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No doubt about it ...Jimmy's in a mood. Horns are gone (except for John), looks like the dancers are history as well. Reeferettes are a question mark. Is Jimmy going through a back to basics phase? Or does he want to shake it up... jus 'cuz.

I 've truly enjoyed the SHOW that Jimmy has taken on the road over these last many years & must honestly admit that as much as I love the man and his music... it's in combination with that full-throttle, high-adrenaleine, "don't stop the Carnivale" approach that drives me (and I think many of the PH crowds) wild and keeps us coming back for more. I guess I'd just hate to see that go out of the mix.

JB has 100 times the natural showman instincts of, say, someone like PT Barnum even- and so I know he's got something up his sleeve. I just wish I knew what it was. So what kind of style direction would you like Jimmy to take the concerts ?

Since I got shut out on Saturday, I voted for the back to basics. I'd hate to miss the "just Jimmy" option.

I've said it before and I'll say it again...

A&E's Live By Request

Featuring...

Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band.

and the reuniting of Jimmy and Fingers for this one time only event

Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band (whoever that may entail) with no props, no dancers, no silly choregraphed routines, etc. A return to Buffett's storytelling/troubadour days before his band grew to the size of a small orchestra and production numbers became the focus of the show rather than the music. Setlist-wise: more deep album cuts and no reliance whatsoever on previous concert staples.

Chances of this ever happening: Zero to none.

I don't mind that the horns are gone to be honest because they were great in some songs but weren't needed in a lot of them. I do wish Jimmy would have kept the sax in his band rather than the trumpet.

I would also like to see the dancers go. Not that they aren't nice to look at but I'm at the shows for the music, not the gimmicks of a show.

I'd still like the Reeferettes to be there because they do have great backing vocals.

I'd love to see just Jimmy and the Coral Reefers changing the setlist a bit. Of course he has to do some standards (Margaritaville, etc.) but it would be cool if he did a small acoustic set that was the standards just so they'd be stripped down and changed up a bit. Then leave the bulk of the show to doing some lesser played fan favorites. Of course I don't expect this but it would be nice.

With the full cast, it is an event. For the purest, a lot us here, Jimmy would be fine. I do however enjoy the full package and I hate to think the horns and Amy are gone. In a more narrow scope, it looks like it is a cost cutting measure which would mean he is getting smaller for the future. One day we will be able to see Jimmy a few times a year at Margaretville on a rotating schedule, just jimmy and gutiar.

I wonder if the stripping down goes back to how JB feels about how the Aspen show went. I've listened to it a couple of times and the band sounds really tight. The clarity was amazing. Cutting back also puts more emphasis on the tune/lyrics. The full CRB was often overwhelming to listen to in person and via RM, so accoustically this should be an improvement. Some tunes will need to be reworked for the new setup but that could be a good thing since the last couple of albums with the full CRB are, IMHO, over-produced.

SuperTrooper wrote:I wonder if the stripping down goes back to how JB feels about how the Aspen show went. I've listened to it a couple of times and the band sounds really tight.

Except for that CIP song I agree.

It really was amazing w/ just the boys.

They looked happy and energetic and the sound was somethin' else!!!

buffettbride wrote:

SuperTrooper wrote:I wonder if the stripping down goes back to how JB feels about how the Aspen show went. I've listened to it a couple of times and the band sounds really tight.

Except for that CIP song I agree.

It really was amazing w/ just the boys.

They looked happy and energetic and the sound was somethin' else!!!

I do think there should be full time Reeferettes though. The version of CIP you did with JB was a once-in-a-lifetime thing and should be kept that way! That was a unique moment that would translate poorly to the larger venues.

I'll miss Heather.

LIPH wrote:I'll miss Heather.

Are the dancers gone too????? I thought it was just Amy and TC.

Spill it Larry! What do you know??????

That's what I heard from a very reliable source (not Heather).

SuperTrooper wrote:Some tunes will need to be reworked for the new setup but that could be a good thing since the last couple of albums with the full CRB are, IMHO, over-produced.

Just curious as to what albums you're refering to.

LIPH wrote:That's what I heard from a very reliable source (not Heather).

I heard the same.

I have different answers for different venues. As great as Aspen sounded, I can't imagine a large venue without the steel drums, congas and pedal steel guitar.

I'd love to hear either the Beach Band or Freddie and the Fishticks in a small venue, but for a large venue I'd rather hear the entire band, including horns, but at the very least including steel drums, congas, pedal steel and backup singers.

And who could possibly argue with being in the right place at the right time and being among the 25 or so lucky people to hear just Jimmy and his guitar for an hour or two?

SchoolGirlHeart wrote:I have different answers for different venues. As great as Aspen sounded, I can't imagine a large venue without the steel drums, congas and pedal steel guitar.

I'd love to hear either the Beach Band or Freddie and the Fishticks in a small venue, but for a large venue I'd rather hear the entire band, including horns, but at the very least including steel drums, congas, pedal steel and backup singers.

And who could possibly argue with being in the right place at the right time and being among the 25 or so lucky people to hear just Jimmy and his guitar for an hour or two?

Very well said

SchoolGirlHeart wrote:I have different answers for different venues. As great as Aspen sounded, I can't imagine a large venue without the steel drums, congas and pedal steel guitar.

I can, as he played large venues for years without those instruments.

I don't know.....a combination of the above.

I've always thought the dancers were distracting but I think the show would be less without the backing vocals and at least 'some' scaled back horn section.

Keep in mind that I've never been there live, just from what I hear of live shows on DVD and audio. My opinion and $5.75 will buy you a daiquiri.

Jahfin wrote:

SchoolGirlHeart wrote:I have different answers for different venues. As great as Aspen sounded, I can't imagine a large venue without the steel drums, congas and pedal steel guitar.

I can, as he played large venues for years without those instruments.

To each his own!

LIPH wrote:That's what I heard from a very reliable source (not Heather).

Larry did they say anything about Nadirah & Tina too?