Circle Pit is a monthly series in which Nine Circles writers (and select guests) answer a question posed by our Masthead team. These questions can be serious, quirky or humorous. If you have any suggestions for questions please feel free to email us at ninecirclesblog@gmail.com. This month’s questions is:

What is the appropriate level of intoxication at a show? Is there one? Should there be one?

Manny-O-War: “I used to have strict rules. I would never, ever imbibe at a show. Growing up as a musician I felt it was incredibly disrespectful to the musicians to show up in any sort of unclean state. I wanted to hear exactly what they were putting down. But as time wore on and I got dragged to more and more horrible concerts with my friends I began to realize that I might need an escape of my own. Other things have also contributed to my change of heart. For example, I became an age where drinking was more of a social occurrence and less of a hidden revolt. So that brings us to present day. You might be thinking, ‘I wonder if Manny is going to be drinking when I bump into him at that cool local show?’ Well, the answer is most definitely yes. First of all, shows are a public occurrence and in all public places I must wear a defensive shield of liquid armor. Second, I enjoy hanging out with my friends before a concert and retiring to the bar if we don’t like every band at the show. So, in the end, my answer is that it’s different for everyone. Some people may remain sober and some people may get drunk. I think anything short of falling over, puking or becoming your friend’s responsibility (or liability) is fine. Just don’t mess up the show for the other people.”

Corey Butterworth: “I’ve never hid my appreciation for alcohol in certain contexts. And I certainly never shy away from it in general. I mean Christ, my column here at Nine Circles is one dedicated to consistent inebriation. And Satan, of course. But the reality is, the tune changes in dramatic fashion once I’m in a public location where the experience of others could be impacted. At bars, I allow myself a certain level of consumption before cutting myself off. The same goes for shows. Frankly, too many nights have ended in a haze where the following morning has left me scratching my head, trying to figure out what happened and to who the night before. It’s been a recent change in procedure for me, but a necessary one.

Looking at shows specifically, my stance is one completely built on control. Have some semblance of self control, people. Respect those around you that are trying to enjoy the artists that they paid a potentially heavy price to see. I always have a pounder or three at a show, and usually one or two beforehand with friends. And as far as I’m concerned, that’s totally fine. Alcohol consumption is a social practice and is understood, if not expected, in the evening hours when among friends. But don’t be the idiot 17 year old that managed to sneak in booze and ended up puking on someone. Don’t be that fat, bald, middle-aged asshole hate-moshing those of a younger generation. Basically, act like you’ve been there before. In terms of the show and the consumption. Nobody respects the drunk idiot, what they are doing, or thinks they are being funny. Drink as much as you want, I don’t care, everyone’s limits are different. But god dammit have some level of self-awareness. It’s all I ask. You will enjoy the show more… and so will the rest of us.”

Dustin Grooms: “I rarely drink at shows since I’m usually the one who drives, and I have to travel at least an hour to get to any show. (Cincinnati is an hour west; Lexington is an hour and half south; Louisville is almost three hours; Huntington, WV is about two hours.) I usually fall into the former category, e.g. being annoyed at the blubbering trainwreck of a subhuman oxygen thief in front of me. If you’re going to drop your own cash to come to a show and enjoy the music, how does being off your tits enhance that in any way? You’ll wake up the next morning hungover as all hell and won’t even remember your favorite song because, at that point in the night, you had already passed out in the club’s bathroom, and your shirt still reeks of your own piss. It’s so counter-intuitive to spend money on tickets (or pay at the door at smaller shows) and then make a boiled mess of yourself by the time the headliners come on, making yourself a massive nuisance in the process.

That said, I don’t go to many shows to begin with, and most of the ones I do go to are very laid-back. I’ve never had any issues with sloppy drunks at shows since I usually stand toward the back of the room, but I do remember a sort of annoying prick at the Crowbar show I went to this summer: He had probably started drinking as soon as locals started their set, so he was pretty sloshed by the time Crowbar came on toward the end of the night. Keep in mind that this was a Sunday night crowd, and a small one — I’d say there were 200 absolute max in this fairly large club. I was right up front (because why don’t YOU have a man crush on Kirk Windstein?!), but this dude about five feet behind and to my right was annoying, and it was clear that he was trying way too hard to come off as a dedicated Crowbar fan even though he was probably just there to see Battlecross. In between every song — and I really do mean every song, all twelve of them — he was the loudest person there.

‘FUCKIN CROWBAR MAN.’

‘HELL YEAH KIRK.’

‘FUCK YEAH CROWBAR.’

‘FUCKIN’ A KIRK.’

Like clockwork. Right when the applause died down in between songs as Kirk and Matthew were tuning up. Imagine such a fresh hell.

The guys in the band ignored it, though, and Kirk even had to talk over the guy at a few points. It only reinforced my thinking — Don’t be that lunkhead at a show. Be chill, be cool, enjoy the music, and don’t get sloppy before the headliner even sets foot on the stage.”

Schuler Benson: “I’ve been an alcoholic since I took my first drink as a kid. I had to get sober when I was 25. Can’t really speak on this too much, I guess. I’ve probably been to less than ten shows since getting sober in 2008, because I don’t enjoy them much. I love music, but I love it on my own, for the most part, and nine times out of ten, seeing a band live doesn’t do enough for me to justify the inconvenience of going out. Probably sounds awful, but it’s the truth. I find other ways to spend my money in support of my favorite bands. I don’t enjoy places where there are a shitload of people anyway. As for the meat of the question, I can’t remember the last time I was at a show and saw any behavior that made me wonder how shithoused somebody was, barring shows that happened before I got sober, of course, most of which I can barely remember at all. I was definitely drunk as fuck at those shows (on whatever bottle of cheap shit I brought with me, because fuck paying for bar drinks), but I was never so belligerent that I got in a fight or got kicked out. These days, I guess if you’re drunk enough to be on my radar at a show, you’re probably too drunk to be doing much of anything outside your own home.”

Josh Stewart: “At this point in my life there is definitely an appropriate level of intoxication at a show and that level is almost non existent. There are many reasons for this but between having a family that I live for and having at least a 4 hour round trip just to see a show. Combined with the fact that 90% of the time I’m the one driving or am by myself, obviously I’m not taking any chances. Coming to this turning point has been in stages and believe me, I’ve been there and I’ve done that. As a young whippersnapper I could have cared less about getting ripped on dollar Mickey’s handgrenades and somehow waking up in my bed the next day. Having to puke in some of the shittiest bathrooms ever is not fun and really I don’t remember much about it anyway. Fast forward a bit and it was all about timing the peak, having a few until the opening band took the stage and then switching to water or soda. Not exactly scientifically proven but it worked for the most part. I can only recall one time using this method when I had to sleep it off for awhile before hitting the road. Nowadays it’s one, maybe two, before the show over dinner and then water the rest of the evening. This way I actually get to enjoy the show, remember it and then not wake up with a splitting headache and a bad case of the shakes. Plus, plus and plus. As far as other people, it can be a pain in the ass if you let it. The guy that is wasted before the first note is ever played likely won’t be standing after the opener so he’s never an issue. The ones that get belligerent and think it’s funny to yell stupid stuff at the bands probably pisses me off more than anything. I mean, come on, you’re not the only one there to see the show so shut your mouth and go sit in the corner. I can recall several times helping people up that went down and were in danger of getting trampled on. These people didn’t even know their name, much less what planet they were on and hey, someone had to help them. And since I’ve been there I know the floor is not where you want to be. From experience though, I’ll move around in the crowd if need be to fully enjoy the show sans any drunken stupidity. There’s not much I haven’t seen regarding alcohol and concerts, good and bad. It’s more important to me to make the most of every show and make it home safe afterwards. By all means enjoy yourself however you deem fit but please for gods sake have a designated driver and someone to babysit your ass.”

J Andrew Z: “My immediate gut response is similar to the ‘business lunch’ guidelines: keep it to 2 drinks max. But I realize that’s a lot for some people, and a drop in the Atlantic Ocean for others. So I guess the more qualitative answer is: Get a little buzzed, but don’t overdo it. Don’t be that shirtless guy in the pit with the 1998 moshing moves who doesn’t know a word to the band’s songs. Plus, being dehydrated at a show is a living nightmare when you’re in close quarters. Also, if it’s a band you really like, don’t you want to remember the experience? I’m always dumbfounded by Baby Boomers who talk about all the great shows they went to and yet when pressed for details reply: “Hell, I don’t remember a damn thing, I was so wasted!!!” Um…ok.

Feel free to completely reverse this rule if you get dragged to any concert involving jam bands, smooth jazz or late-90s-style post-grunge. Then, by all means, cleanse yourself of your already-doomed brain cells.”

Tenebrous Kate: “Look, I’m not one to tell other people how to live their lives, but please don’t drink so much that you cry on me. There are far more spectacular ways to sacrifice your dignity in front of someone you’ve only known for twenty minutes…

It’s happened to me! Twice! And not at goth shows, either! Life is a rich tapestry, full of the tears of strangers, it would seem.”

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