Local Musician at Large After Defying Live Music Rules
Hamptons Police are continuing their search for a fugitive musician who they say “flagrantly violated the regulations put in place” that restrict live music performance in various ways on the East End.
The regulations, enacted into law over the summer, were a response to growing complaints about loud music coming from bars and nightclubs. According to police, the musical perpetrator they are seeking was entertaining at an East Hampton establishment last Friday evening and was observed by an undercover officer to be in violation of the live music rules.
From the police report: “On Friday evening, Officer Wilkins, while seated at the bar between the hours of 7:20 p.m. and 9:45 p.m., witnessed the musician in question play ‘Brown Eyed Girl,’ ‘Sweet Caroline,’ and ‘Friend of the Devil’”—three controlled covers in the course of one 45-minute set. The law clearly states that musicians may only play one of these controlled songs per set.
Officer Wilkins notes that, during the same set, the suspect engaged in illegal “guitar doodling,” which the law defines as guitar solos that last more than a single verse and/or that have “no discernible musical value.” At another point, the song “Cheeseburger in Paradise” was played even though Jimmy Buffett was not on the bandstand, a violation of the Buffett Rule—a rule that requires that Jimmy Buffett be on hand if a Jimmy Buffett song is to be played.”
At 9:45 p.m., when Officer Wilkins identified himself to the suspect as a police officer, the suspect fled and disappeared into the evening murk. As of press time he is yet to be apprehended.
Police warn that the suspect has a guitar and won’t hesitate to use it.