Bad Concert in Charlotte

[big hat carmen]

It was only bad because we could not find tickets

[Jim in Raleigh]

I was there last night and did not enjoy this show as much as the many I've seen before-and I go back to 1975. I have been thinking about why, and I don't have a good answer. The weather was bad: cold windy and rainy-but that is always a risk outside. I saw him in Carter Finley stadium and it rained much more than this, but I enjoyed that show. I've seen plenty of footbal games and concerts in the rain, so that did not matter to me. I'm thinking maybe I really miss the whole Coral Reefer horn section. But I stayed at my seat-uncovered seat for the whole show. I did have the foresight to bring along a zip-loc bag, which I put my wallet and phone in so the rain would not ruin either one. I would have prefered an indoor show-the Bobcats arena was fine with me, I saw U2 there late last year and Jimmy inside in Columbia last year.

As far as public transportation, I did notice at the main entrance there was an area for that sort of thing-marked with signs. Why any employee would not know that is odd. When I left I did not notice any taxis, but I ducked into the Banana Bus, supplied by Boardwalk Billy's bar a few miles away. They had a great deal for free rides to the amphitheater, if you bought something from them, you got a wrist band for a ride to and from Billy's. Thanks, Billy, for that. Thank you, thank you!

http://www.boardwalkbillys.com/

As far as a beef with the venue: The food and drinks were overpriced, but they always are at concerts. That is nothing new. The prices were in line with what I've paid in Columbia and Raleigh the past few years. What surprised me was I only found one kiosk that sold Corona-and I got inside at 6:30pm and went to literally every one of them and asked. But they had signs eveywhere with Corona as the tour sponser. And why on earth would they not use wristbands so patrons did not have to show ID everytime time I bought a beer? They want to make money but then do it in as inefficient a way as possible. But that is their problem. The staff I dealt with were all fine by me. Very chatty, and many commented on my Carolina Hurricanes hat and the upcoming games. The police seemed very tolerant and I did not see anyone get hassled.

I did see Jimmy do one thing I don't ever recall seeing him do-I think it was when he sang Bank of Bad Habits, he carried a mic and walked the stage and did not play the guitar. That seemed odd, looked like an American Idol kind of thing. Maybe it was due to technical problems. Would he return to a venue that was so poorly maintained that the leaks in the roof caused them technical problems? There are surely other places he can go to and avoid this, so this could be the last time he goes to Charlotte.

As far as atmosphere-where I sat, which was section 4 row Y, there was none. There must have been at least 40-50 empty seats, some never filled and some people who left and never returned when it started raining. Which was almost precisely at 8pm, and it never ever stopped. Where did they go? Vert weird. Maybe some were tickets held by brokers who could not unload them. So my area was dead, but perhaps it was unique to where I was.

As far as the song selection, I liked it. I am a long time Buffett fan so I knew all the music.

Jimmy: come back to Raleigh or Columbia, skip Charlotte next time.

Go Canes, beat the Oilers!

[sunseeker]

And I have been to MANY shows at that venue before.....its a clean nice place....

and I would rather see a concert (any concert) in the rain...then inside....but thats my personal taste...i just think concerts are better in ampitheaters built for music then in coliseums built for basketball, hockey, etc....

Now Shannon I know those Yanni tickets you have for next month are inside..

THIS is the reason I LOVE BN sooooo much...

[prrthd1987]

And I have been to MANY shows at that venue before.....its a clean nice place....

and I would rather see a concert (any concert) in the rain...then inside....but thats my personal taste...i just think concerts are better in ampitheaters built for music then in coliseums built for basketball, hockey, etc....

Now Shannon I know those Yanni tickets you have for next month are inside..

THIS is the reason I LOVE BN sooooo much...

Could you imagine a bunch of BN'ers at a Yanni concert?

[Lindasue]

Thanks for all the replys to my recent post. I really appreciate the different view points - that's one thing that is so great about Buffett fans - such diversity and respect for that diversity.

I wanted to make one thing clear - though I have complained about the venue, I have nothing but great things to say about JB and the band. I thought that on some songs they have never sounder better. I loved every minute of the music. My frustration was only with the venue...and the rain!

[big hat carmen]

And I have been to MANY shows at that venue before.....its a clean nice place....

and I would rather see a concert (any concert) in the rain...then inside....but thats my personal taste...i just think concerts are better in ampitheaters built for music then in coliseums built for basketball, hockey, etc....

Now Shannon I know those Yanni tickets you have for next month are inside..

THIS is the reason I LOVE BN sooooo much...

Could you imagine a bunch of BN'ers at a Yanni concert?

Capt Flock would be first in line

[leebgb]

I was there an had a blast. A nice long setlist with some different songs thrown in (LOVED Nautical Wheelers!) and Jimmy seemed to be enjoying himself
About Jimmy not playing guitar on 'Bank of Bad Habits', back when Jimmy played the Charlotte Coliseum in 2001, he performed either 'Bob Roberts Society Band' or 'Oysters and Pearls' without a guitar.

[Sidew13]

It was only bad because we could not find tickets

But you did make the tailgating perfect. Thanks for coming down

[bubba phan]

It was only bad because we could not find tickets

OH NO!!!!!

Wow, I am so sorry to hear that. We did notice throughout the day that there were lots of people looking but few (if any) selling. Maybe due to it being the only date in the Carolinas this year?? Who knows.....

[5Oclock Somewhere]

No question this is one of the few Jimmy Buffett "pad my pocketbook" tours that he plans on giving before he hangs it up.

Gotta pay those 4 mortgages and jet airplane off .....

[SMLCHNG]

Gotta pay those 4 mortgages and jet airplane off .....

Which is exactly what all of us do by working. Pay the mortgage, necessities, and luxuries. I'm pretty sure we'd all love to have as many of those luxuries as we could. Most of us won't, cause we're just every day folks.

[poohbear1324]

It was only bad because we could not find tickets

I was so upset
Thank You and Wayne for coming down.
We had a blast.

[Jason Mason]

...NOT!!!

What a great set! Thanks Jimmy

Yeah it was!!! Where've you been?!?!?!?

[Jason Mason]

...NOT!!!

What a great set! Thanks Jimmy

Yeah it was!!! Where've you been?!?!?!?