[Harp-L] Stupid volumes and egos

[Paul Routledge <kingley@xxxxxxx>]

I went to a rock blues gig last night in a medium sized pub (bar) and  
the volume level was ridiculous.

They had 2 guitarists one had a Fender Deville 4X10 the other had a  
Fender Twin, the harp player had a Fender Super 4X10.
the volume was that loud it actually hurt your ears. Everyone I spoke  
to said that it hurt their ears also, and agreed that it was a stupid  
volume to play at.

So knowing the band I spoke to them in the break and expressed my  
concerns and also told them that if the carry on like this they will  
all be deaf in a few years and that then they be unable to play music  
anymore.
The reaction was "Yeah we know!" followed by laughter. They then  
proceeded to play a second set which was louder than the first.

Now what I fail to understand is, if you love doing something why  
would you take actions that risk you having to stop doing what you love?
Why do musicians particularly  guitarists seem unable to maintain the  
power of reason once and amplifier is switched on?
Could it be that the circuits give out some kind of frequency that  
inhibits that part of the brain?
Or is it as I suspect the fact that it's an ego thing and somehow  
replaces any inadequacies that they may feel?

Is it just me or are so many so called musicians hell bent on  
destroying their hearing?
Is the penchant for using big amps in small - medium sized bars a  
particularly British thing or is it the same the world over?
I mean why a 60 - 100 Watt amp when a 5 -15 Watt amp will do the job  
far, far better in that size venue?

Answers on a postcard please to:
The Ego Idiots
Deaf Street
Hard of Hearing Town
Intellectually Challenged County
The World of Guitarists