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We Met in Margaritaville
Jimmy Buffett Las Vegas!
There were gypsies
in the palace and we were going wild that night.
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Fruitcakes in Las Vegas. What a combination
– Jimmy Buffett and Sin City!
Glamor gave way to grass skirts on the weekend of April 25-26 as Jimmy
Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band played the MGM Grand on the final
stop of the 2003 Tiki Time Spring Tour. It was a Parrothead pleasure
dome, this being one of the few places Buffett plays with a roof on
the darn thing. And it turned out just fine (though we still definitely
prefer the outdoor venues). Once again Jimmy and the Coral Reefers managed
to put a new twist on old songs. And, as always, true Parrotheads danced
along but could barely recall the set list the next day.
 The
concert started like a Hawaiian luau. "Native" dancers took
the stage twirling fire sticks, hula dancers moved rhythmically about
and conga drums filled the air with sound. Then Jimmy took the stage
and the show was on. Among the songs he played were "Come Monday,"
"Fins," "Margaritaville," "Mexico," "Last
Mango in Paris," "Mental Floss," "Honey Do,"
"Great Heart," "Coconut Telegraph," "Boomerang
Love" and "Apocalypso." The encores included "Saxophones"
& "Southern Cross."
For many, Vegas afforded the opportunity to make a weekend of it. Beginning
Friday, people jumped in the hotel pools to get out of the heat, ate
the last mango in the Paris, took last plane out of LAS and rode the
first-class boat at the Venetian. Yet, with a pair of Parrothead parties
Friday at the Key Largo casino and Tommy Rocker's bar, plus the concert
itself, there was still so much to be done.
Saturday, the fiesta began in the early afternoon as pirates and Parrotheads
went wild in the MGM, meeting up at a couple of cantinas inside the
hotel. They definitely knew where to go when the volcano blew (at the
nearby Mirage). Between 4-5 p.m., everyone flocked to the Margaritaville
party, a large outdoor space behind the MGM reserved exclusively for
those who wonder why they ever go home. The sun was out, a band was
playing Buffett covers and people were mingling in true tailgate style.
Getting a beer was no problem, but margaritas and tequila shots required
a bit of a wait. Cheeseburgers were also being served. Frankly, we would
have been happy had Jimmy himself played then and there. But it was
a short stumble to the arena.
 PubClub's
roving party animal, The
Bartender, wound up on the front row. Hands full of beers
and suddenly absent of his fellow Parrotheads, he kept wandering until
he could wander no farther. He found himself right at the front, surrounded
by nothing but empty chairs (a bummer, considering what it took to get
tickets in the first place. But that's a story for another time, another
place). Unable to produce a ticket to match his location, he was eventually
forced to leave and wound up – where else – with his back
to the wall in the very last row.
"Oh, well," he shrugged. "It just proves that a Buffett
concert is great no matter where your seats are located."
After the show, there was a little bit of fruitcake left in everyone
of us. This meant there was definitely a thin line between Saturday
night and Sunday morning because the casinos were not far away and in
this town, there's always booze in the blender.
As far as the crowd at the Vegas show goes, it was just a few friends
– just a few friends – not the feeding frenzy of land
sharks and bait prevalent at most other venues (Irvine Meadows in particular).
Instead, the crowd was primarily couples and small groups from various
parts of the country who gathered in grass skirts and aloha shirts with
shark fins or parrots on their heads. They got drunk uptown and definitely
didn't wear a frown.
One Buffett and Vegas double-virgin traveling with PubClub.com became
instantly converted. "It's great," she said. "Can't wait
for the next Buffett show." In her first try, she found Margaritaville.And
it was OUR damned fault.
Phins UP! The land
sharks were circling around.
Now THAT'S what
we call the Knees of Our Heart!
These pirates are
hardly looking at 40 – unless it's the cocktail count.
This couple met on PubClub's Buffett party bus back in October.
That's the best use of a casino change bucket we've ever seen.
Elvis wasn't in
the building, but it was apparent Buffett sure was.
There were, of course,
fins to the left, fins to the right...
Hey Bartender, there's
damsels in distress over there. Got any gold records???
The Margaritaville
party was packed with Parrotheads.
Songs from the heart from a Buffett cover band provided the musical
backdrop.
It was total Tiki
Time in the arena.
After
the all-day pre-party, this is how the concert looked to us.
–
CD Review of "Meet Me in Margaritaville" –
By The
Bartender
As the very proud owner of 19 Jimmy Buffett CDs –
if my recent count was correct and not counting multiple sets –
I'm always thrilled when JB comes out with what now seems an annual
new collection of tunes. Even if the songs are the same, the prospect
of new twists on old favorites provides a manner of inspiration.
So when I made my way to the store – saving $5 off
the TV advertised price of $24.95 – to pick up "Meet
Me in Margaritaville" I was more than anxious to add it
to my collection.
While the first CD of the two-set package is highly recommended
for any novice or passing Buffett fan to have handy for a party, it
offers nothing new for us veteran Parrotheads. It's basically an extended
version of the all-to-basic "Songs From the Heart." So I mainly
yawned through the 20 songs.
When the second CD spun, though, I became inspired. "School
Boy Heart" is a subtle, rare classic intro, but the real inspiration
came next. What the heck was he doing recording a cover to "Everybody's
Talking," I wondered at first. Then the steel drums kicked in and
he sang of going "where the weather meets my clothes" and
I was hooked. Now, I can't seem to get enough of it. Sure wish he would
add this to his concert lineup.
New versions followed of "Son of a Son of A Sailor,"
"Knees of My Heart," "In the Shelter", "He
Went to Paris," "Saxaphones," "The Captain and the
Kid," and live plays of "Desperation Samba" and "A
Pirate Looks At Forty." Personally, I would eat up any live album
he could deliver; there's just something about those concerts! It also
includes a new song, "Sail on Sailor," which is okay though
not spectacular.
So, Parrotheads, it's worth your 20 greenbacks, but give
the first CD to Parrotheads in training.
While at the store, I also picked up a copy of "Club
Trini Live at Margaritaville Cafe." I've met Peter Mayer
and he's nice so I though I would support one of his other bands. What
an astute move that turned out to be. Steel drums greeted the CD player
and as I was comfortably swaying and mixing a rum drink inspired by
the music, on comes Jimmy himself! He sings "Come On In,"
after which he candidly remarks, "I have always liked that song."
Then he does something I had never heard before, a tune called "Cairo,"
which he says he's wanted to record so he "snuck it in" with
Club Trini.
This is a must CD for all Caribbean souls.
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Buffett Concert Photos
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