May 21, 2008

Crowd surfing. Though my usually reliable mates Google and Wikipedia have so stubbornly refused to inform me of its humble origins (perhaps somewhere in the swaps of Seattle I would imagine?), it’s a practise that’s been around as long as I’ve been attending shows and one that I first experienced in not so hardcore fashion, launching my way to the front of the stage during a Living End underage gig around ten years ago. Fellow punters had to endure my flailing limbs on perhaps three or four occasions since, most likely at Big Day Outs, when -young and sunstroked -the practise was as exciting as seeing the band themselves.

It’s been a good eight years since I’ve bothered though and I’ve merely been subjected to other people’s acrobatics while enjoying my favourite bands. Generally speaking, unless you’re the one gushing with adrenaline while writhing on other people’s skulls, it’s not a particularly enjoyable thing to be involved in. I’ve copped my fair share of muddy Doc Martins in the mouth and elbows to the temple to be pretty disillusioned with it all, yet I would never dream of outlawing it. It’s been a staple of the ‘scene’ for as long as I can remember, and sometimes it almost seems the collective crowd effort required to propel people up and over a surging moshpit is a real group effort, binding all those putting life and limb at the front of the stage.

I think anyone who’s prepared to subject themselves to the irrepressible stink of the pit, the possibility of expanding circle pits, bruised ribs at the barrier, those random shirtless dudes spasming awkwardly, expelling a week’s worth of sexual frustration (Shit they’re fascinating to watch! Are these guys for hire? Like the wacky, wavy, inflatable arm, flailing tube men? Can we perhaps use their talents to promote various events and sales?) is prepared for all consequences involved in being up the front. Thus it pleases me greatly when most people ignore strict instructions not to crowd surf at shows. It’s about as anti-authoritarian as punk gets these days.