I'm only an occasional gig-goer but I've yet to resort to earplugs. A mate of mine who's a regular, and veteran of 100s of gigs wears earplugs as a matter of course. Neither of us are spring chickens, but neither are we old enough to have 'fought in the punk wars'.

I'd say Wire are usually 'loud enough', such that you're rarely troubled by the ignorant geezer behind you who insists on talking through the whole thing. But rarely too loud such that you worry about the impact on your hearing (although Harpooned at Leeds's Brudenell Social Club a couple of years back was immense).

I'd say, take a pair of plugs along with you as a precaution, and use as your condition dictates. And enjoy the show - they're on cracking form.

I don't know what size the venue is - but the past three times I have seen Wire in recent years they have always been very loud - if it is a small venue I would take along the ear plugs as a precaution, better safe than sorry.

I usually have a pair with me these days just in case. I've got some musicians earplugs from a Music Shop that don't block out the frequencies too much so you don't get too much of a muffled sound. . I haven't needed them for Wire who are usually loud, but pleasantly loud and doesn't feel like it's doing any harm, but everyone's ears and tolerance is different. I usually find them necessary for support bands who have invited their mate to mix the sound badly for them, particularly when they've got a bad vocalist who insists on having his mic up way too loud..or if My Bloody Valentine are playing.

I always bring ear protection but rarely need to use it. I learned my lesson way back in 77, 78 ? when I saw the Misfits open for the Damned. Last time was Lou Reed's Metal Machine Music as performed by Zeitkrazer- an all acoustic full orchestra version.
You won't need it for WIRE shows. They're loud but not overbearingly so.