KNOCKED LOOSE x DENZIL CURRY take over Chicago

On the Last day of September, Knocked Loose made their 4th stop of ”The Hive Mind” tour in a rainy Chicago night at the Salt Shed.

Although unfavorable weather It was a near sellout crowd in Chicago. From when the doors opened the crowd was massive, let’s not forget the rain was at it’s strongest at that time.

The Hive Mind tour, Brought supporting bands, Boundaries and super haven.

Although both bands have very different sounds, I think they complemented each other well. This tour brought together a blend of genres and styles that made the night even more interesting.

I arrived at the venue a little after Boundaries hit the stage. Seeing the amount of people already there made me think I was running much later than I actually was. Boundaries already had the crowd going, and being my third time seeing them live, I knew exactly what kind of energy they could bring. They absolutely killed it. From start to finish, the crowd never stopped moshing.

Superheaven was up next, bringing a slower but hard-hitting sound that was a great contrast to the heavier performance Boundaries had just delivered. With the rain coming down at its hardest during their set, it added another layer of emotion to their performance, making the whole experience feel even more special.

Denzil Curry was to hit the stage not long after the supporters, As this was my first time seeing and even covering a show of his, I asked a few fellow photographers on what I should be expecting and they all said one common thing “Be prepared for anything“ and that gave me some encouragement and excitement of what I was actually going to see and experience.

And they weren't kidding. Denzel Curry was running at full speed throughout his performance, which made it a challenge for me to keep up with him through my camera. But that was part of what made his set so exciting. He was constantly moving across the stage, feeding off the crowd's energy and giving it right back. For me, the highlight of his set had to be the Rage Against the Machine covers. Hearing those songs performed live with his own energy and style made the experience even more memorable.

With the supporting acts finished, it was finally time for Knocked Loose. The Kentucky band has been on an incredible run over the past few years, from massive headlining tours and sold-out shows to even earning award nominations.

The Chicago crowd was eager and excited for the main event. I could sense the excitement as the energy continued to build, and even the rain stopped just in time for Knocked Loose to hit the stage.

As soon as Knocked Loose took the stage, all that built-up energy was finally released. Kicking things off with “Deep in the Willow,” the crowd erupted as the first notes rang out. It didn't take long for the pits to open up and the chaos to begin. All that anticipation had finally turned into exactly what everyone came to see, a Knocked Loose show in full force. Being in the photo pit gave me a completely different perspective of the chaos unfolding right in front of me. Bryan Garris was constantly in our faces, running from one side of the stage to the other while delivering his signature vocals. As if the performance wasn't intense enough, the unexpected use of pyro caught me by surprise, making each breakdown feel even more intense and exciting. Between the flames, the band's energy, and the crowd going absolutely wild behind us, there was never a dull moment.

Knocked Loose had the Chicago crowd completely invested throughout the night. Every breakdown, every scream, and every moment between songs had the audience wanting more. Seeing how far Knocked Loose has come over the years, from smaller venues to massive headlining shows, while still keeping that same raw aggression that got them here in the first place, really shows how much they've grown as a band. They've accomplished so much already, and if this performance proved anything, it's that Knocked Loose isn't slowing down anytime soon.