Metal/Rock concerts -- too loud?

[Ħ]

I totally get loud music.  It's the main way I listen to music on my own, really.  I've got my ipod between 80 and 90% of the maximum volume most of the time.  But I think that the sound levels for modern rock concerts is just WAY too loud.


First, it muddies the sound.  You can't pick out individual parts or anything.  Sometimes, even rhythm gets muddied.  You start hearing notes that aren't notes at all (just overtones/screeches/something), and you can barely separate out the melody from the rest of the music.


Even when I saw Eisley with Sigz, I thought the volume level was overbearing, and it detracted from the performance and sound quality.  Even the girls in the band commented on having to push their voices over the noise.  (In contrast, when Christie Dupree opened, I thought her volume was perfect for a concert.)


Second, hearing damage.  Every time I've been to a concert, even with seats that are further back, I go half-deaf for about a day, and have a constant ringing in my ears.  I'm guessing that it is exactly what permanent tinnitus sounds like.  I don't think I'm more sensitive than other people, seeing as I listen to loud iPod music all the time.


And the third thing, if you take measures to reduce the volume (like earplugs), you cancel out the lower and higher ends of the sound mix.  So it's a lose-lose situation, really.


I don't really hear this sentiment from anyone on the forum, although I hear it a lot in real life.  That makes me think that somehow I'm missing something (like, if they reduced the volume level to 75% of what it was, would it actually be worse?).


Do I have any sympathizers?

[PuffyPat]

I agree, but still, listening to music loud just gives me a sense of "I'm Awesome", and at concerts no one has to hear me sing a long.

[Ħ]

Do those two reasons really outweigh the cons?

[Dark Castle]

Depends on the venue really, then again I listen to Extreme Metal which is LOUD to begin with, so I guess I'd disagree with you.

[black_biff_stadler]

My ears rang for 2, maybe 3, days after seeing a 4-hour 311 show. I know whatcha mean brah. Luckily for me I hardly get the chance to go to concerts any more so I still have 20/20 hearing.

[KevShmev]

I agree with you.  The Foo Fighters concert I went to two weeks ago was deafeningly loud (and their opener was just as loud). 

And what sucks is that wearing ear plugs at a concert dilutes the quality and nothing sounds as good.  It is like listening to a stereo with blankets over the speakers.  I even tried good ear plugs and the sound was virtually the same.

[Dark Castle]

I really like the fact that concerts are loud as fuck, especially when it's a band you love, I was awestruck the entire time at the Children of Bodom, Devin Townsend, and Obscura (sorry Septic Flesh, you weren't good) concert back in July.  It was bloody amazing.

[Sigz]

And the third thing, if you take measures to reduce the volume (like earplugs), you cancel out the lower and higher ends of the sound mix.  So it's a lose-lose situation, really.

Only if you're using earplugs meant for protection rather than musical uses. You can get reusable earplugs with a flat frequency response for like 8 bucks on amazon.

Hearing wise, concerts probably are too loud. However, there's a much more physical sensation that accompanies the high volume, and it's one of the things that makes concerts a unique experience.

[PuffyPat]

Do those two reasons really outweigh the cons?

Not really. I don't go to too many shows, so it really doesn't matter for me.

[skydivingninja]

The only times where the sound has been loud in a bad way were at O Brother opening for The Dear Hunter, The Mars Volta, and Torche/Circa Survive opening for Coheed.  Otherwise, yes concerts can be very loud, but I've never had ringing in my ears unless I was near the front of the stage.  So far, only Torche/Circa/Coheed in Atlanta and O Brother made my ears ring the next day, IIRC.  I didn't have any ringing after the Opeth concert and I was probably in the middle of the crowd (seating section, directly ahead of the speaker, but just trying to give a relative sense of where I was).  The sound at that show was also pretty damn close to perfect.

So honestly I don't think most concerts I've been to have been THAT loud, but I guess it just differs for everybody. *shrug*

[Ħ]

Now that I think of it, not all of them were totally loud.

Dream Theater PN09 - 5% too loud (outdoor)
Dream Theater/IM - perfect (outdoor)
Dream Theater 2011 - 10% too loud
Sonata Arctica - 20% too loud
Symphony X - 10% too loud
Eisley - 10% too loud
Roger Waters' The Wall - perfect

[WindMaster]

When I went to see Rush last year, the sound was so loud it muddled. I totally feel you on this one. I forgot to bring my sort-of-high-tech drumming earplugs that block out the frequencies that aren't needed (they are HEAROS if anyone is interested), so I had to borrow my friend's crappy regular block-out-everything plugs. It worked out OK, but i would definitely prefer my drumming plugs.

[ZBomber]

I can only think of a couple of times the sound was "too loud"... Aerosmith (twice), MGMT (whoever was working the mixing board was NOT doing their job)... and that might actually be it. I rarely wear ear plugs, which I know is bad, but I play music even louder in my room than I hear at a lot of concerts, so my ears are probably FUBAR already. 

[King Postwhore]

Deep Purple concert in 1985 blew my ears out.  I heard ringing for 3 days.  Loudest concert I ever went to.

[skydivingninja]

When I went to see Rush last year, the sound was so loud it muddled. I totally feel you on this one. I forgot to bring my sort-of-high-tech drumming earplugs that block out the frequencies that aren't needed (they are HEAROS if anyone is interested), so I had to borrow my friend's crappy regular block-out-everything plugs. It worked out OK, but i would definitely prefer my drumming plugs.

Really?  Every time I've seen Rush the sound has been spot-on!

[MetalManiac666]

The majority of the concerts I have been to have caused hearing loss for at least a little while.  I really don't mind all that much though, as I rarely go to concerts.

Now that I think about it, the sound at the Bright Eyes concert was probably about perfect.

[Jaq]

I have to wear earplugs at concerts because I work in construction, and have for quite some time, and the sheer volume of that industry has probably damaged my ears more than all the concerts I've been to combined. My hearing's already bad enough as it is, a band blasting at max volume is going to be trouble for me.

[WindMaster]

When I went to see Rush last year, the sound was so loud it muddled. I totally feel you on this one. I forgot to bring my sort-of-high-tech drumming earplugs that block out the frequencies that aren't needed (they are HEAROS if anyone is interested), so I had to borrow my friend's crappy regular block-out-everything plugs. It worked out OK, but i would definitely prefer my drumming plugs.

Really?  Every time I've seen Rush the sound has been spot-on!

Well, I was outside and right near a speaker.... 

[bout to crash]

Yes they are too fucking loud. Now somebody recommend me some good earplugs. And while you're at it get off my lawn.

[Zantera]

I can probably agree.
Even though I never (or very rarely) use earplugs, mostly because I feel like they would remove a certain % of the music, I still don't feel like my hearing has took a beating from the high sound.
I don't know, maybe I always manage to stand at a pretty good spot, like in the middle instead of standing next to a speaker, but this far I have managed well.

And besides, having seen Mogwai live without earplugs, I don't think anything will beat that loudness-level. 

[BlobVanDam]

Concerts are loud. They kind of have to be so the music can be heard by everyone, and over the crowd noise. But there have only been a couple that I've found excessively loud. KISS was too loud, and left my ears with a high pitched noise the rest of the night. I had ear plugs for AC/DC, and it was much better, but I always forget to bring earplugs to other concerts, because it really helps to hear everything clearly. I don't mind loud, but for the sake of my hearing, I'd rather just use ear plugs to be safe.

But I've never stood near the front, because it probably would be waaaaaayyyy too loud, and I like a good mix.

Lowest volume concert I've ever been to was Iron Maiden. They were really soft. I'm not sure they could have gotten away with that soft at most venues, but it was at a great venue, so it was perfect.

[Arch Benemy]

Concerts are too loud, but that's the way I like it! At a gig I can completely lose myself for a few hours and being totally overwhelmed by the music is a big part of that experience. And concerts apparantly are not as loud as they used to be. My Dad told me he went to see Golden Earring and they had quadrophonic sound, and it was so loud people were passing out.

[King Postwhore]

Some of the best sounding shows I've ever go to were on the low end of loudness. 

Pink Floyd
Porcupine Tree
Steely Dan

[nightmare_cinema]

I have permanent tinnitus from attending too many super loud gigs (including my own) and not wearing ear plugs... I find they make me feel really disconnected from the music, even though people say you can hear it more clearly I always feel like something's missing, during gigs where I've worn earplugs I've always felt as though I'm separated from the action and not in control enough to properly pick up on what the rest of my band were doing or be confident I was always playing the right notes. I'm sure paying for it now, though.

[Gorille85]

Yeah I think it's too loud. I use earplugs and the sound is great. I want to keep my ears.

[ZKX-2099]

If it's too loud, you're too old.

[Tick]

I can't hear this thread?

[nightmare_cinema]

I can't hear silence anymore. It sucks, I really miss laying and hearing a quiet room.

[Arch Benemy]

I can't remember the last time I heard silence, but living and working in London means that even at night there's always some sort of noise around. I also think that rather than loud concerts damaging my hearing, it's more likely to be listening to headphones too loudly, which I am well aware I do.

[jsem]

it's more likely to be listening to headphones too loudly

That is very dangerous indeed

[MasterShakezula]

it's more likely to be listening to headphones too loudly

That is very dangerous indeed

It is.  I do it all the time, and my hearing is noticeably lacking. 

[SPNKr]

just wear proper earplugs guys, 15-35 dollar pairs usually work for over a year. i got mine free at this hearing seminar thingo we had at my school. it's been through concerts of all kinds, and lawnmowing.

[Gorille85]

If it's too loud, you're too old.

lol

[pogoowner]

If it's too loud, you're too old.

Oh.

[Fluffy Lothario]

Dubstep concerts - too bassy?

Classical concerts - too formal?

Black metal concerts - too kvlt?


I actually agree though, to some extent. I mean, I realise rock concerts are supposed to be loud, but I've seen bands that I got the feeling were so excessively loud, it was like, WE'RE SO FUCKING LOUD, YOU CAN BARELY HEAR WHAT'S GOING ON AND YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW GOOD THE SONGS ARE OR HOW WELL WE'RE PLAYING THEM, BUT HOLY CUNTDOLPHINS WE'RE SO LOUD, YOU KNOW WE ROCK HARD!!!!!!!!!