Post Show Banter >>>>

James wrote:
The music sounds like SHIT if you have earplugs in. So much of the sound quality is drowned out.

Why can't the bands just play at lower volumes?

completely agree. although i understand if you use professional high grade plugs maybe it sounds better? to me with regular ear plugs it just sounds so muffled…too bassy.. you lose all the treble or highs…i hate it..


its just plain negligent for bands to play music too loud so it hurts people and takes away their hearing or gives them tinnitus for life…

if you're going to do that you should have to warn people before the show and give them free earplugs….good ones too!…honestly maybe even print it on the tickets in big red letters.. they sure tell us we can't take pictures or anything ..they have no problems putting signs about that or having a disclaimer about this or that..but when it comes to people's hearing NOTHING.

everyone is an inexperienced concertgoer at some point! not to mention alcohol is so often involved with people's concertgoing that people are not necessarily making the brightest decisions…

here lets put on a show for you, have bars everywhere and blow out the sound for you! you're welcome!

everytime you hear ringing in your ears the next day that ain't the weather report..its permanent hearing loss.. it might not mean that much to you now but i sure do believe its going to add up when you're older….

the soundmen should really be held liable….at the end of the day they are the ones..they can say they are following the orders

the worst are the amateurish bands where one prima donna wants to be heard over the rest.. so then the other schmoe is like "no , turn me up soundman!" and it goes on like that until by the end its insanely loud and distorted all around

hutch wrote:

James wrote:
The music sounds like SHIT if you have earplugs in. So much of the sound quality is drowned out.

Why can't the bands just play at lower volumes?

the soundmen should really be held liable….at the end of the day they are the ones..they can say they are following the orders

the worst are the amateurish bands where one prima donna wants to be heard over the rest.. so then the other schmoe is like "no , turn me up soundman!" and it goes on like that until by the end its insanely loud and distorted all around

I disagree. A soundman's job is to do the best with what he/she has to work with. It's a tough and thankless job because one spot in the room may sound great while other spots may be abysmal. Many times they're at the mercy of the band that is employing them. Holding them liable is ridiculous. No one buys a ticket to see a soundman do his or her job.

bearman wrote:

hutch wrote:

James wrote:
The music sounds like SHIT if you have earplugs in. So much of the sound quality is drowned out.

Why can't the bands just play at lower volumes?

the soundmen should really be held liable….at the end of the day they are the ones..they can say they are following the orders

the worst are the amateurish bands where one prima donna wants to be heard over the rest.. so then the other schmoe is like "no , turn me up soundman!" and it goes on like that until by the end its insanely loud and distorted all around

I disagree. A soundman's job is to do the best with what he/she has to work with. It's a tough and thankless job because one spot in the room may sound great while other spots may be abysmal. Many times they're at the mercy of the band that is employing them. Holding them liable is ridiculous. No one buys a ticket to see a soundman do his or her job.

at the end of the day they should not  move the knobs to a level that hurts people…

i don't believe in "due obedience" when it hurts others… 


of course its not all black and white.. if you're that guy standing next to the speakers all night long well whaddaya expect?

hutch wrote:

bearman wrote:

hutch wrote:

James wrote:
The music sounds like SHIT if you have earplugs in. So much of the sound quality is drowned out.

Why can't the bands just play at lower volumes?

the soundmen should really be held liable….at the end of the day they are the ones..they can say they are following the orders

the worst are the amateurish bands where one prima donna wants to be heard over the rest.. so then the other schmoe is like "no , turn me up soundman!" and it goes on like that until by the end its insanely loud and distorted all around

I disagree. A soundman's job is to do the best with what he/she has to work with. It's a tough and thankless job because one spot in the room may sound great while other spots may be abysmal. Many times they're at the mercy of the band that is employing them. Holding them liable is ridiculous. No one buys a ticket to see a soundman do his or her job.

at the end of the day they should not  move the knobs to a level that hurts people…

i don't believe in "due obedience" when it hurts others… 


of course its not all black and white.. if you're that guy standing next to the speakers all night long well whaddaya expect?

Maybe the knobs should stop at 9.

Looking into some of those better plugs you guys recommended
these plugs look nice and have a good carrying case

I truly hate what the cheapo plugs do to the sound
I found myself taking them out a couple times as just sounded like I was listening to a band in another room.

hutch wrote:
.. if you're that guy standing next to the speakers all night long well whaddaya expect?

you tend to be that guy at 930 shows  :-\

Hutch was the one who argued with me about Jesus and Mary Chain not being too loud and he was wearing ear plugs.  I agree with James that bands shouldn't play so loud that you need ear plugs. I  have never used any.  Only a couple of bands have played so loud that I wish I had them.  Jesus and Mary Chains recent show and Soundgarden show back in the early 90's come to mind off hand. 

Sidehatch wrote:

hutch wrote:
.. if you're that guy standing next to the speakers all night long well whaddaya expect?

you tend to be that guy at 930 shows  :-\

geez can't get away with anything!  ;D

but with all due respect I wear earplugs…

atomic wrote:
Hutch was the one who argued with me about Jesus and Mary Chain not being too loud and he was wearing ear plugs.  I agree with James that bands shouldn't play so loud that you need ear plugs. I  have never used any.  Only a couple of bands have played so loud that I wish I had them.  Jesus and Mary Chains recent show and Soundgarden show back in the early 90's come to mind off hand. 

lies lies lies!!!  ;D :D ;)

you said that it was so loud that the sound was all distorted and you couldn't hear the vocals… i said that was not true…. i then said i had some video and i had watched it and the vocals where clear.. however, i would not be surprised if the sound mix got more messed up or if it was different where you were standing…

matts wrote:Maybe the knobs should stop at 9.

But these go to 11.

Nigel wrote:

matts wrote:Maybe the knobs should stop at 9.

But these go to 11.

Well played. I like to think you registered this account just in hopes of this one day happening.

Elbow is a really really really good band.  That is all.

atomic wrote:
Hutch was the one who argued with me about Jesus and Mary Chain not being too loud and he was wearing ear plugs.  I agree with James that bands shouldn't play so loud that you need ear plugs. I  have never used any.  Only a couple of bands have played so loud that I wish I had them.  Jesus and Mary Chains recent show and Soundgarden show back in the early 90's come to mind off hand. 

All shows are loud enough that you should be wearing earplugs.  Even if you think you don't need them.

Maybe that should be amended to "all rock shows at the 9:30 Club".

I go to shows at Jammin Java, Iota, Gypsy Sally's…never a need for earplugs. Maybe they think they don't need to make it as loud because they are smaller venues?

K8teebug wrote:

atomic wrote:
Hutch was the one who argued with me about Jesus and Mary Chain not being too loud and he was wearing ear plugs.  I agree with James that bands shouldn't play so loud that you need ear plugs. I  have never used any.  Only a couple of bands have played so loud that I wish I had them.  Jesus and Mary Chains recent show and Soundgarden show back in the early 90's come to mind off hand. 

All shows are loud enough that you should be wearing earplugs.  Even if you think you don't need them.

I would guess that they may be okay.  Only way to tell is to check with a sound level meter and/or wear a noise dosimeter at shows. 

Anything 100dB and over and you should really be wearing earplugs (you can be exposed to 100dB for 2 hours before it starts to damage your hearing)

K8teebug wrote:
…or wear a noise dosimeter at shows. 

Now that sounds like a great way to pick up chicks  ;)

They're tiny :)

K8teebug wrote:

atomic wrote:
Hutch was the one who argued with me about Jesus and Mary Chain not being too loud and he was wearing ear plugs.  I agree with James that bands shouldn't play so loud that you need ear plugs. I  have never used any.  Only a couple of bands have played so loud that I wish I had them.  Jesus and Mary Chains recent show and Soundgarden show back in the early 90's come to mind off hand. 

All shows are loud enough that you should be wearing earplugs.  Even if you think you don't need them.

Then why even go? I can tell you didn't need any at the Magnetic Fields. 

Sidehatch wrote:

K8teebug wrote:
…or wear a noise dosimeter at shows. 

Now that sounds like a great way to pick up chicks  ;)

there's an app for that

eros wrote:
Elbow is a really really really good band.  That is all.

indeed