From: utzoo!decvax!cwruecmp!glassner
Newsgroups: net.misc
Title: Loud Music: Why?
Article-I.D.: cwruecmp.526
Posted: Sun Feb 27 16:45:40 1983
Received: Mon Feb 28 00:50:19 1983



Last night we had a north-side dormitory party
here, which was the last big bash before spring
break.  They were serving beer at 25 cents/glass,
free popcorn and stuff, etc.

There was also a live band playing for our dancing
and listening pleasure.  It was a four(?)-piece rock
band: guitar, bass guitar, drums, keyboard/flute person,
and maybe one more.  This party was held in a building
that used to serve as a dining commons, so it was a
large, echoing chamber.

When I walked into the actual party I found the volume
of the band above my pain threshold.  Nevertheless,
the place was absolutely packed, and people were even
holding conversations (or appeared to be).  I got out
quickly to alleviate the pain.

This isn't an isolated phenomenon.  I have found that
a lot of bands have their equipment cranked up really
high, and fairly often it really hurts to be in the same
room!  Several things come to mind when this happens:

	1.  These players are musicians.  Aren't they
	  concerned enough about their own hearing so
	  as not to damage themselves?
	2.  How about the people inside?  Have they
	  become partially deaf through repeated and
	  prolonged subjection to loud music?
	3.  How the heck are they holding conversations?
	  Is it lip-reading, or is there some neat way
	  of tuning into a voice and tuning out loud
	  music that I've never stumbled upon?

This ISN'T a criticism of any kind of music, or anyone's
right to play it as loudly as they want, but an inquiry
into why the heck they do play it as loudly as they do!
You can hear music coming out of some dormitory rooms from
halfway down the street - I can only imagine the sound
level inside must be far above the "common" pain threshold.

Does anyone out there play music regularly at very high
volume levels?  Why?

	Sure, it's nice to FEEL the bass,
	  but not if the treble rips off my face!

	-Andrew