WmAx said:
... But I probably have irational expectations...
I don't think so. If you do, so do I. A lot has to do with what type of music one goes to see.
I grew up in the late 60's/early 70's and concert venues were realistic sizes, such as the Fillmore East, Capitol Theatre and Asbury Park's Convention Hall. The first two were basically converted movie theaters.
The sound in these was fairly well engineered and dida pretty good job of covering the hall. Not bad for the primitive sound systems. All right, it could get a little racus at times (Bonnie & Delaney @ APCH come to mind) but on the whole they did a pretty good job.
Then, the groups started getting greedier, the venues got bigger and, before you knew it, we had stadium rock to deal with. Lotsa watts. Lotsa speakers. Lotsa noise. ...and look, there's somebody on the stage. Who is is? Pass me the binoculars.
This is just about when I gave up these types of concerts and I was outgrowing this music anyway.
I started doing the jazz and classical scene. Here, and in NY, there are a myriad of small, intimate jazz clubs that use minimal amplification and the classical scene can be had in converted movie theatres. There, only one mic is amplified and that's for the MC to announce whatever it is he needs to announce.
Rock? Yeah, you can still go to a few clubs anf get instant tinnitus but, if one chooses that type of music, that's one of the occupational hazards. Buy earplugs. The speakers up front have to play loud enough for the peoiple in the cheap seats.
If good sound is what you want, then he's right. He should simply buy the CD 'cause the concert ain't gonna sound like anything you expect.
See ya @ The Count BAsie Theatre in Red Bank or the Irridium in NYC...