Why I stopped going to rock concerts

[eljr]

I stopped going to rock concerts decades ago. Arena rock took over and it's a great party but it's hardly a place to enjoy music and for me it was always about the music.

Then too, responsibility made it more difficult to get out. Not only that, it just stopped being fun as work and family made sleep the most precious part of life. I was just too exhausted to go out, anywhere.

but honest, the shows were just too loud. So loud they made me uncomfortable and sometimes caused pain. WTF is that about anyway?

I am thinking, it's about time shows rolled back the volume.
When you leave a concert, your ears are ringing. That is not healthy.

Anyone else swear off live rock shows? How long ago if you did and why?

Should rock acts have to pay lawsuits from fans claiming damaged hearing? I think so.

 

[jcamero]

I've only been to about 5 or so in the last 25 years. My wife is not interested in the bands I like, so we don't go together. The concerts I did attend, I went with my pre-marriage buddys. As far as loudness levels, a friend of mine had a poster on his wall that read, "If it's too loud, your too old". Loudness is a catch 22. Too loud, the people in front go home with ringing ears, and the people in the back can't enjoy the music. Too quiet, the people in the front have an enjoyable concert, and the people in the back go home disappointed. Personally, I prefer loud over quiet at a concert, that being I can reduce SPL's via seating, ear plugs, etc. but I can't bring up the PA's volume,

 

[Auto Analog]

What? I can't hear you over the ringing in my ears!

Seriously though, some shows are far too loud, even with earplugs, especially in a small venue. I tend to minimize my exposure to live music at this stage in life, unless it's a band I really like. That probably sounds like heresy coming from an Austin resident.

 

[Condorsat]

For me it was always about the bread ... concerts just ended up costing too much ... so I stopped going on a regular basis decades ago. Occasionally I attend some concerts that are reasonable priced ... usually at Art House type venues.

As far as loudness ... I always took ear plugs along ... so that was not a factor. The most recent rock concert I went to was a local Michael Stanley show that was very loud. Me & the wife had to put our plugs in after the first note.

 

[hunter00]

I scaled back on shows in sealed venues some time ago for some of the same reasoned but then missed exsposure to the atmosphere that a live shows provides.
I found a compromise tho.
When I say "sealed venues I mean inside buildings where by you get all the reflective sound bounceing off walls,cranked right up that distorts what I hear,when trying to listen critically.
I started going to outdoor concerts,summer festivals and found I enjoyed the sound in an open air setting much more.Since ive made a point of takeing a month off work and travel around our province in BC and attend most of these venues and can enjoy the full spectrum of sound and the event

hunter

 

[whoaru99]

Should rock acts have to pay lawsuits from fans claiming damaged hearing? I think so.

No. It's a rock concert. Historically speaking they're loud. You know that, I know that, everybody going to a concert knows that.

If it's too loud for your liking you have a choice to stay or to leave.

 

[eljr]

No. It's a rock concert. Historically speaking they're loud. You know that, I know that, everybody going to a concert knows that.

If it's too loud for your liking you have a choice to stay or to leave.

Good post but all business needs be socially responsible IMHO.
Most times things that can harm people are either labeled as such, forbidden by law or subject to suit.
You should not have to pay for a show, get there and find it too loud and have to leave. Be out the time and money.

It's not like a baseball game where the risk of an accident is knowingly taken. Rock concerts can be monitored on phone for safe levels so why aren't they?

 

[fredcohiba]

I agree. I saw many shows in the 80s that were sonically pleasing. Saw a few in the early 2000s that sounded like AM radio amped up to the hill.
Last concert I saw was Paul McCartney at Miller Park (where the Milwaukee Brewers play) two years ago. It was incredible. Sonically almost perfect and we were way, way back. They had some sort of feedback system with more speakers about two thirds into the audience section. It was clear as a bell, no echoes and just loud enough...

 

[whoaru99]

Rock concerts can be monitored on phone for safe levels so why aren't they?

Because we need more personal responsibility and less nanny state.

 

[damacman]

Seriously? Lawsuits? Gee Willis, do you think this Tool concert will be loud? Isn't that one of the main reasons folks attend rock concerts? I for one want to feel the kick drum in my chest all show long. Earplugs can reduce the levels by 30 dB or even more to protect your hearing,

Does everything now-a-days have to be about protecting people from themselves?

 

[BayouTiger]

I would say that if you stopped decades ago, maybe it's time to get back in the game. The casino circuit has opened up the field so you can now see lots of great acts at a decent price in a nice small venue with excellent sound at reasonable volume. Yes many of these shows are "Geezers of Rock" shows and in most cases don't necessarily feature the original lineups, but in many case are still excellent. A few years ago I saw Dave Mason at Harrah's New Orleans for $30 and sat on row 1 center. He was amazing as always and sounded excellent. Seeing him again next month. Also seeing Pat Benatar in a couple weeks.

I don't think there's really been a better time to catch good music in a small venue.

 

[bobsvinyl]

I've just started going to concerts again over the last year and 1/2. There are several small venue clubs in the MA./ N.H. area where I live. Prices run from around $28.00 to $55.00 depending on the artist. Some interesting groups have been up here including Wishbone Ash, Savoy Brown, Ronnie Earl, John Mayall, Jimmie Vaughan, Uli Jon Roth, Jay Geils and Martin Barre.

They do a great job on the sound and it's up close and personal. I'm planning on doing a few more shows this spring.

 

[Renegade]

There are many different kinds of hearing protection, so it's on you to determine which suits your needs,,,,,, or just don't go. Making bands pay for hearing damage will inevitably result in very high ticket prices, resulting in much smaller crowds, resulting in a lot fewer concerts to attend. It's ridiculus to put the burden on the band to satisfy individual needs. Protect yourself or don't go, it's no one elses responsibility but yours.

That's what's wrong with the healthcare field to begin with.

 

[ScramMan2]

I work in the industry and never get tired of it. Just worked a show last night, Parmalee a country/rock group. I was up front right next to the stage behind a set of subs placed on the ice (a post game concert after an Admirals hockey game). Wear ear plugs if you think it's too loud. I don't but others do. My ears haven't rung in years, that's a 70's by-product of distortion. Present day set-ups do not have this. My only after effects are from the movement of air from the subs if I'm up really close. I worked three straight nights of the Goo Goo Dolls and Matchbox 20 @130dB. I was worn out.

 

[hunter00]

cool job Scram!!

hunter

 

[illinoisteve]

I stopped listening to new rock once the Disco craze came in the early 80s. Since then I've been to a LOT of small folk and blues concerts and a couple of bluegrass festivals. I want to hear the music, so if the venue is for more than a couple hundred people, I'm less interested. If it's only for a few dozen listeners, I'm more interested. I have some ringing in my ears even without having go to big, loud concerts, raves, and whathaveyou. I'd be more interested in watching the DVD of a big concert, just like I'd rather watch auto racing on TV -- in those cases I get a much better vantage point and sound than I could have paid for, and I don't get rubber and exhaust fumes thrown in my face. If I want noise and smoke, I'll cut some firewood with my chainsaw.

 

[ScramMan2]

You guys need to attend a Monster Jam (trucks) event if you think concerts are loud. Besides hearing protection you need a surgical mask. The nasty nitro smell isn't to cool either. I worked a double on 1/23/16.

 

[grillebilly]

I go to shows all the time and have been to over 1000 in my lifetime. I say shows because they are almost always in small venues. The large venues I go to are usually outside or in a dedicated music hall. On occasion they are too loud, The Smithereens are one I recall being way too loud. A simple way around it is some wadded-up napkin in your ear...they can be tailored to fit your comfort level. But it's seldom I need to or want to.

 

[grillebilly]

You guys need to attend a Monster Jam (trucks) event if you think concerts are loud. Besides hearing protection you need a surgical mask. The nasty nitro smell isn't to cool either. I worked a double on 1/23/16.

I think they run on race gas or methanol. I don't think engines will live with Nitro for more than a short blast. The drag cars run on alcohol until they stage at the line when the fuel system is changed over to the nasty, volatile Nitro-methane. .Any exhaust is bad news if you can't escape it.

 

[toomuchvinyl]

What I haven't seen mentioned is the expectation that the audience stand for the entire show. That has kept me away more than the volume. I agree with the observation that modern sound systems have nearly eliminated the ear pain problem. My problem is that I have difficulty standing for 2+ hours without being able to move around. Some clubs have no seating at all and my experience at arena's lately is that I can't see the band because the person in front of me is standing throughout the entire show. I am really tired of paying the high ticket price and then being unable to enjoy the show. As a side note, my kids were mystified that anyone would want to sit at a concert anyway.