This was a show I wasn’t sure I would be photographing till the morning of the show. I can’t tell you how excited I was to get that approval email at 10 am. I was super excited to photograph Knocked Loose because of their energy on stage. I saw them back in 2019 when they were openers for A Day To Remember. So I knew they would have an awesome set. I was also super excited to photograph Movements. Ironically I saw them for the first time ever on April 8th, 2016 when they opened for another band I covered recently, Being As An Ocean. It was super amazing to be able to see them again, exactly 6 years later, but this time as a photographer covering the show. Life never seems to amaze me. The weather was cold. At least cold for this time of year, especially since it had been in the 60s and 70s earlier in the week. I think it was in the low 50s when I arrived at the venue. When I arrived at 6:00 pm for doors the line was already halfway down the street. The venue filled up not long after I arrived, it was a sold-out show, and super apparent Knocked Loose had a sizable amount of fans eager to see them perform.
The first band of the night was Koyo. Koyo is a band from Stony Brook, New York. They call themselves “Stony Brook Hardcore.” Most of the members were in previous bands before they formed in 2020. In March of 2020 they were signed to Pure Noise Records, shortly after they released their debut EP Painting Words Into Lines. Then another EP followed in 2021 called Drives Out East. The members of Koyo are Joey Chiaramonte (lead vocals), Mike Marazzo (guitar), TJ Rotolico (guitar), Harold Griffin (guitar), and Sal Argento (drums).
This was my first time ever hearing Koyo, but I knew they had to be similar to Knocked Loose since they were openers. They opened with full force and I don’t think Joey stood still on the stage longer than 1 second. They were definitely the perfect band to open and set the mood for the night. The crowd seemed to really enjoy their set as well. I found myself headbanging along even though I knew none of the songs, that’s how good they were. They got my blood pumping for sure and made me even more excited for the rest of the night. I can’t tell you what they opened and closed with, but I can tell you they will be a band that gets added to my music library for sure. I can’t believe they are as new as they are. They seemed like they had been performing on stage together for way over 2 years. The chemistry and vibes were unmatched. I can’t wait to see what they do in the future.
The next band that performed was Kublai Khan TX. Kublai Khan TX is a band from Sherman, Texas. The band formed in the summer of 2009 and have since released four albums. They released their first self released EP in 2010 called Youth War. In 2014 they were signed onto Artery Recordings. Shortly after they released their debut full-length album Balancing Survival and Happiness. The album did so well it was listed on Alternative Press’s “Best Albums of 2014 So Far.” In 2015 they released their second full-length album New Strength. In 2017 they signed to a new label, Rise Records and shortly after released their third album Nomad. In 2019 they released Absolute, which got them tons of attention because of Matt’s vocals. Their newest EP Lowest Form Of Animal, came out this month. The members of Kublai Khan are Matt Honeycutt (vocals), Nolan Ashley (guitar/vocals), Eric English (bass/vocals), Isaac Lamb (drums) and Jayson Braffett (touring guitar).
The first thing I noticed so soon as I got back in the photo pit for Kublai’s set was the super cool red neon signs they had on both sides of the stage. I couldn’t stop staring at them all night. I had never seen a stage prop that cool. Once they took the stage and started their set it was obvious they had at least a few fans in the crowd. I couldn’t help but hear people behind me singing along to all the words. This was my first time hearing this band as well but my husband had heard of him before and told me I would enjoy their set. He was right. I loved their energy and couldn’t help but get excited when Matt got down on his knees in front of me and started belting. If there was ever a moment I prayed my camera didn’t miss focus it was then. It has since become my favorite shot of the night. I was so excited to get home and edit it once I saw I nailed my focus. They all had amazing energy on stage as expected and even took the crowd’s energy up a notch and got the crowd surfers started. Their set got me even more pumped for what the final two bands had in store. I loved their sound and vibe on stage, I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on them as well.
Up next was Movements. Movements is a post-harcore band from Rancho Santa Margarita, California. The band formed in 2015 and got signed to Fearless Records shortly after playing just one show. They released their EP Outgrown Things in 2016. Their first full-length album, Feel Something was released in 2017. It’s important to note that If you watched the announcement video for the last year of Warped Tour you heard their track from that album “Daylily”. I’m sure they were pleasantly surprised when this happened. That album also peaked at 190 on the Billboard top 200. Then in 2020 they released their sophomore album No Good Left To Give. The members of Movements are Patrick Miranda (vocals), Austin Cressey (bass guitar/rhythm guitar), Spencer York (drums), and Ira George (lead guitar).
Finally, Movements took the stage. The amount of excitement that filled my body as I stood in the pit waiting for them to start was insane. I had spent all week going over all their music and listening so that I could do my best to get the band’s attention by knowing and singing all the words while I was in the pit. I never made eye contact with any of the band members, but I like to think that they still saw and heard me singing along, even if it was in their peripheral vision. They started the night with “Full Circle” which just so happens to be my favorite from Feel Something because of the line “still trying to mend these holes in my jeans…” I’m pretty sure this line is a call back to the line “ended with nothing but holes in my jeans…” from the song “Worst Wishes”, off their Outgrown Things EP. This to me is a line that only the “OG” fans know and will pick up on. Their energy on stage wasn’t as rowdy as the previous bands, but I think this is just due to the nature of the band’s songs. Plus, Patrick did say at one point that they were going to slow things down and that the crowd can get rowdy again when Knocked Loose gets on the stage. They may not have jumped around and moved as much as the previous bands, but it is important to note that Patrick does this cool head bob followed by a lean back with the mic stand that is very specific to him. If you’ve seen them before live im sure you know exactly what im talking about. He still rocks the stage without jumping up and down and getting wild. The crowd obviously knew them as well because the whole front row was singing along every time I looked back at them, the smiles on everyone’s faces were priceless and some of my favorite things to witness at shows. They continued with hit after hit and funny enough even had someone start chanting “one more song” after their set was over. It was such a great set and I’m so so thankful I was able to cover it. Another sentimental band for me for sure. If you haven’t heard of them or listened to any of their music please do so! You wont regret it.
Finally, it was time for our headliners Knocked Loose. Knocked Loose is a hardcore punk band from Kentucky formed in 2013. Their first EP was Pop Culture released in 2014 on Little Heart Records. Their other EP’s, in the order they were released are, Knocked Loose/Damaged Goods in 2015, Mistakes Like Fractures in 2019, and then A Tear In The Fabric Of Life in 2021. Their full length albums are Laugh Tracks released in 2016 on Pure Noise Records and A Different Shade Of Blue in 2019 with the same label. The members of Knocked Loose are Bryan Garris(lead vocals), Issac Hale(lead guitar/backing vocals), Kevin Otten(bass), Kevin Kaine(drums), Nicko Calderon(rhythm guitar).
They took the stage with more energy and force than we had seen all night. The lights were incredible, coming from all angles, their stage setup and decor were immaculate. Definitely, the biggest production I’ve been able to photograph so far. Seeing it all made me super excited for the outcome of the images because I knew it would translate well. The crowd was louder this time and it was apparent everyone was gearing up to get rowdy. They started the night with “Where Light Divides the Holler” which should have been a dead giveaway to me that they were from Kentucky, or some southern state where people call areas “hollers” but I guess I never connected the dots when I first saw that song title. But as I was saying, as soon as Bryan started singing the WHOLE crowd joined in. It was the classic moment at a concert where everyone is singing as loud as they can in unison. It was beautiful to see and we were just getting started. The members on stage had insane amounts of energy. Bryan jumped up and down and ran from the left to the right side of the stage making sure to entertain all parts of the crowd. The drummer Kevin was on the coolest platform raised above everyone else. Every time I looked up there at him, he too was singing along and I swear he looked like this was the best night of his life. They continued the night with hit after hit making it impossible for the crowd not to sing along.
My favorite part of their set was at the end of the night. The next to last song they performed was “Counting Worms” the song that I feel everyone knows them for and the song I think of when I think of songs that they have to play live for the fans. Just when I thought the crowd’s energy couldn’t get any more intense they performed this and it was like twenty crowd surfers appeared from thin air and were flowing to the barricade. The pit broke out in full force as well and had me considering getting in for once, but I quickly decided against it because I’m weak and it was obvious I was just suffering from a case of “FOMO(fear of missing out.)” They then closed with “Permanent” and sent everyone away feeling satisfied. Well, I was satisfied, and the crowd seemed to be too. No one ever wants the band to get off stage but the lineup of the 18 songs they played left me happy that’s for sure. If you haven’t caught this tour yet I highly suggest you do. Even if you don’t know all the bands and all the songs they will perform. The stage decor and presence alone is enough to make for a great concert.
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