41 Comments

Yeah, drinks "out," even here in our little midwestern town, have gotten to be upwards of $15. My husband's lifeblood is live music, the louder the better, so we attend a ton of concerts and go to restaurants and bars regularly that have live music locally. It's always kind of bothered me minimally, but I do it because it's so important to him, and we have seen some amazing live shows over the years (we're in our 50s). Now, however, I am partially deaf in both ears for real, I wear heavy duty hearing aids, and I still go. The hearing loss wasn't due to all the music by the way (congenital progressive and in the family, started when I was 45). Maybe it hasn't helped but I always wear ear plugs. Anyway, it DOES bother me to not be able to converse because it's hard for me to converse even when it's quiet! I do get that. The things we do for love....

Also, we have had long-haired cats so the butt situation is not new to me. Again, the things we do for love....

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I was going to say shutting off your hearing aid would be the perfect solution, but that would completely shut off all conversation. There's no perfect solution. I hope your husband thanks your profusely. Your cats, too.

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They are all very appreciative! As well they should be! ;-)

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Surprisingly, I that really doesn't help that much. You'd think they'd act like earplugs, but they don't.

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This thread is full of bad news. I'm afraid the loud noises won this round.

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Indeed!

Terry I just want to mention that the hubby has seen Rush at least 20 times. I've been with him to a bunch of those. Hubby's all-time fave band. Definitely worth the loud! So glad we saw them while we could.

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Mine as well for almost 40 years now. Only a dozen times for me though. My wife isn't a huge fan (besides Tom Sawyer), but is definitely a good sport.

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I was about to tell you Sabaton is going on US tour in April-May, but I had a feeling you'll get the tickets that way or another. I'm a big fan since long time ago my history teacher used their songs "40:1" and "Uprising" during lessons to picture the events those tracks are about and I have been on three concerts of theirs to date, so I say the show they make is great! Please make a newsletter on the show you are gonna be on. There's more to the history behind the songs - almost every has been covered on the Sabaton History YT channel, with each video focused on telling details of historical events the song's about and story behind its writing. If you can give it some time, I seriously recommend watching.

As for experiencing high noise, my dad and uncle are all for it, which may be why their hearing isn't great anymore (I always take earplugs - it may be blasphemial habit, but I want to hear my favourite music well for years to come).

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I'm glad to hear they put on a good concert. I figured they couldn't disappoint. I'll let you know how it goes. I've watched some of the Sabaton History stuff. It's all highly entertaining. They've found the best possible niche.

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That's right, plus Indy Neidell is (inter)national treasure. I could listen to him for a really long time.

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Mar 4
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Thanks for that!

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We also have a 16 year old deaf dog with long hair and umm we can relate. Same way about live music, and no way I would pay bar prices for any drink. Can’t imagine why you would be going out for “entertainment “ with your highly entertaining kids and menagerie right there at home. Maybe it was actually quieter at the distillery, and smelled better? Next time consider a thermos of hot chocolate, a parking spot with a view, and viewing city lights or stars or something with Lola in the car?

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Your suggestions are all superior to what we actually did. This place was within spitting distance of my house and has been under construction for the better part of a year. Curiosity got the better of me.

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I'm the same way, can't stand it loud. On top of which, I have Meneire's disease, which makes my left ear extremely sensitive. I always carry earplugs. No more concerts for me, sadly.

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That's a cheaper way to go through life. Concert prices are out of control. Not the Sabaton one, though. I think it was forty bucks.

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my son likes them.

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"Poop boulders" made me snort. We call them the more genteel "cling-ons" in our house.

I helped throw a 90th surprise birthday party, and the first request from people was for the band to turn the volume down so people could converse normally. As someone pointed out, "this is not a concert!"

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Can bands turn the volume down?! I assumed there was some kind of default volume when making music live. If they're being loud by choice, I'm going to get indignant. Well, more indignant than I already am.

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Feeling the sound waves is one of the (few) benefits of live music. With earplugs in, of course!

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As one suffering from a bit of a hearing loss, the last thing I want is music so loud you can't hear anyone talk or have a conversation. My class 50th class reunion committee thankfully voted down having a live band - songs from the 60's on CDs in a decent volume was just the ticket. We old folks figured it would be hard enough to carry on a decent conversation with someone we'd forgotten without having music so loud it would be impossible to figure out who they were. "Huh?" and "what?" would have been most of the dialog.

We are surrounded with so many loud noises that it is a wonder we have any hearing left. We can't go to an IMAX movie because the volume just literally hurts our ears. And I use closed caption on the TV rather than turning up the volume. And, the kid across the street with that ridiculously loud stereo rattling his car and shaking the foundations of all the houses on our street is my late-night clock. I always know when it's 12:30, his curfew time.

Our cat gets those butt clingers and even though she hates baths, that's the only thing we can do because she is so traumatized she sits still enough that a pair of disposable gloves and the water manage the grossness of removing them. Cat urine smell is notoriously hideous and even though you think you've cleaned the spot, the smell still stays in the plywood board under the carpet (for years) or in the grooves of the hardwood. And with cats, inappropriate peeing and pooping means there is probably a kidney problem which never has a good ending.

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Cars that shake the house are the worse. Sometimes they do it from half a block away while speeding down a different street. What must that sound like inside the car? You'd think it would rattle their teeth out. My condolences on your cat's butt clingers. I have to imagine dealing with a cat in that situation is even harder than a very old and mellow dog. He couldn't claw me if he wanted to.

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I hate live music. We always eat fast when we see the band collecting up front. For my last concert (about 15 years ago), I actually lost a portion of my hearing because I took out my earplugs. Haven't been back to one since. It's just not worth it, even with earplugs.

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I didn't realize hearing loss from concerts were so common. I'm glad I'm not the only one who runs away from restaurants when live music is involved.

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What? I can't hear you. But then I always bring earplugs.

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You were a few steps ahead of me. I'm a slow learner.

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I don’t know which is worse — poop boulders or eardrum splitting music.

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Let's call them tied for being equally awful.

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My first official rock concert was Metallica on their black album tour in 1992 (yes, I’m old). They had just started doing articles about premature hearing loss, especially from concerts, so my parents wisely invested in earplugs for us. I wear them to all concerts, so am less deaf in my 40s than many of my friends. I did the bar scene some when I was younger, but there wasn’t as much live music as you’d expect in Fort Worth, TX outside of Billy Bob’s. I did, however, spend my 29th birthday at Pete’s Piano Bar. It was before I moved to TX, was here visiting a friend and decided that it would be a great place to spend my birthday. I did not have my trusty earplugs with me. Big mistake. Dueling pianos + booze can lead to permanent hearing damage, especially with repeated exposure. I haven’t been back for this very reason. I still wear earplugs at concerts. It’s just nice not to have ringing, fuzzy ears when it’s over.

On a related note, another environment that is actually very loud but in a more subtle way is on an airplane. Several years ago, a friend told me that wearing earplugs would not only help with the painful ear blocks I sometimes get with rapid pressure changes, but that I would also feel less jet lagged without all the extra decibels. He was right. Also has the added benefit of making the screaming baby whose ears hurt more tolerable.

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I never thought of planes being loud. I'll try ear plugs next time and see if it makes a difference. Your Metallica experience makes me want to take ear plugs to Sabaton, too. Can't be too careful.

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I have a very fluffy Keeshond, I have a sanitary cut around his rear end so if he ever had diarrhea it does not cling to his fur

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A wise preventative measure. I try to do the same if I remember. This time, I did not.

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You absolutely said it best: God bless Aldi's!!

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We unexpected lost our cat, Karma, on Sunday, I wish I could cut poop dangles off her behind. The price we pay as pet parents is knowing they won’t outlive us. We just get love in return. Well, she was my cat so maybe loves when she felt like it.

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Sorry for your loss😢!

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Lake of the Ozarks? You'll only be about a 1:30 drive north of me. Shame you won't be closer. I'd buy you and Lola a couple of drinks.

Even restaurants without live music have gotten pretty loud, much less with assault bands.

I saw Elton at the beginning of his farewell tour (with earplugs). He was phenomenal!

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It was a fun concert. I remember he had two Eastern European guys in his band who played rock violin. That was my favorite part.

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Saaaammme. I'm 37 so it feels blasphemous to say I don't enjoy live music but really, I rarely want to hear any music outside of my home or car. Soft instrumental background music that's barely audible is the only exception.

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But have you ever had a $50 shot of bourbon? I have. And I now have three bottles, two of which cost less than the shot of the same brand.

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