[pbhjpbhj]

>does anyone know why so many bars with live acts crank the volume up //

I'm going to go with the roadie who did the sound check is hard of hearing through standing next to big speakers and using loud music on in-ear phones; they set the level and then boost it to allow for the crowd.

Some people don't like to listen to music they like to feel it - if it's not giving you the disturbing feeling you're having palpitations then it's not loud enough! Discos for the deaf are like this apparently.