Kentucky-based hardcore band Knocked Loose has made quite the name for themselves this past year. On May 10th they released their critically acclaimed album You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To, earning praises from several top music outlets and critics. As part of their 18-date Fall North America tour, Knocked Loose stopped at Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom on November 1st with support from DRAIN, Militarie Gun and Danny Brown. With a stacked bill like this you know you are about to get a wild show!
First up we got Militarie Gun! Militarie Gun is based out of Los Angeles, California and released their debut album, Life Under the Gun, on June 23, 2023 through Loma Vista Recordings.
Melodic, catchy and so much more, Militarie Gun rose to stardom soon after forming in 2020 through frontman Ian Shelton’s pure dedication and drive.
The Santa Cruz, California crossover thrash band DRAIN has an impressively intense show, but this should not be new news for Chicago; the band played at Riot Fest in 2023 and stirred up a bit of chaos. During their final song, “California Cursed”, frontman Sammy Ciaramitaro encouraged fans to jump the barricade to join the band on stage. Security understandably had an oh shit moment but did a great job to keep everyone safe. (Ciaramitaro did later apologize for the antics and meant no harm).
Clearly, DRAIN is not afraid to have fun with their fans and deliver an enthusiastically exciting performance.
This show was no different; DRAIN’s backdrop in huge letters stated, “DRAIN is not responsible for anything you do in the next 30 minutes.”
Ciaramitaro jumped into the crowd, engaging with fans and crowd surfing with them. DRAIN makes it impossible to NOT have a great time.
DRAIN released their second full-length album Living Proof on May 5th, 2023 through Epitaph Records.
Next up was a unique addition to the line up- rapper Danny Brown performed for the hardcore fans, but for only five stops of the Knocked Loose tour.
The pairing worked fabulously, mixing genres at concerts definitely needs to be more of a thing!
To say I was blown away by Knocked Loose would be an understatement. They are certainly making the metalcore genre their own and becoming the best in the game. You would not expect the type of banshee-screaming vocals from frontman Bryan Garris when you see him, but he knocks it out of the park.
Much like DRAIN, Knocked Loose is also well known for their hectic and intense shows and Chicago was no different. Moshing, crowd-surfing, pure chaotic energy only begins to describe it. The Aragon Ballroom was packed front to back with eager fans for the show of the year. Knocked Loose is what hardcore is about.
The visuals were top-notch, too. The iconic glowing cross towered over the stage, as seen on the cover of You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To.
Knocked Loose is far from done as they have announced an EU/UK spring tour in 2025 with support from Basement, Harms Way, and Pest Control. You can also catch them at the When We Were Young festival on October 18th, 2025 in Las Vegas. Here’s a list of the current remaining tour dates!
November 7 – Grand Rapids, MI: GLC Live at 20 Monroe+#
November 9 – Wallingford, CT: The Dome at Oakdale+
November 10 – Washington, DC: The Anthem^+
^: with The Garden
+: with DRAIN
#: with Militarie Gun
2025
March 17 – London, UK: O2 Academy Brixton
March 18 – Manchester, UK: O2 Vi
March 20 – Tilburg, NL: 013 Poppodium
March 21 – Paris, FR: Le Bataclan
March 22 – Lille, FR: L’Aéronef
March 25 – Cologne, DE: Palladium
March 27 – Berlin, DE: Columbiahalle
March 28 – Leipzig, DE: Haus Auensee
March 29 – Munich, DE: Tonhalle
October 18 – Las Vegas, NV: When We Were Young music festival
Check out all the photos from the show below!