A Reddit post on r/shakyknees (posted Sept. 20 by u/Garbage_truck_girl) claims dangerous crowd behavior during Deftones’ performance at Shaky Knees, touching off a long thread of festival-goers swapping accounts of what happened.
The original post — short, blunt, and upvoted heavily — alleges prolonged pushing, aggressive crowd movement, and what the poster described as a slow security response. That post prompted 177 comments and a wider conversation about crowd safety at high-energy rock sets.
“The behavior at the Deftones concert was unacceptable,” the OP wrote, sparking multiple replies from people who said they were frightened, had friends injured, or narrowly avoided trouble.
As the thread grew, two themes emerged: some users shared near-identical accounts of chaotic pit conditions and delayed staff intervention, while others pushed back — noting Deftones shows have a reputation for intense pit energy and arguing that concertgoers also bear responsibility for watching out for one another.
- What commenters wanted: clearer festival enforcement of pit rules and faster security/medical response.
- Suggested fixes: designated mosh areas, more visible staff, pre-show announcements about safe pit behavior, and stricter ejection policies for violent attendees.
- Counterpoints: some reminded readers that heavier bands attract aggressive pits and that personal vigilance matters.
At the time of publication there was no public statement from Shaky Knees organizers or the band addressing the specific Reddit thread. The debate, however, is already hitting the wider festival community — and it’s a reminder that crowd safety is still top of mind as festivals return to full-capacity, high-energy programming.
Bottom line for anyone headed to a heavy set: have an exit plan, stay near the edge if you’re not into pits, look out for friends, and report dangerous behavior to staff or medics immediately. If you were at the Deftones set and want to add context, the conversation is live on the Reddit thread.