How Knocked Loose Won the Grammys Red Carpet in Avant-Garde Menswear
StyleThe metalcore heroes brought the heat in a cavalcade of Bode, Rick Owens, and Goodfight. “This is absolutely an example of us sneaking into situations that our band was never meant for,” frontman Bryan Garris tells GQ.By Tyler WatamanukFebruary 3, 2025Knocked Loose and Poppy on their way to the 2025 Grammy Awards.JARED LEIBOWITZSave this storySaveSave this storySaveThe “Best Metal Performance” category can feel like the black sheep of the glossy and glitzy Grammy Awards. Other than heavy metal royalty like Metallica, the audience is often unfamiliar with the nominees. (At last night’s 2025 edition, in fact, a red-carpet interviewer mixed up one metalhead nominee for another.) All of this to say that it’s not the first place you’d expect to find some advanced-level menswear looks. Enter Knocked Loose, the five-piece metalcore band from Kentucky who broke out of the underground to a capstone year in 2024: releasing a game-changing album, supporting Slipknot on a massive arena tour, and landing their first Grammy nomination. Not to mention a late-night performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live that was so ear-shattering that some viewers requested a formal apology from the show. And to kick off the new year, Knocked Loose showed up on the Grammy red carpet wearing a feast of delightful menswear.Knocked Loose frontman Bryan Garris in his lace-trim Bode tuxedo. JARED LEIBOWITZ“This is absolutely an example of us sneaking into situations that our band was never meant for,” said frontman Bryan Garris. “I think that speaks a lot about where hardcore and alternative music is at and where it’s heading. [We] didn’t start the band to end up on the Grammys, but being recognized on this stage is an honor we’ll never forget.” Even if the guys didn’t take home a trophy, last night marked a gigantic milestone for the band. It called for a medley of covetable threads from Bode, Rick Owens, and cult Los Angeles label Goodfight.Drummer Kevin Kaine showing off his 2.45-carat diamond toothpick. JARED LEIBOWITZGuitarist Nicko Calderon's Western belt buckle and matching ring. JARED LEIBOWITZGarris wore a midcentury-inspired tuxedo from Bode, complete with hand-stitched lacing along the hem and up the notched collar. His girlfriend spotted it while the two were out shopping one day. “I was struggling with what I was going to wear and wanted to make sure it was important to me,” he said. “I immediately got excited about the idea of owning something by Bode.” He completed the look with fisherman sandals from Vinny’s and a slim bowtie with hanging tails from Ralph Lauren, a significant detail to him. “The style is technically called the Kentucky Colonel bow tie…I always have to represent where I came from.”Calderon in his custom Goodfight ensemble, inspired by traditional Filipino barong shirts and classic Western wear Nudie Suits. JARED LEIBOWITZGuitarist Nicko Calderon turned to Goodfight, a label that’s no stranger to producing immaculate red carpet fits. (Case in point: Oscar winner Daniel Kwan’s wild tux.) He worked with Goodfight designer Calvin Nguyen on a look that incorporated elements of a Filipino barong shirt and the Nudie Suit, nodding to Calderon’s roots as a Filipino-American who grew up in Indiana and Kentucky. The result is a stunning tuxedo made from English wool with satin accents, tonal embroidering, and delicately curved hems. “Our preference has always been to try to avoid interpretations that are too on-the-nose,” explained the brand’s director Caleb Lin. “We pulled the embroidery element typically done on the barong shirt and transferred the focus onto the suit itself.”Isaac Hale shrouded in a moody, translucent Rick Owens look. JARED LEIBOWITZJARED LEIBOWITZIsaac Hale, perhaps the band's most experimental dresser and resident goth-fashion savant, went with a full Rick Owens look—right down to the boots. It is as perfect of a Rick Owens outfit as it gets: ethereal and dark and alluring all at once. Hale first came across the legendary designer when he graduated from high school, but felt too intimidated by his work at the time. “There were lots of brands and pieces I didn’t think I was cool enough to wear....Rick was one of those brands,” said Hale. “When I gathered the confidence to start wearing it, it immediately connected with me. It’s the futuristic edge. It feels sci-fi.” The band also worked with NWM, a young Kentucky jeweler, on some showy accessories: drummer Kevin Kaine brought the splashy bling with a 2.45-carat diamond toothpick, and Calderon wore an Olde English “X” ring and bolo tie set with a jade stone. (Goodfight designed his jacket to be worn open to show off the bolo tie.)Bassist Kevin Otten putting the finishing touches on his look. JARED LEIBOWITZKnocked Loose continues to buck conventions of what is expected of heavy metal, redrawing the look and sound to their liking while elevating their band to new heights. After all, this is a band you’ll likely spot on stage wearing Salomons, or Noah, or
The “Best Metal Performance” category can feel like the black sheep of the glossy and glitzy Grammy Awards. Other than heavy metal royalty like Metallica, the audience is often unfamiliar with the nominees. (At last night’s 2025 edition, in fact, a red-carpet interviewer mixed up one metalhead nominee for another.) All of this to say that it’s not the first place you’d expect to find some advanced-level menswear looks. Enter Knocked Loose, the five-piece metalcore band from Kentucky who broke out of the underground to a capstone year in 2024: releasing a game-changing album, supporting Slipknot on a massive arena tour, and landing their first Grammy nomination. Not to mention a late-night performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live that was so ear-shattering that some viewers requested a formal apology from the show. And to kick off the new year, Knocked Loose showed up on the Grammy red carpet wearing a feast of delightful menswear.
“This is absolutely an example of us sneaking into situations that our band was never meant for,” said frontman Bryan Garris. “I think that speaks a lot about where hardcore and alternative music is at and where it’s heading. [We] didn’t start the band to end up on the Grammys, but being recognized on this stage is an honor we’ll never forget.” Even if the guys didn’t take home a trophy, last night marked a gigantic milestone for the band. It called for a medley of covetable threads from Bode, Rick Owens, and cult Los Angeles label Goodfight.
Garris wore a midcentury-inspired tuxedo from Bode, complete with hand-stitched lacing along the hem and up the notched collar. His girlfriend spotted it while the two were out shopping one day. “I was struggling with what I was going to wear and wanted to make sure it was important to me,” he said. “I immediately got excited about the idea of owning something by Bode.” He completed the look with fisherman sandals from Vinny’s and a slim bowtie with hanging tails from Ralph Lauren, a significant detail to him. “The style is technically called the Kentucky Colonel bow tie…I always have to represent where I came from.”
Guitarist Nicko Calderon turned to Goodfight, a label that’s no stranger to producing immaculate red carpet fits. (Case in point: Oscar winner Daniel Kwan’s wild tux.) He worked with Goodfight designer Calvin Nguyen on a look that incorporated elements of a Filipino barong shirt and the Nudie Suit, nodding to Calderon’s roots as a Filipino-American who grew up in Indiana and Kentucky. The result is a stunning tuxedo made from English wool with satin accents, tonal embroidering, and delicately curved hems. “Our preference has always been to try to avoid interpretations that are too on-the-nose,” explained the brand’s director Caleb Lin. “We pulled the embroidery element typically done on the barong shirt and transferred the focus onto the suit itself.”
Isaac Hale, perhaps the band's most experimental dresser and resident goth-fashion savant, went with a full Rick Owens look—right down to the boots. It is as perfect of a Rick Owens outfit as it gets: ethereal and dark and alluring all at once. Hale first came across the legendary designer when he graduated from high school, but felt too intimidated by his work at the time. “There were lots of brands and pieces I didn’t think I was cool enough to wear....Rick was one of those brands,” said Hale. “When I gathered the confidence to start wearing it, it immediately connected with me. It’s the futuristic edge. It feels sci-fi.” The band also worked with NWM, a young Kentucky jeweler, on some showy accessories: drummer Kevin Kaine brought the splashy bling with a 2.45-carat diamond toothpick, and Calderon wore an Olde English “X” ring and bolo tie set with a jade stone. (Goodfight designed his jacket to be worn open to show off the bolo tie.)
Knocked Loose continues to buck conventions of what is expected of heavy metal, redrawing the look and sound to their liking while elevating their band to new heights. After all, this is a band you’ll likely spot on stage wearing Salomons, or Noah, or Junya Watanabe. (Hell, Garris posts wear updates on his Japanese selvage jeans to his Instagram.) It’s fitting that the band, who mixes dissonant chords and supremely down-tuned riffs with glee, brings a similarly eccentric and exacting look to their personal style. Whether at the Grammy red carpet or at one of their unrelenting live gigs, you can’t help but nod your head along.
