Singapore band Take Off release statement against extremely violent dancing

Singapore band Take Off has posted a lengthy statement regarding an incident (or incidents it sounds like) from last night’s show that seemed to be a little more violent then usual. The situation reminds me of what happened at a Thai show a few months ago with the same type of extremely violent dancing in the pit which also exploded on social media with a barrage of conversation about violent dancing and its place at heavy music shows.

Read the super well-written statement and post up your thoughts in the comments section.

“This is probably not the best way to do this, but given the circumstances, it will have to suffice for now. We attended today’s show, A DIY To Remember, to support the bands who put aside time on a Saturday to come and play a show for everyone. But what we witnessed left us aghast and shocked.

We witnessed violence in the gig venue – from audience members and from band members themselves. The “mosh pit” – if you can call it that – was full of people who were visiting violence upon their fellow gig-goers. “Two-stepping” turned to a chaotic dance with people swinging their arms about and kicking people around them wildly. People who made a concerted effort to stay away from the pit, by moving to the sides, were not spared, and were kicked, punched and shoved all the same. Someone even swung his thick metal chain wildly about in the pit, and almost got into a full-on fight with a fellow gig-goer, which thankfully was halted. You do not bring weapons into a mosh-pit. EVER. A girl fell down in the pit and NO ONE who was “two-stepping” stopped to help her up. A friend of ours standing on the other side of the room had to rush forward from where he was, and pushed the crowd aside to help her up. Someone got punched in the stomach by the vocalist of a band who was trying to start a circle pit during the last set of the night.