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Holy Fucking Shit with the Babies at the Loud Music Shows

By cari || February 10, 2009

“Am I the only one worried about hearing-loss in babies and toddlers?”

Okay, People, I have had it with parents bringing BABIES to shows in BARS where, between the music and the douchebags talking over the music, it is really loud. No earplugs or earmuffs or anything were in evidence and the music, though not remotely balls out cockrock, was of a worrisome decibel level for a BABY clearly under a year old. NOT EVEN A ONE YEAR OLD! Its age is a FRACTION OF A YEAR.

This was the same line-up as the last show with babies present, so it has something to do with the bands playing, but the last show was not nearly this loud. Could you maybe at least put your hands over the baby’s ears when the show starts? Oh no, you can’t because you are holding your baby in one hand and a glass of champagne in the other. I am really hoping you breastfeed that baby because those little guys sure like to get a buzz on. Or you could cut out the middle mammary gland and put some sparkling wine in a bottle.

There were also babies at the Battles show in Central Park, and while that was outdoors and no one’s ears bled, it was loud enough to have to shout a bit to talk to someone next to you. The only time I have been even close to being okay with this sort of thing was the toddler at The Knit wearing studio-sized headphone things that blocked out sound. Am I alone on this? Am I the only one worried about hearing-loss in babies and toddlers? If they grow up with Tinnitus, someone should be punched in the gut.

Christ in a bobsled.

Updates:

4.4.09 Baby Ear Muffs

8.4.09
Another Tragic Example of this Barbaric Practice at the Free July 10th, 2009, Pains of Being Pure of Heart Show at South Street Seaport in Manhattan, NY

Soon to be Deafened Asian Child in a Crappy-Quality Photograph. I was wearing earplugs because I enjoy hearing things.

Use the tent for scale. Please note the large black rectangle in the top left of the also crappy-quality photo. That is the bottom portion of a speaker stack. That poor child is being held just out of frame on the right.