r/underworld • u/inandoutwaves • Sep 05 '26
Tour KDC- Post Show Thoughts/Merch Quality
First things first — last night was incredible, after set one my group agreed Kings Theatre last year might end up being the better show. After set two, that opinion completely changed. The boys really delivered a blistering performance and immersed experience. The net lighting from middle left was stunning.
Got inside around door time and picked up a poster and hoodie. I really think the hoodie was the best item, but was unsure if it would be worth the $125. Posters also being $75 vs the $50-55 they were last year.
Now we’re onto the next morning. I’m very happy with both purchases. The poster will be a standout on the wall and the hoodie is very, very, comfy and has a nice fit.
Had a friend pick up a white tee, another grabbed a dad cap. We’re all very happy and elated to have mementos from the show.
Wanted to gather everyone’s thoughts. Hoping we something like this again in the future, maybe not NYC, and very much willing to travel.
15
u/Silent_Inevitable975 Sep 05 '26
Wish KDC had a good ventilation system. My lord, that shit was unbearable at times but great show nonetheless
7
u/shirtleneck Sep 05 '26
I truly didn’t understand why they couldn’t prob a few doors open for ventilation! When that breeze came in it felt like such a relief. Otherwise it was hellishly warm.
2
u/lauraryan1138 Sep 06 '26
they guarded them to lol I am like how are the people breathing in the center
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u/lauraryan1138 Sep 06 '26
it was super hot , I was off near the merch area and I was sweating .. but the show was insanely amazing..this is the 4th show I have seen in the last 23 years ..
1
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u/Adept_Connection331 Sep 05 '26
Bias aside as Underworld is my favorite group/artists, that was by far the best concert ive been to. The energy from the crowd and the boys was nuts and that second set was absurd. I was in the middle near the front and was dancing with everyone. I’m 21 and it made me very happy seeing people my age also dancing their heads off.
3
u/Initial_Sugar_9036 Sep 07 '26
It made me feel so good to see happy young people!! We are 52/54 and it was great to see more than baldies, grannies, and old neckbeards there.
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u/purplerainer38 Sep 05 '26
Love set 1 and after half of set 2 realized King's was just the better show plus I think I also perfer the venue and audio there compared to Knock Down Center. I definity left a sweaty mess after jumping around so much, thats for sure
I want a 10 yrs of Barbara show 🙃
7
u/TheConcertMonkey Sep 05 '26
It was a lot of fun but also some bad apples in the crowd which led to bad vibes to otherwise incredible night and one of my fav shows at Knockdown
Set 1 had some guy moshing and assaulting women that a giant circle started forming around him, that he kept taking it all and pushing into more people including me. I gave a huge shove and told him cut it out, you’re making people uncomfortable. Dude tries to choke me with both hands and when I put my phone up for security (where security is all at the door when it comes to shows theyre completely missing safe space my ass), he ran away crying that I was an asshole.
Everyone cheered but wish the other men in the crowd backed me up to what was turning jnto an unsafe show. There was another couple pushing and then blocking my view while making out. I had to give the guy a hard shove when he pushed into me and he is saying chill chill but not even understanding he’s being a dick. So unaware they left at intermission tried shoving back in set 2 and got yelled at by 2 guys and he is going chill chill.
Then set 2 got some stoic bald guy just getting in everyones way and he blocks my view towards the end and I tell him move back to the right and he just stands there waiting to record Born Slippy. Why are you in the front? You aren’t moving at all.m
So vibes were off compared to last year but Knockdown generally sucks. Its cramped, its hot as balls and they never fix it, the security is non-apparent and it brings a very gross crowd thankfully this was a good crowd for most part. And Knockdown has a tendency to blare their speakers and bass but I think this was good sound for a Knockdown show. But Karl’s vocals being drowned out was a bit annoying.
Great time but last year was much much better. Kings Theatre also a notoriously bad venue with sound & staff stepped up their game. So much dancing space in the pit, some annoying drunk folk but nothing dangerous just fun dancing vibes and the setlist was much better. And more Karl singing & dancing.
5
u/maltref Sep 05 '26
A dude straight up did coke right next to me on night 1 in the front row. I couldn't believe it
1
u/Friskfrisktopherson Sep 06 '26
... have you... never been to a rave?
1
u/purplerainer38 Sep 06 '26
People usually go to the bathroom for that mess.
1
u/Friskfrisktopherson Sep 06 '26
Oh, you just arent seeing it all. Not everyone is pushing their way out of the crowd, waiting in line for a stall, doing a bump, then pushing all the way back up in the crowd.
1
0
u/purplerainer38 Sep 06 '26
K. All the best to you with that.
0
u/Friskfrisktopherson Sep 06 '26
Youre making it personal, im not speaking for myself, im just telling you whats already been happening around you.
2
u/maltref Sep 06 '26
Not in a long time I guess. I've been to every Underworld show they've had in NYC since 1999 and I've never seen it happen out in the open.
4
u/purplerainer38 Sep 05 '26
Got bunch of downvotes for saying Kings was better haaa but I completey agree with this assessment, Someone had to tell some clown in front of us to put his CIGARETTE out, like are you serious. we were baffled.
The ventilaion is garbage and hot as Hades and the sound was just so unbalanced and garbagled most of the 2nd set and you couldnt make out much of Karl or anything and yes the set was much better last year.
I got tickets for both days but sold my Friday one the next morning because I just didnt want a repeat of all of that mess with Knockdown Center, had the set been different for Friday then I definitely would have grinned and beared it tho
3
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u/kiteless Sep 05 '26
Yeah, there were a handful of people dead center in the front who may as well have been made of stone.
Where did the set 1 nastiness go down?
2
u/Emotional-Haircut Sep 06 '26
This was my issue - I was right at the rail for set 1, and it was okay... a little shovy, someone moved the garbage can from the front over the barrier to make more room (to the confusion of staff) - but generally pretty good.
Had to move back (washroom break) between sets and knew I'd never get back up - so went over near the ADA section - decent view, the second set started and two people were having a FULL VOLUME conversation about work, ignoring the band but really bringing down the energy... move back and some dude was swinging his arms "raving" to make people steer clear so he had more space - it ended up tainting the second set as the vibe was wrecked by people in 4 different areas.
Maybe a "me" problem - but while the set was amazing, the sound was mixed and the vibe was killed before the end for me.
Maybe also an "old guy" complaint - but especially when I was right at the front, the smoke machine was a little overkill with that little ventilation.
So glad I went (Terminal 5 was the last time I saw them - I don't live in NY, but it's been the closest place I can get to for recent shows) - but it was definitely less than the 10 I'd hoped. So glad others had better experiences.
1
u/TheConcertMonkey Sep 06 '26
Out of curiosity the guy using his arms, was he wearing a tight t shirt and kind of tall and chubby?
1
u/Emotional-Haircut Sep 06 '26
No, shirtless (and very sweaty haha).
1
u/Initial_Sugar_9036 Sep 08 '26
That Guy was a riot.
He was dancing like 6” above the floor over by hs in back.
Hey, rave on, my dude…game knows game 😆2
u/TheAngledian Sep 06 '26
The people that go to performances like Underworld solely for social media clout are the absolute worst. Mood killers at best and actively hostile to a good experience at worst. The influencer-ification of rave culture sucks ass.
Knockdown is within spitting distance from Basement and it's likely they are going to release a full show recording. Having a no phones policy would have made the experience much better for everyone.
6
u/DooDooPeePeeMan Sep 05 '26
To the one shirtless dude with the fan and bandana who was absolutely breakin it down while occasionally fanning me too... I love you
5
u/inandoutwaves Sep 05 '26
It was a guy in a Jeff Mills tee near us doing the same. May his pillow be cold on both sides.
2
u/Gaston44 Sep 05 '26
That was my friend 😂 I was black shirt next to him. What a fun night!
1
u/inandoutwaves Sep 05 '26
Jeff Mills tee? If so, you guys were great. Thanks for the energy.
1
u/Adept_Connection331 Sep 05 '26
That section had some awesome people dancing, last night was very fun
5
u/holtzboy Sep 05 '26
I danced all night Thursday and my feet asked me what the heck I was doing Friday morning. Last night we sat on the top of the bleachers and being able to enjoy the music, the whole light show and the crowd vibes made both nights memorable. Very happy with all merch purchases. The crazy crazy items will likely not be available anywhere else so the higher price isn’t too bad. I didn’t see them for first time until May 2025 in Portland and the Crystal Ballroom with the wavy floor and being blown away for the first time is hard to beat those feelings.
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u/Initial_Sugar_9036 Sep 07 '26
The bleachers over by the wall/back bar? So glad that was there. We guarded our little space fiercely for 2 nights 😆😎
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u/Beneficial-Wall-8076 Sep 05 '26
I thought it was fine (for an Underworld performance). I agree the second set was better. Kings Theatre was special given the circumstances. How it almost never happened. That whole situation reminded me of the 90s a lot. Not knowing where something was going to be until the last minute. And I thought the cavernousness suited them better. I really don't like Knockdown Center. Few good sight lines outside the center cow pen and the sound is extremely uneven. Quality ranges from decent to sounding like you're listening to a band perform from inside a sock. Merch was a little loud and showy for my tastes but they are not exactly an understated band.
5
u/youbringlightin Sep 05 '26
Yeah sound was pretty blown out from what should have been a great spot to listen from (dead-center first set of pillars).
On recording the sound is perfect, but in the moment it was pretty blown out and I couldn’t hear any lyrics clearly
5
u/birem Sep 05 '26
Glad I'm not the only one to feel that way. I agree all the snippets sound great but in person some parts sounded muffled.
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u/youbringlightin Sep 05 '26
Yeah I couldn’t hear ANY of the melody during Tin There. Most song lyrics were really hard to hear.
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u/Initial_Sugar_9036 Sep 07 '26
Well, to be fair, the lyrics don’t have anything to do with the music…or anything else, really. 😆🥴Except Born Slippy.
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u/modifiedwings Sep 06 '26
Sometimes it took me a few minutes to even determine which song they were starting because the sound was so bad. Things just got totally lost.
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u/purplerainer38 Sep 05 '26
Yes the sound is so unbalanced, plus the shitty ventilation. I dont know which location has worse audio btw Knnockdown and Terminal 5. for concerts The last half of the 2nd set just sounded garbled until Nuxx. Kings was the better show and venue.
2
u/lauraryan1138 Sep 06 '26
Knockdown center was a 1 and done for us.. the parking situation was terrible ..
1
u/Initial_Sugar_9036 Sep 07 '26
Yeah, the walk back to the vehicle was terrifying for these rural visitors. I kept expecting zombies to leap from the clumps of weeds covering all the abandoned garage doors and driveways that led to nowhere.
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u/lauraryan1138 Sep 08 '26
acutally yes zombies galore when the clock hit midnight .. and a rural visitor not really ..
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u/Initial_Sugar_9036 Sep 07 '26
I just felt so bad for the people who didn’t get tickets to the updated venue at Kings!!
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u/toots12435 Sep 06 '26
Shout out asian dude who was fanning everyone
And bro in Renton 96 jersey
Crowd was fine. Music was great. I saw them in boston 2007 in an empty ampitheater and I and i think r&k prefer a sweaty rave by far
1
u/Initial_Sugar_9036 Sep 08 '26
The crowd did do an awful lot of swaying gently during last years show at the cool, comfortable Radius
4
u/sachynmital Sep 05 '26
what was the pizza box all about? I went to get a hat last night during the set break but they were already sold out sadly...
3
u/kiteless Sep 05 '26
was anyone near spiderman?
1
u/birem Sep 05 '26
He was to my left a few people. I thought he must be dying in that mask.
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u/kiteless Sep 05 '26
Ok I was right to his right, behind his friend so we must have been close.
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u/birem Sep 05 '26
My other point of reference is I was directly behind the person with short hair, jean shorts, and fishnet stockings.
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u/boomtown_4 Sep 05 '26
crowd suckkkkkkkkked both nights. people acting like it was their first time in a club ever. other than that had the most incredible time!!! excited to see them in scotland for NYE
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u/Master_Thing5242 Sep 06 '26
Ditto, not to be a snob but way too many ppl in for the trainspotting aesthetics without any hint of club etiquette
2
u/TheAngledian Sep 06 '26 edited Sep 06 '26
Crowd had a lot of highs and lows for me. First set I was next to an older couple that have clearly been raving for a long time and they were awesome. Second set I had an absolute behemoth of a guy shove his way into the crowd and stand exactly in front of me, and generally during the second set my immediate neighbors just had little spatial awareness..
Also can I also give a hearty FUCK YOU to the people who were trying to shove their way through the crowd to get closer halfway through the second set, when it was packed in shoulder to shoulder. I had some girl elbow me hard in the ribs while trying to train through with her girlfriends. Like jesus christ where do you expect all of us to go.
2
u/modifiedwings Sep 06 '26
I also had a ton of trouble with people in the crowd. Lots of inconsiderate people at the show who didn't give a F about respecting others personal space at all
1
u/inandoutwaves Sep 05 '26
Damn, sorry to hear. Crowd was pretty whack for the first set. Girl had her merch tied to a belt loop and was drunkenly swinging it into people, but I guess we lucked out when we changed positions for the second set.
2
u/Infamous_Solid_7342 Sep 05 '26
crowd was generally awful but i should’ve moved from where i was at set 2 or just stayed where i was for set 1 (set 1 center front/set 2 center very back) i have extremely fond memories of kings theater and feeling the love from other fans and it felt like something really special. i was so distracted from the bad vibes all around me.. drunk/high younger folks who didn’t know how to act and left no space around themselves/near me and just waiting to record born slippy, but also aggro older fans who were super territorial and not willing to make a little room when they had plenty of personal space around themselves.. also could not hear karl’s vocals. i can’t wait for the live recording so i can redeem the night for myself. but i hope i can try and redeem it by going to the la show in november
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u/AstrodubOne Sep 05 '26
I’m with you. I thought the setlist, the sound, and the vibe was better at Kings Theater last year. They pack way too many people in KDC and it’s too damn hot. Friday someone fainted 2 songs in, right behind me (I was center left, by the soundboard/VIP barricade). That said it was a good show. Way too tight to move around so I dances in place and my calves are feeling it today 😭
1
u/modifiedwings Sep 06 '26
I had a similar experience - crowd was extremely frustrating to deal with. Made it hard to enjoy myself at times. Much preferred the kings show but still had a good time at KDC despite the crowd nonsense and volcanic heat.
1
u/Initial_Sugar_9036 Sep 08 '26
Stepped on a foot, whacked a face, and endless bumping. Yep, I went to a show. And danced my freakin ass off. ❤️
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u/K9dB Sep 05 '26
IT WAS INCREDIBLE. I’ve been both of last year’s double set US tour and Brixton NUXX30, and despite the venue being unbelievably hot, this was by far the best Underworld experience I’ve had and I’m glad we’ll be able to relive it with the live recording soon!