I’m noticing a trend happening with new hardcore bands. At the show I saw the other night at El Corazón, the openers and the main act (!) repeatedly called out members of the crowd that opted out of the pit.
I’m talking “don’t be a pussy” and “if you’re standing in the back you are probably the people that like to watch golf.” What the actual fuck?
The pit is an option, not a requirement. People who go to these shows know this, established bands know this. Crowd work is one thing—encouraging participation, feeling free to express yourself physically—but nothing is more of a turn off than a band that you paid money to see chastise you for not enjoying their music the way THEY want you to.
Not to mention, women like me don’t want to go in the pit because it’s 99 percent sweaty white dudes swinging elbows and closed fists. It’s entertaining to watch, and you can see the joy it brings them, but fuck that, I’m not going to get clocked with white male rage because the band said you’re a pussy if you don’t.
Let the headbangers do their thing and let the pit do their thing, dipshits.