Caption Koyo live at the Brooklyn Monarch. Credit: James Panagakos
The massive show at the Brooklyn Monarch on March 28 featured a triple headliner, showcasing three of the best bands that have emerged from the East Coast Hardcore scene: Koyo, Anxious, and One Step Closer. This was the last show of the tour, making it even more special for everyone. This show lived up to the expectations created by the stacked lineup.
One Step Closer, from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, kicked off their set with very lively and emotionally moving performances of “Giants Despair” and “Leap Years” from their upcoming album “All You Embrace”.
Despite their melodic tone, One Step Closer kept the crowd moving dangerously throughout their whole set. The amount of stage diving was jaw dropping to witness in person. The positive energy in the band’s giant mosh pit during the set tells us that their next album will be a big hit.
One of the best hardcore punk bands to emerge from the east coast in recent years was up next. It was going to be really hard to maintain the energy of One Step Closer, but Anxious managed to match it seamlessly with a powerhouse performance demonstrating the pure energy and talent of this outstanding hardcore band from Fairfield, Connecticut. Three songs stood out: “Your One Way Street,” “Call From You,” and “Down, Down.” No one in the crowd wanted their stellar set to end. The audience craved more from Anxious. There may be new music on the horizon which undoubtedly makes Anxious a band to keep an eye on.
The massive hardcore punk band Koyo brought the whole evening together with a spectacular closing set. The band from Stony Brook, Long Island, has been making waves since the release of their debut LP “Would You Miss It?” in late 2023. With a knack for selling out venues across the New York City/Long Island area, Koyo delivered a homecoming set filled with standout tracks like “51st State,” “I Might Not,” and “What’s Left To Say. The energy they brought on stage that night even got me to stage dive a few times!
This triple headliner concert was truly a night to remember, from the amazing lineup to the contagious energy of the crowd it was the perfect finish for a fantastic tour.
