Once again, we were subjected to "music" so loud it was painful, offensive, auditory assault. The musicians were good. I would have loved their music but I had my fingers in my ears and my arms got tired and my brain got tired of the assault. We walked out between songs; I could not have done it while they were playing because I cannot put my coat on with my fingers in my ears. I knew I was missing much of the music, of the nuances of it but it was too loud to be heard.

It appeared that many were enjoying the music. I wish I could have. I was sitting there wondering if the musicians were contemptibly stupid. I have been told by some of these sorts that "people like it". But they lost two of us Friday night and others, that I know of, prior to that - people who had endured it before and were not going to do that to themselves again.

I have been told by audiologists that I have a "slight hearing loss". I guess others have a BIG hearing loss. I am sad that musicians I would otherwise enjoy are too..... to play their music at a reasonable sound level. Think Jesse Winchester - wonderful music, beautifully played.

Is music meant to be heard? An endurance test?