Full Circle Pain
Full Circle Saloon: 8528 Magnolia Ave #105, Santee, CA 92071
Extreme volume and punishing tones don’t just damage ears — they raise tempers
115.8 db — A Weight
Poor mixing isn’t volume—it’s incompetence; excessive volume doesn’t hide a bad mix; 116 dB isn’t power—it’s failure; loud doesn’t mean good
You can’t change a mumpsimus. Evidence means nothing to those committed to being wrong.
Live Music, Pool Balls, and a Decibel Meltdown — When a dB Meter Became the Problem
INCIDENT AT LIVE MUSIC VENUE – OBSERVER ACCOUNT
Paul McClendon, who referred to himself as the house sound man, was present during the incident and immediately aligned himself with the individual who initiated the confrontation. He made no attempt to de-escalate or act professionally. His involvement reflected basic button-pushing and equipment babysitting, not the conduct, judgment, or skill of an actual sound engineer.
This felt like McGuffie’s all over again—failed intimidation and stupidity instead of accountability. If it’s not stolen equipment, it’s silencing people who measure the truth.
An attendee at a local live music venue observed an incident during a band’s performance that raises concerns about how patrons are treated.
The attendee had a handheld decibel meter, used occasionally for personal hearing safety. Earlier in the evening, the meter was briefly shown to the front-of-house engineer in a casual, non-confrontational manner. There was no argument, disruption, or interference with the performance.
During the band’s second set, the attendee was standing toward the back of the room watching the show. At that time, the attendee was not interacting with staff, not pointing the meter at anyone, and not drawing attention. The front-of-house engineer appeared unaware the attendee was even standing behind him.
Despite this, another customer—who appeared to be associated with the engineer—became visibly upset solely because the attendee was holding a decibel meter. The attendee was confronted aggressively and without provocation. The situation escalated unnecessarily.
He demanded I leave my usual comfort zone near sound world and ordered me to move elsewhere, despite me standing calmly and causing no disturbance.
To prevent any further escalation, the attendee chose to leave the venue immediately.
For clarity:
The attendee did not interfere with the performance.
The attendee did not confront staff.
The attendee did not argue with anyone.
The attendee did not provoke the interaction.
The attendee was standing quietly and observing the show.
Being confronted and pressured to leave simply for monitoring sound exposure—without engaging anyone—was inappropriate. Monitoring sound levels for personal hearing safety should not result in intimidation.
Just so it’s clear: professional front-of-house audio engineers always use decibel meters. It’s standard practice for hearing safety and sound quality. Holding a meter isn’t provocation or interference — it’s normal in any serious music environment.
There’s a difference between a music scene and a drinking scene. I know which one I belong in.
— The Collective for Family Justice & Human Rights
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