There is no shortage of musical talent in Raleigh. The immense success and celebrated legacies of bands such as By George, Bell Tower Blues and The Layaways have paved the way for budding bands and proven there is high demand for incorporating music into on and off-campus events. From house shows to Wolfstock to Dreamville, music is an integral part of the culture at NC State and in the surrounding community.

The demand is there. The talent is there. And yet, it’s no secret the music scene hasn’t exactly been popping recently. Between the sharp decline in excitement surrounding Wolfstock and venues such as Broken Door announcing their final shows, we have a serious problem on our hands.

Henry Sasser, an alumnus and member of the local band Dogwood Daze, said that noise ordinances and police presence are a major reason for the decline in house shows.

“They changed the noise ordinance in Raleigh. Now, if you do a show, you know it’s going to get shut down or, at some point, the police are going to show up,” Sasser said.

The current noise ordinance, which was put into effect Feb. 3, 2024, states that unreasonable noise from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. is prohibited if it is “plainly audible at a distance of 300 feet from the property line of the sound source.” During nighttime hours, which begin after 11 p.m., this is reduced to any sound heard 150 feet from the property line. The ordinance defines unreasonable noise as “unreasonably loud, boisterous or unusual noise.”

“Once you reach a certain size, you can’t do house shows without them being guaranteed to get shut down. Smaller bands are usually fine because even if it’s loud, that’s usually not as big of an issue as if there’s a lot of people there,” Sasser said. “I guess it just looks like a party. I don’t know how to solve it. It’s a risk every time.”

It comes down to compromise. Abolishing the noise ordinance may not be in the question, but silencing our local bands isn’t the answer. 

Ultimately, we live in a city full of life and culture. You wouldn’t call the cops on a taxi driver honking in New York City, so why shut down a weekend house show in Raleigh?

Drew Scott, a third-year studying industrial and systems engineering, is a member of the local band Odd39. He said that even trying to obtain a noise permit is often entirely out of reach.

“We’ve looked into it, and you’d have to go in person to downtown Raleigh and fill out a permit, which costs $50. It has to be submitted at least a month in advance of the show, and every homeowner on the block has to be notified,” Scott said.

 With the off-campus music scene in trouble, NC State has the opportunity to make up the difference by using its massive influence to provide a safe space for music to thrive. 

Yes, it’s time to talk about Wolfstock.

The University Activities Board, or UAB, had more than $127,000 removed from its budget in 2024. Understandably, this has impacted the entertainment budget for headlining bands at Wolfstock. Even so, there are issues with the advertising, creative direction and execution of events that cannot be attributed to budget cuts.

Scott, who helps host shows at the house venue Blue Door, said that even with a minimal budget, it’s all about marketing.

“With Blue Door, we have a budget of around $50. But we print out flyers and advertise so well that we can pull a crowd of 1,500 people in a backyard,” Scott said.

In previous years, UAB has hosted an event to reveal the headlining artists for Wolfstock, along with displaying a gigantic banner in Talley. This year, the headlining band, Peach Tree Rascals, was announced via Instagram a week in advance of the show.

“I understand that budget cuts cause problems. At the same time, this year and last year, it just felt like an afterthought. It kind of felt like something they threw together just because they had to,” Scott said.

This year, Pilot Light opened for Wolfstock. Chaandmon Croft, a member of Pilot Light, expressed his gratitude to Peach Tree Rascals and everyone who made the night possible, even in the midst of the marketing issues.

“We played a great set. The production company and headliner were super cool. They were really nice to us,” Croft said. “We could have had a bigger crowd if people had known about the show earlier, but the people who were there were awesome.”

The soul of the music scene is kept alive by the people who show up to support it. Going forward, it’s essential that decisions about headlining bands and advertising are a cooperative effort between people who know the music industry and the target audience of the show. 

Furthermore, bands like Dogwood Daze, Odd39 and Pilot Light have proven that it’s not about the money but about the community, creativity and passion. 

Ethan Johnson, a third-year studying finance, is a member of both Odd39 and Pilot Light. He emphasized that, above all else, it is imperative that musicians just keep playing.

“I know it seems like a lot of house venues are going under right now, but Raleigh needs bands. If you’re willing to start a band, people will be there to support you. There’s a whole community waiting for you. Don’t hesitate, just do it,” Johnson said.

The last show at Broken Door is April 19 at 8 p.m. It will feature performances from Dogwood Daze and Edgehill. Don’t miss it.