Here’s another perspective on that Nick Cave show.
You’ll note that the reviewer didn’t mention the sound problem. I talked to Science Girl about it this morning; she said that she’d noticed it a little, but not enough to have it dampen her enjoyment of the show.
This leaves me sounding like a bitter old crank. That’s not an inaccurate assessment at all, but what I would point out is that I’m not a bitter old audiophile crank. I don’t really mind crappy sound, as long as I can hear what’s going on. At this particular show, I couldn’t.
Might this be due to the earplugs? It might well be. There was no corresponding problem during Earth’s set, though (which was a lot less loud than I was expecting). Also, as I noted in my review, Mr. Cave did not seem at all pleased by what he was hearing from his monitor. Something wasn’t right, and I’m guessing that it was exacerbated by my earplugs.
Frankly, I hate the damned things. I know that I’m missing part of any show I go to now. On the other hand, going to shows was actually becoming painful, so it’s not entirely a bad trade-off.
I hate earplugs too. It's disheartening to take them out for a few seconds and realize how much they muddy everything. But I have been scared straight by having friends in their 40s with tinnitus. Do not want!
Posted by: Joolie | September 26, 2008 at 08:18 AM
I've had tinnitus since I was 15. It truly does suck.
On the upside, I've ordered some fancy-schmancy musician-style earplugs and will be test-driving them at the My Morning Jacket show on Sunday. Wish me luck.
Posted by: bmarkey | September 26, 2008 at 08:24 AM