From Ashes To New brought their Christmas hometown show back for the second time, and despite skipping last year, the band made sure the tradition returned stronger than ever. The one night only event sold out HMAC in Harrisburg and delivered exactly what fans were hoping for. There was no waiting around for a night two announcement. Everyone in the room knew this was something special.
Support came from Twist It, What Lies Below, and If Not For Me. All three acts have ties to the area and each brought their own dedicated crowd, creating a constantly evolving energy throughout the night. Every opener performed with headliner level intensity, and the audience responded in kind. The momentum never dipped.
The night began with a Christmas themed VIP experience for 125 fans who traveled from across Pennsylvania and well beyond. Gifts were exchanged, conversations flowed, and memories were made. Topics ranged from favorite songs to play live to the band jokingly naming Harrisburg as their least favorite Pennsylvania town. The owner of HMAC, Chris Warner, and his family showed their support throughout the night and later joined the band onstage to surprise vocalist Danny Case with a slice of cake for his upcoming birthday, leading the crowd in a loud singalong. Family and friends of the band were hosted in the loft above the floor to ensure they had the best possible view.
Family remained a recurring theme. Matt Brandyberry shared that his son Roman has been attending shows since he was five and is now seventeen. He also introduced his six month old son Cooper, attending his first From Ashes To New show. Eagles fans in the crowd erupted into a long COOOOOOP chant as Roman lifted his younger brother Lion King style, a moment Matt later admitted made him more than a little nervous. For one night, everyone in the room was family.
Between songs, Danny frequently spoke about unity and finding connection through music. One message that resonated deeply was his reminder to forgive yourself and choose life when thoughts turn dark. He also reflected on being turned away from bands earlier in his career and being told he was not good enough. He shared that he has since made peace with those moments and confidently stated they were dead wrong. The message was clear. Prove them wrong, whatever it is you are chasing.
The setlist spanned the band’s full catalog, including a throwback to 2020 with Scars That I’m Hiding from Panic. They also delivered Hope You’re Happy from their 2023 album Blackout after repeated fan requests. The band leaned fully into the holiday spirit with their Christmas cover of All I Want For Christmas Is You, joking that fans specifically asked them not to play it, which of course made it the perfect choice. They even joked they were giving Mariah a break for once.
Onstage, the band’s energy never let up. Their playful interactions with fans made it obvious why the connection runs so deep. Guitarist Lance Dowdle broke into the Macarena mid song and even engaged in a rock paper scissors match with a fan that ended in a laughing middle finger exchange. Moments like these show how comfortable this five piece is in their own skin and how much they genuinely enjoy what they do.
The night closed with an extended farewell filled with personal thank yous, picks, sticks, and setlists handed into the crowd. As the house music came up, the band launched into crowd karaoke with Creed’s Higher, sending everyone out on a hopeful note and promising they would not miss next year’s hometown Christmas show.
From Ashes To New will kick off their first appearance of 2026 at Shiprocked with additional tour dates already lined up and a new tour on the horizon.
See you in 2026.
From Ashes To New Tour
Photos: Brittany Lynn / Rock Documented – HMAC
