As an occasional sound board operator and a frequent band follower I have heard the problem from both sides. Bars in our town are quite small and it is difficult to run a sound system for electric instruments, even at minimum levels, and not overwhelm conversation. However, I perceive a lot of the problem to be the publics general belief that volume = talent - or style over substance. My choir teachers and piano teacher always taught that music is not only the notes but the silence between them, and the varying volume of them.
PB