Words by Ella Donovan. Photos by Madalyn Schaller.
On November 10, 2024, Knocked Loose blew the top off of The Anthem in Washington D.C. for their … tour. Alongside the grammy-nominated band was Militarie Gun, Drain, and The Garden. Mads has seen Knocked Loose in the past, and we both love The Garden, so it only made sense for us to travel to DC for this epic show. Also, November 11 is my birthday, so we thought going to the show would be a wonderful way to celebrate!
Each band brought a completely different energy, sound, and vibe to the stage, yet having their contrasting styles on the bill still worked perfectly.
MILITARIE GUN
Starting the show was Militarie Gun, an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Their style was lighter than the rest of the opening bands, but that did not keep the crowd from going crazy. Fans seemed to really enjoy Militarie Gun’s energy; everyone seemed to be warming up fast and getting excited for the night of music ahead of them.
DRAIN
THE GARDEN
The Garden probably stood out the most to any Knocked Loose fans unaccustomed to their act. With their niche music style, goth-clown fashion sense, and huge Jester puppets that performed alongside them during multiple songs, they definitely grasped the attention of the crowd.
KNOCKED LOOSE
Knocked Loose began their set with dark, dreamy lights and fog, which quickly set the stage for them to start the first song,“Thirst.” The crowd went absolutely ballistic – I have been to hardcore shows before, but wow, this was on another level.
The moshing began almost instantly, and The Anthem began to look like the sea. The concertgoers were moving with the momentum of the crowd, giving those watching an illusion of waves, rather than thousands of fans.
Later in the set, Knocked Loose frontman Bryan Garris encouraged those in the pit to split the room in half. Mads quickly realized that this meant it was time for the “Wall of Death,” where each side of the pit runs as FAST as possible towards the other side, leading to a huge collision between the crowds. I had never seen one in person, nevertheless participated in one, so this was an exciting, but scary moment. We made it out alive, and now have a crazy story to tell our non-metalcore friends.
The entirety of this show was insane, but in the best possible way. Mads and I were exhausted by the end, but only because we had so much fun. Even if you aren’t into metalcore or hardcore music, seeing Knocked Loose live is an experience you need to have at least once.