If Not For Me Made Their 45 Minutes Count
If Not For Me knows how to make an opening set count. At Gramercy Theatre on October 15, the Pennsylvania band had 45 minutes to work with, and they packed it with crowdsurfers, circle pits, and singalongs, making the time fly unbelievably fast. With Wind Walkers’ 2026 tour rolling through New York City, If Not For Me made sure their time onstage wasn't one fans would forget.
If Not For Me knew exactly what they were doing when planning that setlist. Give the fans everything, and make sure they sound great doing so. Opening with “Retrograde,” they had the entire audience jumping and screaming right away, and the first round of brave crowd surfers made their way toward the stage. One fan traveled to the barricade in a rhinestoned Scream mask, another fist pumped Patty with a beer, and some just hyped up the rest of the crowd as they levitated forward. Vocalist Patrick Glover, affectionately known as Patty, was more than happy to reach out and interact with fans as they came over the barricade, making sure nobody's admiration in the crowd went unnoticed. The first moments had such a special opening energy, like reuniting with friends you've been missing for a while.
The high energy carried through “Broken Throne,” “Novocaine,” and “Blameless,” with the band settling comfortably into its set and the crowd keeping up every step of the way. If Not For Me have a knack for pairing the heavier side of metalcore with melodies that stick around long after a song ends, and that balance translates especially well live. Plenty is happening musically, but nothing gets lost in the chaos. Even in a room full of moving bodies, the songs have a way of pulling everyone in.
“Say It To My Face” brought one of the most memorable moments of the night. When the breakdown hit, a massive pit opened up in the middle of the floor, and watching it from above was almost as entertaining as being down there. The crowd went hard, and the band gave them the perfect soundtrack to release the rage.
Later in the set, the band played “Lie Awake” and brought on vocalist Wind Walkers Trevor Borg, sending the fans into a frenzy. You could feel the floor shaking beneath your feet, and the excitement in the room grew as they played their new collaborative track off of Where The Light Begins To Fade.
“Close to Closure” and “Feel Me Now” brought the set to a close, leaving the crowd with one very reasonable request: give If Not For Me a headlining tour already. Forty-five minutes is a solid amount of time for an opening set, but it barely scratches the surface of what this band can do. Between the crowd interaction, talent, and the pits, they made a pretty convincing case for more time onstage.
If Not For Me have clearly found their footing, and the response at Gramercy Theatre showed just how much people are connecting with what they're doing. They brought the kind of energy that makes an opening set feel like a reason to get to the venue early, and they left the room wanting more.
Photos and Review by Bek Allegretti
