

Chris Collett
Jan 18
5 min read

Updated: Jan 19

Hometown shows carry a different kind of pressure. On this night at The Masquerade, The Funeral Portrait stepped into that moment fully aware of how far they had come to get here.

Singer passionately performs on stage under green lights, holding a microphone. Background shows abstract patterns and more green lighting. — The Funeral Portrait photo by Chris Collett

The Funeral Portrait returned home to headline Heaven at The Masquerade for their Second Annual Suffocate City Town Hall Meeting, delivering a hometown performance that was equal parts celebration, validation, and victory lap. For longtime Atlanta concertgoers, this show represented more than a sold-out room. It was a reminder of how far a band can go when they grind, build a loyal community, and never lose sight of where they started.

This was the second night of a special hometown run. The night before, the band stripped things down with an intimate acoustic sold-out set at Altar for the Suffocate City Prom. That contrast made Saturday night in Heaven feel intentionally bigger. This was the night for full production, full theatrics, and full emotional release. The Coffin Crew showed up knowing exactly what this moment meant.

Anyone who has followed The Funeral Portrait locally knows the origin story. Forming in 2014, they were playing local rooms like Swayze’s in Marietta and Purgatory at the Masquerade, grinding through small stages, small crowds, and early lineups. Those rooms shape bands. They teach you how to hold attention without production, how to survive bad sound, and how to connect face-to-face with the people willing to show up.

Standing in Heaven now, watching that same band command a packed venue with confidence and precision, it was impossible not to think about that journey. This did not feel like a band testing a headline slot. It felt like a band that had earned it.

Singer with pink hair performs on stage with a violinist and guitarist. Green lighting, vibrant mood. Sign reads "Tomb & Tandem." — Sarah & The Safe Word photo by Chris Collett

Before the hometown heroes took the stage, the night was stacked with openers who made sure the room was fully primed.

Home town Glimmers opened the night, setting the tone early and easing the crowd into the evening without losing momentum. Their set helped establish the atmosphere while the room filled in, giving the night a smooth and intentional start.

Another local Atlanta band Sarah & The Safe Word followed, bringing their theatrical cabaret-rock energy and blurring the line between performance art and live concert. Their dramatic presence leaned fully into character and spectacle, raising the intensity and visual focus of the night.

Colorado-based Dead On A Sunday took the stage next, pushing the energy even further with a darker, heavier edge. I had reviewed the two-piece just a few months ago, and hearing their “Hit Me Baby One More Time” and “Enjoy the Silence” mashup still never gets old. Their set pulled the crowd deeper into the atmosphere and injected a sense of urgency that carried straight into the headliner.

Musician wearing sunglasses and a hat plays drums under moody blue lighting, exuding a mysterious and intense vibe. — Dead On A Sunday photo by Chris Collett

Each opener felt intentionally placed, contributing to the emotional build of the evening rather than simply filling time on the bill.

When The Funeral Portrait finally hit the stage, it was clear this was not a greatest-hits set or a casual hometown appearance. The band performed Greetings From Suffocate City in full along with a few other fan favorites to end the night, committing to the album as a complete story rather than cherry-picking moments was a treat to hear to say the least.

Frontman Lee Jennings carried the performance with a commanding presence, while guitarist Cody Weissinger brought sharp, dynamic energy that cut cleanly through the mix. Bassist Robert Weston anchored the songs with weight and groove, and drummer Homer Umbanhower drove everything forward with power and precision.

What stood out most was how locked in the band felt. This was not just technical proficiency. It was confidence. They knew these songs worked, and they trusted the audience to follow them through every turn.

Singer on stage with mic, red lighting; person in mask and crown poses dramatically. Concert ambiance with drums and guitar in background. — The Funeral Portrait photo by Chris Collett

The visual elements were used sparingly and with clear intent. During select songs, the stage shifted into something closer to dark fantasy than a standard rock show. An angel figure appeared with multiple arrows piercing her torso, followed by two female dancers in devil masks, with additional characters emerging as the night went on. The imagery felt unsettling, symbolic, and deliberate. At times, it felt like a collision between the Moulin Rouge and a Greek tragedy unfolding quietly in the background as the band tore through their set with grace and control.

It never overwhelmed the music. Instead, it enhanced specific moments, creating a Pan’s Labyrinth-like atmosphere that lingered long after those songs ended. The restraint mattered. These visuals appeared when they were needed, not as a constant distraction.

The Funeral Portrait photo by Chris Collett

One of the most standout moments of the night came during “Holy Water.” As the opening notes hit, the entire room erupted. Voices filled Heaven, nearly drowning out the band at times. This was not a passive crowd watching a performance. This was a community singing a song back to a band that helped build it.

Moments like that cannot be manufactured. They happen when a band and its audience grow together over time. The Coffin Crew has grown right alongside this band, and there is no mistaking their loyalty. It is the kind that sticks through every era, every room, and every step forward.

Adding weight to the night was the fact that The Funeral Portrait recently hit number one on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart with “Dark Thoughts,” marking their third number-one song on that chart. Those numbers matter, but what mattered more here was context.

The Funeral Portrait - Dark Thoughts (Official Music Video)

This was not a band chasing validation. This was a band bringing success home and sharing it with the people who supported them before charts were even part of the conversation.

They have shared stages with major acts, toured nationally, and stepped into much larger rooms. Yet this hometown show felt just as important as any arena date. Maybe more.

This was not just a concert. It was a checkpoint.

From a little stage in a strip mall to headlining Heaven, The Funeral Portrait proved that growth does not have to come at the expense of authenticity. They honored their past, showcased their present, and made it clear they are not done climbing.