to mosh or not to mosh

Another Pit piece...wrote this after the referenced Bad Religion show...

When I went to see Bad Religion play at SOMA in San Diego recently, I knew it would be crazy. It was Bad Religion, it was SOMA, it was an all ages show. All three reputations precede themselves.

Needless to say, the crowd went off. It was a great show. I felt sorry for the young kid pulled from the pit with the dislocated shoulder. Arms and shoulders aren’t supposed to twist like that.
More and more, moshing injuries are becoming commonplace at shows. San Diegans will mosh to anything. I’ve seen moshing go on with no music, between songs and even between bands.
SOMA seems to be not only the all ages hot spot in San Diego, but also the cool place to mosh. “Dude--I was in the pit at SOMA last night and got SOOOO trashed!”

The owner and onsight emcee of SOMA often encourages crowds to go crazy. You can pretty much do what you want, just don’t climb up on the stage. I guess some guys can afford lots of insurance. Needless to say, if you don’t pay attention or are caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, you’ll get hurt.

I’ve jumped into pits, fell into pits, jumped into pits, been pushed into pits, pulled into pits, kicked, elbowed, jumped on, and so on. When I go to a show, I usually choose to watch the band. If I want to mosh, I’ll mosh.

At one time there was a pit etiquette. This seems to be slowly disappearing. When you go down, some people help you up. Others run you over. Moshing injuries increase with the violence. A 17 year old girl recently died after a Smashing Pumpkins in Ireland got too wild. No, she wasn’t doing drugs with the drummer.

So far, there has been one moshing related death in the United States. Two other men have been paralyzed for life. That’s life, Coco. A long freakin? Time isn’t it? Wouldn’t it suck if you and your friends went to a show, and one of you wound up paralyzed or dead just cause a bunch of punks are just dancing and having fun?? I don’t think it’s fun to be paralyzed, and dead men can’t mosh.

Promoters are facing rising insurance costs due to moshing problems. Some bands and venues are getting bad reputations. Many other venues are cracking down. Eventually you may not get to see the bands you want to see in the environment you want to see them in. Ticket prices will go up hand in hand with the rising insurance costs.

In New York there is pending legislation that would hold club promoters and owners responsible for moshing related injuries. It’s gotten to the point where it has become a hassle to go to all ages shows anymore.

If you intentionally mosh to hurt others or don’t follow pit etiquette, you shouldn’t be allowed into shows. I hope the bouncers kick your ass every time too.