Lending a hand... Read through to the end please!!!

A couple thursdays ago, I attended the "Exploited" concert at the University Theater.

It was an amazing show. A couple bands I've seen before attended (So Unloved especially), and I got to listen to some local psychobilly as well. As the show wore on, the crowd became more and more involved, things heated up, and the room got warmer, and warmer, and warmer...

A couple of interesting facts about the University Theater. It is sponsored by the Xpose Coalition. For those that aren't familiar with this organization: it is an organization targeted toward removing business and therefore profits from big tobacco. What was REALLY interesting was the fact that a lot of people stepped outside for a smoke between bands. Even MORE interesting: a smokeshop just opened next door. Irony at it's best.

An interesting event took place also. You know when fights break out, people crowd around it? Well, I think fighting is retarded, so I ignore it. This was the case this time around. Turns out, I actually knew the chick that got jumped. I had just met her, and she's dating my friend Scooch. She was set upon by a girl with a grudge and 3 other girls took a couple cheap kicks at her. It was after I found this out that I realized I was being apathetic. Now, understand, apathy is my greatest enemy. I didn't care about the event. But now I think about it... Every fight involves somebodies friend. Every murder involves somebodies child. Every war involves the death of a rational human being. So, I will make an effort from now on to attempt and break up fights, regardless of how much bodily harm I may receive... It may be advisable for me to also get a group of friends to dedicate themselves to this purpose, now that I think about it. Oh well... Think about it.

So, as I was saying, the show wore on and the crowd wound up. When "The Exploited" came onstage I had my first taste of live British punk rock. It was amazing. The song "Sex and Violence" got the biggest crowd involvement, excepting what happened after the show.

At the designated time, the house lights came on: it was time for people to leave. But nobody left. Nobody so much as moved to leave. So "The Exploited" played another song. Then, one more song, after which some people went on stage and told the band that they weren't to play anymore. Still, nobody left. The singers microphone was unplugged, and nobody left. A chant started: "One more song!!! One more song!!!" A voice came over the house speakers, informing people that they should leave peacefully and now. The chant faded and then rose again, this time stronger. I was near the sound booth at this time, so I looked inside and saw the ominous house voice, and heard them cursing the stupidity of the people. I watched as one of the people inside flicked a switch, at which point my gaze went up to the stage where the band was still standing and a guy was holding a camera to catch a glimpse of the enthused crowd. They finally gave in. The microphone was plugged back in, and the band started up their last song.

The ENTIRE room became a pit, and a good one too. For those not familiar with Mosh Pits, I'll explain it to you, and then tell you why it isn't just a bunch of stupidity. At punk shows especially, and at metal shows sometimes, a circle forms. In the center of this circle is a crowd of people moving in a sort-of rhythm with the music, crashing into each other and pushing in any direction. It's painful and violent, but if you fall then everybody near pulls you back up, often so fast you actually are in the air for a second. If you need out, you are often pulled out if people can recognize that that is your intention. Sometimes you get real assholes in or around the pit that ignore you on the ground or push you back in when you're trying to get out. I ran into a guy that tried to push me in again sometime during the show, and I'm pretty sure he's the one I broke a (sharpened :) ) nail on: he pushed, I grabbed his arm and pulled myself out using his body.... Asshole.... So, anyways, that is the gist of the circle pit. Sometimes it doesn't move in a circle at all, but usually that's the case. During a good song, you actually get to a slow run with everybody. (There are different types of pits. At a psychobilly show, the buff guys get into what looks like a "punch-in-the-stomach-war" until somebody gives up. At hardcore shows, people aim to do damage and swing their arms, fists, elbows, knees, feet, legs, etc., in circles trying to hit something sharp and hard. In metal shows you normally get a circle pit, but I've heard of all out melees too. Scary!). People lose stuff all the time, too, but you usually see it being held above the crowd waiting for somebody to reclaim it. :) How courteous!

Why on earth would anybody do this? Well, first of all, you throw yourself into an environment of pure emotion: you feel the music, you feel the crowd, you feel passion... You feel. It feels amazing. You have a place to put the energy the music raises within you. You also put yourself into a purely chaotic environment where you gain the respect and comradery with those in there with you. After each song you'll shake hands, pat on the back, and link arms with people you've only seen blurred, jarred glances of. Then the next song starts, and you find yourself arm-over-shoulder with some guy you just met, creating twice the chaos and having a generally good time. Friendship, comradery, and a cluster of emotion and motion...

The negative impacts of this go beyond the obvious. The obvious negative impacts are: bruises, cuts, broken clothes, rivalries, animosities, etc. The not so obvious impact is that you are keeping the emotion created in the concert in the concert!!! That same energy could be used for a march or riot, a protest or firebombing, a demonstration or "reclaim the streets." Instead, it's all conveniently contained in the venue, and not reachin the masses as it should!

But I should get to the real reason for the post. After the show the entire area was surrounded by police. There were more police at the house concert that got busted, but this was almost as bad. There were 2 police by each store entrance, and many more by the entrance to the venue. After a while, the place cleared out, and all that was left were those of us waiting for a ride. I saw a lady outside with a latex glove and a trashbag picking up the broken glass and empty cans from the sidewalk and parking lot. This is when I finally, intentionally followed Inascent's recommendation to offer somebody some help. "Would you like any help?" "That would be wonderful, if you didn't mind..." And so I walked with her, pulled the latex glove Inascent had given me for painting, and proceeded to help clean up. Drinking is a disgusting practice.... It felt nice to help. During these rounds, a guy (clearly drunk) rode by and fell next to us. I helped him up, and he attempted to get back on his bike. I recommended against... What was really nice was that he said, "If I wasn't so wasted, I'd offer to give you guys a hand..." It's the thought that counts, but I'll write later as to why one should avoid mind-altering substances.

It really does pay off to lend a hand. Turns out, this woman was the owner. I talked with her about past and upcoming shows (how I wished I could have and plan to attend shows), the venue, the evenings events, the craziness of it all. It was fun. I think I might apply to work there until school gets out.

Well, that's enough from me tonight.

Enjoy life... Go out and make something of it.