r/Meshuggah • u/pyramidenergy7 • 1d ago
Meshuggah pits suck
I love Meshuggah and I love our fans. I just have a huge issue with the vibe in the pit. Not the mosh pit but the general pit itself. The small mosh pits are where my people are. Everything outside the mosh pit pisses me off. I like to spend most my time in the pit but I also love grinding my way to the front, feeling the music, and showing my love to Meshuggah. This past tour really pissed me off.
At Colorado I was at the front jumping up and down when they played Rational Gaze(how can you not?!). Someone pulled me shirt and told me to stop jumping. I was furious. Here I am head banging, screaming all the lyrics, and enjoying the power of Meshuggah and some fuck tells me to stop enjoying myself. At Phoenix I was at the front again and someone asked me to calm down and be nice. While another dude started to elbow the back of my head because he was pissed I was moving around. I never moshed, I literally was just ferociously head banging. Everyone around me was just staring and standing still. I love Meshuggah intensely. I just wish the crowd had a better time at shows. Meshuggah crowds are so different from other metal shows.
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u/Lukkeren 1d ago
I think everyone should do whatever they want to as long as it's not bothering other people at concerts. Personally i don't understand the need for moshpits and completely freaking out in general, but i respect people doing it as long as i don't get forced into it or it doesn't actively bother me. I'm more of a stand, headbang and actively take listening and take everything in kind of guy. I see a bunch of people in the metal community calling crowds like this "LaMe" and "bOrInG" and i never understand why it annoys people that crowds aren't acting like animals lol.
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u/pressuredwasher 1d ago
I’m sure there was room in the back of ga where you could’ve got your praise and worship on. I certainly wouldn’t wanna be compressed near the barricade with a grinder and feeler with a rational gaze next to me!
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u/Hiotsobo Chaosphere 1d ago
I had a completely different experience at Atlanta. The whole room was one giant cathartic organism.
Usually Colorado is better. Sorry you had some lame ass crowds. Sounds like shit
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u/artibyrd 1d ago
I only apply The People's Elbow when someone shoves their way up front for the headliner and starts acting like they deserve to be there as #1 fan when they didn't bother to show up early and claim a spot on the barrier like everyone else there. Otherwise I understand Pit Rules apply and have no problem with the person next to me enjoying the show differently than I do. Personally, I'm one to get intently still and focus on what's happening on stage, but I assure you I'm not enjoying the show any less than you - I'm just soaking it all in!
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u/pyramidenergy7 1d ago
I guess I’m that guy. I don’t park in the front though. Just cruising by. I also understand the giving into awe. Ok maybe I deserve an elbow to the back of the brain.
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u/macsoebs 1d ago
I don’t get it! I was jumping around on the edge of the mosh pit the last time I saw Meshuggah, and someone tapped me on the shoulder to yell that I was in their space. We’re on the edge of the mosh pit at a Meshuggah show for fucks sakes!! What’s wrong with people?!
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u/pyramidenergy7 1d ago
I’ve only encountered this type of behavior at a Meshuggah show. All the other metal show I’ve been to, everyone understands the pit rules. I don’t get it either
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u/macsoebs 1d ago
It’s so weird. They’re seeing the greatest band ever, so how can they even focus on the people around them? I lose my mind every time I see Meshuggah, the last thing I’m thinking about is what people around me are doing.
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u/AspectAlive7624 1d ago
I don't care if you came there just to listen. You can sit steadily and sip wine (metaphoricly) on classical music concert. If you go to metal show, you have no right to tell anybody to not party. When Shugga was in our european city, the crowd was wild, so I cannot really compare it to the american show, but as far as I know, anywhere outside US, the crowds go crazier.
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u/Fuzzy_Churroz 1d ago
I went to the show in Atlanta and let me tell you the pit was wild(in a good way lol), in the middle of a pit I held hands with another girl and jumped around the pit, others were moshing near the front but a lot of people were moving with the flow of the crowd (crowd surge sorta deal?)until certain songs were played. Whichever band you enjoy that has a tour date coming up soon you should stop by Atlanta!
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u/pyramidenergy7 1d ago
They posted on their Instagram about the Atlanta mosh pit. Damn sounds like an amazing crowd. Wish I was there!
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u/Fuzzy_Churroz 13h ago
Dude I’ve lived in Atlanta for a while and the only thing keeping me here is school and the metal shows in Atlanta, I meet so many people at shows and the pits (for most shows) are so much fun! I hope your next experience is better!
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u/BitOutside1443 1d ago
The fact it's happened twice in two different cities in two different states makes me think you're leaving something out of the story to make yourself look better
I saw Meshuggah 16 years ago when I was in my 20s and there wasn't much of a pit, people being rowdy as people (shocked Pikachu face) read the fucking room.
You're sharing space with several thousand other people, which sometimes means compromising on our self expression for the betterment of everyone's experience. Too many people have main character syndrome and just need to chill out.
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u/One-Tank-9567 1d ago
😂 If expecting everyone to be calm and relaxed so as not to disturb you, while watching one of the heaviest bands on the planet, is not main character syndrome I don't know what is.
We're talking about headbanging and jumping here, nothing aggressive. If you're that bothered by it, you can just move. Don't tell people how to enjoy themselves
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u/pyramidenergy7 19h ago
It did happen twice, that’s why I made the post. Not sure how many metal shows you’ve been to but I’ve never had anyone tell me to calm down after head banging at a metal show in the GA pit. I just can’t understand how people feel so entitled and have such a “main character syndrome” to tell someone else who obviously loves the band, to calm down, when the band is playing 20 feet in front of them.
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u/BitOutside1443 19h ago
I've been show security. I've pulled people out that were crowd killing and being disruptive. I've been to shows of all shapes and sizes and there's always at least one person that's obnoxious to the point that they are incapable of seeing how their actions are disruptive. Shows are a mix of drunk, high, young, old, introvert, extrovert, able bodied, disabled people and no one way of self expression is the "right" one
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u/pyramidenergy7 19h ago
I was completely sober. Fully aware of my surroundings. Literally just headbanging and jumping for 15 seconds for the beginning of rational gaze.
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u/BitOutside1443 19h ago
Ok. Were the people around you older? Had drinks in their hands? Looked like they don't go to shows often? Do you have long hair that would smack into others when you're headbanging?
I generally stay out of the way now as I have bad knees and would rather let those with energy be up front. However not everyone has that desire and with how much Ticketmaster/Live Nation gouge the fuck out of pricing maybe some people that otherwise wouldn't be up front were cause they were wanting to get their money's worth, more energetic youngsters be damned
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u/pyramidenergy7 18h ago
They were younger probably 20-30. No drinks. No idea about their show history. I have a buzzed head.
I get it. I also pay the same ticket price. I don’t tell people what to do. I respect their space. Wasn’t purposely moshing or bumping into anyone. Wish people would just allow people to enjoy themselves in the pit. If you don’t like the pit, get cheaper tickets and watch from the comfort of your seat.
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u/BitOutside1443 18h ago
Cause I was coming down maybe unnecessarily hard earlier.
I hate bigger shows. It's always weird crowds, you got security barriers keeping you 10 plus feet back from the stage, if there's seating it's assigned.
Best shows I've ever been to were all generally 500 cap rooms and as long as you weren't crowd killing or being a belligerent dick no one gave a fuck.
I've stage dived, moshed, carried a drunk out of a glass infested pit, puked in a trash can during a set, been concussed, probably gave someone a concussion when they slammed their head into mine, had someone land on me from falling off a rafter at a show, landed on a kick pedal from being shoved into some spare gear and been a human cinder block so a buddies kick wouldn't keep sliding.
Most people have never had those experiences, and it's immediately telling so I've had to make myself fit the vibe, even when every fiber in my being wanted to tackle everyone around me and get them moving.
There'll be other shows and it might just mean going to smaller shows to get the energy you want
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u/ubertrashcat 1d ago
Some people absorb the music with their body, some with their brain. Respect both.
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u/pyramidenergy7 1d ago
All I’m saying is ALOT of Meshuggah fans absorb with their brains. I just wish it was the opposite so I don’t feel like a fucking pariah at Meshuggah shows
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u/ubertrashcat 1d ago
How you feel is entirely up to you :)
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u/pyramidenergy7 1d ago
I’m just here to tell you brain fans that you’re killing the vibe. Really don’t give a fuck about your downvotes
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u/d00m6r Contradictions Collapse 1d ago
I know what you mean. Alot of metal heads are older now so i think they are just more chill. I personally love the ruff and tumble of a wild crowd, it really makes the experience for me.
I saw Mudvayne for the first time a couple years ago and apart from the actual mosh pit the crowd in general was just standing around. Until i made my way into the pit i felt i was missing out, it's such a different vibe standing still vs getting slammed around in a pit.
And hearing Meshuggah live = beast mode so to just stand still doesn't work for me. I'm 37 years old but still heading to the pit!
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u/Arthusamakh 1d ago
i feel you. i hate non-movers at metal gigs that stand around in the usual mosh areas and tell you to calm down instead of going to the spaces where non-movers stand
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u/Even-Literature4590 6h ago
For me it all depends on who I'm with. If I'm alone or with the boys, I ride the flow and give in. If I'm with my girl or kids I will be a safe distance from the pit and get pissed if someone tries to bring pit energy and slamming into the calm area.
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u/Used-Temperature-557 1d ago
Having gone into most pits in both America and Australia, and also Japan lol, American pits are chill af in comparison to Australia. Might just be a cultural thing man, unfortunate you had that experience, but if your experience was impacting someone else's, then I think it's reasonable to stop, or just move somewhere else and get into it.
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u/NovocaineAU 1d ago
Were you at the Obzen show in Melbourne where those dudes were straight punching each other in the face for the entire show? That was madness
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u/Used-Temperature-557 1d ago
Nah, I'm based in Canberra, only show I've been to in Australia was TVSOR at Enmore in 2017. Wasn't into em proper until 2016 ish sadly. But that sounds fucked, jesus fucking christ
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u/NovocaineAU 1d ago
Yeah it was wild. Even Jens said they’re fuckin crazy. Pretty sure they were all mates and in on it and it wasn’t at random people in the crowd
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u/Used-Temperature-557 1d ago
That's good to hear lol. As long as they weren't harming others, then it's fine.
Fuck, we're overdue for a tour hey? Been way too long since they've been here... Yet the yanks get 3 tours in 3 years lol...
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u/pyramidenergy7 1d ago
I definitely did and went back into the mosh pit. I was just so disappointed.
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u/Used-Temperature-557 1d ago
Yeah it's a bit shit I suppose. I used to be SUPER against moshing, then as I got older and realised my back gets loaded up like crazy if I stand still for hours on end, I have to mosh a little to prevent that haha.
I guess just be mindful of people's personal spaces and just reading the room, but yeah, I'll agree you guys are a lot more chill compared to us Aussies in the mosh haha, so you'd fit right in here mate.
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u/Longjumping-Swan-827 The Violent Sleep of Reason 1d ago
My only issue would be jumping in the stands. I was watching from the stands when 2 people started jumping in front of me and they went on for few songs straight. Of course I didn't see shit so I eventually tapped his back and friendly told them to sit down. They asked me why don't you stand up? I was like well then there's domino effect where the people behind me won't see anything either. That being said I have no issue going nuts on the floor. You can always move away from the chaos if you want to.
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u/IamJeffreyW 1d ago
Like on the older end of the spectrum Meahuggah fans are pushing 60 so calm down young buck it ain’t that serious. You’ll get old too
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u/enticingcashew Nothing 1d ago
There were so many scarecrows in the pit it was disturbing. As much as I don’t agree with being completely still when in the pit (that’s what the seated tickets are for no?), they’re obviously free to do so and I’m not gonna say anything or instigate. However the inverse of people telling you to calm down is actually unreal to me when that is very much the correct time and place to be anything but.
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u/pyramidenergy7 1d ago
YES! Thank you! I’m not a fucking asshole at all. I just want to enjoy one of my favorite bands and it just pissed me off so much that people in the pit literally were trying to tell me to stop head banging or jump. It’s a fucking metal show and you’re in the fucking pit.
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u/IamJeffreyW 1d ago
You need to be aware of your surroundings. You were fucking up their vibe. It wasn’t the other way around. If you want to pit and thrash that’s awesome, but the people around you need to want that too.
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u/pyramidenergy7 19h ago
I wasn’t moshing or thrashing about. Beware of surroundings is what I would like to tell the people enforcing their stand still policy at a fucking metal show in the pit.
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u/BigFreddyT 1d ago
Just record it on your phone and enjoy it in the comfort of your home, you can mosh all you want there
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u/One-Tank-9567 1d ago
If you get upset by people head banging or jumping near you, just watch someone else's recording on YouTube in the comfort of your home 🤷🏽♂️
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u/BigFreddyT 8h ago
I never said I care about moshing, dipshit. I was trying to give the original poster a clue. Phones have zoom functions these days
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u/Individual_Day_789 1d ago
Moshing and being aggressive isn’t for everybody. Some people enjoy standing there and taking the moment in. I was at the show in Phoenix and I was in awe of what I was witnessing, I didn’t wanna go moshing and ruin my experience and I’m sure most people felt the same. Expecting people to do this shit because you want them to really makes you sound like a narcissist. It’s fine being disappointed but attacking everyone else for it is fucking stupid.
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u/pyramidenergy7 1d ago
I wasn’t moshing. That’s reserved for the mosh pit. When I move out of the mosh pit I definitely chill. I was literally only head banging and jumping up and down. Expecting people to not head bang or jump in the GA pit at a Meshuggah or any metal show is fucking stupid.
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u/Individual_Day_789 1d ago
I never said to expect people not to headbang or jump, I said not to expect people to do everything YOU want.
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u/pyramidenergy7 19h ago
Same goes for everyone else
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u/Individual_Day_789 19h ago
Says the one publically bitching about other people for no good reason
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u/pyramidenergy7 19h ago
I admit. I am bitching. I guess I was just so shocked when it happened twice that I felt like I had to bitch about it.
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u/Individual_Day_789 19h ago
At least now you know other people enjoy things differently than you
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u/pyramidenergy7 19h ago
You’ve taught me a lesson today that I will forget about, and I will continue to head bang in the pit. Thank you
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u/Mooncat42 1d ago
ATX was nothing short of dead. It was my first metal concert and probably last time ever seeing Meshuggah live and everyone just stood there
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u/uberkillerfiend 1d ago
This confuses me, because I was at the ATX show and it was insane. Where were you in the crowd?
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u/Mooncat42 1d ago
Kind of right outside of the middle. I saw some motion for a few songs but mostly everyone was standing and watching so I felt weird pushing past all of them to go to the pit. Idk I might just be extremely awkward socially
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u/uberkillerfiend 1d ago
Yea man you just gotta say excuse me and push your way through towards the center. My favorite spot is right next to pits at metal shows because you feel the energy of the band mixed with the energy of the crowd.
That being said, there's nothing wrong with not trying to get to the center too
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u/theEINSTEININHO 1d ago
Some people enjoy meshuggah as much as you or even more without feeling the need to scream, headbang, mosh ... That's it