"The semi violent, yet passionate nature of hardcore shows was on full display during Knocked Loose’s set on Sunday night. After skipping out on a New York City show for years, Knocked Loose finally returned and gave their Big Apple fans the performance of a lifetime."
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Must See
Knocked Loose
Webster Hall // New York, NY // November 3rd, 2019
Review by Jess Williams
On November 3rd, Kentucky-based metalcore band Knocked Loose brought their Different Shade of Blue tour to New York City’s iconic Webster Hall venue. The band was joined by a multitude of fellow bands including Stick to Your Guns, SeeYouSpaceCowboy and a handful of others. Fans of the niche genre lined up on 11th street, outside the venue, anticipating the start of what ended up being Knocked Loose’s biggest headlining show yet.
Metalcore shows are notorious for being rowdy and sometimes unsafe, with crowd surfers and mosh pits galore. When I arrived at Webster Hall, I was extremely excited to see a band that I had recently fallen in love with perform a headlining show in support of their recent record release, A Different Shade of Blue. I entered the venue and went straight upstairs to the balcony to watch the conclusion of the mayhem that was Stick to Your Guns’ set. The crowd was absolutely wild and, from above, looked like a massive sea of people swaying back and forth, pushing each other as mosh pits opened up across the floor.
After the slew of openers finished performing, the time had come for Knocked Loose to take the stage. Fans were separated from the stage by a minuscule barricade that looked as if it was about to crack under the pressure of hundreds of people pushing up against it. The Oldham County, Kentucky native band took the stage and spiraled instantly into “Trapped in the Grasp of a Memory.”
Showered in blue lights, lead vocalist Bryan Garris screamed into the microphone as the sweat began to pour down his face. Not even the first chorus had hit before I was grabbed out of the photo pit by security. The crowd was amped and ready to go and remaining in the photo pit was a threat to my safety so I headed back to the balcony.
Watching the show from above was a real treat. Flannels and beanies were flying as bodies upon bodies flew over the barricade and into the arms of security. The semi violent, yet passionate nature of hardcore shows was on full display during Knocked Loose’s set on Sunday night. The band played a heft 18 song setlist that featured “By the Grave,” “A Serpent’s Touch,” and fan favorite “Deadringer,” the hit from Knocked Loose’s debut record, Laugh Tracks.
Just like the album, the Different Shade of Blue tour completely blew me out of the water. The passion that is shared between the band and their fans is most evident during Knocked Loose’s live shows. The band is clearly thankful for their fans and where they have come and after skipping out on a New York City show for years, Knocked Loose finally returned and gave their Big Apple fans the performance of a lifetime.
