Going to see Sick of It All? Here’s how to do the Braveheart

Hardcore shows are prized for pummeling action — including nosebleeds, bruises and ear-busting noise. Of course, there are trademark crowd moves other than mosh pits that accompany this subculture of concertgoers. As Nick Spacek wrote in his preview of Sick of It All‘s show at the Bottleneck on Saturday night:

“Sick of It All was the first band I ever saw do “the Braveheart.” (I was at the Bottleneck, and I was 19.) For those unfamiliar with the term, the Braveheart splits the audience into two halves with a large gap in between. Each side must then attempt to wrestle through the opposing group, like a game of Red Rover gone terribly awry. The band counts down and launches into a fast and heavy song, tracking each side’s attempt to pummel the other.”

If you’re going to hit up Sick of It All’s show on Saturday, you should be well-schooled. Check out five instructive videos after the jump.