Where possible I get as close to the stage as possible and rarely use earplugs. When I played I usually played too loud and used a plug in my left ear only. My biggest problem besides tinnitus is using headphones. They're top line Grado headphones and the sound is incredible, they nearly reintroduce you to music you've heard for years.

On the loudness levels, U2 has excellent sound for all the arena gigs. Elvis Costello who I've seen at least 5 times can be really loud for his rocking tunes. At the end of the show EC stands at the foot of the stage and does 2 songs a cappella with the crowd completely silently waiting for Elvis to start a sing a long. Peter Gabriel's live show sounds really good. Steve Earle plays loud. Lindsey Buckingham sounds incredible, no screw ups by his sound team