[Closed] When a gig is really loud!

Saw Frank Turner at the O2 Leicester earlier this year. Up on the balcony at the front level with the speaker stack. 48 hours of obviously knackered hearing and I sadly suspect some long term effects (always had a bit of a whistle but now more noticeable).

Makes me feel old, but I think earplugs are in order next gig I go to...

What like AC/DC at Newcastle Arena 1996? That loud?
My ears are still ringing.

Protect your ears. tinnitus that you get after gigs is a sign of damage - you will end up like me with noise damage deafness and permanent tinnitus. Its not nice. Use earplugs please

I saw Swans a few years ago at the Marble factory in Bristol, everyone had ear plugs, being a hardened gig goer I ignored everyone until they started playing....then luckily found some tissue paper in my pocket that I rolled up and put into my ears.

Mogwai at SWG3 destroyed mine- basically take a normal, brutally loud mogwai show then squeeze it into a venue 1/4 the size made entirely out of concrete. I could almost feel the bolts in my hip vibrating loose.

(Therapy and the Wildhearts 2 nights in a row with slipknot's soundman had that beat but only because that was basically 4 rounds)

I've got some custom made ear plugs for DJ's. Thet were not cheap but are brilliant if I go to a rave, or gig. Very small and reduce the sound to non dangerous levels without affecting bass or sound quality. If your ears are ringing permanet damage is occuring.

@scratch $WAN$ OMG! yeah. Probably the loudest gig I've ever been at. Definitely the loudest in a small venue with a low ceiling anyway. Around 1991/2 Edinburgh Venue. Saw a guy who'd been right by the speakers who's ears were actually bleeding. Mental loud! Good though.
Didn't realise they were even still going. If the band isn't all deaf by now get whatever ear plugs they use.

Mogwai at SWG3 destroyed mine- basically take a normal, brutally loud

Yup, enjoyably suffered their sonic attack at SSE Hydro last year. I didn’t wear ear plugs, but don’t think they would have helped...

I think you can get universal fit plugs now on amazon although I am not sure. Think they are cheap now. Mine knock something like 30db's off the level. Not sure if they look alright though. If you can get away from the music at a rave give your ears a break every now and again. I appreciate its's hard to do this at a gig

found these

I’ve used docs pro plugs when gigging/clubbing for years, best I’ve found for discrete use that aren’t very expensive

I've been using "musicians" ear plugs at gigs for about 5 years now, just knock enough off the sound to make things comfortable. No more ringing ears and in some ways they improve the sound overall. I think it's about 20-30db they take off across the range.

Always carry these to events and pop them in when needed.

I damaged my right ear years ago and anything too loud make it crackle.

Surefire

Yep, earplugs for me too nowadays.
I wouldn't worry about trying to hide it, I'm a confident adult after all.

Makes the sound more enjoyable, loudest gig recently was Elektrikal at Belladrum - clothes flapping around in the bass 🙂 Was much better with plugs taking the edge off.

My old man is miserable with tinnitus at 68 now (work rather than gigs...) It's hard to appreciate how bad an effect tinnitus can have until you see it happening to someone.
Very hard to 'fix'.

Been to a few loud gigs over the years. AC/DC and Iron Maiden are always pretty loud, Nickelback were seriously loud, but overall, Motorhead took the cake.

1000x less noise reaching your ears and it still sounds alright. Maybe they should just turn it down a bit... 😉

Yep earplugs now for me too.

The Monday morning after the Orkney Rock festival this year it was so bad that eating my toast at breakfast was bloody LOUD!!!! 😆

tinnitus that you get after clubs is a sign of damage – you will end up like my wife with noise damage deafness and permanent tinnitus

You’ve met my wife then.

20yrs clubbing near bass bins has taken its toll.

We’re not far off lip reading and sign language.. certainly heading that way.😳👽

Judas Priest @ Donny for me - my god that made me lugholes hurt!

Dinosaur Jnr at Sub89 Reading a few years ago, loudest gig I’ve ever been to, last year though they were definitely quieter in same venue, to my ears anyway...

Sunn O))) have been compared to a jumbo jet on full throttle. Saw them at Islington mill in Salford a tiny venue with low ceilings. They were giving out earplugs on the door. Cracking gig though.

Motorhead, Hammersmith Odeon, 1982. I was in the second row and as soon as they came on we jumped over the seats and were leaning up against the stage, so close that it felt like your eyebrows were being singed when the smoke bombs went off.

had a few that were so loud it hurt, bobbie gillespie responsible for a couple.....

firstly jesus and mary chain back in the day, maybe not the loudest but the feedback made me cover my ears with my hands in places.
then few years later primal scream during the xtrmntr tour, manis bass was making my insides vibrate.

Daft Punk live 2007 , like being in a giant MRI scanner & quite excellent. Goodbye hearing, hello tinnitus.

Slade in 72 were the loudest by quite a margin. I rolled up bits of tissue and stuffed them as far into my ears as they'd go. Louder than a cranked Fender Bassbreaker 45 head through a 4x12 cab in my living room.

These days I use -20bd plugs whether spectating or on stage. I detest high stage volumes, a heavy handed drummer I can just about live with but one guitarist I've palyed with seems to think his Vox only sounds any good with the master at 10 on a tiny stage when I'm trying to sing in tune and unable to hear the monitor bins.

Edit: For those thinking it's loud up against the stage, that's the quiet bit unlees the band are relying on their own kit for the whole hall. Most places have a PA system and the musicians keep the stage volume down. Those stacks behind the musicians are often empty, they'll be one cab for each of the instruments and some monitors for the singers so everyone can hear themselves and a mic'ed up cabs somewhere that might not even be on the stage but around the back somewhere the tech bods can get the sound of each guitar the way they want it. When I use a modelling guitar amp I use the XLR to plug straight into the PA and use one of the cab models in the amp to simulate the colour the speaker gives the sound

Edit no longer times out so long as you start before 15 mins, good. 🙂

Easily loudest for me was Death Grips couple of years ago. It caused physical pain. I lasted 30 mins then said (well, I gestured) to my mate I was going to have to move to the back. Just as I did, they finished anyway. Intense.

Yeah, saw Death Grips at Colston Hall a few years ago, loud, and there was no f'ing way i was getting involved in that pit, they played with the lights up for the duration.

MBV are meant to be incredibly loud, I've never seen them though and have probably missed my chance.

Also, is it an unwritten rule that all support have to play at 7/8, then the headline always play at 11?

Just very rare that the support get a decent enough soundcheck to play at decent volume

then few years later primal scream during the xtrmntr tour, manis bass was making my insides vibrate.

Was that at the Ritz in Manchester by any chance, sadexpunk? I was at that gig and it was without doubt the loudest I've ever been too. It was like being assaulted by a wall of noise! I couldn't hear properly for days.

Another one was Massive Attack Mezzanine tour at the Apollo. Not just for the volume, but the low rumbling bass. It was absolutely riduculous! you could feel your ribcage vibrating. Quite a lot of people passed out because of it. Apparently it can interfere with your heartrate when its that deep.

No personal experience, but I had these recommended by a reliable source.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B077MKWRJT/

Mogwai at SWG3 destroyed mine

Mogwai at the Colston Hall earlier this year was one of the loudest I've been to for a while, and I'd forgotten my earplugs. Lots of shouting in the car on the way home.

Pink Floyd 1971 Sheffield City Hall. 4 rows back. My ears felt like fluid was running out of them.

Clinging to the bottom of the mic stands at a couple of Fugazi shows hasn't done me lug 'oles much good 😲

Was that at the Ritz in Manchester by any chance, sadexpunk?

no mate, rock city nottingham. probably the same tour tho.

Another one was Massive Attack Mezzanine tour at the Apollo. Not just for the volume, but the low rumbling bass. It was absolutely riduculous! you could feel your ribcage vibrating. Quite a lot of people passed out because of it. Apparently it can interfere with your heartrate when its that deep.

i can well imagine that!

It was the XTRMNTR tour mate, so definitely the same one. Nice to see they went with the same wall of noise aproach everywhere. The Manchester gig was the last night of the tour - Mani's homecoming. Absolutely bloody brilliant gig, but my god it was ludicrously loud!

With the Massive Attack gig,imagine listening to this with volume and the bass on an enormous sound system all turned up to eleven. I looked at my wife and said "are you ok?" just as her eyes rolled up and she blacked out. Another girl passed out just by the side of us. It was mental! This is the track that did it. It was actually painful!

"Disaster Area was a plutonium rock band from the Gagrakacka Mind Zones and was generally regarded as not only the loudest rock band in the Galaxy, but also as being the loudest noise of any kind at all. Regular concert goers judged that the best sound balance was usually to be heard from within large concrete bunkers some thirty-seven miles away from the stage, whilst the musicians themselves played their instruments by remote control from within a heavily insulated spaceship which stayed in orbit around the planet - or more frequently around a completely different planet.

"Their songs are on the whole very simple and mostly follow the familiar theme of boy-being meets girl-being beneath silvery moon, which then explodes for no adequately explored reason.

"Many worlds have now banned their act altogether, sometimes for artistic reasons, but most commonly because the band's public address system contravenes local strategic arms limitations treaties."

We’re just heading out to a Thea Gilmore gig tonight. I doubt earplugs will be required. Middle age does have its advantages. We’re even going for a pre-gig meal as opposed to the usual kebab at Hunters. Have a good night you lot! 🙂

MBV are meant to be incredibly loud,

Saw them BITD and at London and Manchster on their comeback tour 10 years ago, they'd got much louder in the intervening years. My ears are still ringing from the Mcr gig now.

Went to far too many loud gigs and clubs in the past, really wish I'd tried earplugs but never got round to it. Gigs tended to be the worst offenders, IMO, maybe 'cos you didn't have the same macho aspect of moar loudness=better at clubs?

Saw Suicide supporting The Stooges (hell yeah!) at Hammersmith, they may not have been the absolute loudest but my god it felt like it.
It was like they were filling up all the frequencies all the time, a literal (OK figurative) wall-of-noise.
Feedback rock used to be my genre of choice but this was like nothing I'd ever heard before.

Saw Suicide supporting The Stooges
Wow, what year??

Wow, what year??

I could say it was 1977, but I'd only have been five so it wouldn't be very credible.

2010 probably.

Both were right up there in the "reformed acts who've still REALLY got it" stakes.

Grand Slam at Golddiggers in Chippenham, I think 1984, (the band split up in ‘85, Phil Lynette died January ‘86), I was stood in front of the speaker stack on the right of the stage taking photos, I couldn’t make up my mind whether to put my fingers in my ears or carry on shooting, it was painfully loud. I still have the ringing in my ears...
I’ve used earplugs pretty much ever since, either the little yellow foam ones, or triple-flanged silicon, and more recently ones like those Cougar linked to, mine are by Rooth, via Massdrop promotions. Wouldn’t be without them these days.

Went to see From the Jam in Newcastle a couple of weeks ago. They were great, but thought that they would have been better if they'd turned it down from 11. Maybe I'm just getting old...

Stupid question... But why is it always so loud? Surely they could notch it down a level?

I promoted the first Dillinger Valve sound system event in Liverpool in the early noughties, my eyeballs were rattling as I was writing out the guest list, which looked like it had been written by a spider. One of the mc's ears started bleeding and bits of the ceiling fell down. And I was wearing ear plugs.

Loudest I've ever endured was Leftfield in Brixton 1996 & then My Bloody Valentine at the roundhouse ,around 10 years ago maybe... Holy crikey-PARDON.
Good though. I also saw the Wildhearts several times - they were brutal too.

Mogwai at SWG3 destroyed mine- basically take a normal, brutally loud mogwai show then squeeze it into a venue 1/4 the size made entirely out of concrete. I could almost feel the bolts in my hip vibrating loose.

They were pretty loud in Leeds a couple of weeks ago.

Loudest one I’ve been to would’ve been MBV at the Apollo about ten years ago. I thought my fillings were coming out.

Sunn O))) in Islington Mill??? My my, heaven and hell crushed into a singularity! 😀

LCD Soundsystem, Ritz, 2005/6. Sounded like every driver in every box was about to explode, but in an amazing way. Always had loud tinnitus but for a week I thought it was going to be ten times worse - kinda felt it would be worth it! (It got better)

As a sound engineer and an audiologist, ear plugs are a good idea. Custom moulded ones should be so comfy you don't notice them and reduce level to safety. Reason to have loud room and plugs is the neurotransmitter release from high levels of bass, literally makes you feel good (unless you have a psychological aversion to loud sounds, then you won't enjoy it!). Plugs mean you can achieve that without the overall sound being dogsh*t.

Tinnitus /probably/ means permanent damage, but in a cumulative and often incremental way. Best not to worry if you've already experienced some as the "cure for tinnitus" (it's not possible from what we know of what it is) is essentially to recondition one's response when noticing it to not give a toss. Mine is always there, it's only really gig levels that can mask it, but having it from childhood means I don't mind it. Wouldn't like it to get much worse, but am prepared to Zen through that as it comes

Tinnitus /probably/ means permanent damage, but in a cumulative and often incremental way

Think my tinnitus has got worse incrementally after years of gig going. But I definitely blame Hookworms at Gorilla for making it more permanently noticeable. I can switch it off when I'm preoccupied, but it can be quite annoying at night.

My Bloody Valentine at the roundhouse

I was at that one, but we'd got quite drunk beforehand which must have distracted me a bit.

Loudest one I’ve been to would’ve been MBV at the Apollo about ten years ago

Yes that was the gig I referenced above, my wife walked out IIRC. Glad we were in the dress circle.

Stupid question… But why is it always so loud? Surely they could notch it down a level?

Because more of anything is obviously better. And because the sound man is deaf.

Also the sound is dependant on how full the room is, if it's not a sell out then a good sound engineer should turn around and check whether the empty venue at the back is reflecting the noise back

the ramones @ cambridge corn exchange

Stupid question… But why is it always so loud?

Because gigs where the sound is not loud enough are ruined by the ignorant ****ing morons who stand around chatting about crap all the way through the set.
Brighton Dome is never loud enough and I had a full on row with 2 pricks who just seemed to be there to talk about problems getting a babysitter for little Tarquin and why their Miele tumble dryer was playing up.
The louder the better. Although, you do then get those willing to SHOUT to hear each other’s ****ty conversation rather than pissing off to the bar, like they should.

The two gigs that did for my hearing were both at Brixton Academy. LCD Soundsystem and TV on the Radio (second was bad enough i left early).

Slowdive at Reading University in '92 rendered me unable to stand up.

Also Motorhead in 1982, at Southampton Gaumont, it was so loud I couldn't tell one song from another, thank God I was not near the PA stack...ringing in my ears for days afterwards. One of the best gigs i've been too, they played so fast and tight.

Pixies at Newcastle Uni in 89 (I think) was earsplittingly good. The Wedding Present are the most regular culprits for ringing ears, but in fairness that's not just their thrashing guitars but the fact I've seen them about 30 times now (odd, because all the songs sound the same?)

It has to be loud so that your ribcage is in mortal danger. The loudness is an almost undesirable side effect, I'm seeing plugs more frequently and I've never had comments or looks to suggest I'm other than a proper gig going man.

I'd heard Dinosaur Jr was going to be loud but their recent Sub 89 was perfectly listenable without plugs. Still very good, mind.

The rollercoaster tour with my bloody valentine and Jesus and Mary chain was pretty loud as I recall

Sleigh bells at Manchester a few years ago. There's just two of them, and a wall of Marshalls. My ears were ringing for days after. I'm sure I've got hearing damage been to so many gigs.

As mentioned already, Primal Scream on the Xtrmnatr tour - very loud. Ride re-touring Nowhere a couple of years ago - even louder and the recent MBV tour louder still.

Because gigs where the sound is not loud enough are ruined by the ignorant **** morons who stand around chatting about crap all the way through the set.
Brighton Dome is never loud enough and I had a full on row with 2 pricks who just seemed to be there to talk about problems getting a babysitter for little Tarquin and why their Miele tumble dryer was playing up.
The louder the better. Although, you do then get those willing to SHOUT to hear each other’s ****ty conversation rather than pissing off to the bar, like they should.

Too bloody true.

Some very cool cats on this thread!
🙂

Because gigs where the sound is not loud enough are ruined by the ignorant **** morons who stand around chatting about crap all the way through the set.
Brighton Dome is never loud enough and I had a full on row with 2 pricks who just seemed to be there to talk about problems getting a babysitter for little Tarquin and why their Miele tumble dryer was playing up.
The louder the better. Although, you do then get those willing to SHOUT to hear each other’s ****ty conversation rather than pissing off to the bar, like they should.

I’m sure there was a story about the ‘Gwai taking offence at this in the early days, and playing louder and louder until everyone in the crowd left.

Motorhead, Hammersmith Odeon 1985 or 1986, was pretty loud.

Also, UFO at Exeter Uni 1981

Slayer/Lamb of God/Anthrax/Obituary 4 weeks ago at Manchester arena was bloody loud. My ears stopped ringing after 3 days ,my eldest son (13) faired a bit better and stopped after 2.
Cracking gig though!😁🤘

That reminds me of one of junior's gigs, ratherbeintobbago. Madame found the volume levels unbearable so went outside to find a significant and growing proportion of the audience hanging around. Clubs in France are suposed to keep the PA below 102db average IIRC but there's not a lot they can do when the band has a good drummer and 1kw of amps on stage.

Louder the gig worse the band I generally find

I'm playing a 1 watt marshall at rehearsals and gigs (quite loud enough thank you) - too quiet? - assume I'm playing exactly the correct part I have always done

Louder the gig worse the band I generally find

No correlation whatsoever in my experience. Or the opposite - as previously, too quiet and it's ruined by chatter.

$WAN$ OMG! yeah. Probably the loudest gig I’ve ever been at. Definitely the loudest in a small venue with a low ceiling anyway. Around 1991/2 Edinburgh Venue.

Glad I'm not the only one, Newcastle Riverside on (probably) that tour, still to this day the loudest gig I've ever been too.

No correlation whatsoever in my experience. Or the opposite – as previously, too quiet and it’s ruined by chatter.

Hi Dez,

Try in future not replying to my posts - lovely

as previously, too quiet and it’s ruined by chatter.

I tend to find the chatter increases as the volume goes up. When it's sensible levels, the chatter gets noticed and people soon tell the offenders to shut up.

I find most gigs require ear plugs. I have found many too loud with ear plugs and just have to leave. It becomes annoying forking out a lot of money and then not being able to enjoy the music for fear of losing your hearing.

And as many people have said - ring ears is sign of damage.

Try in future not replying to my posts

Ok, I'll just think they're bollocks in my head.
Like, from now.
cheers