The Comprehensive Guide to Going to Your First Metalcore Concert - Part 2: Moshing and Crowdsurfing

Part 1: https://old.reddit.com/r/Metalcore/comments/api9qz/the_comprehensive_guide_to_going_to_your_first/

DISCLAIMER

I have to include two quick disclaimers before I really get in to the meat and bones of this. One is for the people reading this for advice on going to their first show and the other is for the regulars of this sub.

• For the beginners

Don't ever feel obligated to do more than you're comfortable with at a concert, it's all about having fun, and if none of this sounds fun, that's OK!

If you do want to participate, however, know that all of the things that I will be writing about in this post range from being either risky to downright dangerous to you and those around you. Situational awareness and cultural understanding are paramount to making sure that everyone has fun.

• For the regulars

Many of you already know my opinions regarding some of the things that I'll be writing about, and I know most of yours. Please understand that I am not trying to take sides or stoke an argument. I am simply trying to paint a realistic picture of a show for those who don't know what they are getting in to. There will be things that I cover that many of you disapprove of, and vice versa. Please be civil.

_

Ok, now that I've got that out of the way, lets get into it!

MOSHING

There are two "main" types of moshing and many different variations of each. I'll cover both types, a couple of the more popular variations and, very importantly, the types of bands for which that type of moshing would be appropriate.

Push Mosh

This is the most accessible form of moshing. It basically just involves a lot of pushing and shoving of your fellows moshers. At bigger shows it can get pretty intense and remember, ALWAYS PICK UP PEOPLE WHO HAVE FALLEN.

• The circle pit

During particularly quick portions of songs, a band may ask for a circle pit. It's not that hard, just start running in a circle with everyone else. Be careful not to trip, because it could cause a bit of a pileup that you're on the bottom of, but circle pits are probably the safest form of moshing.

A quick pro-tip: If you're tired of running, the best place to take a break is usually in the middle of the circle, not on the outside where people might be getting bumped into.

• Wall of Death

For songs that have a particularly dramatic buildup, followed by a quick, hard-hitting breakdown, a band may ask for a "Wall of Death". The crowd will basically split in two, and upon the breakdown hitting, or the request of the singer, the two sides will run towards each other and converge in the middle into a massive and pretty rough push pit.

• For which bands are push puts going to happen?

Push pits are a part of the culture of Metal, so naturally, they will be more prominent at shows where the band leans more towards Metal than they do Hardcore. Some examples would be:

August Burns Red

Parkway Drive

Fit for a King

Northlane

Hardcore Dancing

Hardcore dancing is more of a kind of wild flailing and kicking than it is moshing in the sense that you may be familiar with, although more experienced moshers can actually make it look like series of acrobatic tricks or aggressive but coordinated dance moves. The one thing to remember for this type of moshing is IF YOU DONT WANT TO GET HIT, DON'T STAND NEXT TO THE PIT.

• The Two Step

Some songs have a section with a 4/4 rythym that has snare hits on beats 2 and 4 (If you don't know what that means, listen to the song "Virus//Vibrance" by Vein. It's full of this kind of beat). The two step is actually a bit of a choreographed dance where you put one foot in front of the other to beat of the song while using your arms to make your own signature type of two step. I personally like to sway my arms back and forth to make it look really smooth, but some people go really hard and keep it aggressive.

• Crowdkilling ^(This is the really controversial part, just FYI.)

At some rougher shows (or in rough scenes, at every show) there will be some people who are less careful about their flailing and kicking and "accidentally" hitting people on the edge of the pit, or just outright swinging on them. This is called crowdkilling and it can get a bit out of hand at some shows, but can make other shows exceptionally fun and rowdy. If you aren't ready for this, get out of the pit area. You won't be hit if you aren't near the pit. If you are, that person is being a dick and breaking a very loosely defined "code".

If you do want to hang around the pit when this is going on, be sure to protect yourself. If you see someone getting close to you, put both of your fists up to your forehead, protecting your face with your forearms. If someone is going REALLY hard, just duck.

I wouldn't recommend partaking in crowdkilling at your first show as different scenes have different rules and you should really learn the ropes first.

• For which bands is Hardcore Dancing going to happen?

As the name would suggest, this type of moshing is more closely tied to the culture of Hardcore Punk. There has been a resurgence of Metalcore bands that take most of their influence from Hardcore Punk and, as a result, the culture of Hardcore is, once again, becoming a lot more prevalent in the scene. These are some bands where you'll see this kind of moshing:

Knocked Loose

Kublai Khan

Counterparts

Vein

CROWDSURFING

In the interest of being thorough, I'm also going to cover stage diving, since at some venues you'll probably have to do a bit of a dive after surfing onto the stage.

Crowdsurfing

Most people are pretty familiar with this, you're just surfing over the crowd of people at the show. Many bands call for it throughout the show. Whether you plan on crowdsurfing or stage diving, please do be conscious of your weight. You'd think that goes without saying, but you'd be surprised.

• Getting up

How do you even get on top of all these people? It's pretty easy, just ask! Many people will be more than happy to give you a boost.

At rougher shows, you can get a bit of a running start though the pit and (if you're athletic) just jump onto the people at the edge or use their shoulders to hoist yourself up.

• Once you're up

Don't just lay there. It is more dangerous for yourself as it leaves you a bit more open to being dropped, although many people around you will make it their life's mission to ensure that doesn't happen. It is also more dangerous for the people around you, as you may accidentally give someone a boot to the back of the head, which kinda hurts.

Instead, swim. Face towards the stage and try to "inform" people that you're about to come through by tapping or holding on to their shoulders. By making a concerted effort to move forward: you'll be more aware of where you're going and when you may be dropped, you'll give people a bit of a heads up so that they won't be surprised by a body landing on them, and you'll get to the front just that much quicker!

Stage Diving

Some venues don't have a barrier, so if you crowdsurf, the only places to end up is either the floor or the stage. Don't fret, there's lots of options.

• Laying down

If you don't trust other people to catch you or you're scared, you can basically just lay down onto the crowd. It's super safe and you'll be let down super easy.

• Jumping

If you're going to jump, pick your spots. Don't jump into a group of 15 year old scene girls and then be surprised when you or one of them gets hurt.

• Flipping

Flipping can be a bit of a mixed bag. If you do a half assed flip, you're actually going to land with your feet, knees and elbows away from the crowd, making it safer for them to catch you, but harder on you if no one does.

A full flip should be reserved for rougher (I.E. hardcore leaning) shows. You could really fuck someone up.

• Headwalking

This is a type of crowdkilling and you should more or less expect it at shows where people are getting very rough. It is exactly what it sounds like. Instead of diving, the person will try to walk over the crowd for as far as they can.

• What if I'm standing up front? How do I prepare for stage divers?

If you think you can catch them, then do it! You won't be the only one and it's fun for everyone.

If you think the person is going to do a front flip or headwalk, protect your head in much the same way I described in the crowdkilling section. Just make sure to cover the top of your head a bit more as that's the more at-risk area.

CONCLUSION

Remember to be aware of your surroundings. If you find yourself going a lot harder than those around you, relax. If you find yourself in a situation that's a bit too rough for you, remove yourself. Everyone at the show, even the mean ole crowdkillers, know that everyone is there for fun and if you understand the makeup of the room and the type of show you're at, you'll have the fun you seek!

Please let me know if you have any questions or if I missed something. Also, should I do a part 3? If so, what should be the topic.

P.S. I know I covered some stuff that this sub isn't too keen on, please be civil. Again, I'm just trying to paint a realistic picture of what a show may be like for a beginner.