By Nice                                                                    
April 14, 2009 4:34 PM
I guess we are the “Live Music Capital of The World*”
*=live music not included.
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By Deanna                                                                                                                                           
April 14, 2009 4:41 PM |
How sad. :-(
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By Wes                                                                                                                                           
April 14, 2009 4:41 PM |
Live Music Capitol of the World, huh?
Is this Dallas or Austin? It will be Dallas soon if this nonsense keeps up, if the music is too loud, maybe it is time for you to Move Out…
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By ash                                                                                                                                               
April 14, 2009 4:41 PM |
how can Austin be considered the live music capital and then create this new ordinance that is costing us our live music? whats next to go…?
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By NSpan                                                                                                                                            
April 14, 2009 4:43 PM |
sad
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By Joe                                                                                                                                            
April 14, 2009 4:44 PM |
Good. Glad you shut down. You never followed the city rules anyway. Dont let the door hit you on the way out.
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By contemplativefrog                                                                                                                        
April 14, 2009 4:44 PM |
Perhaps the City Council should consider a variance procedure whereby the 70 decibel limit could be waived with the support of the immediately surrounding community…. This variance procedure could be limited to noise in primarily residential communities (i.e., exclude entertainment districts which are probably subject to different restrictions anyway). A verified petition of supportive neighbors and a rubber stamp is all that would be required. If the ambient sound of the restaurant was already approaching the noise violation limit, the limit is simply too low.
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By Mark
April 14, 2009 4:48 PM |
Keep Austin weird WOOOOO!!!
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By George
April 14, 2009 4:50 PM |
“Live Music Capital of the World”. This proclamation has NEVER been true and it’s time for the Chamber of Commerce to withdraw the stupid slogan once and for all. Also, Club Deville can no longer have live music past midnight because the condos across the street (remember the ones who wouldn’t cause a problem because there was a noise clause written into their contracts?) wasted no time in calling the police to complain…and we all know who APD is going to side with, every time. Gotta love the hypocrisy of it all. I’ll be dwelling on that as thousands of Republicans teabag themselves tomorrow head-******* into the butt of yet another huge joke at their own expense.
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By southside
April 14, 2009 4:52 PM |
Welcome to the Live Music Capital of the World!
Would somebody people tell these Johnnie-Dallas’ and Cali-folk that when you move to this town, especially downtown and south Austin, you need to expect and accept crowds, loud music at all hours, and revelry. We don’t have strong neighborhood associations/rules in the city and we like to keep it that way!
….But wait, the City Council is on their side (again).
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By Janis
April 14, 2009 5:01 PM |
Why don’t we hear more about this in the news before this happens? If the people of Austin had a say in the vote we could stil enjoy or music.
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By Bummed
April 14, 2009 5:08 PM |
A vocal few spoil it for the many. Selfishness and narcissism at its finest!
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By rob
April 14, 2009 5:09 PM |
That sucks! Austin is supposed to be the live music capital yet they keep harassing venues.
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By whoa
April 14, 2009 5:11 PM |
Let’s just go back to the way it was before. Shut down the music venues and bring back the the prostitutes and drug dealers!
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By Michael
April 14, 2009 5:14 PM |
What this blurb fails to mention is that the base noise level the officers took without any music playing was 67dB. I have also heard that the 70dB limit was only recently established (the previous level was 85). I don’t blame the APD for enforcing the laws we give them. The city council needs to make it a priority to re-examine this foolish noise ordinance before it destroys a vital part of Austin.
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By mary
April 14, 2009 5:14 PM |
Please don’t tell me the Travis Heights Nazis have expanded their so-called anti-aestheic incluence to South First! And of course, City Clowncil & APD will bow to their demands once again!
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By Bob
April 14, 2009 5:16 PM |
The article isn’t very informative. What time was the warning issued? Has Freddie’s ever received any warnings or complaints in the past? What kind of neighborhood is Freddie’s in? Was Freddie’s booking music before the residents came or vice
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By A Texan
April 14, 2009 5:17 PM |
How sad for Austin, it’s a shame to see things heading in the dirrection they appear to be.
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By Beth
April 14, 2009 5:17 PM |
Great. 200 musicians just lost their jobs. Does anybody in City Hall realize that the noise ordinance is causing unemployment? Moreover, do they care?
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By Mike H
April 14, 2009 5:19 PM |
Another victim of the Au$tin City Council selling out this town’s heritage for idiots who think an urban, central area of a large city isn’t supposed to be noisy. These people should be made to live in the downtown of a really big city to see what real noise is. Getting these urban posers to GTFO and take their complaints with them would be a start.
Alternatively, the people who made Austin a place worth living in could wake up and vote the idiots running this town out of office.
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By mss
April 14, 2009 5:20 PM |
@southside We aren’t from California or Dallas and we were here long before the noise and crowds (since 1974). No one should “expect…loud music at all hours” much less accept it. We’re just ordinary working people who have to get ourselves and our kids up early in the morning to go to work and school.
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By EastAustinite
April 14, 2009 5:23 PM |
Looks like the old crotchety hippies in South Austin aren’t quite as “hip” as they used to be. Here’s a hint: take out your hearing aids and the live music everyone else enjoys won’t bother you anymore.
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By TravelingTex
April 14, 2009 5:24 PM |
This is absurd, and the news (to me) about Club DeVille is infuriating. Freddie’s was hardly head-banging metal rock (note the toddler approaching the stage). I wonder which Johnny-come-lately complained. I’m a residence owner within three blocks of Freddie’s, and I don’t know any new condo developments/ McMansion owners who would complain.
Over on Congress, Botticelli’s, that noted venue for wild music, is already tip-toeing below the 70-db limit. Artists are constantly double-checking from the stage, and management has a db-meter handy that they’re using constantly. That venue was reported by the owners of a new bed-n-breakfast called the Kimber Modern on Circle Drive, right behind Botticelli’s (and 10K Villages, etc.) They moved into S. Austin to take advantage of the scene, and promptly disrupted the very scene that they’re advertising.
Back to Club DeVille: what about the clause in their contracts that “we understand there’s live music in this neighborhood, and promise not to complain…” Are the whiners actually residents, or the mysterious California Investors who don’t live there, anyway?
While we can’t blame the uniformed authorities for merely enforcing this stupid law (the F.D. has to respond to crowd complaints, etc.), we need to hammer City Council to pull their heads out of their posteriors.
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By deko
April 14, 2009 5:26 PM |
A chart here:
http://www.gcaudio.com/resources/howtos/loudness.html
Shows the decibel level for a normal concversation to be 60-70 db.
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By Brad
April 14, 2009 5:28 PM |
what’s wrong with just monitoring it and keeping it between 60-70 decibels? why does it have to be so loud? Freddie’s isn’t on 6th street, its surrounded by residential. obviously the owner wants to get people riled up about the 70 decibel restriction by canceling all shows, and not just lower the volume and live within the restrictions. My god, the horror of not having music blaring all the time.
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By TravelingTex
April 14, 2009 5:31 PM |
@mss: If you didn’t complain about Freddie’s noise, then you have the right to protest “loud music at all hours” - that assertion is exaggeratedly out of place, and illegal as well.
If you’ve truly lived in Freddie’s neighborhood since 1974, you’re not still putting kids to bed and getting them off to school, so that’s exaggeratedly out of place as well. (Running a child-care facility? Can we check your license?)
If you complained about Freddie’s noise, then you should move, NOW, to the nursing home. There’s more noise in rush-hour traffic at S. First and, say, Annie, then there was coming from Freddie’s patio.
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By Phillippe LaVere
April 14, 2009 5:31 PM |
For all the people who commented on just how horrible this travesty is, I would like to know one thing: How many of you went to the Austin Music Commission’s open discussion of the NEW NOISE ORDINANCE at Momo’s almost 2 years ago? How many of you attended a single meeting of the so-called “Live Music Task Force” over the past year? How many of you were aware that the push to change the noise ordinance started over 2 years ago? No one? Well, that is just the way THEY want it. I tried to warn people this was coming….
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By spam
April 14, 2009 5:34 PM |
if i was the owner of that place I’d turn it into a sleazy store just to piss of the neighborhood
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By Two Shots and a Chaser
April 14, 2009 5:41 PM |
I’d like to hear what our candidates for mayor has to say about this….. Hint… hint statesman Those three so far have done nothing to impress me for my vote
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By Rob
April 14, 2009 5:43 PM |
Freddie’s should not be the rallying cry for the pro-live music crowd. First, the location is right next to Jovita’s, which has been a live music venue for years and they still play music. So it’s not the uppity neighbors. Second, Freddie’s built the stage outside right next to the creek almost facing the neighborhood and houses. Music blares right into the neighborhood. I was always surprised they got away with that in the first place.
Finally, I don’t think any of the people complaining would be happy if someone opened a restaurant next to them and built an outdoor music stage facing their house. Live music has a place but it’s not outdoors in a residential neighborhood.
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By Austinite
April 14, 2009 5:43 PM |
It’s so sad to see Austin lose so many things that make it special. This is why we love Austin. Keep Austin Weird, not Keep Austin Quiet.
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By Soauman
April 14, 2009 5:43 PM |
The cops do not just show up to test the noise. Someone had to have called and complained….
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By Sondra
April 14, 2009 5:44 PM |
I’ve been there when there was music and while I enjoyed it, I felt for the neighbors who must surely want to enjoy their homes without constant noise intrusion.
That said, why not unplugged, or with a very small amp? I’d love to go to a restaurant with live music and still be able to talk, and that would achieve that goal.
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By Austism
April 14, 2009 5:45 PM |
Did you know it’s been said that the city only has a handful of db meter? Officers coming out to noise complaints more often than not do not have a meter handy.
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By Markie
April 14, 2009 5:55 PM |
Some of the commenters here are ignorant fools who blame the first people they can think of - condo dwellers. If you ignorant fools spent a little time of your day doing something productive instead of blaming people, you might get a grasp on reality. If you had taken part in the sound ordinance task force you’d understand that the folks complaining about loud music are those who live south of the river in Travis Heights, Castle Hill and near Zilker park.
The people who are the enemies of live music in Austin are the old-school homeowners south of the River. Jerks like Jeff Jack, their ring-leader. And pandering city councilers like Mike Martinez and Leffingwell and Laura Morrison. Total tools.
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By Scott Unzicker
April 14, 2009 5:56 PM |
Phillippe LaVere - I was there @ Momo’s. I was even interviewed by News8Austin after grilling Ace about enforcement tactics. I pay my rent making music, and I’ve been consistently extremely vocal about my opposition to anything restricting my ability to make a living. To Brad: Do you realize that a good conversation is around 70db? Having someone singing without a microphone accompanied by an acoustic guitar, again, sans amplifier, will generate far more than 70 db. It is an unrealistic limit, and is an underhanded, officious means to shut down live music in outdoor venues.
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By Josh
April 14, 2009 6:00 PM |
This is sad. The reaction of the management at Freddie’s Place is completely over the top.
Residents were justified in their complaint because the music location is extremely close to their houses. I feel for them.
I like the restaurant and am a frequent patron (the food is good), but their music is played entirely too loud. Most patrons actually moved far away from the stage when the music was playing. The restaurant will continue to prosper economically without music as this may make customers happier.
I feel a better solution would have been to continue the performances, but to just tone down the volume to legal levels. The venue for music is small so it does not need to be very loud for customers to hear. I guess that there is usually a disconnect between the volume at which performers like to hear their music played and the level suitable for the majority of patrons and nearby residents.
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By Lee
April 14, 2009 6:24 PM |
70 decibels is pretty ridiculous - only as loud as a vacuum cleaner? Some petty, crotchety, homeowner must have nothing better to do. Like they didn’t know there was music there when they bought the house? They ought to sell their house and move to the suburbs where it’s a little more quiet and lame.
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By in78756
April 14, 2009 6:40 PM |
What trash. If you have an issue with the music, move! I’m sure there is someone to take your spot in 78704 in a heart beat. Seriously, what trash!
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By Willie
April 14, 2009 6:49 PM |
This is keeping with Obama’s gestapo approach to us. They are taking over and nothing can be done about it because you idiots kept buying into the liberal garbage for years. So enjoy the beginnings of a totalitarian government. It’s here.
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By Michael Corcoran
April 14, 2009 6:53 PM |
Austin did not get its reputation as a live music mecca because of restaurants in residential neighborhoods hosting live music on their patios. That’s just inconsiderate. I live about 100 yards from Romeo’s on Barton Springs, which tried putting bands on the patio. It was so loud I couldn’t even watch TV. I called and said ‘you’ve gotta be kidding’ and was told that the music was up to noise code. Thank goodness it no longer is. Restaurants should focus on food and leave the live music to the clubs the scene is built on.
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By Hugh
April 14, 2009 6:53 PM |
I wonder if we can find out who made the noise complaint.
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By Concerned
April 14, 2009 6:56 PM |
If you move next a bar that has an outside venue, you should expect music to be played outside. Certainly the case of the squeaky wheel ruining it for the rest.
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By Hookem
April 14, 2009 6:59 PM |
Move away from down town if you have a problem with music being played at any level. This is supose to be the Live music capital. That law is so stupid and out dated. Freddies is a great place. It’s sad our outdoor music and even our indoor music is being effected by a few a-holes that live to close to music venues in the live music capital. Move away from down town if you don’t like the music HECK LEAVE AUSTIN
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By Matt
April 14, 2009 7:06 PM |
Can I have some cheese with that whining? Move to Round Rock!!
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By stephen
April 14, 2009 7:07 PM |
What a joke……Austin Tx ,the ultimate liberal utopia.
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By TravelingTex
April 14, 2009 7:07 PM |
@Markie: There are very, very few homes within earshot of Freddie’s Place - there’s a mortuary service next door, then the Glassy Knoll, then the law office/real estate office. Across the creek is the McMansion whose owner abandoned the project, and which is really an eyesore. I walk there - I know.
Second, Fred was NOT “completely over the top” in stopping music. He had just been threatened with continued legal action, including arrest of his employees, and chose not to be harassed by the same crotchety caller. Reasonable call.
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By Amazed At The Stupidity
April 14, 2009 7:08 PM |
To the imbeciles suggesting that homeowners living near Freddie’s shouldn’t have purchased homes knowing there was music nearby … exactly how long do you think Freddie’s has been at this location? Would you have us all believe the venue was there long before the homes or residents of this area? And to those who ASSUME the residents aren’t from Austin or must be so old they belong in nursing homes, you’re even bigger idiots. If you don’t have all the facts, keep your d**n mouth shut!
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By TravelingTex
April 14, 2009 7:12 PM |
Ooops, sorry on ya, Markie, I meant my last post for Josh. Here’s a response to your post: as I pointed out about Botticelli’s problems earlier in this thread, that complaint source is definitely a single, new business. However, the Club DeVille situation is apparently a result of condo complaints. And in Freddie’s case, it’s apparently a single, disgruntled caller; we’ll never know if that person is a homeowner or not. (And there’s no excuse whatsoever for a renter to complain about music - you CHOSE to live there.) There’s plenty of blame to go around.
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By SOUTHPARK MEADOWS
April 14, 2009 7:15 PM |
These residents were obviously not there when Southpark Meadows was a place to go to see live music, not to buy CDs. You are right on Nice. Live Music Capital of the World, just don’t turn it up too loud.
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By most don't live in austin
April 14, 2009 7:20 PM |
I’ll bet most of the people posting on here don’t even live in Austin….
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By Jimi
April 14, 2009 7:21 PM |
As long as the music doesnt go on during very late hours (after 10pm on weekdays, midnight on weekends), I dont see what the problem is. Sounds like the person that called the cops on them has nothing better to do with their life than to take away the fun of others. Sad, pathetic life they must live. 6:55pm on a Friday? Seriously? YOU ARE PATHETIC!
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By redamber
April 14, 2009 7:26 PM |
Reading this has ruined my day. My boyfriend and I moved into the neighborhood about a year ago…pretty much right behind Freddie’s. One of the biggest selling points for us was being able to listen to live music from our front and back porches. We moved here to get away from the HOA rules and whiners about this and about that…we love the eclectic, anything goes vibe.
Being so close to Freddie’s, I happen to know it’s never that loud and the music is always family friendly and tame,plus they end by 9 0r 10pm every night…just hangin’ out music. We can close our doors and barely hear it…the rooster down the street is much louder! Why do you move downtown, expecting it to be like the suburbs? Its silly and selfish. We embrace it.
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By michelle
April 14, 2009 7:37 PM |
This is horse hockey. I’ve driven past clubs downtown that were blasting WAAAYY above 85 decibels - and yes, I was sober - I was driving a cab. And don’t even get me started on ACL. Somebody obviously has a hard-on for Freddie’s.
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By michelle
April 14, 2009 7:41 PM |
And why would you BUY a house right next to a restaurant or club in Austin? What does that say about the buyer?
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By lolo
April 14, 2009 7:45 PM |
The problem is bands are too loud. Otis Rush could destroy crowds with a small fender amp and no PA. If Austin bands could write songs with more melody and more pop, more acoustics, more tone, volume wouldn’t be necessary. When I go out to eat, a nice jazz band playing is fine. Today’s arena rock wannabe band is built around pure volume. Musicians need to study the discernable 60’s music and ditch 500 watt amps and hi-gain pedals. Link Wray could light up the town without the ear tearing and head pounding and leave you feeling like you really rocked. Basically: adapt to todays stage which is 70db and you’ll get all the gig’s.
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By Jon
April 14, 2009 7:55 PM |
Just move the venue’s to Highland Mall. That way nobody will care at all! Who care’s about DECIBIL LIMIT’S at THUG CITY MALL?
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By John
April 14, 2009 8:01 PM |
I have a beautiful condo downtown that I paid a large amount of money for. I moved here from California to get some normalcy, and as soon as I moved in, it’s like a rock band is in my bedroom on the weekends. My partner and I have difficulty having our quiet quality time together, and our little kitty seems to be stressed by all the noise. I’m glad to see the city cracking down on these hooligan hippies so they can take their music out to the boondocks where it won’t bother well-to-do folks like me.
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By Tom Jones
April 14, 2009 8:08 PM |
I’d like to know the name of the woman from southern california that called ADP 26 times to complain.
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By Yolanda Delgado
April 14, 2009 8:09 PM |
To Phillippe LaVere and Scott Unzicker-keep speaking truth to power and spread the word about “The Hustle for Mayor” event at Mohawk, 912 Red River on April 21 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Lee Leffingwell and Brewster McCracken will be present to answer questions. It’s easier to complain than to actually show up, speak up and see what happens. Come on! How much more do we want to lose?
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By Tom Jones
April 14, 2009 8:21 PM |
I’d like to know the name of the woman from california that called APD 26 times to complain.
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By mk
April 14, 2009 8:39 PM |
Freddie’s is no great loss. They have almost no parking - you’re lucky if you find a place your first time around the lot, and crossing S. 1st to the lot across the road is iffy at times and I’m not even sure you’re supposed to park there. I’ve had issues with the food several times. Last time I was there the chicken fried steak was chicken fried tennis shoe AND they forgot the rest of my food. They didn’t charge me for it when I brought it up to them which was fair, but that was only after having to go looking for the waitress.
Other than that I’m all about the music scene. It’s crappy restaurants I can’t stand.
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By local
April 14, 2009 8:51 PM |
lol all of you “relax or move to the suburbs” types. how many of you have a residence that’s right next to a place playing outdoor music?
crickets
thought so.
not that i want to stop all live music here, but it’s very easy to be strident when someone else is shouldering all the burden.
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By jandean61
April 14, 2009 8:54 PM |
AUSTIN TX IS A DISSAPOINTMENT !!!!!! IM GOING BACK TO FL ! GO GATORS!!!!!!!
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By BT
April 14, 2009 9:13 PM |
I found this website, maybe this guy can help Freddie’s: www.austinbuildingpermits.com
I agree with one of the posts above, there should be a variance procedure where if the surrounding owners w/in say 300 ft sign a petition stating they do not mind 85 DB music, then staff administratively approves music permit. sounds simple to me…..
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By The Hungry Texan
April 14, 2009 9:21 PM |
Damn. Sorry Fred, I thought your place was really cool.
This is EXACTLY why I moved to Bastrop County. Hell, we can still smoke in most bars. Austin continues to run all the people out who made it so cool in the first place.
RIP you yuppie jerks.
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By roos
April 14, 2009 9:28 PM |
This is ridiculous. The city council needs to get off their rear ends and fix this problem.
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By Bee
April 14, 2009 9:34 PM |
How can you be the live music capitol without live music? LOL Who put the old people in charge?
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By Bee
April 14, 2009 9:38 PM |
First the backyard now this. Who wants another shopping center?
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By Freddie's Neighbor
April 14, 2009 9:41 PM |
There isnt a single resident in this area who lives closer than I do to freddies - I can tell you that the 85dB music was never at all a bother. In fact, I loved sitting out on my patio/deck/etc and listen to the music there. To be honest, while Ive never personally met Fred - I can fully say that his venue certainly never bothered me. If I didnt want to hear the music, I would shut the door and the windows and it was barely a whisper. I dont know how many times Ive been worken up at 1am from Jovitas propping the door open to their main music area blairing music out into the surrounding neighborhood - to me, thats the larger problem.
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By katlyn
April 14, 2009 9:57 PM |
The thing is people move into areas that have existing live music venues. They then complain about it and get things like this shut down. If you are a person who does not like the noise then DONT MOVE THERE!!!! I dont know how long freddies place has been around, and this may not be true in this case, but it’s happening. People move next to places that have big events, or near an entertainment district, and then complain. It is silly.
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By Deanna
April 14, 2009 9:59 PM |
SXSW should threaten the city. Pulling SXSW would cost Austin millions
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By lopic
April 14, 2009 10:05 PM |
This is complete crap. You people are destroying Austin.
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By Phillippe LaVere
April 14, 2009 10:10 PM |
Scott - You and I are in the minority. Prior to the event at Momo’s, I sent out over 200 emails (all to people I actually know, most of whom have some direct relation to the music business in Austin)to try and rally people against the planned Noise Ordinance change. I was only able to get 2 people to respond. People I spoke to about the issue, were generally apathetic. Most said “they’ll never stop music in Austin”. But everything turned out as I feared - the new Noise Ordinance was passed (in part, due to the smokescreen of the Live Music Task Force), which cut the allowable volume by 50% (as I pointed out at Momo’s, 70db is HALF of the previous allowable volume of 80 - 85db), and as the real estate people and developers have hoped for years, they are killing the music business in Austin, so that they can get rid of those ugly clubs, and build more beautiful condos. I wish I had been wrong, but I wasn’t….
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By Paul
April 14, 2009 10:11 PM |
Boo Austin! This is a dog-friendly, music friendly, food-friendly locale. Perhaps, as the Joker said in the Batman movie, “this town needs an enema!”
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By Jon
April 14, 2009 10:22 PM |
I used my vacuum cleaner at 7:01pm. Since I used same past the hour, it was seized by WILCO with the assistance of a SWAT TEAM. My poor Hoover was all shot up.John Bradley said this was OK, since Jimmy Fennel is now in custody. One Adam 12, see the man, code 2!
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By Kim
April 14, 2009 10:23 PM |
This is truly ridiculous! I think they should go and knock on the doors of everyone mowing their lawn around there and tell them they are in violation of the noise ordinance.
Something REALLY must be done about all of this.
How is it that a few grouchy people can ruin everyone’s fun?
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By duran
April 14, 2009 10:26 PM |
People take out all the fun of things! Just let people be happy, make money and live life!!!!!
By Johann
April 14, 2009 10:29 PM |
Protest idea: Gather a couple hundred folks armed with cordless vacuum clears and cleaners, fifes, and drum and march around City Hall.

Noise rules silence Freddie's live music

Clarified ordinance means restaurants will have a tough time meeting decibel limits.

By Patrick George
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

For Fred Nelson, owner of the South Austin burger and live music mainstay Freddie's Place, Friday was "the day the music died.

"That's when an Austin police officer visited and announced that the music exceeded 70 decibels, the noise limit for restaurants that, though established in the mid-1980s, has not been enforced until recently.

That was a warning. If it happened again, the officer cautioned, the restaurant could incur a $500 fine, and a third offense might lead to arrests, Nelson said.

So Freddie's won't have live music anymore. The restaurant immediately canceled 83 bookings through the rest of the year.

"I can't put my staff at risk of being arrested," Nelson said.

According to city ordinance, restaurants like Freddie's cannot have live music that exceeds 70 decibels. At downtown outdoor music venues, the limit is 85 decibels.

Eighty-five decibels is equivalent to the noise from a diesel truck or lawn mower. The typical vacuum cleaner puts out about 70 decibels, according to the National Institutes of Health. Normal conversation is 50 to 65 decibels. Prolonged exposure to anything above 85 decibels can cause gradual hearing loss, federal officials say.

Nelson said that in two decades of operating restaurants in Austin, he has always been held to the 85-decibel limit — until Friday.

"It's ridiculous. I'm talking to you right now at 70 decibels," Nelson said. Having an ordinance that requires 70 decibels "precludes having live music," he said.

There has been confusion in recent years over which decibel level applied to restaurants, leading the Austin City Council to clarify the situation in February.

"The 70-decibel requirement has actually been on the books for more than two decades — since 1986," Council Member Mike Martinez said in a statement. "Our action in February brought all of the relevant sound requirements to one place within our City Code so that there would be better understanding."

Freddie's, which is on South First Street and backs up to West Bouldin Creek, had live music — featuring mostly local and up-and-coming acts — three or four times a week, ending about 9 p.m., Nelson said. Music was piped through speakers inside the restaurant instead of through large amps blaring from the stage, and Freddie's did not book bands with huge drum kits, he said.

The Police Department has received seven complaints about noise at Freddie's since Feb. 26, including a call at 6:55 p.m. Friday that prompted the visit from an officer, spokeswoman Anna Sabana said. The Friday caller asked that officers return the call and provide a decibel reading from the restaurant.

According to department records, police did not issue a citation because the business owner told police the band would stop playing.

Martinez promised to return to the noise issue in hopes of preserving Austin's reputation for live music.

"Recent enforcement of the 70 decibel limit for restaurants has hit some folks hard, and our efforts to seek clarity and consistency were never intended to shut down music," Martinez said. "In the coming days, I am going to be doing all that I can to help provide affected restaurant venues with options and information so we can ensure live music stays integral to the fabric of Austin."

Joel Self, manager of Güero's Taco Bar on South Congress Avenue, said he's aware of the recent enforcement of the 70-decibel rule. His restaurant hasn't been cited, and although music there usually exceeds 70 decibels, Self said the restaurant always tries to keep it under 85.

"The noise of the crowd and the garden is over 70," Self said. "We do try to keep it as low as we can."

He also said there is more of a buffer zone between Güero's and residential areas than at Freddie's Place.

Nelson said he hopes the city can find a solution that pleases neighborhoods but also allows live music to thrive.

"I think the city will find itself between a rock and a hard place," Nelson said. "I don't know if they can turn it around, but I hope they will."

From Yoko's blog.....

ACROSS THE UNIVERSE

At midnight GMT (7pm EST) on the night of Monday 4th February, The Beatles' song Across the Universe will be the first ever to be beamed directly into space, NASA said.

Join us by listening to the song at the same time:

Feb 4th 03.00pm Anchorage
Feb 4th 04.00pm Los Angeles
Feb 4th 05.00pm Guatemala
Feb 4th 06.00pm Chicago
Feb 4th 07.00pm New York
Feb 4th 07.00pm Montreal
Feb 4th 08.00pm Rio de Janeiro
Feb 4th 11.00pm Reykjavik
Feb 5th 12.00am Liverpool & London
Feb 5th 01.00am Europe
Feb 5th 02.00am Baghdad
Feb 5th 03.00am Moscow
Feb 5th 04.00am Karachi
Feb 5th 05.00am Dhaka
Feb 5th 06.00am Bangkok
Feb 5th 07.00am Shanghai
Feb 5th 08.00am Tokyo
Feb 5th 09.00am Sydney
Feb 5th 10.00am Vladivostok
Feb 5th 11.00am Suva
Feb 5th 12.00am Auckland
Feb 5th 01.00am Kiritimati

The transmission of the song over NASA's Deep Space Network will mark the 40th anniversary of the day the band recorded the song. The song will be aimed at the North Star, Polaris, 431 light years away from Earth, and it will travel across the universe at a speed of 186,000 miles per second, NASA said.

In a message to the space agency, Sir Paul McCartney said: "Amazing! Well done, NASA! Send my love to the aliens. All the best, Paul". Yoko Ono added: "I see this as the beginning of the new age in which we will communicate with billions of planets across the universe."

Fans have been invited to participate in the event by playing the song around the world at midnight GMT on Monday night - the same time it will be transmitted by NASA.

The event will also mark 50 years of NASA, 45 years of the Deep Space Network and 50 years since the founding of Explorer 1, the first US satellite. A NASA spokesman said many of the senior scientists and engineers involved in the project were among The Beatles' biggest fans. Dr Barry Geldzahler, the network's programme executive at Nasa Headquarters in Washington, said: "I've been a Beatles fan for 45 years - as long as the Deep Space Network has been around. What a joy, especially considering that Across the Universe is my personal favourite Beatles song."

http://www.nasa.gov/topics/universe/features/across_universe.html


John Lennon on 'Across The Universe' (1980):

The words stand, luckily, by themselves. They were purely inspirational and were given to me as boom! I don't own it, you know; it came through like that. I don't know where it came from, what meter it's in, and I've sat down and looked at it and said, "Can I write another one with this meter?" It's so interesting: (sings) "Words are flying out like endless rain into a paper cup, they slither while they pass, they slip away across the universe."
Such an extraordinary meter... and I can never repeat it!
It's not a matter of craftsmanship; it wrote itself. It drove me out of bed. I didn't want to write it, I was just slightly irritable and I went downstairs and I couldn't get to sleep until I put it on paper, and then I went to sleep. It's like being possessed; like a psychic or a medium.


ACROSS THE UNIVERSE

Words are flying out like endless rain into a paper cup
They slither while they pass, they slip away across the universe
Pools of sorrow waves of joy are drifting thorough my open mind
Possessing and caressing me

Jai guru deva om
Nothing's gonna change my world

Images of broken light which dance before me like a million eyes
That call me on and on across the universe
Thoughts meander like a restless wind inside a letter box
They tumble blindly as they make their way across the universe

Jai guru deva om
Nothing's gonna change my world

Sounds of laughter shades of life are ringing through my open ears
Exciting and inviting me
Limitless undying love which shines around me like a million suns
It calls me on and on across the universe

Jai guru deva om
Nothing's gonna change my world
Jai guru deva


http://www.IMAGINEPEACE.com