My recollection:conched wrote:Can someone describe a Buffett show before Fruitcakes and since the Mayers joined in? Was Off to See The Lizard their first show. What was Feeding Frenzy like? It sounds fun on the CD. When did the shows change from the Live By The Bay type show, (where Mr. White Overalls and Fingers were the dancers?)
Generally, Jimmy (and probably the band) was in some sort of "induced state" or working his way there... ususally downing a few beers during the show.. . Didn't help or hurt the show in anyway, just seemed to be he's was getting where the crowd already was...
I always seemed to remember some element of the drums (Sam Clayton a number of times)...so my experience doesn't pre-date that...Josh was playing guitar thru most of my early shows, we know he can play...and of course there was Fingers & Utley...
It seemed he also always had an opening band...I recall the Neville brothers a few times, Zachary Richard a couple, Marshall Chapman and I'm sure I'm missing a few...
Props were generally not so great ( I remember a horrible blow-up Godzilla one year)...don't recall anything like the Tiki Gods, the volcanos, or flying sharks...It was basically a concert
The setlist generally contained the must plays ...He'd play more of the the older tunes because that's all he had at the time...The old tunes that rock now, rocked then... I think he's added more rockin (or at least energetic) tunes to the setlist now...That's why I think those that never experienced the earlier shows can't imagine them...
I'm not saying either is better or worse...The 2003 tour was as much fun as I ever had at a show (as much as my first)...The bigger band gave some old songs (saxophones for one) some great new life...I love the harmonica on Jimmy's tunes, and the bigger band conmpensated for that loss...
To each his own...While this year may be different than any in the last decade or so, I doubt seriously if it won't be worth the price of a ticket...
