Oppressive morning bass from Robot Heart and other sounds

[Simoneau]

I was rattled awake by the thump-thump at 4AM on Monday morning. Earplugs had no effect, since I could feel this sound, not just hear it. Since I couldn't sleep, I thought I might as well check out the party. I started walking toward the sound, other bits of the music fading in as I got closer, until I reached the Robot Heart bus parked at the corner of 10:00 and Esplanade facing the man. The music was great, but what stunned me was I started my trek from my trailer at 3:00 and H. This is about as far away from the source as you could be camped in the city. There were a couple hundred people enjoying the music near the bus and likely many others elsewhere. The music was great, but did this need to be the soundtrack to everyone's sunrise in the whole city?

I saw discussion of this on the "NEW Sound Policy for Mutant Vehicles":
http://eplaya.burningman.com/viewtopic.php?f=293&t=53805
It seems similar incidents in the past prompted a new policy, but either I don't understand the way decibels work or the policy was not enforced.

This was the most glaring incident of sound abuse, but there were others. I don't expect (and wouldn't want) strict "quiet hours" or such, but as the dollar cost per decibel continues to fall, do we really want an arms race to the loudest? Did others have similar thoughts? Or am I just getting too crotchety in my old age?

[vargaso]

Too crotchety.

I love the constant heartbeat of music pulsing through BRC. There's no other gathering of humans on earth where you can tear it up 24/7 with unsanctioned fun. I do not want that to stop. Not even the goddamned dubstep, which I hate. I sort of pine for the early days where the playa was totally silent at times. From what I've heard, I wasn't there back then. However, you can't go back, so I say, let it fly.

[Tanzremix]

10:00 was always really loud, shouldn't have really been surprising honestly. It isn't like they were violating the new rules and cruising the city, that's the cutoff point.

[TT120]

I got woke up early every morning by some loud art car all the way out on H street but I figured thats how it was and rolled with it. I dubbed it "the bacon car" cause it must be time to cook some bacon. I love cooking bacon early in the morning.

[CarrieSnarf]

3:00 and H

Holy schnikies! I was about to post some snarky bull about camping further out if you don't want the noise, but I stand corrected by your posted location. I didn't hear/feel this car from my place in the burbs, but damn- that's loud.

All snarking aside, I think there is a reasonable line between expression and safety. We set things on fire- but we also have a line of people marking safe distance for spectators, fire suppression on hand, etc.
If you can't express yourself at less than 100db from 100ft away I think your expression is unsafe to a point where it shouldn't be tolerated by the community, or at the very least shouldn't be inflicted on the entire community (handled by relative loud and quiet zones at regional burns I've enjoyed).

But then again, maybe I'm just getting crotchety too.

[ZaphodBurner]

No, what people are saying here is different than the typical whomp whomp of passing art cars doing what they do.

Some of these were so incredibly loud, it stopped conversation in the camps all around as it passed. It broke moments of immediacy, intimacy and calm and, for perspective, I once recorded on an industrial metal album with song titles such as Cocksucker and Devil Sex. I grew up on Slayer and Metallica. I'm not afraid of loud, but, it didn't even sound good. If your music sucks the sweat off of camel balls, turning it up louder doesn't make it better. I should know.

I heard the one party barge... the word "nigger" more times in about four minutes probably than I've heard in the last year, so loud it was drowning out the much better music going on all around it. I'm not going to run to the Rangers or the DMV or anything, but, it was inconsiderate and offensive. It made me wonder: Somebody can roll by blasting "NIGGER" lyrics at earsplitting volume and it's art. What would happen if, however, somebody stood up with a megaphone and started blaring Dave Duke speeches or just screeching "FAGGOT!" through an equivalent concert PA?

For how long would that amuse Black Rock City? What would be the point?

Being the loudest vehicle on the playa doesn't mean you're cool. It means people can't talk to each other whether they like your music or not, which sort of makes the owner of the system an obnoxious ass.

[Captain]

I was really annoyed by this one art car driving up and down 2:30 one morning blasting music along with some kind of siren at 9:00 am. Then I realized the art car was a rooster, and then I couldn't help but clap my hands, and say "well played camp surly, well played"!

[junglesmacks]

[BurnerSkunk]

Really? Music a mile and a half+ away rattled you awake? How did you get any sleep all week?

[lemur]

[FlyingMonkey]

I rather enjoyed the one out on the playa each morning while I was out collecting moop. Not sure if it was Robot Heart or not but it was much appreciated on my morning walks. I was even gifted a bagel (originally I spelled this beagle which would have been really interesting) that really hit the spot one morning while I stopped to enjoy the music & "FEEL" the bass. On the other hand, the cars roaming the streets all night blasting their music are a different story. Honestly some of their music really sucked IMO(to each their own). I did like seeing the occasional parade of vehicles coming down our street but a few had sound levels that made them more annoying than enjoyable. Such a fine line between being an enjoyable musical experience & "Hey, turn that Sh!^ down".

Overall I liked most of them but a few seemed to be trying to “disturb the peace” during hours when most people were attempting to sleep. I really didn't sleep much so they never bothered me.

[Candybox]

The art car next door arrived back at about 4 AM on Monday blasting full volume. I was torn awake from deep, comfy sleep straight into sudden, searing, jarring, auditory pain. It hurt. It shook. It was memorably horrible.

Somebody must have complained, because they never did it again, and their music was always a decent volume afterwards.

[aknod]

My favorite "wake up" music was the camp at 4:45 and E (Man side) that played Sheena Easton's "Morning Train" at precisely 9am every morning.

[P.Ram]

My favorite "wake up" music was the camp at 4:45 and E (Man side) that played Sheena Easton's "Morning Train" at precisely 9am every morning.

How much did Animal Control pay you to make that statement?

[aknod]

My favorite "wake up" music was the camp at 4:45 and E (Man side) that played Sheena Easton's "Morning Train" at precisely 9am every morning.

How much did Animal Control pay you to make that statement?

Nothing. I just always had the hots for Sheena back in the day.

[Simoneau]

vargaso, junglesmacks, and lemur, you're probably right!

BurnerSkunk, I don't consider myself a light sleeper, on the whole. A source 1.5 miles away was audibly rattling the shelves in my trailer that morning, which is what stunned me. Many people had left, which probably made it easier for the sound to reach me at that distance.

Thanks everyone else as well for weighing in, one way or the other.

I happened to share a plane ride home with a medical volunteer who was camping nearby and had a similar experience. He said he probably wouldn't attend next year unless something is done. People in those positions need rest. Me, I'm not that important!

[CapSmashy]

We were at 4:20 and B and i can not recall having a more quiet and damn near serene burn in my 6 years of going. I'm sure there was loud shit out there, but i never heard it and never had anything music related disturb my sleep.

Maybe we were in some kind of weird vortex zone, but even on burn night, it seemed unusually quiet out on the playa and later back in camp.

[Snow]

I love the noise, don't ever change BRC. I found it awfully quiet this year too.

[theCryptofishist]

I happened to share a plane ride home with a medical volunteer who was camping nearby and had a similar experience. He said he probably wouldn't attend next year unless something is done. People in those positions need rest. Me, I'm not that important!

I don't think that sort of noise would have made much difference to Scott. Many people in EMS thrive on noise and excitement. Adreneline junkies through and through...
Just my instant reaction.

[Homiesinheaven]

yep, too crotchety in your old age.

you said it yourself that you enjoyed the music so why complain about it in the same breath?

[CeilingCatProphet]

If you want quiet, do not come to Burning Man.
On the playa, you life has soundtrack whatever you like it or not.
There quiet dark sections and one can stay there.

First year, I was in loud Russain teachno music camp next to Deep End. It was hard but....I am not longer a noise sensitive delicate lil flower.

[wraith]

yep, too crotchety in your old age.

you said it yourself that you enjoyed the music so why complain about it in the same breath?

There's a big difference between 'hey, I like this music' and 'hey, it's hard to sleep when the bass is registering on the Richter scale'.