Criminally loud concerts

[HolmeBass]

I'm all for a concert being loud enough to sound live. But it can get ridiculous.

There was a blues guitarist who used to do larger clubs are here by the name of Gibb Droll. He had a smoking band with a Hammond organ player and everything. I used to go to his shows with -32dB earplugs in and it was still bothersome loud. I was one of only a few people in the room with plugs in. He had a Stevie Ray Vaughan type of tone and the high notes could weld steel.

Gibb played loud! Often two Fender Super Twins cranked all the way up. Thankfully someone got him to stop pointing them right at the audience, but it was still always very loud. Doug Wanamaker played the organ, he's a buddy of mine, still plays with Indecision. He's an incredible player.

 

[BioWeapon]

I just went to Papa Roach and Sum 41, and I'll say that for a 2000 person standing room, it was a bit much. That's with 25dB plugs in! Certainly not criminally loud though.

Surprisingly, some metal bands had a more comfortable volume. Weird.

 

[gfen]

I've been to countless hardcore, metal, industrial and other heavy acts through out my life.. and consistently, every single time I've ever seen Gwar was the only time I felt the absolute need for earplugs and left with the most hearing damage for days afterwards.

I also have memories of my shirt moving from the low end at a Scorn show at the very back of the Trocodero in Philly. Like, physically moving, over 100' away from the stage.. but that may have just been my eyeballs vibrating from the subharmonics and not actually my clothing.

 

[ultra60]

Rev Horton Heat, around '95. I believe I was perfectly positioned to receive the full frontal assault of 2 vintage Fender Super Reverbs, cranked. 40 watts does not seem like much, but they are super loud for sure.

I will add that to this day, it's still one of the best concert's I've been to. Rev Horton Heat, The Supersuckers, Tripping Daisy and Hagfish.

 

[packhowitzer]

I don't know that earplugs are all that important. now, will someone please answer that effing phone?!?!?

 

[bassrich]

The Ramones and Circle Jerks at the Arcadia Dallas Texas. Couldn't hear for days after those shows

 

[Grumry]

Florida Georgia Line, or Jack White were the loudest shows I've ever been to.

Was at work during FGL, so we were stuck there until we could get the bus through the traffic. I walked out to FOH for a song or two, with my -32 ear plugs in, and it was so stupidly uncomfortably loud. Nothing but kick drum and reverb/autotune returns were coming from the PA. I think about every other measure the drummer would hit the bass drop sub explosion effect. It limited the amps and they would shut down for a few seconds. This happened a few times until I left to smoke the devil's lettuce in the trailer until we could leave.

Jack White was at the Bridgestone Arena here in Nashville. When it's a smaller draw, they cut the room in half and it looks like a horse shoe. Someone gave my wife 2 free tickets and we were both off work. We went early to find parking and eat dinner. That was great and we headed to the show. I grabbed a $10 16oz beer and we found our seats. We were on the stage left side, but perpendicular to it. They started after a photographer came out and told everyone to get off their phone, because he was getting paid to take pictures(I agree with that). It was also stupid uncomfortable with our -32 plugs in. After a few songs we just left and stopped at a few of the honky tonks on Broadway to see some of the bands I knew would be playing.


Long story short, it's too loud.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Well, ol' Mike took a little bit of my hearing that night. I left early. Even though I really liked the band, I couldn't take the volume.

I used to rehearse in a Whittier basement which shared a wall with Leatherwolf.
Yep loud as F. But then so were we

 

[DD Gunz]

The Ramones and Circle Jerks at the Arcadia Dallas Texas. Couldn't hear for days after those shows

The Ramones were insanely loud. 23 years later I have still not recovered from 3 cranked SVT's and Marshal JMC 900's.

 

[yakmastermax]

I hate shows that are ridiculously loud. Always bring a set of plugs to most shows just in case. 23 years old here haha.

 

[Chili_Time]

Saw RHCP in Raleigh NC on saturday. Phenomenal show, except... it was too damn loud! Me and my friend were in the cheap seats as far back as you could possibly go, but I had to plug my ears at a few points it was so loud. The people who sat up front must've been in agony. I've been to a few arena shows before and they were never as loud as this.

My ears have been ringing slightly since then, definitely got some damage from that night. Worst thing is I had ear plugs, I just left them in the car.

My question is: how is this okay? I can't imagine whoever was responsible for the loudness would think "Yep... sounds good to me!" unless they already had some hearing damage themselves. Why does this happen, and how is there not a lawsuit frenzy over hearing damage due to concerts?

I saw RHCP in Dallas on row 20 on the floor and it seemed okay. Maybe there is a limit on decibles in Dallas? I had plugs but did not use them.

 

[BrianVengeance]

Suicide Machines at Bogarts in Cinci after they released Battle Hymns. Obscenely loud. Even with plugs you couldn't make out anything.

 

[CaseyJ]

Megadeth opening for Judas Priest back in 1990. Smashing Pumpkins at lollapalooza in the early 90's made me rush to the restrooms thinking i was going to puke. I do not know if it was the volume, or the overly bass heavy eq just going right through my chest.

 

[Aidenn7]

if it's too loud you are too old.. as I get my ear plug in!!!!!!! lol

 

[tangentmusic]

The loudest concert I've ever been to was Uriah Heep in '75 at the Shrine auditorium in LA.
It was when John Wetton was in the band.

They were so loud, you had to stick your fingers in your ears just to tolerate the volume.
Loved every minute of it..

 

[scuzzy]

One of my loudest concerts was....No lie.... Victor wooten at Mississippi nights in St Louis. Rattled the fillings.

This coming from a guy that has been to many many metal shows at small to large venues.

 

[petrus61]

I got to see Bent Brother (Twisted Sister sans makeup) at The Chance in Poughkeepsie. I was urged by a band mate after we played there earlier in the night (free to see the headliner...oh what a privilege) and still had the gig bag on my back. They were loud. I was tired. I left. Loudest damn thing I ever heard in my life.

 

[nolaguy]

I sat in a rehearsal room just 20' from Motorhead. They didn't turn down.
I don't think my hearing recovered.

I saw Alice Cooper in a small-ish theater. The standard set was okay, but when they came on for the encore - in street clothes - I swear they played all the hits at '11.'
I couldn't hear properly for a week.

I once saw James Taylor in a bowl setting. I sat near the mixing console. It was very quiet. You could hear absolutely every note. It was lovely.

I saw Motorhead at House of Blues in New Orleans. Before the show, I had really bad congested sinuses. After the show- sinuses cleared.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Type O Negative at Club 369 in Fullerton, .ca.
We opened. WE. were stupid loud. Type O made my eyes blur outside!.
Korn at Night Moves in HB with the Offspring omg

 

[mwbassace]

Saw Kiss years ago & the high end on the lead guitar was painful. And I was sitting extreme stage right. I really wanted to go down to the soundguy & ask WTH!