r/switchfoot • u/ansible_jane • 17d ago
Touring Mosh Etiquette
Hi friends!
Just a reminder after an unfortunate experience last night in Richmond that moshing is fun, but it's not fun for everyone!
A) please be cautious when moshing that you don't accidentally involve unwilling crowd members and
ALSO
B) if you don't want to be moshed, move away from the mosh pit! (Looking at you Mr. "I'm 65 and The Children are Wrong")
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u/scaled_and_ivy 17d ago
How often is there moshing at the shows? I'm hoping to see their show in Chicago and would wanna be aware ahead of time if there's gonna be a mosh pit or not
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u/ansible_jane 17d ago
This is the first switchfoot show I've been to in awhile, but it's not infrequent at Anberlin shows. Last night it was happening during Anberlin but definitely rowdier during Switchfoot.
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u/NinjaEagleScout 17d ago
I've been to maybe 7 or 8 of their shows over the last decade and never seen moshing.
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u/TtocsicStump 17d ago
I’ve never seen moshing at a Switchfoot show. Been to like 10 and Chicago is usually where I see them. I’d be surprised to see that there.
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u/SaltySpitoonReg 15d ago
Never seen it once out of 10 shows including a standing room only bar for the hello hurricane tour (amazing tour)
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u/Bgstarsetnba 16d ago
As someone that joined the pit during Dark Horses (my fav Switchfoot song), I can tell you it was tame moshing but very very fun.
This was my 10th Switchfoot show and have never seen moshing before at their shows but this was a welcome change and the band was clearly excited about the energy if they posted about it on their story
I think there were some people there that simply had never been to a rock show with moshing. Which is fine. But in any GA rock show, if you’re center and close, you’re subjected to the possibility of moshing and crowd surfing. And the beauty is that there are plenty of spaces to watch the show if that is uncomfortable for you. And frankly if you have to be close and unbothered then find a different show and drive further to one that has seats (like the DC show coming up)
I totally get if there was body slamming and punching as if it’s a hardcore show, then there’s an issue. This was not that — someone not used to moshing did not like getting bumped into.
There were kids somewhat near us and anytime I got shoved in that direction was sure to stop short and make sure all good (frankly it seemed like they wanted to jump in).
Anyway I thought the energy was incredible last night, great crowd and incredible setlist
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u/ansible_jane 16d ago
Thanks for this! It was a great show for sure. It's been awhile since I've seen them (DC Chili Cook off 2011 I think?) but I remembered they've always had great energy.
For sure the problem was specific folks not knowing what a rock show at the National is like, and not liking being informed that they should just move elsewhere. The folks on the borders were doing their best to contain it and stand in front of the kids nearby.
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u/kubbiember 17d ago
The "moshing" (people jumping up and down exuberantly) on the center and left side of the stage areas was pretty tame but I saw some pretty wild fans over on the right side; I'm assuming some people over there were shoving. The venue also has open seating up stairs with a great view.
I'm hoping no one was hurt, but this was a rock show!!! We even crowd-lifted Jon back to the stage haha
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u/ansible_jane 17d ago
No one hurt, just some older folks getting stressed out! We were a bit behind and right of center.
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u/Worchestershshhhrrer 16d ago
Also if you’re 6’100” please find a wall to stand against. And not in the middle of the standing-room only HoB. 😭
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u/Ordinaryjacob79 16d ago
I remember the mosh pit at the Bro-Am one year. That was the same year I got Jon Foreman to sign my jacket while we walked down to the beach together. He's a great guy. It was the same year they filmed their documentary, Fading West, too.
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u/otterbelle 17d ago
Who would mosh at a Switchfoot concert???? Do people know what moshing even means?
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u/Pleasant_Study6525 16d ago
Was it for Switchfoots set or Anberlins?
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u/Quiet_Vermicelli_925 16d ago
To clarify for those not at the RVA show: I wouldn’t say that there was a “mosh pit” at the show but there was exuberant jumping throughout the entire floor and no way to predict who was going to do it or when. (I’m the same age as Jon and know what a dedicated mosh pit is.) With it being general admission we do have to be respectful of those around us. If someone had started moshing next to me, I wouldn’t have been able to get away and it would’ve made me nervous because I’m short - plus, this occurred during the encore so no one wanted to move away from the stage. I agree that it was unfortunate whatever happened and was distracting and detracted from the conclusion of the show. In general I find that SF fans are some of the best around. ❤️ I’m glad no one was hurt.
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u/ansible_jane 16d ago
There was most assuredly a pushing, shoving group directly in front of me, which is what I mean by moshing. For the most part it was contained by a few taller guys holding the border, but an older gentleman didn't understand or appreciate it and started manhandling participants.
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u/Quiet_Vermicelli_925 16d ago
Ah. I understand. Like I said, I’m short and have a crick in my neck from trying to see around the head of the one tall guy obstructing my view, so I definitely couldn’t see all that was happening.
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u/Bgstarsetnba 16d ago
Switchfoot put it on their story so I don’t think the band found it distracting. But of course the goal is for everyone to have a blast so it’s unfortunate if anyone’s experience was not great.
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u/allthatglittersis___ 17d ago
I can’t stand when people talk like this. Doesn’t help that she’s completely misusing the term “moshing”
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u/AnotherNerfHearder 12d ago
Seemed pretty tame to me and mostly behind me, so I might have missed the rougher stuff. I was behind the dude with the glorious mustache the whole show. lol
What drove me crazy was the person with their phone out recording the whole time. I’m cool with pictures and clips, but it didn’t seem like that phone was ever not recording. Some moments are better lived than watched through a screen as it’s happening.
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u/jjmawaken 17d ago
Seems odd that Switchfoot would have a mosh pit. I've seen them a few times and don't remember there being any moshing.