This week, it seems like every major American music news website worth their weight in message board drama has picked up on the story of the city of Boston levying a citation against popular concert venue the House of Blues. The citation, which is the result of a mosh pit that broke out at a Flogging Molly show in February, signifies the beginning of a city wide clampdown on moshing at shows.
In the article, Boston police officer Nicole Brown is quoted as saying “Dancing is a First Amendment right, but the behavior itself is a violation, especially when it becomes dangerous and a public safety hazard.”
Hold on a second. There are a few things that bug me about this. First, of all the metal and hardcore bands that come through the state of Massachusetts on a weekly basis, it’s pretty hilarious this has come about as the result of a Flogging Molly show. Irish folk punk is the new grindcore, it seems. Second, how long has moshing been a thing? A cursory Google on the interwebs detail stage dives and pile ons being regular occurrences at punk shows in the late 70’s and full on brawls permeating 80’s hardcore. Sure, that ridiculous kung-fu stuff is a later invention, but it’s safe to say aggressive dancing has been a pretty common part of extreme music show going for a long time now, so why the sudden hullabaloo?
Well, now that I think about it, things have been kind of weird lately. The last few times I’ve seen bands perform within city limits, stage dives have been fully forbidden. Like, kids getting dragged out by their ears during a pop punk band forbidden. Add that to the fact that many metal and hardcore national package tours often circumvent Beantown for Hartford and Worcester shows, and you start to get the picture that Boston kind of has it in for the heavier side of music.
Unearth frontman Trevor Phipps is quoted in the Herald article saying “This new anti-moshing policy proves once again that the city of Boston hates heavy music. It’s disheartening and maddening to know your hometown doesn’t support or understand your music scene.” I see where he’s coming from.
Shadows Fall singer Brian Fair added “I can understand trying to cut down on injuries or fights, but you see more fights outside a dance night on Lansdowne Street than you see inside a hardcore show.”
So, the Mass metal dudes seem bummed out. I can understand that those who are doing the entertaining want the crowd to have unrestricted fun and express themselves however they choose. On the other side of the coin, I understand the city of Boston not wanting anyone to get hurt. A lot of bands go through that town, and I’m sure the music business has been good to downtown Boston’s economy at large. But come on, this all boils down to one thing: personal responsibility.
Mollie said it best a couple weeks ago in her piece about being a polite concertgoer: If you don’t want to get hurt, stay away from dudes in camo shorts faliling their arms like they’re on fire. I know that I’m a semi-jaded old concertgoer who just wants to have a drink, watch the show and maybe buy a t-shirt. I don’t want to sweat anymore than I already do, and I don’t need the mic. So I stand out of the way and, lo and behold, don’t go home with a bloody nose.
Safety is important, for sure, but I think Boston is taking it a little far. If the kids want to act out, let ’em do it. Better at a show than at a bar or a party or, as Fair said, on the street out back of Fenway. Respect the people around you, and we’ll all have a good time.