knifetwister records’ Birthday Bash Show 7/26/2026!

One of the things I love most about running this magazine is receiving messages recommending music and inviting me to shows. A couple of weeks ago, I was thrilled to see that New York-based label and magazine knifetwister records invited me to their birthday bash show on July 26th, 2026. I knew none of the bands on the bill, which is my favorite kind of bill, and knew I had to go! 

knifetwister records is a hardcore/punk/ska music label and magazine that interviews and offers guidance to small bands, giving them the recognition they deserve. They, as we here at Uncharted Music also believe, are committed to providing a voice to underrepresented artists from marginalized communities who speak up about issues that affect them and their communities. I truly admire their work; I've used many of their interviews with smaller punk and hardcore artists to help me write about songs and shows I’ve attended when I can’t speak to the artists themselves! It was such an honor to be invited to their show. 

Photo of crowd by Raph Copeland

The show was on a Sunday at what I like to call “Brooklyn’s Live Music Row” on Meadows Street at The Attic. I got there a bit late, but thankfully the show hadn’t started yet (got to love punk timing when I’m late!). When I walked up the stairs to the venue, I was immediately greeted warmly by the staff of knifetwister records, Maya and Dan. They not only welcomed me warmly but did so with each attendee, creating a comfortable atmosphere. I later met the founder, Raph, who was also very kind, and it was his birthday as well! The team worked together so effortlessly the entire night to make sure people were having a great time and that everything was going smoothly, which it did. This alone convinced me that whenever they do their next show, I’ll try my best to be there. The second thing that convinced me was the awesome lineup they put together!

No Call No Show. Photo by Raph Copeland

The emcee of the night, Aaron “White Owl” Collins of the ska-punk band Butterbrain, took the mic to welcome everyone and introduce the first act, No Call No Show. This Staten Island band drew inspiration from many types of rock, with a heavy influence from metal. It was so surprising every time they’d play a song, and I'd hear a different influence mixed into their overall strong metal sound. It was so interesting. The guitars were energetic, with a crisp yet gritty tone. Their breakdowns hit hard, with crunchier sounds. The vocalist, Mike, delivered gnarly screams. Between songs, he also talked to the crowd, bantering with everyone, which is always a great sign of a good performer, in my opinion. The entire band was active, moving around the entire time and getting into the crowd. A great performance, and I can’t wait to see them again!

Goof Goblin. Photo by Raph Copeland

Next up was a very interesting group that completely blew away all my expectations for what they were going to sound like (in the best way possible). Goof Goblin, a dance-punk, nu-chip band based in Brooklyn, truly created a super fun atmosphere that was a great break between the heavier hardcore sets. They ended the first song with a howl, and I just knew it was going to be a lively set. There was such a fun use of synths that made the entire set danceable. It was funky, very textured in sound, and almost circusy. It was definitely chaos wrapped in jumpy synths and guitars. Each song was pretty fast-paced, keeping the energy up the entire time. There were a couple of songs with a gnarly breakdown and screaming, which tied into the overarching sound of the night. The vocalists, Rhythm, Yolanda, and Amy, were so talented as well, with call-and-response throughout certain songs. They were also expressive throughout the set and interacted with the crowd. During one song called “Drop Kick the Bear,” they had the crowd sing along. It was awesome to see this group live, and I hope I can catch them again soon!

iLL RAiSED. Photo by Raph Copeland

Last but not least, Aaron introduced the final band, iLL RAiSED, a Queens Latino hardcore punk band that closed the night on a high note. They were immediately filled with intense energy. As soon as they started playing, each member was active, moving around the venue with intent. Their sound carried grit and anger. At times they leaned into punk, and at other times they leaned into hardcore and metal riffs and vocals. They had the crowd most active of the night, with moshing throughout the set. The lead singer, Julez, was also two-stepping while singing without any visual effort, which was so impressive to me. Their set was a bit short; however, they did play an extra song, as the crowd begged for another one because they were that good. Again, such a great closure to a great night. 

After the show, people gathered for cake, chatted with one another, and began to file out. I said my goodbyes and thank-yous to everyone I met, including Raph, who invited me; then I went on my merry way back to Queens, thinking about how great the show was. 

The show was a great success, especially for their first time ever putting one together! I hope they do more in the future because I would definitely be there. If you want to keep up with each band I wrote about (which you should because each one of them was amazing), you can follow them on Instagram at @nocallnoshowband, @goof.goblin, and @illraisednyhc. They all have upcoming shows around New York you should try to catch. Also, please support knifetwister records. They do such great work documenting the scene in New York. Their Instagram is @knifetwisterrecords, and you can read their interviews at www.knifetwisterrecords.com!!!

Photo by Raph Copeland.