Boston Cops Crack Down on Moshing

Music fans create a "mosh pit" during a music festival.

Boston police are cracking down on moshing and slam-dancing at concerts in the city. Cops have cited an incident at a Flogging Molly show at the House of Blues on February 21st for a license violation, noting that 60 concertgoers engaged in "aggressive mosh pit dance," which resulted in people colliding into one another and getting knocked to the floor. This activity – which is pretty much par for the course at hardcore punk and metal gigs – violated safety rules, and the club was cited because security did not intervene.

"The safety of our patrons is the top priority," the House of Blues said in a statement. Representatives of the venue say they are working with city officials to "address concerns about moshing and other forms of expressive dance."

Photos: Random Notes

"Dancing is a First Amendment right, but the behavior itself is a violation, especially when it becomes dangerous and a public safety hazard," Boston police spokeswoman Officer Nicole Grant told the Boston Herald. The city of Boston addressed the topic after a City Hall hearing yesterday, while the House of Blues was ordered to put up illuminated signs throughout the venue declaring that moshing is not allowed.

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

Amazon Music and MP3 Center

Posted in: Boston,Crack,Moshing