Public Circuit Brings Modern Church Tour to Nashville’s Cobra

**Public Circuit At The Cobra In Nashville Tennessee**

Public Circuit, the New York City synth-punk trio, turned East Nashville’s Cobra into an underground party from another era.

Touring behind their sophomore record Modern Church (out now via À La Carte Records), the band delivered a set that was far more intense than expected — darker, louder, and pulsing with a punk edge that gave new bite to their synth-driven sound.

The scene was set with one of the most eclectic crowds you’ll find in Nashville: punks pressed against the stage, hippies tapping their toes to the rhythm, dancers who never stopped moving, and others simply soaking in the spectacle. At the very front, one man clung tightly to the chain link fence serving as the stage barrier (yes, an actual section of chain link fence), locked in, completely mesmerized by the performance.

Lighting was minimal, with the room mostly swallowed by shadow. Flashes of red and blue glow illuminated the band, adding a harsh, industrial feel. It came at the cost of clear photos, but the payoff was worth it. In the moment, The Cobra felt less like a dive venue and more like a secret warehouse party hidden in East Nashville.

Only two songs in, we were served “I’m the Man,” setting a quick pace and signaling that Public Circuit had no intention of easing into the night. The transition into “Damager,” a song that began as a jam in their early live sets, raised the intensity. It struck as a chaotic burst that shook the crowd loose.

The mood shifted with “Bondage” before giving way to the danceable drive of “Samson.” “No Faith” was one of the night’s standouts, its accusatory force and brutal vocal delivery tilting even more punk in person than on record. Biamont’s vocals carried raw urgency, while Holloway and Fisher pushed angular synths and percussion into overdrive, creating a tense and immersive moment. Later, the standout title track “Modern Church” unfolded like a sparse, but thunderous, critique of false idols. By the end of the set, every corner of The Cobra was alive, everyone in the room moving. That’s no small feat in Nashville, especially on a school night when alcohol doesn’t flow as freely.

Public Circuit’s Nashville stop on the Modern Church tour showed a band unafraid to push their sound further than the studio. Their style is still forged with synths, but live, they sharpen every edge until it cuts. It was a night where that chain-link stage barrier shook in rhythm as excited fans pounded against it and where wood floors vibrated beneath the weight of dancing feet. Synth may be the framework, but punk was the lifeblood, turning a Nashville weeknight into a charged rite of noise and motion.