Pit safety in a post-Covid , post-Astroworld context - Tallulah Gray reports
For years Rock , Punk and Metal concertgoers have been united under one shared experience : The Mosh Pit .
Difficult to explain to anyone outside of these subgenres , the Mosh Pit – or “ the pit ” as it is colloquially referred to is an expression of raw energy and passion that may be misunderstood by those who don ’ t participate .
Despite many misconceptions , it is kept safe by an explicit “ look out for your neighbor ” -type mentality .
However , in the wake of the Astroworld tragedy , an event where several young and enthusiastic concert goers lost their lives at a Travis Scott concert , many have once again begun to fear the Mosh Pit and what it represents .
This is exacerbated by the threeyear break from live music most of us gig-goers have endured due to the coronavirus pandemic , sparking a brand-new era of debate around “ gig etiquette ” culminating in the notion that bands and artists are / should be responsible for the safety of their fans and attendees .
After seeing fans across a variety of genres compare their favorite artists ’ responses to incidents of concertgoers feeling unsafe all over my social media ,
I was eager to get back to live music and see for myself if all this fuss really was warranted .
In October 2022 , I attended two shows at Brighton ’ s live music venue CHALK mere days apart .
First , was Canadian post-punk band PUP , playing their first Brighton show in over 6 years and fresh off the release of their latest album The Unraveling of Puptheband .
Second , was Brighton-originated Hardcore / metal band Architects , celebrating their latest album release with a one-off sold-out show in their hometown .
How these bands addressed the safety and energy of their audiences were perfect examples of how the culture around moshing is cultivated and protected by the very artists you pay to see .
During Pup ’ s show , as soon as they came on stage , a flurry of crowd surfing began . The band quickly reached to support any individual coming their way and guided them to the barrier to gain their footing .
We as a crowd seemed to move as one , jumping and headbanging in unison from the very first notes .
Just a few songs into their set , PUP ’ s lead singer Stefan Babcock , addresses the crowd , “ We have one rule at these shows … take care of each other ” before launching into another high energy track that had the crowd screaming , stopping the show more than once to check that fans were okay , hydrated , and even pausing the set twice to ensure someone was able to retrieve a phone they had dropped while in the pit .
Architects , on the other hand , encouraged the crowd to scream and shout ‘ til our lungs gave out , actively egging the crowd on to mosh harder and let loose , nothing felt off limits and several pits formed throughout the crowd even as far as the back row .
However , the band ’ s front man Sam Carter still made time to check on the crowd and make sure everything in the pit stayed exactly the way it was meant to be , a release of raw energy in a uniquely uniting concertgoing experience .
The Mosh Pit is an integral part of the live music experience for alternative music , and the mentality that most concertgoers have is to look out for one another , pick someone up the moment they fall , and share in the often chaotic and communal experience that , at its ’ core , is a harmless catharsis for those who need it .
Photo Credit : Zamrznuti tonovi - stock . adobe . com