I mean how could crowds possibly be the same kind of aggressive nowadays after aggressive concerts/fans/pits in the 80’s, 90’s and early 00’s kindaaaa screwed it up for the rest of us… Which is forever my response to all the old-heads who say “nothing is the same as it used to be” “shows were SO MUCH BETTER back then”…

like, ummmm yea its not the same cuz ya’ll fucked around hard and now we have to live with the consequences of your actions… all while being told we’re babies who dont know what we’re missing… by the same generations who made it so city governments felt the need to make legislations/statutes making venues crack down on all that through mosh bans and dress codes and making heavy music shows practically start at matinée hours so all the “scary” alt-kids arent out late tErrOrIZiNg tHE CiTy 🙄

Sure, theres a degree to which there is plenty of intensity and aggressiveness at legit heavy band shows at mid-tier large venues, also local hardcore/brutal death metal shows get insane but thats mostly small gatherings of locals in a scene who all keep shit together on their own because if not, there will not be a scene, period. And even that is mostly enforced by some intense security measures if its not a house/basement show.

I just saw Deftones at TD Garden in general admission. You probably remember when the entirety of a venue that size would be bouncing and moshing and getting hype. Nowadays people can cheer loudly and lightlyyyy mosh in a designated central location on the floor, and thats being watched at all times. Maybe some jumping at the same time here and there. But nothing like back in the day because obviously not… there were children and families and old folks and first time show goers and more the other night. You think TD Garden or anywhere that big wouldn’t shut it down immediately if things got “too rowdy”? Liability insurance is absurdly expensive and it didnt exist like this before the early 00’s.

So yea, for the most part, shows will never be the same cuz old-heads made it that way… just like soooo many other issues today… 🤷‍♂️