Feature / One Question Interviews
The Bigger Empty

Words: Loren • August 8, 2017

The Bigger Empty
The Bigger Empty

Mike Felumlee (The Bigger Empty)

SPB: Do you wear earplugs when you play? Why/why not?

Femumlee: Yes, I wear earplugs now, but have just started wearing them over the last couple of years.

This can be taken as a cautionary tale for the young rockers out there. I'm 42 years old and have been actively playing shows and touring since I was 17. For most of those years I did not wear ear plugs. I just couldn't get over how they seemed to kill the fun and had a hard time dealing with how my drums sounded when playing with them in. Fast forward 25 years and now I have significant hearing loss in my left ear, and very bad tinnitus in my right ear and wish I could go back and make my younger self wear the damn ear plugs! I would suggest that anyone playing live rock music frequently go see an Audiologist and get some custom plugs made. The filters on the custom plugs don't make things quite as muffled sounding as the foam earplugs you can buy at the drug store. You can also select how many db of reduction you want/need. The custom plugs are 100% worth the investment and I'll never play without them again!

Loren • August 8, 2017

The Bigger Empty
The Bigger Empty

Related features

Shane Embury

One Question Interviews • April 23, 2025

Shane Embury (Napalm Death, solo) What is it like playing a solo set as an opener for "the Napalm Death" crowd (as compared to a solo set with an unfamiliar audience)? Playing the Dark Sky Burial set, I feel at times is a daunting task but the reception so far … Read more

Dave Eats Mud

One Question Interviews • April 22, 2025

Andrew (Dave Eats Mud - drums) SPB: What’s your favorite ‘90s deep cut in the 3 formats: punk, pop, TV series? Andrew: So many good ‘90s punk deep cuts to choose from, but I'll go with 88 Fingers Louie's "Something I Don't Know" off their album Behind Bars. ‘90s pop … Read more

Allegedly Records

One Question Interviews • April 21, 2025

Bree (Allegedly Records) SPB:Do you accept demos? What is the most surprising demo you’ve received? Bree: We do accept demos! Since Amy is on the west coast and I'm on the east coast, this is a great way for us to listen to bands in other areas of the country … Read more

Chuck Ragan

Fly fishing tour guide

Interviews / Don't Quit Your Day Job • April 14, 2025

How an artist spends their time by day will influence the creative process at night. In Don’t Quit Your Day Job, Scene Point Blank looks at how musicians split their time, and how their careers influence their music (or how their music provides escape). In this edition, we caught up … Read more

Jumalvauhti

One Question Interviews • March 27, 2025

Kalle (Jumalvauhti – bass) SPB: Who is your favorite band/artist from the 2000-2010 era? Kalle: It's hard to say, but Destiny's Child definitely can't go wrong.  Read more

Related news

1QI: The Feederz, Tomber Lever, The Bigger Empty

Posted in Bands on August 26, 2017

The Bigger Empty to release on La Escalera

Posted in Labels on February 8, 2017

More from this section

Shane Embury

One Question Interviews • April 23, 2025

Shane Embury (Napalm Death, solo) What is it like playing a solo set as an opener for "the Napalm Death" crowd (as compared to a solo set with an unfamiliar audience)? Playing the Dark Sky Burial set, I feel at times is a daunting task but the reception so far … Read more

Dave Eats Mud

One Question Interviews • April 22, 2025

Andrew (Dave Eats Mud - drums) SPB: What’s your favorite ‘90s deep cut in the 3 formats: punk, pop, TV series? Andrew: So many good ‘90s punk deep cuts to choose from, but I'll go with 88 Fingers Louie's "Something I Don't Know" off their album Behind Bars. ‘90s pop … Read more

Allegedly Records

One Question Interviews • April 21, 2025

Bree (Allegedly Records) SPB:Do you accept demos? What is the most surprising demo you’ve received? Bree: We do accept demos! Since Amy is on the west coast and I'm on the east coast, this is a great way for us to listen to bands in other areas of the country … Read more