While tourists ride high on a cloud of booze and Bluetooth speakers, many Nashville locals are just trying to get a quiet night’s sleep — or, you know, use the street without being blasted by Lizzo at 3 p.m. on a Thursday. The backlash has been loud and sustained. More recently, the Music City has been in tune with the complaints — pushing further regulations. Setting designated quiet zones — such as schools, daycares, places of worship, and healthcare facilities. The new rules also prohibit pick-ups and drop-offs along those areas.
What’s made things worse? A lingering sense that enforcement is selective at best. Some operators allege the city is trying to shutter their businesses outright, while others — like Old Town Trolley Tours, a booze-free sightseeing operation — allegedly received “verbal permission” to operate during otherwise restricted hours. That special treatment didn’t sit well with party bus crews. It’s created an us-versus-them climate, echoing other car-culture battles like the Carolina Squat.
Are these rolling honky-tonks legal? Technically, yes — if you’ve got the permits and play by the city’s rules. You thought you were getting the full “In the Air Tonight” drum solo, but it’s just the sad comedy rimshot of Music City. For now, the music blares on, though the wheels of regulation are turning, and they just might catch up with the party. So if heavy modification, high decibels, and a party atmosphere are your vibe — check out Monster Jam at Nissan Stadium instead.