On November 5, 2024, Knocked Loose delivered an electrifying performance at the Armory in Minneapolis, MN. When I first heard that they were playing at this venue, I was impressed that a hardcore band could sell that many tickets, but Knocked Loose and 8000 fans showed up to prove heavy music is alive and well.
Opening with “Thirst,” Knocked Loose immediately set the tone with its signature blend of chaotic, mosh-pit-inducing breakdowns and explosive intensity. The crowd erupted into a stage diving and moshing frenzy. As a photographer, it’s not fun to shoot from the pit and constantly worry about the danger coming from behind. Still, as a heavy music lover, it was refreshing to experience a show where everyone goes crazy again. I miss the days of fewer phones and more chaos in the pit. Knocked Loose has tapped into what’s been missing from heavy music for a long time, and they do it better than any band I’ve seen in the last two decades.
The band’s ability to balance brutality with emotional depth was on full display, particularly during tracks like “Deadringer” and “God Knows,” where frontman Bryan Garris’s raw, guttural vocals and commanding stage presence took center stage. He paces the stage like a caged beast and is a master at connecting with the crowd. He kept the momentum surging throughout the night.
As for the setlist, the band played nearly every song from their latest album, “You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To.” Notable songs from the show also included “God Knows” and “Where Light Divides the Holler” from their EP “A Tear in the Fabric of Life,” as well as the songs from their “Upon Loss Singles” release. Garris and Hale often encouraged fans to put their phones away and engage in a proper hardcore show by getting a circle pit going or a wall of death. These guys “get it,” and I’m encouraged to see younger fans responding to the old-school way of concerts.
By the time the band closed their set with “Everything Is Quiet Now,” the crowd looked exhausted but not fully satisfied and were hungry for more. After several minutes, the band re-emerged and played a killer encore featuring: “Blinding Faith,” Billy No Mates,” “Counting Worms,” “Suffocate,” and “Sit & Mourn.” A Knocked Loose show isn’t just a regular rock concert—it is a cathartic, face-melting experience. Their passion and hard work demonstrate how far the band has come and how far they’re willing to go to deliver the rage we’ve been missing for the last two decades.
