Criminally loud concerts

[SAlcott]

Loudness war - Wikipedia

I've recently walked out of two shows by artists who are friends because the sound was so bad. Subwoofers were cranked to the point that bass notes were completely swallowed up, and bass drum emphasized to the point I thought I was going to puke. I really think the current generation of sound techs has no idea what any instrument sounds like except through a speaker.

 

[fretter]

Firehose at Bogart's in Long Beach was loud.

 

[bikeplate]

Sabbath in '82 Dio on vocals. Was so loud that when he talked to the crowd between songs I was plugging my ears. I had ringing in my ears for days after that show

 

[dtripoli]

I never thought about hearing damage in my youth and, in fact, I reveled in the idea that I was able to work loud construction during the day and stand next to the PA speakers at night and walk away perfectly fine.
My thinking was; only wussies and weasels can't handle loud music and work.
I don't know about anybody else but the effects of the damage has cause me to cringe at any loud noise now.
An inability to understand voices if some other noise is present (Which is OK if the girlfriend happens to be rambling on and on about some inane topic, lol)
and if I take just one Motrin, Advil, Aleve or Aspirin I get disquieting tinnitus. Can only take Tylenol at this point.
I always have earplugs on me today, they are on my key chain. Don't leave home without them.
It's not just music that can be ear shattering loud.

 

[asands]

Black Label society with Clutch at the Uptown Theatre in Kansas City probably 3 years ago. Clutch was quieter than normal which I was disappointed about. Then BLS came on and it's the only show I've been to that physically hurt. Zakk's constant shredding in the upper registry at 450 dB was rough. I've seen Motörhead twice at two different venues and yes, it was loud AF, but BLS was worse for sure.

 

[asands]

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.

I miss that venue so much. I think Victor was just in town at the Old Rock House or something but I was working and missed it

 

[Londo Molari]

Some people are just no damn good. A lot of them run sound for events.

 

[vegas532]

I saw Swans in a smaller venue and it hurt with my plugs in.

 

[Sore Thumb]

Iron Maiden last year in Vancouver was ridiculously loud, and terrible sound. Couldn't hear Steve Harris at all. We were a ways back (forgot earplugs) and it took a three days for my hearing to return go normal.

 

[faceless_master]

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

SAY WHAT NOW?

 

[mpdd]

indian jewelry at the echo
had earplugs in, but i think it was so loud that it made my nose bleed

 

[+6dB Dan]

Have any of you seen Spinal Tap live? I've heard they're one of England's loudest bands.

 

[McG]

Three exceedingly loud concerts come to mind.

I saw Blue Cheer in 1968. Widely regarded as the loudest band of the era.

They were eclipsed by the Who in 1972. I sat six rows back directly in front of Pete Townsend. I credit that show as the beginning of my hearing problems.

And an unlikely one, Tom Petty in 1995. The opening acts were loud but tolerable. Then Petty came on and the volume was crushingly painful. I've seen Petty before and the volume was fine. This one was obviously the sound crew's fault. I was sitting just a few rows behind the board and hearing what they did. We left mid-show as many others did.

 

[5544]

My first concert was Violence & Testament in a small venue. When Greg Christian hit some notes, we could feel it in our bones.
That's the loudest one I can recall, because after that I started bring hearing protection.

I would have loved to see Vio-lence. Great band that should have gone a lot farther than they did. Of course it was their own fault that they didn't but still...

 

[fdeck]

Every show. In my experience the majority of shows are ruined by the sound reinforcement, good bands, bad bands, all bands. It's not politically correct to bag on sound techs, and I know it's a hard job, but it's really destroying live music.

 

[SAlcott]

I played in some loudish bands in the 70s and 80s. I have tinnitus in my right (crash cymbal side) ear. Like all tinnitus, it is incurable. To share my tinnitus, go here: Online Tone Generator - Free, Simple and Easy to Use. and dial in 4900hz at about 25% volume. Imagine walking around (or trying to sleep) with that 24/7/365. I'm not looking for sympathy or pity; just issuing a warning. If you don't protect your ears now, you will be sorry later.

 

[Jloch86]

Lightning Bolt. Two guys; bass player and drummer. This is how they perform. No stage. People just form a circle around them. I was about 3-4 people back and felt my insides vibrating.

 

[5StringBlues]

I saw Deep Purple on the 84 reunion tour in a 15,000 seat arena, about ten rows back. The sound was really really good but incredibly loud.







Gibb Droll? There's a name I haven't heard in about 23 years.

 

[beatnut]

Loudest gig I missed was reputedly Swans at the ICA in London. Rumour has it that they specified a bombproof venue and people were pinned against the back wall with ears bleeding. Maybe it's best that I couldn't go.

EDIT: Oh, around 1986.

 

[Mo cowbell]

Maiden in Denver last year. Just a wall of noise. Of course that was in the pos Pepsi Center.

Aerosmith on their Done With Mirrors tour (1986) in Omaha. We were there for the sound check. The lows were so powerful it was hard to breath. As for after, ringing in my ears for 3 days.