wrote:
Hi. I hope that this group is appropriate for this question.

I was recently at a rock concert and was lucky enough to find a spot
near the stage. The show was great, but too loud. I had a pair of
cheap earplugs that the health department gives out, so I slipped them
in. The music then sounded awful. I noticed the guys in the band used
ear plugs also, but I assume that their plugs didn't diminish sound
quality as much.

Does anyone have any recommendations for a good brand of ear plugs that
will allow me to enjoy the music while not damaging my hearing?

Any of the soft tapered foam plugs will be good, and very comfortable.
For example, item 126337 at http://uk.farnell.com
Best to try a few before buying a big box of them.
The yellow cylindrical foam ones and the silicone rubber mushrooms are
not so comfortable so I don't use them any more.
Etymotic do custom-fit musicians' earplugs with more accurate frequency
response, at a price....

At the last concert I attended I was more worried about my fillings and
the new metalwork in my heart shaking loose. :-)

--
Eiron

No good deed ever goes unpunished.