Peace in the Pit Is Bullshit
by Scott Hefflon
Breaking one of the fundamental “rules” of Lollipop, this column is socio/political. This magazine is supposed to represent the opinions of many writers on bands from a wide spectrum of genres. Only after reading a running column entitled “Peace in the Pit” in a fellow Boston-based ‘zine Pit Report was I finally inspired to break down and get opinionated on “what’s going on” in the city we both live in. Lollipop is not a pissing forum. This is not a personal attack, nor an attempt to discredit or insult the Pit Report. This is merely to offer a contrasting opinion to those printed repeatedly.
I have two opinions to offer on the subject; one is personal, one is professional. Personally, I don’t think the pit is more violent than “before.” I’ve seen an immense variety of shows, spanning a decade of aggressive music from Maine to D.C. and, if anything, the pits are more tame here and now than I’m used to. The PC ’90s have made some so sensitive they’ve forgotten how to be reckless. Total abandon was always the attraction for me. I unleashed pure hatred toward a world that scorned my ideas, refused to accept me on my terms, and repeatedly drew first blood in my attempts at peaceful cohabitation. I was safe in a room of similarly enraged individuals, listening to our favorite bands, and slamming violently with no consciousness of pain inflicted upon myself or upon others. I have no complaints. I think most people get what they want or what they deserve. If someone is looking for a fight, they’ll probably find one. That mentality of people seems to have a canine sense of sniffing each other out. The dorks that don’t know what they’re doing will get targeted rather quickly and be “urged” to either learn the moves or get out. Back in the circle mosh pit days, you could spot a novice across the room. Everyone in between those extremes got battered by everyone and lent to the battering of others. With a few exceptions, all is in equilibrium. So where’s the problem?
Admittedly, I don’t care for the karate-kick shit, but that’s only because I’m an old fan of the circle mosh. We had the Frankenberry™ mosh, the Count Chocula™ mosh, the girl-only pits, and on and on and on… It had more style, but again, I never learned to karate-kick. Perhaps my opinion would be different if I had. It seems rather selfish and masturbatory, but if that’s their self-expression, I’ll give them the space. On the other extreme, the tightly-knit friends that gang up on people and save their friends from getting ganged up on… What is this, a new “problem” or something? It’s always been there. It’ll always be there. No crusade will obliterate gang violence. All you can do is have a friend or two to drag you out or you can retaliate with “your boys” at your back and be just as bad as them. Take it out on the street, or out to the parking lot and pummel each others brains out. I’ll be inside enjoying the show. It’s no better or worse then it’s always been. Either learn to live with the dangers or stay the fuck out of the pit.
On a professional note, there is a responsibility that comes with printing a shitload of magazines every month and circulating them amongst the general public and the music industry. Some people still believe what they read. By pointing out a problem (or a non-problem) repeatedly, you may make matters worse and not better. Boston shouldn’t have or get a bad reputation for excessive violence, because it’s just not the case. It’s not that bad. Even if we did have mass, mindless riots, I’d be in the center of it, taking notes. I keep my politics to myself, for the most part. I’m just wary of repetitious negative press (albeit from one main source) affecting the overall opinion of Boston’s aggressive music scene. It’s rough. It’s always been rough. It’s rough everywhere. I neither condone nor condemn “excessive” violence in the pit. That’s their choice. I watch my ass or get off it and do something. That’s my choice. Pits are far more dangerous than they look in Woodstock 94™ video clips. If you don’t understand that going in, you’ll certainly understand it coming out.
