So... concerts

[BathorysGraveland2]

I know what you mean about not hearing shit. I remember going to an Eluveitie concert on a metal cruise and only being able to hear about half the instruments. In that case, the song was pretty much ruined for me, since they need all of their instruments to get the sound you want to hear. From these experiences, I've pretty much learned not to attend concerts if I'm not already a major fan who knows most of the songs. Live concerts can be a pretty lousy place to introduce yourself to new bands, especially in the US, where the tech staff tend to all be volunteers rather than professionals (at least according to a journalist I met on the cruise).

Do yourself a favour and get some hearing protection. As I said, I forgot mine back in the hotel when I saw Nile, but from what I've been told, it balances the sound out greatly so that you can hear everything. The stuff I've got is Etymotic high fidelity earplugs, which is what I was recommended by many people as being among the best (it isn't expensive either). I haven't yet had the pleasure of seeing a band with them, but hey, can't hurt trying.

 

[RaikuFA]

As others have said, it's about the artist, the performance and the atmosphere. It's also about the songs sometimes not really sounding all that much like what they do on the recording.

I'm going to have to say that if you don't see the appeal of concerts (especially in saying that listening to the same songs at home gives you a better experience) then you most have been exclusively to some really shitty concerts. I've been to a bunch of concerts and I don't regret for a moment seeing even the bad ones. And I'd call the best concerts I've been to absolutely sublime experiences that will stay with me for the rest of my days.

Like I said, only one I've seen was Green Day, who just stood there doing jackshit. Plus stuck in the nosebleeds didn't help.

 

[sageoftruth]

I know what you mean about not hearing shit. I remember going to an Eluveitie concert on a metal cruise and only being able to hear about half the instruments. In that case, the song was pretty much ruined for me, since they need all of their instruments to get the sound you want to hear. From these experiences, I've pretty much learned not to attend concerts if I'm not already a major fan who knows most of the songs. Live concerts can be a pretty lousy place to introduce yourself to new bands, especially in the US, where the tech staff tend to all be volunteers rather than professionals (at least according to a journalist I met on the cruise).

Do yourself a favour and get some hearing protection. As I said, I forgot mine back in the hotel when I saw Nile, but from what I've been told, it balances the sound out greatly so that you can hear everything. The stuff I've got is Etymotic high fidelity earplugs, which is what I was recommended by many people as being among the best (it isn't expensive either). I haven't yet had the pleasure of seeing a band with them, but hey, can't hurt trying.

Cool. I've never heard of these. They sound useful.

 

[sageoftruth]

Reading a bunch of the comments, it seems like a major deciding factor is whether or not you enjoy being in a crowd of strangers who like the same stuff you do. It makes perfect sense to me. There are times when I have been able to break the barrier of discomfort and mingle with strangers, and it was pretty sweet. Sadly, if I'm on the other end of the barrier, then I'm pretty miserable, and the discomfort barrier at concerts can be pretty tough to break.