Remember to take earplugs to concerts

I haven’t been to a show without earplugs since 1991. I get the cheap yellow foam earplugs. They work great.

I have a theory that sound guys are all nearly deaf, especially in the upper frequencies. So when you’re wearing earplugs you’re actually hearing what the sound guy is hearing. Without earplugs everything sounds too trebly and harsh.

My friend Reggie got me hooked on earplugs. We play in bands together, but prior to meeting up it had never occured to me to wear earplugs and play. Well, it makes even more sense to wear them going to concerts. I’ve got a custom pair of fitted earplugs (about $100) that I use sometimes—but most the time I just bring those orange foam jobbies. In fact, I bought an industrial size box of 200ea. Howard Leight Maz NRR33 earplugs for $22.75 plus shipping and they sit by the door for when I’m headed out to a show.

It actually improves the sound at shows by cutting out a lot of the harsher high end. And your ears never ring after a show. Truly rockin!

Earplugs, by the way, are great to bring on trips when you’re sleeping in noisy or new areas. I sleep like a baby in NYC (and no, that doesn’t mean I wake up every 2 hours crying).