Hardcore Mosh Pits
 

We've all seen that guy at a metal show. Everyone is moshing in the accepted style (pushing and shoving and picking each other off the floor), and it's a good time with the thrill brought on by the---admittedly minimal---chance of getting hurt. Then this guy jumps in and starts practicing karate and the pit is cleared in about two seconds flat. That dude is highly annoying since what he's doing is out of place in this specific context.

But I've always kind of admired that 2-step style of hardcore moshing. It may be wrong at a metal show, but I'd love to see those people do their thing at an actual hardcore show---unfortunately there doesn't seem to be much of a HC scene where I live. I've heard it described as an "art form", where a true "practitioner" is aware of their limits and surroundings, and even though a bunch of guys are all doing it in an enclosed space, for the most part nobody is getting hit. I don't know how true that is of course. And considering the stereotype of the typical NYHC dude, it sounds like in some scenes it may very well just be a place for irate gorillas to pound on each other for douchebag kicks.

Anyone have experience with that kind of thing? Are hardcore mosh pits awesome? Unnecessarily hostile? Goofy?

I remember back in the day of like 2006 - 2008, when I was in my early teens and going to my first big stadium metal shows like Slayer, Megadeth, Lamb of God and those sort of bands I would look down on the pit from my comfy seats and see that sort of thing happening almost every show. But by the time I had started attending bar metal / punk shows like Ghoul, Toxic Holocaust, Prong, Kreator, Overkill, Golers, White Lung, and countless Vancouver local bands around ~2012 and beyond I never saw it in the pit again, and haven't to this day. I think that kind of moshing was either a trend for a while or is regional to certain scenes or something just seems to allude the shows I go to. Not even 1 guy, it's all normal pits or circle pits around these parts.

But I don't know, it's hard to say. I very rarely go to shows outside of the thrash / punk scene. I've never been to a post hardcore show or anything like that, I'd imagine it's still quite prevalent in that scene. As for my opinion on it, don't really care, if that's how pits are in a particular scene that's how they are, participate or don't.

I don't know if there's a secret HC scene around here I'm just not aware of that produces these guys, or if they're just wannabes, but I used to see them all the time when I still had the money to go to shows a few years ago. From what I understand, that whole 2-step thing is something pretty much restricted to straight-up hardcore scenes.

I don't get moshpits at all. I'd like to listen to the music, not bump into other people while risking getting hurt.

You posted earlier you've never been to a show this explains alot. There is an energy when listening to hardcore music that cannot be contained and it spawned mosh pits. If you are worried about getting hurt then you might be better off staying home. Most mosh pits are front row and center so not hearing the music will never be an issue. Go get some battle scars already.

Never been to a hardcore punk show, but I've been to a lot of noisy and more standard punk shows and nothing compares to a Slayer mosh pit in my experience. I was 15 when I saw them, I had to gtfo the pit before the first song was over because I was afraid for my life. Sprained a shoulder, broke my glasses, and got a bloody lip. I could probably fare better now though.

Sounds about right. I never understood the judo type dudes at Aquabat shows. Dorks.

Hah, I saw The Aquabats open for Rancid when I was 13 and the sound guy reached over the fence and lifted me up behind the mixing board to save me from the pit. I remember it being pretty rowdy, fantastic show.

Also going to have to agree with Frownland, Slayer pits are a force like no other.

I think its a little obnoxious, something I smile fondly at younger folk for but frown sternly at anyone over 21 for. Learn etiquette or gtfo.

I bet this has a lot to do with why I don't see it anymore, I haven't been to an all-ages metal (or hardcore) show in years.