By Colin Macek
Against the cold and rainy November night, the Knocked Loose faithful showed why they’re one of the most intense fanbases in metal.
Militarie Gun, one of two ‘odd-guy-out’ bands of the night, played an energetic set that surely gained some new listeners. Shrouded in the darkness of The Anthem, the band set the tone for the rest of the night. With a sonic profile akin to that of other alternative bands like Movements. Militarie Gun took the energy of the hardcore crowd and used it to their advantage. Crowd surfers swam along the vibrant crowd, screaming the words as they went. Frontman Ian Shelton took it upon himself to dive into the crowd during their final song—capping off an impressive performance.
The crowd hushed for the minutes between sets. Anticipation was rising, and Drain was sure to bring it to them. The ever-chaotic California quartet arrived with their hit “Feel the Pressure,” forcing rumbles under my feet from the newly opened moshpits (yes, plural). We had arrived at the Knocked Loose show and this is what we came to see: heavy music. It was true, D.C. was rowdy tonight. Everyone took it to heart when their banner said Drain is NOT responsible for anything you do in the pit.
With this conclusion, a jarring tossup was thrown out as classical music filled the air. No one could have expected what we saw from final opener, The Garden. Their genre fusion was at times jarring, mixing rock with EDM, pop, and a little bit of R&B. When a gargantuan puppet appeared on stage after their first song, the crowd sunk into the floor. 9:30 pm couldn’t come soon enough.
But soon enough it arrived. The soft glow of Knocked Loose’s signature yellow cross (see the cover of You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To) illuminated behind the curtain meant to hide stage setups. The soft instrumental of “Thirst” lulled in the crowd before Bryan’s scream, at once, sparked the pit, the drop of the curtain, and screams from fans. Within 15 seconds, I understood why people raved about the live performances of the Grammy-nominated quintet. With grace and flair, they began with the same energy they sought to end with. Moshers swung elbows and spun in the air, legs following with a dangerous force. And the pits continued with an unrelenting vigor.
It only took until the second song for the crowd to get their first opportunity at a wall of death, as “Deep in the Willow” features their (basically trademarked at this point) callout “Knocked Loose motherfucker!” However, it wouldn’t be their only chance. In the set’s second half, Garris provided the crowd with very simple instructions: “Split this room in half.” Never before have I seen the entire Anthem floor split in two halves, fans dancing in the middle as a soft instrumental played. The lights gleamed at those in the middle, illuminating the beer-soaked floor. Here it was… the moment everyone was waiting for. Six words: “Upon loss, everything is quiet now!”
The lights cut, and there was nothing to do but run and hurl your body at someone from the other side. Hundreds collided at once and nothing mattered but having fun and letting loose. If that doesn’t describe the experience of a Knocked Loose concert, I’m not sure anyone could do it.
Some long-time fans have been surprised (perhaps upset) by the astronomical rise of Knocked Loose. This type of popularity isn’t easy to come by in metal, and especially hardcore. I’m here to tell you that Knocked Loose deserves everything they’ve earned. A band with their level of technical precision, stage presence, and performance dynamics should be playing at arenas. It might not be long before we see that.
Next time Knocked Loose is on tour near you, I implore you to buy tickets. Not only will the show be spectacular, but the crowd energy is unlike anything you will ever experience. It is something that everyone should experience once in their life… maybe even many times (I know I will)!
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