Should I go to any more rock concerts?

Cant be good for your hearing when your ears are ringing when you leave. I normally find listening to bands in pubs to be the worst, when everything is so loud to compete with the drummer.

There are always 'musicians' earplugs that attenuate the sound, but still let all frequencies through.

Anyway I'm looking forward to Iron Maiden this summer. That should be nice and peaceful...

Two years ago, we went to Sonisphere rock festival, saw some amazing bands and all was ok until Sunday night, Metallica came on stage, after a couple of memorable songs they decided to crank things up a bit until probably the sixth or seventh song, it got so unbearable we had to leave, the music was completely drowned out by distortion, god knows why they did that, it wasn't a pleasant experience, people leaving in droves, and only the die hards or the foolhardy left.  their last two albums are upped to the max as well and they sound rubbish. Can't think why they would want to do it, it can't be doing their sales any good...

I actually agree that Metallica's latest albums seem to be recorded loudly, and sound distorted. At the end of the day you will play a track as loud as you want.

Yes, and at one time wasn't Metallica's sound really outstanding? Weren't some of their albums done by Bob Rock, of 'Rock and Hyde' fame? Was he involved with the latest one's?

At Def Leppard, my ears were totally sealed by moistened silicone earplugs that are used for construction. It was still way too loud! I just wanted to leave, it was terrible, could not be enjoyed. And others around me didn't seem to be bothered by it.

I think I'm going to save my money, not buy the tickets, and put it toward more music, more CDs, there's a used Nait I want to buy. I guess it comes down to VFM in the long run, as much as I would have loved to see Steely Dan live. Keep in mind, these past concerts were outside, not enclosed, and still too loud. It's just insane.

Dave

It must be an age thing. I stopped going to arena gigs years ago (but did see McCartney last year). It's not just the noise, also the hassle of parking, the rip-off prices for food, drink, programmes, the 2 hour queue to get out of the car park at the end. I wouldn't mind, but you end up watching the big TV anyway, rather than the stage.

I now just content myself with small venues. Give me a small blues club with an audience of a hundred or so and musicians you can actually see play their instruments.

Agreed. My memory is really bad, and I forgot that one year I changed gears and started going to smaller venues predominantly. We have an amazing ancient venue called Massey Hall, and my wife and I heard the Reverend Al Green, Sophie Milman, Gordon Lightfoot, and a neat concert with Jack Bruce, Todd Rundgren, Mark Farner, Alan Parsons, and Christopher Cross. The latter was a tribute to the Beatles, but each did two or three songs from their own material, then a jam together in the second half. Sitting on stools, all playing guitar together, some of the best musicians in the world. Alan Parsons and Jack Bruce were really amazing.  And the sound was good (although it was a bit loud and distorted, come to think of it). Yes, the more I think about it, the less likely I will go to any concert of any size anymore, unless it's the Philharmonic.

Dave

Going back to the Metallica debarcle, Bob Rock produced the black album with Hetfeild and Ulrich. The albums prior to this were produced by Metallica and Flemming Rasmussen, all good recordings, surprisingly Mr Rock also produced st. anger but seemingly on the instruction of ulrich to max it all out, I read this somewhere ages ago, but don't quote me on this,lol. I did not buy the newest offering by them as I had heard it is of the same poor quality as st, anger.

If you are into this kind of music, check out Paradise Lost, symbol of life. It is an absolute stormer of an album, they do interpretations of Dead can dance "xavier and the communards small town boy and both are super as are the rest of the tracks. Highly recommended. 

Going back to the original post (before a slight sidetrack) I think that if you enjoy the whole large venue package then go, but if things start to annoy you more than you enjoy the concert then that's when to knock it on the head. I always went to all the festivals (except Glastonbury) and loved them, the smells, the people, the music ,surroundings, etc. Now Hyde park Rocking is about all I can tolerate, as it is only a short train ride from the suburbs, easy. I do like venues like Hammersmith, Sheperds Bush, Brixton and the sadly demolished Astoria, good sized crowd without being too big. still go to the ones that are left semi-regularly.

I saw 'tallica at the O2 Arena (London) twice on the Death Magnetic tour - both times awesome sound, loud yes but sound clear.

> The worst was Def Leppard. I mean they were great, but the sound was too loud. 

Is not the name of that certain new wave of heavy metal band a bit of a give away? 

Why not watch some great bands like Martha and the Muffins or see the wonderful Ms Basia Bulat.

All the best, Guy

I'm not too keen on things that make a sudden loud bang.  

Well, Guido, what I really should have said, was, more than being too loud, the sound was much too distorted. I've been to heavy metal concerts in the past that sounded just right. And 'Leppard to me are kind of the lighter side of 'heavy' metal. To me it's more a matter of the sound people getting the sound right. They have to do a sound check.

I expect it to be loud at a rock concert, or heavy metal, but not distorted. When you have near perfect hearing, and ear plugs in, and not only is it loud, but extremely distorted, it's purely ridiculous.

Dave

Always bring earplugs just in case the sound goes "south" -  and where you are sitting - you are getting the "bad" mix.

Sometimes depending on where you are in the auditorium, the sound can change considerably.

From the  front of house mix position , things can sound perfect ... but get too far off to the side and your speaker array "stack" may be being overdriven. Which may be completely inaudible to the soundperson.

Todays technology which should make reinforced sound better, can easily bite back .

It seems as tough the older systems had a much larger margin of error before things went sour .

 It used to be that if you were sitting close to the stage you knew that it would be bloody loud, and uniformly quieter as you went further back in the auditorium. 

But today in effort to provide  an even coverage to the entire audience, sound systems can easily become much more touchy. Now the more "advanced" line array ... microprocessor controlled.... speaker systems, with multiple flown arrays can easily  complicate the proces of getting even ballanced sound to the whole audience. 

Please feel free to offer polite criticism to the sound crew after the show.

An example of how technology designed to make everything better and easier , probably has often made life more complicated.

No doubt the newest soundsystems are far superior in a Hi-Fi sense to the old "stacks of boxes"

..... but it depends on where your seats are , wether or not you will end up enjoying the show.

Remember to bring those ear plugs just in case .

Great post JZ -- you nailed it.

Hawk -

The only way I will ever attend another concert is at a smaller, well-known venue, and in seats that I know will give me a good musical experience.

Back in the mid-late 70's, the Grateful Dead would play two 3-night shows a year at the Uptown Theater in Chicago.    4400 seats.   Good acoustics overall, but in my first show or two there, I roamed around and soon realized that that the first row of the balcony was the place to be.   Best sound and best view.   Great sound system, perfect volume levels, and a venue built for music.  So twice a year for four years, I got up very early on the morning tickets went on sale at the theater's box office (no online sales way back when.....in fact, no online...period.  ).

Made the mistake of going to see the Dave Matthews Band at a local arena a couple months back.   Mrs. Hook has a crush on the guy who sings Crush, so it seemed like a good birthday present at the time.   Even in the few places in that arena where the sound was not heavily distorted, the volume was intolerable, and earplugs were mandatory.  It was still fun to see all the kids dancing and having a good time, but it was impossible to appreciate the music.

Hook

I saw Robert Earl Keen locally and it was a great show but my head was ringing for days after.

Now I always have these.  Buy them by the dozen and give them away to your friends.   They are a great product for shooting and mowing the yard too.

http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er20.html

skip

Thanks for your responses jz, Hook, and everyone else. I keep thinking about Steely Dan, but I still think I'll pass. I've really got to watch my finances. I've got the best seat in the house at home. It's fun of course to go out, but the value for the money isn't there. I will put the money towards upgrades later.

Dave

Is it remotely artistic to play live music too loud for the venue.

I once walked out of a Simon Rattle/ CBSO concert of Schoenberg's Gurelleider in Birmingham Symphony Hall because it was too loud. The Soloists were inaudible aginst the row the orchestra had been encouraged to create by our esteemed [in some quarters, but not here] musical Knight!

Know the limits and stick to them. Your hearing is more important than the hubris of any performing musician, or musicians!

ATB from George

> Is it remotely artistic to play live music too loud fr the venue?

Not in my view, but I don't like loud music. The best group I've ever seen live were Planxty and they didn't play very loud, but everybody could hear every note and was transfixed by their performance. 

I don't go to rock concerts these days; the occasional classical or folk performer. 

Rock music sounds better on record to me.

Though I do recall some great concerts from my younger days: 10CC, Grateful Dead, BJH, Can, Tangerine Dream, CCR, ELP, ELO, Fairport with Sandy and Chas & Dave - none were too loud, but that was then. 

Just discovered Planxty.   Found pristine copies of After the Break, Cold Blow and the Rainy Night, and The Well Below the Valley all together in a vinyl bargain bin.   Bought them only because the cover art looked cool.   When I got them home and spinning, I was amazed by what I heard!

Would have loved to have seen them live.  I hope another reunion is in the cards...

Hook