The National Mall has hosted presidential inaugurations, protests and concerts. But Saturday afternoon, it was also home to a mosh pit … with plenty of fans eager to jump into the action.
With the Washington Monument towering overhead, Baltimore rock band Turnstile brought its high-energy sound to the nation’s capital for a free benefit concert.
The Grammy-winning band rose from the hardcore music scene to national prominence, recently performing on “Saturday Night Live.” Saturday’s show marked the end of the second leg of its “Never Enough” tour.
The show raised donations for Human Concern International, with the money divided equally among humanitarian efforts in Palestine, Sudan and Lebanon.
The crowd was a mix of generations, from young children perched on their parents’ shoulders to longtime music lovers.
Cuddling on America’s front yard were Beth Lyle Durham and her husband, Jim. The Chevy Chase, Maryland, couple, ages 66 and 79, were thrilled to be part of the festivities.
“It makes me so happy. It’s mostly younger people, younger than me here today. But I think this is a great effort,” Beth said.
Jim also enjoyed taking in the scene around him.
“It feels great to see the melting pot, you know, having their voices heard,” he said.
Beth said the current political climate has motivated her to become more politically active over the past two years.
“The genocide that’s happening. I mean, people in Gaza is just horrific, and it makes me sick every day,” she said.
Not far away, but nearly six decades younger, were 21-year-old Nem Ponce and 25-year-old Azarial Brown.
Brown, who said she’s been a hardcore Turnstile fan since she was 14, said, “I think it’s bringing people together, especially at a time of where our economy is and the political state.”
Ponce, originally from Ecuador, said Maryland’s hardcore music scene has given him opportunities to meet fellow fans that weren’t as readily available back home.
Right outside the mosh pit, Silver Spring’s Cameron Stanley said she missed seeing Turnstile at Bonnaroo and wasn’t about to pass up Saturday’s free performance.
But there was another reason she wanted to attend.
“Any chance to support a strong movement is important to me,” Stanley said.
For Jake Hoffman, getting into the middle of the action is usually part of the experience.
“That’s what I live for,” Hoffman said. “It’s a good way to get out all your excessive energy. You know, you got to get in there, just dance around. But it’s also so communal.”
On Saturday, though, Hoffman stayed on the sidelines.
“I got my wife here. She’s pregnant. Not a good idea. Not safe. But she can watch. It’s fun to watch,” he said.
Not everyone was looking for a deeper meaning.
The crowd was massive. To get a better view, Austin Sadler of Norfolk, Virginia, climbed atop one of the National Mall’s information signs. Perched above the crowd, he snapped a photo for WTOP and explained why he came.
“It’s great music, great crowd, amazing vibes. It’s a beautiful day,” Sadler said. “Bro. It’s not always that deep.”
As of Saturday evening, the concert’s online fundraising campaign had raised more than $182,000 toward its $200,000 goal, with contributions from more than 2,300 supporters, according to LaunchGood.
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