On October 6th and 8th, I got to see Knocked Loose perform twice in New York City. I first became a fan of the Kentucky-based hardcore band after seeing them perform at the Sick New World Festival in Las Vegas earlier this year. Their energy and intense performance really stuck with me, so when I found out they were coming to Manhattan, I immediately bought tickets.
On October 6th, I headed to The Rooftop at Pier 17 with my brother for the first show. The lineup featured Boundaries, Superheaven, and Denzel Curry alongside Knocked Loose, which was an interesting mix of hardcore, alternative rock, and hip-hop that you don’t normally see together on a tour. Boundaries started the night off strong with their heavy sound, while Superheaven brought a more grungy, alternative set. I've been a fan of Superheaven for a while, so getting to hear them live was another highlight of the night. Denzel Curry kept the energy going with songs like "Ultimate," and "Walkin," getting the crowd hyped before Knocked Loose even took the stage.
One of my favorite moments from his set was when he closed with a cover of Rage Against the Machine's "Killing in the Name" and "Bulls on Parade." It was such a fun surprise and brought a wave of nostalgia hearing those familiar riffs live. The crowd was really into it, and it was a great way to wrap up his performance, especially with how well Rage Against the Machine's mix of rap and heavy rock fit the overall lineup.
Once Knocked Loose came on, the energy somehow managed to get even crazier. Their set included some of my favorites like "Suffocate," "Blinding Faith," and "Don’t Reach For Me". One of the most memorable moments was the massive wall of death, where the crowd split into two sides before running toward each other as the “Everything is Quiet Now” breakdown hit. It was genuinely impressive seeing that many people participate at once, although I was perfectly happy watching from the sidelines. Luckily, I found a group of people near the entrance who weren't interested in moshing either, so I had a pretty good spot to enjoy the show without getting caught in the middle of everything. There were also plenty of crowd surfers throughout the night, which became a recurring theme at both concerts.
Between the music, the crowd, and the overall atmosphere, I enjoyed the Manhattan show so much that I ended up buying another ticket to see Knocked Loose just two days later at their sold-out Brooklyn Paramount show.
On October 8th, I returned for round two, this time with my fellow radio co-host Tristan, who had also seen Knocked Loose with me at Sick New World. While he was mainly excited to see Denzel Curry, he was already familiar with Knocked Loose and Superheaven. Getting to see all four acts again was just as enjoyable the second time around. The Brooklyn crowd was so enthusiastic, with nonstop moshing, crowd surfing, and everyone singing along to their favorite songs. One of the coolest parts of both nights was hearing Knocked Loose and Denzel Curry perform their collab "Hive Mind" together, which really brought the two different musical styles on the lineup full circle.
Despite attending two shows with nearly identical setlists, each night felt like its own experience. I thoroughly enjoyed both performances, and it was especially fun sharing them with my brother and Tristan. This spontaneous ticket purchase turned into two of my favorite concert experiences this year. I guess seeing Knocked Loose once in a week just wasn't enough!
Superheaven setting up
Knocked Loose begins their set
Tristan and I before Knocked Loose
Denzel Curry at the Brooklyn Paramount
