Moby concert and ear damage?

anyone who goes to these type concerts without professional ear protection is just plain crazy.

One of the worst concert experiences I had was seeing a pop show and an acoustic-specific venue. The show was Flaming Lips opening for Beck. I went to see Beck, because I'd seen him previously outdoors and loved his charismatic performance (I enjoy his music). Didn't know the Flaming Lips and they're definitely not my style. The venue was Benaroya Hall, which is the Seattle Symphony's relatively new concert hall known for its outstanding acoustics for unamplified music. Well, these guys came with amplification up the wazoo. I seldom walk out on concerts or films, but this was one of those rare exceptions. The music was so loud it hurt. I went back in when Beck came out doing mostly solo acoustic guitar stuff, but he used the same amplification and I couldn't even make out the lyrics he was singing. I walked out again. Truly awful! I cannot imagine enjoyment with or without earplugs. I think the hall sounded horrible with amplification - I see the symphony there and indeed it is otherwise a wonderful acoustic space. I totally gave up on big ticket concerts since then. A few other bad experiences, both indoor and out. I see no reason to drop any money at all, much less what they're asking to see shows like this, on a presentation that I'd otherwise get far more enjoyment from listening to the same artist's CD on my system. I agree that risking your hearing on 100+db sustained anything is just plain stupid. I don't know how renewable your hearing is once damaged this way...it may come back, but I wonder if it is really the same. Regardless, it's not worth it to me. I really enjoy my five senses and would prefer to keep doing so as long as I'm around. I currently suffer from mild tinnitus, which I speculate may be from too many years of riding motorcycles without ear plugs (I always wear earplugs when I ride now).

If the ear is resisting sounds, it will sustain permanent damage much quicker than a relaxed ear. When we tense up and resist sounds, that is like tensing when falling - makes for a greater impact. At least, this is what my audiologist told me. I had some tinnitus a number of years ago and the doctor told me to wear earplugs when sleeping, never drive with the windows down (that compression thing Theo talked about), and try to relax when exposed to loud sounds. I have done all these things religiously for 10 years and, believe it or not, my tinnitus is almost gone.

I've been told this is not possible but it's happened to me. The Dr. said we need to rest and relax our ears just like our eyes when we close them. Trick is to get the foam earplugs set deep and tight. Took me 3 months to get that right.

Jax2,
You obviously neglected one of my favorite senses, the sense of humor. So make that six

You obviously neglected one of my favorite senses, the sense of humor. So make that six

Good point. I usually don't miss that one. Probably have some lingering obstacle jammed firmly up the Hershey Highway stopping the otherwise uninhibited flow of BS. Now I know where that missing The Perch™ went to! Six it is then!