Review: The Knocks @ Terminal 5 NYC

In the world of live-instrumentation EDM, there are very few acts that can match the poise and energy of The Knocks. So when they rolled into Terminal 5 in NYC as part of this years CMJ Music Marathon, the NY-based duo treated this sold-out show as a triumphant homecoming for the fans in attendance.

Utilizing live percussion, bass, synths and drum machines to compliment the tracks they played, The Knocks used their allotted time wisely, banging out hit after hit for the receptive crowd to dance to. In lieu of a fancy LED light show that most EDM acts use live, The Knocks kept it simple, instead relying on two identical ladies dancing throughout most of the set as the only visual eye candy for the performance. A guest spot by vocalist Megan Vice, singing “The One”, was a high-point of the evening, as was a brand-new song they unleashed upon us from their upcoming album.

The Knocks’ brand of synth-pop and funk-driven dance music is a welcome reprieve from the same-old formula that many of their brethren employ, and the fact that they don’t “just push play”, but instead actually perform live also gives them a leg up on the competition. If the crowd response from Terminal 5 this night was any indication, The Knocks are gonna be leaders of the pack for the foreseeable future.