I know this! I was kidding. I thought maybe name-dropping some fIREHOSE albums would indicate my kiddingness.
Anyway, I can’t stay, I gotta go walk the cow.
I agree that there is a time and place for moshing. Some venues just aren’t made for it, and when it becomes dangerous, its time to draw a line. I was at a concert last summer on my campus during Frosh week. The band (Moist, btw) was playing on the field in the middle of campus, but the place had been deliberately roped off in such a way as to discourage moshing (due to the friendly, kind, no harm theme of frosh week at my school). The bouncers were letting people know as they were going in that there was NO MOSHING allowed, and were kicking everyone out of the crowd who tried. It was mostly ok, except for one stupid group of 20 or so people who decided that rules didn’t apply to them. They forced their way to the front and proceeded to attempt to injure as many people as possible. The bouncers were doing what they could to stop them, but were really kind of ineffective since they couldnt get into the tight crowd. Then, as if they weren’t annoying enough, they decided to attempt to crowd surf (again, in a venue where it was NOT allowed). The bouncers were having the people brought over to the edge of the crowd and dumped. Unfortunately for me, I was caught up next to a rope right where people were being surfed to. I couldn’t move away. I had two people pulled/dropped directly onto my neck/head by the bouncers and the crowd trying to get rid of the idiot surfers. I still have terrible back pains thanks to it.
Now, that doesn;t mean I totally disapprove of moshing or crowd surfing. It just depends on the circumstances. I’ve moshed to Moist before, and surfed at their show, and there was no problem. The crowd was friendly, and the venue was big enough for it. I spent an entire APC/NIN concert in the pit, as well as an BV3000/MBM/Prodigy show, and it was fine. But sometimes, its just not the right time or place.
What people need to realize is that by going to a heavy show and being towards the front will usually mean there is going to be a pit. Its just the way it is. It is part of the whole concert experience. I don’t always like it, and sometimes downright hate it, but that is the way it is. Places that book these bands need to realize this also. If they want the money the bands bring in, they need to understand the risks. I have seen more problems at places that try to not allow pits, or get too strict with them. The safest ones have been at clubs that let the pit police itself.
Most of the mosh pits I’ve been in have been pretty non-violent. Now, there was a lot of energy, and people were slamming and getting slammed around pretty good (especially at the L7 and Helmet shows), but the object was not to hurt people; it was just a release of energy. I’m short (5’4"), so during the Helmet show in particular, I frequently had to turn my face directly up so I could get a breath of semi-fresh air, but I never felt in danger of getting hurt.
Now, the UK Subs show, on the other hand…the pit there was just mean.
I have to say, hands down, the best pit to go in are the ones at Insane Clown Posse shows. ICP fans are notorious for taking care of eachother. Juggalos (guy fans) will help a juggalette (girl fan) up in a second if they fall or want to get out of the pit. It was amazing how great they were to us girls. We’re like one big family, taking care of eachother and pushing and shoving the crap out of everyone…and it’s not the pit you have to worry about, it’s the crowd surfers. Shoes hurt like hell when they connect with your face on the way over…
Heh heh - sorry I got so defensive. Guess I should have read the fine print before firing off a retort. <insert apologetic smile here> Had a bad day on the MBTA.
The Mosh Pit, while now a common feature at metal and hip-hop shows, is the invention of the punks, so Rollins and Black Flag should get credit where credit is due.
I think the Sultan has hit on something here, in that in light of recent global events, maybe even the punks have lightened up… for a while.
According to Cohen and Wollock’s Etiquette for Outlaws:
The book is an excellent read, and the chapter that mentions moshing pretty much covers the whole punk experience, including quoting from Bill Stevenson of Black Flag.
You have great taste in music 
The pit is the best thing ever except for the groping. During Mudvayne and The Union Underground at Ozzfest I was in the pit (by the way, I’m 5’3", 105-110 lbs) with a shitload of sweaty probably drunken guys and got my tits grabbed by almost all of them. That kinda sucked but it was too fun to stop. The pits at Good Charlotte and Boy Hits Car were crazy, everyone fell down in like one big wave. The pit at Dave Navarro was tamer. The coolest pit I’ve ever seen was during the Tool show, I was like on the side in seats but I could se them really well. They went crazy every time a song got heavy…I envy them…
~Kittie
Not only that, I have art displayed on the Kittie website. I made this after that show that I wrote about.
LC, still waiting for that new kittie album