I live in the UK now, but you're right, both these stories happened when I was living in Brevard County, Florida.
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Let's hear the "cops shut us down" stories
- Thread starter Bob-I
- Start date
The worst part was when her friends backed her up, they didn't say Hey you did the right thing, they said, in actual out loud conversation, dont let them get you down, you were just being hashtag noble
I was 17 and in my first band, with friends from the neighborhood. We were a 3 piece - bass, guitar and drums. No singer yet.
We decided to set up on the front porch of my Mother's house. This was in a suburban neighborhood full of houses and neighbors
as opposed to somewhere rural. Also, it is a predominantly Orthodox Jewish neighborhood and we happened to be playing on Saturday,
which is the Sabbath, so all of my neighbors, their kids, etc were walking around enjoying the day.
We thought we would entertain everyone with our music. I guess they didn't like us because the cops showed up.
We decided to set up on the front porch of my Mother's house. This was in a suburban neighborhood full of houses and neighbors
as opposed to somewhere rural. Also, it is a predominantly Orthodox Jewish neighborhood and we happened to be playing on Saturday,
which is the Sabbath, so all of my neighbors, their kids, etc were walking around enjoying the day.
We thought we would entertain everyone with our music. I guess they didn't like us because the cops showed up.
Pretty much same thing for me but I was fifteen, we were five-piece, and it was the back porch.
I think we all knew what was going to happen, and, it did.
I was playing a biker bar one normal night in about 1980 where a fatal knifing (slit throat actually) occurred right at the front door of the place. The cops showed up all right. ...and it was the end of the festivities for the evening, sure enough.
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A couple of years ago we were practicing at our drummer's house. Our volume was definitely not as loud as our stage volume (which isn't loud at all). We practiced from 7-10 pm on a Wed. nights in a housing development and we adhere to the noise ordinance of the county. At 9 pm, one of my drummer's neighbors (a State Trooper) came in and complained about us playing and proceeded to tell us he detected the smell of alcohol. Now keep in mind we are all between the ages of 45 and 52. I told the cop that we were all over the age of 21 and we were in compliance with the local noise ordinance...and as far I was concerned, he had no reason to complain. He started trying to "throw his weight around" by saying he was going to call troopers who are on duty and alert them that we would be driving impaired. So, I told him to do what he needed (and other assorted comments) and called my 18 year old son to come pick us up. Rehearsal was over but we decided to continue practicing until 10. I have friends who are State and Town Police and respect their service, but this guy was such a jack@% I felt he needed to be "put in his place"!
I was 17 and in a metal band with one of my cousins, we were playing this all-ages venue frequented mostly by 16-20 year olds. We were next to go on, but we got there when the band before us was setting up so we had about 45 minutes to kill. Most of the kids there preferred to stand outside the door and listen so they could look cool and edgy while smoking.
We realized that the audience was mostly outside instead of listening in there, so me and the guitarist (my cousin) found a power outlet on the side of another nearby building, hooked up, and started playing there and then.
Turned out that not only was the building we were plugged into an apartment complex, the police station was about 300 feet down the street. So I saw the cop get in his car turn on his blues and head for us. He told us we had to stop playing because of complaints or he'd have to ticket us.
So we packed up and started to head inside the venue, when my cousin turned around and asked me if I recognize the cop. Turns out the cop was another cousin of ours so we walked back over and had a whole little family reunion, and he apologized for making us stop playing.
We realized that the audience was mostly outside instead of listening in there, so me and the guitarist (my cousin) found a power outlet on the side of another nearby building, hooked up, and started playing there and then.
Turned out that not only was the building we were plugged into an apartment complex, the police station was about 300 feet down the street. So I saw the cop get in his car turn on his blues and head for us. He told us we had to stop playing because of complaints or he'd have to ticket us.
So we packed up and started to head inside the venue, when my cousin turned around and asked me if I recognize the cop. Turns out the cop was another cousin of ours so we walked back over and had a whole little family reunion, and he apologized for making us stop playing.
The blues/rock band I was playing with was hired by the father of a marine returning from an Iraq deployment to play a welcome home party. The house was in a rural area outside Dallas and the homeowner / host had contacted all of his neighbors to let them know what was going on and invited them over. We played our third set started about 11:00. While we we're playing "I shot the Sheriff", the sheriff and a couple of deputies walked up and gave us the finger across the throat signal.
Holy $$$$$ I literally fell out of my chair when I read this.... I knew Florida is predictable, but not that predictable....
My story is a little different. Backyard BBQ with live band at a friend's house. Friend was bandleader of a new Grateful Dead cover band that was debuting that night in his back yard. I wasn't part of the band. Friend/bandleader and I used to play weekly in his garage as a duo, just for fun, and I was there just to hang out and check out the band. I'd brought a bass in case I got invited to sit in for a song or two, but mainly I was just a guest.
Anyway, cops came and shut down the band before they finished their first set, which was really too bad because they were killin' it. (They got shot down in the middle of an epic Shakedown Street, if that means anything to you.) Next thing I know, my buddy finds me in the crowd and says, "Come on -- get your axe: We're on." He's decided that the solution is for the two of us to do a low-volume duo set in lieu of the now-cancelled band. We had never had any intentions of playing out, but suddenly here we were, the main act.
As it turns out, I had just caught myself a good buzz -- I wasn't expecting to have any responsibilities -- so it was quite an adventure trying to get myself set up and ready to go on stage. But we pulled it off, had a great time, and by all accounts played well and saved the day.
Anyway, cops came and shut down the band before they finished their first set, which was really too bad because they were killin' it. (They got shot down in the middle of an epic Shakedown Street, if that means anything to you.) Next thing I know, my buddy finds me in the crowd and says, "Come on -- get your axe: We're on." He's decided that the solution is for the two of us to do a low-volume duo set in lieu of the now-cancelled band. We had never had any intentions of playing out, but suddenly here we were, the main act.
As it turns out, I had just caught myself a good buzz -- I wasn't expecting to have any responsibilities -- so it was quite an adventure trying to get myself set up and ready to go on stage. But we pulled it off, had a great time, and by all accounts played well and saved the day.
Neighbors birthday party and there was a metal band. This party is always HUGE with people camping for the weekend in his field and a stage setup for bands to play on. The next door neighbor is a pastor and this was the first year having a metal band play, usually it's just a classic rock cover band.
Well, the property owner was SMASHED drunk, his wife nowhere to be found and his brother was equally hammered when the cops showed up about 30 minutes before the noise ordinance kicks in. So, his 25 year old MMA fighter niece (SMOKIN HOT BTW) walks up to cops and asks what's up. They said: "we need to speak to the property owner about the noise level" she responded: "well, do you want to talk to the property owner, or someone that is sober? I'm his cousin"
Everyone was laughing their asses off and the cops just told us to keep it down and left. We just broke out the acoustic guitars and jammed by the fire for the rest of the night instead of continuing with the music.
Well, the property owner was SMASHED drunk, his wife nowhere to be found and his brother was equally hammered when the cops showed up about 30 minutes before the noise ordinance kicks in. So, his 25 year old MMA fighter niece (SMOKIN HOT BTW) walks up to cops and asks what's up. They said: "we need to speak to the property owner about the noise level" she responded: "well, do you want to talk to the property owner, or someone that is sober? I'm his cousin"
Everyone was laughing their asses off and the cops just told us to keep it down and left. We just broke out the acoustic guitars and jammed by the fire for the rest of the night instead of continuing with the music.
I might have the earliest evening shut down.
We were doing a 5 till 8 afternoon end of year gig, for the local rugby league club.
We were set up on a stage on the field, playing back to the clubhouse.
Nobody ckecked that the licence for live music only covered inside!
A music lover up the road snitched and two nice police ladies came and shut us down at 7pm.!!!!
The next month I experienced the least consequential shut down:
A private birthday party, midnight scheduled time, shut down at 11.55!
We were doing a 5 till 8 afternoon end of year gig, for the local rugby league club.
We were set up on a stage on the field, playing back to the clubhouse.
Nobody ckecked that the licence for live music only covered inside!
A music lover up the road snitched and two nice police ladies came and shut us down at 7pm.!!!!
The next month I experienced the least consequential shut down:
A private birthday party, midnight scheduled time, shut down at 11.55!
I'm from Pennsylvania. Our liquor industry is governed by a liquor control board (i.e., the PLCB), which is an archaic holdover from when PA's governor experienced all kinds of butthurt right after prohibition was repealed. The PLCB is literally a bunch of old white guys in Indiana, PA. The liquor code is enforced by the PLCE, which is a division of the state police. I'm not anti-cop and don't intend this to turn into a cop bashing thread, but the PLCE are the stereotypical cowboys who power trip after being given a gun and a badge. The PA liquor code has this completely asinine provision that states a licensed establishment can be fined if any audible noise created by a loud speaker can be heard outside of its doors. There is no objective db limit or distance from which audible sound is acceptable. The PLCE will often get a bug up its ass and go around targeting specific bars. The officers will sometimes stand outside a bar, waiting for the door to open due to patron going in or coming out to find a violation. Fines can get pretty hefty, and the PLCB can revoke an establishments liquor license after a couple of times.
I think I was playing a Slovak Club. We were running a relatively small PA - two 2x15s and no bass was in the house. At the end of the second set, there was a rumor that the PLCE was there. Indeed they were. They took us outside, flashed their badges, and said in no uncertain terms that if we continued playing and were found in violation of the noise ordinance (which means we'd pretty much have to magically change the laws of physics due to how absurd the code is written), both the band and all of the present club officers would be arrested. It was funny seeing our guitarist, who is one of the straightest arrows you could meet, being visibly agitated about the officers talking down to us, especially since we weren't just a bunch dumb kids and we were attempting to be as respectful as possible in that situation. I asked the officers that it was my understanding, the PLCB code could be circumvented if the borough institutes its own local noise ordinance (which could actually have an objective db threshold). The officer told me that was not true. Either he didn't know the actual code that he was enforcing or he lied through his teeth to me, because it's spelled out in clear terms in the code that a local noise ordinance supersedes the PLCB code. You don't need a JD to interpret the PLCB code. It's pretty straightforward. One club we used to play worked local politics to get the PLCE off its back. Borough officers generally don't harass clubs over noise ordinances like the PLCE does. If they get a call, they show up as required, and usually just ask that the music is turned down. They don't get into all of the penis waving that the PLCE officers like to do.
We knew we couldn't fight The Man, so we tore down. The club and patrons were incredibly understanding - especially since this isn't the first time they experienced the PLCE's nonsense - and were actually apologetic to us. The club paid us in full, but sadly, I don't think they have live music anymore.
I think I was playing a Slovak Club. We were running a relatively small PA - two 2x15s and no bass was in the house. At the end of the second set, there was a rumor that the PLCE was there. Indeed they were. They took us outside, flashed their badges, and said in no uncertain terms that if we continued playing and were found in violation of the noise ordinance (which means we'd pretty much have to magically change the laws of physics due to how absurd the code is written), both the band and all of the present club officers would be arrested. It was funny seeing our guitarist, who is one of the straightest arrows you could meet, being visibly agitated about the officers talking down to us, especially since we weren't just a bunch dumb kids and we were attempting to be as respectful as possible in that situation. I asked the officers that it was my understanding, the PLCB code could be circumvented if the borough institutes its own local noise ordinance (which could actually have an objective db threshold). The officer told me that was not true. Either he didn't know the actual code that he was enforcing or he lied through his teeth to me, because it's spelled out in clear terms in the code that a local noise ordinance supersedes the PLCB code. You don't need a JD to interpret the PLCB code. It's pretty straightforward. One club we used to play worked local politics to get the PLCE off its back. Borough officers generally don't harass clubs over noise ordinances like the PLCE does. If they get a call, they show up as required, and usually just ask that the music is turned down. They don't get into all of the penis waving that the PLCE officers like to do.
We knew we couldn't fight The Man, so we tore down. The club and patrons were incredibly understanding - especially since this isn't the first time they experienced the PLCE's nonsense - and were actually apologetic to us. The club paid us in full, but sadly, I don't think they have live music anymore.
My brothers and I were playing on our back porch in farm country, ten miles from town. The nearest neighbors were 3/4 of a mile away. No drummer, just one tiny 30 watt bass amp with a 12" speaker, two guitars and two mics run through a Fender Super Reverb. Mom and dad watching TV in the next room.
Sheriff shows up and tells us a neighbor lady complained. From three miles away.
Sheriff shows up and tells us a neighbor lady complained. From three miles away.
As a teenager when practicing in my parents' house, the cops would come almost every time to shut us down. I must say, though, that they were always friendly. I think maybe they liked the music. Later I found out from the widow of the next door neighbor who informed us years after he died that it had been her husband calling the police on us. Also, I found out that as a young man he had been a band director before he went into business for himself. Obviously, he wasn't a rock music fan, though.
I'm a rock fan and love loud music.
I still would not like you practicing full band next door!
There are places to do that where you don't disturb your neighbours ;-) They may want to be able to listen to the song THEY chose on their stereo...
It was only a place where we practiced if we couldn't go to our usual locations It was essentially an emergency practice area. Besides that, even the police would admit they didn't want to make us stop. More often than not, they listened as much as they could and obviously liked it. However, because of that ONE neighbor they had no choice but to shut us down. Everybody was always pleasant and polite to us.
