The day the music (almost) died
Sara Gregory
Issue date: 10/14/09 Section: The Edge
If you thought this line from "American Pie" was just a metaphor for the change in music style inherent of the 60s and 70s, think again. For many Western Illinois students, the music died last Sunday during a Master of Business Administration fundraiser.
The event titled "Fall Freakout," hosted at 321 Normal St., featured four bands amplified by AMPT Live. The event was intended to provide music for the community and an environment for music business students to actively learn.
Although the organization had planned the event for months, obtained a noise permit for the occasion and notified the neighbors of the upcoming show, someone called in a noise complaint. If you were anywhere near campus Sunday night you know why; it was a wicked loud show.
However, this magical noise permit does not protect a location from noise complaints, because the coppers still showed up partway through this fundraiser to view the permit and immediately fine the house a one hundred dollar ticket.
What is the point of a noise permit if it cannot protect an event from noise? One line in the permit allows for police to still fine a location if given a noise complaint. This is an obvious case of a small loophole in a system that ends up hurting the people it claims to protect.
The marching band doesn't get noise complaints; I know when I lived in Corbin back in the day I sure as hell wanted to call a noise complaint just so I could take an afternoon nap. The difference there is that the noise happens on school property.
So if that's the case, that events can only be protected on school property, why didn't anyone say so? The organization could have made a decent profit if they didn't need to reimburse the noise complaint.
I understand tickets to prevent wild drinking, angry noise and reckless behavior. But here we have a bunch of students stone sober supporting local music, just too loudly. Last I checked we're in college, not a library.
If the music had continued the house could have potentially been fined one hundred dollars for each call. Most of the crowd left, including community members and parents.
Little did the copper know that as he wrote up the house ticket, the local band Storefront Lawyers broke down their electric set and grabbed their acoustic gear to sneak the concert indoors.
The remaining music supporters sang and danced along as the band acoustically rocked the house. Somehow the true spirit of music prevailed this night over the very strong urge to turn up the volume from seven to 11 just to piss off the neighbors. It was spectacular.
As the band belted "I Shot the Sheriff," I realized it was more refreshing than a stiff drink to hear great acoustic music uniting an audience, yet I demand another show… but this time on campus, so the whole town can hear.
The event titled "Fall Freakout," hosted at 321 Normal St., featured four bands amplified by AMPT Live. The event was intended to provide music for the community and an environment for music business students to actively learn.
Although the organization had planned the event for months, obtained a noise permit for the occasion and notified the neighbors of the upcoming show, someone called in a noise complaint. If you were anywhere near campus Sunday night you know why; it was a wicked loud show.
However, this magical noise permit does not protect a location from noise complaints, because the coppers still showed up partway through this fundraiser to view the permit and immediately fine the house a one hundred dollar ticket.
What is the point of a noise permit if it cannot protect an event from noise? One line in the permit allows for police to still fine a location if given a noise complaint. This is an obvious case of a small loophole in a system that ends up hurting the people it claims to protect.
The marching band doesn't get noise complaints; I know when I lived in Corbin back in the day I sure as hell wanted to call a noise complaint just so I could take an afternoon nap. The difference there is that the noise happens on school property.
So if that's the case, that events can only be protected on school property, why didn't anyone say so? The organization could have made a decent profit if they didn't need to reimburse the noise complaint.
I understand tickets to prevent wild drinking, angry noise and reckless behavior. But here we have a bunch of students stone sober supporting local music, just too loudly. Last I checked we're in college, not a library.
If the music had continued the house could have potentially been fined one hundred dollars for each call. Most of the crowd left, including community members and parents.
Little did the copper know that as he wrote up the house ticket, the local band Storefront Lawyers broke down their electric set and grabbed their acoustic gear to sneak the concert indoors.
The remaining music supporters sang and danced along as the band acoustically rocked the house. Somehow the true spirit of music prevailed this night over the very strong urge to turn up the volume from seven to 11 just to piss off the neighbors. It was spectacular.
As the band belted "I Shot the Sheriff," I realized it was more refreshing than a stiff drink to hear great acoustic music uniting an audience, yet I demand another show… but this time on campus, so the whole town can hear.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Wetzel 12!
Wetzel12!
posted 10/14/09 @ 12:02 PM CST
Dude!
Think about it; by your own description "Wicked loud" those guys were inviting a visit from local PD. Just because have have a permit doesn't mean you get to crank it to 11 no matter what. (Continued…)
AJD
posted 10/14/09 @ 12:47 PM CST
On one hand, I agree with the author of this article that if someone gets a "noise permit" and neighbors are notified, there shouldn't have been a problem and I applaud any activity put on by students that doesn't include wild, reckless drinking and behavior. (Continued…)
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