I used to review music for a large newspaper here in the U.S. and there were some performances that did cause physical pain. Peter Tosh and Joan Armatrading come immediately to mind. When you feel a searing pain in your ears and sinuses and your solar plexus is pounding with the bass, the sound might be a smidge loud. And this is a problem if you're being reviewed. A general rule of mine is that if I have to put down my pen and notebook so I can put both fingers in my ears, the review is not going to be splendid.

I credit (debit) a few such concerts with being the reason I now have to say "What?" a lot.

There used to be a kid who lived down the block from me and I could tell when he was leaving or coming home because I could sit inside my house with the windows closed and FEEL the bass on his car's sound system as he drove by. That was about ten years ago. I'm certain that guy has absolutely no hearing left now.

And == addressing a comment above, I don't think anyone said ALL sound guys are louts. AS in any other population, there are good 'uns and bad 'uns. As I understand the Mudcat, we get to discuss fearlessly the whole spectrum.

WW