Knocked Loose Took Over NYC

And I got to experience it all.

New York City, NY | October 6-8, 2026
Dylan Marino

Naturally, I attended both shows because, as the great duo of Taylor Swift and Boys Like Girls once said, two is better than one. 

This lineup felt special. Something for everyone. 

Night one took place at Pier 17, arguably the best venue in Manhattan. The views overlooking the city are one in a million, and headbanging to your favorite band on the rooftop there is simply euphoric. 

Boundaries took the stage at 6 PM sharp, which resulted in my favorite activity, sprinting like my life depended on it from my office to the venue (which, thankfully, is a five-minute walk and two-minute run). Matt McDougal’s crisp, heavy vocals surrounded me before I even made it up the (multiple) escalators at Pier 17, and had me moving and grooving (and even participating in a wall of death) in an instant. 

Short but sweet, the hardcore set was exactly what was needed to start the evening, get the energy up, and remind people that they were OOO for the next four hours. 

Banger after banger, full setlist ahead:

1. Malconscience
2. Skies Cast Amber Black
3. My Body Is A Cage
4. May This Pain Never Leave
5. Turning Hate Into Rage
6. Torn Wide Open
7. Bitter Ash, Bitter Love 
8. Only Endless 
9. Easily Erased 

And then came a palate cleanser in the form of Superheaven, who brought a more melodic zen to the show with sounds inspired by Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Deftones.The subtle mix of genres felt refreshing. 30 minutes to sway rather than thrust, if you will. 

As the sun set and the drinks flowed, the set brought a sense of calm. It’s uncommon to have such a “chill” set during a hardcore show, but that is what makes this lineup so special. Friends rejoiced over hearing a full set from the band, as many had attended the Williams Center show which was suddenly cut short as the floor collapsed. Thankfully, no such drama at Pier 17. 

Setlist:

1. Leach
2. Youngest Daughter
3. Stare At The Void
4. Numb To What Is Real
5. Long Gone
6. In On It
7. Poor Aileen

Next came Denzel Curry. If you’re unfamiliar with Curry as an artist, you’re missing out. The tour title, Hive Mind, stems from Curry’s collaboration with Knocked Loose (which is a BANGER), and thus it made sense for the duo to tour together. An unlikely pair, but one that guarantees twice the energy, twice the fun, and twice the passion among fanbases. 

Curry stepped on the stage and immediately commanded the crowd. He politely let people know that, if you didn’t know him before the show, you absolutely would after. And that we all did. Despite being a rapper, Curry has consistently talked about the rock, metal, and hardcore world inspiring his work. He often references Rage Against The Machine as his favorite band and makes it clear that the “Hive Mind” collaboration is far from random. He doesn’t shy away from the mic during a performance, barely relying on a backtrack, but solely on his talent. 

His 17-song setlist commanded the crowd start to finish, moshpits, crowdsurfing, and movement from all.

The energy was at level 100 from the moment he began performing, and only went up from there. Opening with his hit “HIT THE FLOOR” and closing with none other than a RATM cover, “Killing In The Name,”, Curry set the tone for the final act, and it did not disappoint. 

Setlist

1. HIT THE FLOOR
2. P.А.T.
3. RICKY
4. BLACK FLAG FREESTYLE
5. DIET_
6. Victory Lap Five
7. Psycho
8. We On Go Il
9. Walkin
10. CLOUT COBAIN | CLOUT CO13A1N
11. SUMO | ZUMO
12. SKED
13. HOT ONE
14. Hate Government
15. STILL IN THE PAINT
16. Ultimate
17. Killing In The Name / Bulls on Parade

The finale of the night came at an early hour for Knocked Loose (8:45 PM), which personally, felt like a victory. Raging to one of my favorite bands with my best friends and still in bed by 10:30 PM? Win. 

I think lead singer Bryan Garris took an immediate appreciation to Pier 17, because he seemed just as in awe of the venue as we continue to be every time we attend a show there. The sense of gratitude was felt throughout the crowd, myself included. 

Curry did a 10/10 job hyping up the crowd, and Garris and his band kept that energy alive. A stacked setlist off the jump, we found ourselves craving more “Killing You” (they opened with a breakdown, but not the full song), and then immediately belting “Deep In The Willow” and “Everything Is Quiet Now.” 

Pits formed throughout the venue, fists and boots flying everywhere (gracefully, of course). The combination of Garris’ unique vocals and Isaac Hale’s deep guttural screams filled the air with joy. Knocked Loose is the type of band where you either get it or you don’t, no inbetween, and it felt so good to be surrounded by a group that gets it. 

As the music kept flowing, we were met with fan-favorite Billy No Mates about halfway through the set, with Boundaries lead vocalist McDougal coming back on stage to stand beside Garris. Naturally, it was iconic. 

More headbanging, hard swinging, move-your-body music followed, and as we neared the end of the set, it came time tour namesake: “Hive Mind.” 

There is something about this song that scratches every itch in my brain. It’s so satisfying in so many ways. We’ve seen success for years when it comes to rappers collaborating with rock artists (e.g. Numb/Encore) and this is the exact type of hit that works from every angle. 

As Curry joined the stage with Knocked Loose, the crowd lost their mind (as expected) and we all belted along with every word and every grunt. 

Knocked Loose closed their show with their popular hit “Suffocate”, featuring Poppy (who was not present), and of course the song that changed it all, “Counting Worms.” 

Setlist

1. Killing You (Breakdown Only)
2. Deep in the Willow
3. Everything Is Quiet Now
4. Don't Reach for Me
5. Mistakes Like Fractures
6. Thirst
7. Piece by Piece
8. Oblivion's Peak
9. Billy No Mates
10. Where Light Divides the Holler
11. God Knows
12. Moss Covers All
13. Take Me Home
14. Sit & Mourn
15. Blinding Faith
16. Belleville
17. Contorted in the Faille
18. Hive Mind
19. Suffocate
20. Counting Worms

I left the show craving more, and felt so very lucky to satisfy that craving only two days later at Brooklyn Paramount. The same show, just one hour later (yes, it was worth staying up past my bedtime for this one). 

Many familiar faces from night one, many new. Same mega energy, perhaps even bigger. Brooklyn Paramount is the most beautiful venue in Brooklyn, so it felt extra special to see both shows back-to-back at my two favorite venues on earth.

Two unforgettable evenings, two headbanging-hangovers, and one big smile that never left my face either night.