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The article ["Bill to help control parties and concerts," Aug. 26] misses the point. This problem is that this is a symptom of the lack of venues in Montgomery County for people to gather with friends and listen to live music. To prove this all one has to do is look in the "Weekend Section" in the Washington Post and you will find only a handful of night spots in Montgomery County. And no, karaoke, open mic nights and disc jockeys are not considered to be live music. Being a longtime county resident, it is clear that the county's zoning, liquor/food percentage rules for restaurants, and the NIMBY factor means people must drive to D.C., Northern Virginia, or Baltimore to see bands. And to frame this as a way of controlling underage parties again misses the point that people over 21 do like to listen to live music and do have the right to assemble.

Having more local music venues would reduce the traffic and accidents of people who drive a long way to see them, and bring in the lost income to the county. Yes, the county has built and is building a few high-end music halls, but these are expensive to attend. What ever happen to the corner pub where you can go listen to some good music being played, or a place like the old Twist-n-Shout in Bethesda. No matter how "troubling" to the county council it is … it is human nature to be social, listen to good music, and (pray tell) actually dance to it.

Chris Miller, Burtonsville