After a long time coming, ISOxo and Knock2 made their grand return to San Diego for a two-night ISOKNOCK experience that capped off an impressive year and proved they’re here to stay.
ISOxo and Knock2 both have solo careers that have seen remarkable success, but there’s even more energy when the two best friends get together to throw down as ISOKNOCK. This year, the collaborative project has ascended to greater heights with a massive performance at Coachella, Ultra Japan, North Coast Music Festival, and more, not to mention the release of their debut album together, 4EVR. Yet the year wasn’t done because the two San Diego-based artists had one last show in the chamber to show some love to their home city.
I sat on the sidelines for much of ISOKNOCK’s rise to the top in 2024. Although I’ve been familiar with their solo work and felt the palpable hype surrounding this duo, I missed their beloved Coachella set earlier this year, and the other performances were just a bit too far for me to catch. So when it was announced that this duo would bring their maximalist style and energetic sounds back to San Diego for a two-night show, I knew I needed to be there.
Social media flowed with stories and video clips from the first night, most of which were positive about the performances but negative about the venue. Thrive Park at Snapdragon Stadium is a newer space in San Diego, so it makes sense that there are some hiccups regarding entry, security, and other logistical aspects. However, the on-site staff had fixed long lines from the previous night by the second one, as we were inside the venue in just under 30 minutes.
The crowd, which certainly felt younger compared to other recent festivals I attended, like Dreamstate SoCal, was already hyped for what would come as we made our way through the ID check and security. Everyone seemed to be having a good time and was either sharing memories from the prior evening or chatting about other aspects of ISOKNOCK. The fits people rocked ranged from those who went all out with grunge, cyberpunk, or streetwear-forward fashion to those who were more comfy casual. It was a bit chilly, after all, for San Diego at least.
Glaive was playing upon arrival, but we checked out the rest of the venue that felt fairly expansive. The stage was placed on a small hill on one side of the grounds, while the bars, food vendors, and merch booth were on the other. Refreshingly, lines were non-existent throughout the night; I had what I wanted to eat or drink within minutes of walking up to order.
Sonically, the lineup for San Diego 4EVR was aligned with the dynamism that ISOKNOCK exudes.
The show’s first night brought major acts like Madeon and PEEKABOO to the stage, but the second night called to me a bit more with its lineup that swapped in Brutalismus 3000 and RL Grime. The former of those two is an electronic duo from Berlin that has helped define the next wave of the hard dance scene with a blend of techno, hardcore, and neo-rave sounds. The latter is the ever-iconic trap legend instrumental in ISOKNOCK’s upward trajectory.
Brutalismus 3000 and RL Grime played remarkable sets filled with unique soundscapes and hyped moments. I thoroughly enjoyed both, but I couldn’t help but notice less energy in the crowd than I thought there would be. I’m not sure if it was due to the chilly temperatures or if this is just how the scene is currently, but I expected a bit more movement during the high-energy Brutalismus 3000 set or even during the huge trap drops during RL Grime’s.
The energy levels began to swell as the clock ticked down for ISOKNOCK’s set, and it kicked off with quite a surprise.
As someone who loves the back of the crowd, you never really expect the energy to be focused on where you are, but ISOKNOCK flipped that notion on its head. Unlike the previous night, when they opened their performance by driving a car on stage, spotlights were drawn to the structure at the back to shine a light on them there. Mics in hand and decks in front of them, they played their live edit of “THRASH (PARTY STARTER)” to kick everything off.
Their commanding presence atop that structure was met with cheers as everyone kept dashing their eyes between where they were and the stage itself. Massive mashups led to the two descending down at separate times, which only further emboldened the unifying vibe that ISOKNOCK isn’t just for themselves; they’re for the people, too.
Nearly an hour went by as ISOKNOCK threw down everything from their solo hits to collaborative tunes, along with remixes of gems like “Baddadan,” “Stereo Love,” and more. There were some fresh IDs thrown in for added effect, all of which hit hard on that chilly night in San Diego. Brutalismus 3000 joined them on stage to play their new ID together before dropping into “kidsgonemad!” and “SIGNAL,” while RL Grime made his way on stage for “SMACK TALK,” which led to the last leg of the set.
The last onslaught of tunes kept the energy alive, but what felt more prominent were the emotions that ISOKNOCK displayed.
For years I’ve experienced artists who once called San Diego home leave for places like Los Angeles, only to never come back or even acknowledge the city where they started. ISOKNOCK bucked that trend.
Throughout their set, but even more so toward the end, ISOxo and Knock2 shared how important the San Diego scene has been to them. The love and support they’ve received from this community have left a lasting impact on these two artists, and they reciprocated that with their own uplifting, emotion-fueled messages to the crowd.
Capping off the incredible night was news that this wouldn’t be the end, either. ISOKNOCK announced they’re bringing another experience, Nitehearts Festival, to San Diego in 2025. Only time will tell what this experience will be about, but it will surely be as electric as this two-night run.
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