by John Aucker

Created on: February 15, 2007   Last Updated: February 06, 2010

Thrashing music and deafening chords fill the small clubs all across the globe. This is not a culture of violence, as a matter of fact it is no culture at all. This is an act of love, I even venture to call it dancing! This "musical expression" even takes place under several genre of music as well as generations. But what happens in there, why do it, and how?

Many metal fans as well as bands are famous for throwing their heads around while playing, I do believe this has a lot to do with the fact that they are holding instruments, but never the less a trademark of the music. "Moshing" is on the same level, except we aren't holding anything but our own fist. It ranges from concert to concert and place to place as to what happens in there.

We will start with the common "generic" pits. So... you have stumbled into a festival atmosphere you look down from your nosebleed seats way up in the stadium and you see what looks like a giant brawl about midfield. Upon closer inspection you see merely a bunch of crazed fans jumping into one another, bumping, running spinning, not a care in the world. This is your common pit. Next week you end up at a punk show maybe even some older metal band. You see something a little crazier than at the big festival. There is much more aggression in here, the pit seems to flowing around in a crazy circle, legs and arms are flailing everywhere. Intrigued you join the rush. A couple of crowd surfer kicks to the head later and you've had enough.

The next day pumped up by the last show you decide to go all out and got to a hardcore show, maybe some new band, this is a new and even more insane experience. This seems to start with a few people "hardcore dancing". This basically is like fighting no one to the beat of the music. You see "cherry pickers", "windmills", roundhouse kicks, now this is moshing at its finest. I myself tend to loose control and jump right in. You seem a little more timid and stay back to watch. Feet, fists, all flying through the air. This is love! Nobody takes aim for you but it does happen. I have had my share of bloody noses! This is what it is all about, feeling the music so deeply that all you can do is is kick and punch your way till the end. This can even be taken further with one of the funnest tricks of the trade. The band declares the crowd split in half, and on their count rush the middle. It looks like war! This again is just another example of expression.

Now, that you know, don't be scared, don't call us ignorant, and most of all if your up to join in! If you get hurt , trust me you will be helped, it is almost a protected environment, most fellow "moshers" will help you up or out depending on your situation. The most satisfying thing of it all however is when you congratulate those around you! That is not a culture, not a fad, but true love of music and people!

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