Justification For Demand For A Better Set-List

[jbfins]

I understand why Jimmy routinely plays the SYKBH and same covers at every show. It makes for a great show and that is what he wants to give the audience. Would he get booed off stage like he thinks he would if a show was all ballads, probably not, but the shows sure wouldn't have the energy they do, which he and the band seem to feed off.

I also understand the argument that I should be grateful for any show he still plays. (I don't necessarily agree with this point, but I acknowledge the argument to appease those of you who say that he can do no wrong.)

So, how do I justify my demand for a better set-list. Simple. I, as many of us have, bring people to the show. And some of those people have gone to other shows and started their trip down parrothead lane. Thus, I have contributed to his financial success. I have promoted him, shamelessly.

As a reward for my hard work, I have no problem saying that I am entitled to a set-list that has one or two different songs, that he wrote, per concert. I do not think that it is too much to ask.

[Tiki Bar]

My counterpoint to your demand...

I think the SYKBH are in there for the people you bring to the shows... NOT for the seasoned fans. That's the hook... that's how he gets all the 1st timers to come back and continue their trip down parrothead lane. If he were to play a bunch of obscure stuff and / or ballads, most parrotheads would be tickled pink, but a large part of the crowd might find it lame and boring, and never come back.

When he plays smaller, more intimate gigs, like Anguilla for instance, he seems more likely to insert some real treasures, knowing that a large part of the audience really wanted to be there. They put thought into getting there and worked for it, rather than piling into a bus with their buddies for a day-long party.

But mostly, I don't think Jimmy needs to reward you / us for anything... I don't think you / we are entitled to anything... I remain grateful for what he gives. I love the surprises in the setlists, but above all, I love seeing Jimmy and the CRB perform.

[ejr]

I also think the SYKBH are there because most of the audience, be they veteran parrotheads or new fans, are seeing one, and only one concert a year, and want to hear those songs---just as any act tends to play their "hits." The difference really is that many of us see him more than once a year, and may even listen to other concerts on the internet--do you do that for any other singers?

As for entitlement, and demanding--I think that when Jimmy chooses to perform, we should expect a good show. Period.

[Tarheel Tail-Gator]

"Entitled"?

Please

That's a problem in America today. We think that we are entitled or justified to something that suits our tastes.

What about those whose feel entitled to hear the songs from the yellow album because they have a connection to those songs? What about Jimmy being entitled to play what he thinks will be a good show, because he is the performer, has paid his dues, and seems to know what he's doing based on attendance and ticket prices?

You may want Jimmy to play a different set list (which is perfectly fine and a great opinion to have), but I don't see how you are entitled.

I'll leave it at that.

[krusin1]

My counterpoint to your demand...

~snip~

But mostly, I don't think Jimmy needs to reward you / us for anything... I don't think you / we are entitled to anything... I remain grateful for what he gives. I love the surprises in the setlists, but above all, I love seeing Jimmy and the CRB perform.

Exactly. Jimmy can play whatever he $@#% well pleases. If you don't think you'll like the set list, you don't have to go.

And he DOES throw in some unknown gems every so often - when I happen to catch one it makes a great night even better!

[rustynail11]

He has to play SYKBH or there would be a riot. Personally I could do with out it but many others come just to hear that stuff. I think Jimmy does a good job at throwing in some gems. Over the years I have heard many. Would I like to hear more, yes. Part of my excitement every year is waiting to here the 2 or 3 gems he will pull out, in fact I won't look at the set list of other shows before I go because I don't want to ruin the suprise.

Does everyone remember the "Stump Bandido" game he did several years ago? I saw several concerts that year and heard some great rarities played.

[Caribbean Soul]

Does everyone remember the "Stump Bandido" game he did several years ago? I saw several concerts that year and heard some great rarities played.

Wow ... I just realized that was 11 years ago, now!
My kids' first Buffett concert, too. (and they both knew both "Stumpo" tunes at that show - Jimmy didn't...)

[ParrotHeadInThe Making]

I understand why Jimmy routinely plays the SYKBH and same covers at every show. It makes for a great show and that is what he wants to give the audience. Would he get booed off stage like he thinks he would if a show was all ballads, probably not, but the shows sure wouldn't have the energy they do, which he and the band seem to feed off.

I also understand the argument that I should be grateful for any show he still plays. (I don't necessarily agree with this point, but I acknowledge the argument to appease those of you who say that he can do no wrong.)

So, how do I justify my demand for a better set-list. Simple. I, as many of us have, bring people to the show. And some of those people have gone to other shows and started their trip down parrothead lane. Thus, I have contributed to his financial success. I have promoted him, shamelessly.

As a reward for my hard work, I have no problem saying that I am entitled to a set-list that has one or two different songs, that he wrote, per concert. I do not think that it is too much to ask.

Whether we like it or not, when Jimmy plays the huge venues, a good majority of the masses who are there are there to hear the familiar songs. Jimmy knows this and does them. If he did not do the songs that people know so well he would lose a big portion of his audience. Jimmy has paid his dues, therefore, the man can do whatever he wants, and he can play whatever he wants.

As far as being rewarded or being entitled? Well, IMHO, it is our choice to pile a bunch of people in a vehicle and take them to a show. Noone, especially Jimmy, is certainly twisting our arms to do this. Jimmy owes us nothing for our abilities to recruit people to his shows. However, speaking as a person who will be seeing Jimmy for the first time in less than 2 months, I do expect Jimmy to deliver an awesome show. I somehow think that I will not have to wonder or worry whether or not I will get an excellent show, because I have faith in Jimmy and the CRB that I will leave that first show very happy, and I will be very happy that I am going to two possibly three more shows on this tour.

If the setlist does not meet your satisfaction and if you are enjoying the shows less and less every year, then maybe it is time for you to take a break and let someone else buy your ticket or tickets who will really appreciate being at the show.

[RinglingRingling]

But mostly, I don't think Jimmy needs to reward you / us for anything... I don't think you / we are entitled to anything... I remain grateful for what he gives. I love the surprises in the setlists, but above all, I love seeing Jimmy and the CRB perform.

I don't really agree with either of these. It would be nice if he switched up the playlist every concert. Perhaps between shows on the same leg of the tour, although the logistics of that could be difficult. Certainly for each leg/bloc of shows. I also don't feel all that grateful that he is playing for me. I just handed the ba$tard $xxx of my money for the privilege of seeing him play, it's not like he's doing what he is doing, for me, out of the goodness of his heart. For about 2.5 hours, he's our employee. Grateful? not exactly.

[OystersandBeer]

What about bands like the Dead, Phish, Widespread Panic, Govt. Mule and numerous other seasoned live bands that change up their setlist on a nightly basis? I would still prefer if Buffett did more of that. But I understand also, if it ain't broke don't fix it. But because of that I only see Buffett only once a year or maybe once every two years , but sometimes twice in a year and once three times in a year. But I've seen Galactic already five times this year. And after this weekend Widespread three times. I haven't seen Buffett since West Palm in 2006. I will see him at Jazz fest. It's taking me a long time to make my point, so here it is: Although he is my all-time favorite musician, I listen to him more than any others and know more about his life than any others, but when it comes to live music, I will pass up his concert for others because I have seen his and it doesn't vary all that much. That being said, nothing can still compare to listening to Tin Cup for a Chalice while drinking a beer and shucking oysters with a group of friends in my backyard on a beautiful Floriday.

[Tiki Bar]

It's taking me a long time to make my point, so here it is: Although he is my all-time favorite musician, I listen to him more than any others and know more about his life than any others, but when it comes to live music, I will pass up his concert for others because I have seen his and it doesn't vary all that much. That being said, nothing can still compare to listening to Tin Cup for a Chalice while drinking a beer and shucking oysters with a group of friends in my backyard on a beautiful Floriday.

In my opinion, that's certainly a fair assessment, and a reasonable choice for you to make in how you spend your concert dollars. Rather than expecting him to cater to your taste, you decide to spend your fun money elsewhere, all the while still appreciating his music and the feelings it can induce.

[LIPH]

When I lay my money down for a concert ticket, Jimmy and the Reefers owe me one thing - the best performance they can give that night. Nothing more, nothing less.

[pair8head]

When I lay my money down for a concert ticket, Jimmy and the Reefers owe me one thing - the best performance they can give that night. Nothing more, nothing less.

Well said.

[East Texas Parrothead]

When I lay my money down for a concert ticket, Jimmy and the Reefers owe me one thing - the best performance they can give that night. Nothing more, nothing less.

That's exactly what I think. Hell, I'm just tickled PINK that he's still touring. He could have hung up his guitar strings a LONG TIME AGO ...

[JustDucky]

I have no expectations when I go to a Buffett show other than to hear the usual songs and, at least in the internet age, to know that he will do a couple of odd tunes.

Of course I could do without Cheeseburger, Get Drunk And Screw, It's My Job, Brown Eyed Girl, anything from Last Mango In Paris and a few others but that's not the deal.

Those other bands mentioned, I've been told by people that when they sobered up they realised just how bad they were (Widespread, Phish, Dead). That's funny. Maybe those bands change their setlist up so much because they know so many people follow(ed) them around.

The Rolling Stones usually rehearse up to 100 songs or so for a tour. They always end up doing about 21. Mick decides what they're going to do. He always sticks to the 'safe' tunes - the warhorses, the Hot Rocks, and on the Bigger Bang tour they played, at most, 3 tunes from the new record and all the rest were old songs.

Not very adventurous. So much for doing a new record.

Jimmy used to play a lot of tracks from a new record. But for some reason he stopped doing that, it seems, with Fruitcakes. He's been playing 2 or 3 from a record each tour and that's about it (I haven't poured through all of the setlists from the previous 20 some years of touring or whatever back to Fruitcakes but I have looked at a few and it seems he does about 2 or 3 tunes from the record he's touring and that's it).

Personally, I'd love to go to a Buffett show and only hear him do tunes starting from 1993's Another Saturday Night all the way up to 2006's Take The Weather With You. And I would love it if he did all of the title tracks from the albums including the one single for the book. And that does mean nothing before 1993. None of the SYKBH.

But then he might do something terrible like Math Suks or...Party At The End Of The World or...Vampires...and whatever others.

So, since that will never happen, I make my own CDs of what I think would be a good show or set list. Some of them have live tracks on them, the few that exist, of the more recent tunes. It's a lot of fun and better than nothing. And seeing that there are a few live albums out now, one is able to compile a show of live tracks without the SYKBH and have a pretty cool live comp.

[OystersandBeer]

Those other bands mentioned, I've been told by people that when they sobered up they realised just how bad they were (Widespread, Phish, Dead). That's funny. Maybe those bands change their setlist up so much because they know so many people follow(ed) them around.

Those people didn't know what they were talking about. And if Jimmy changed up his setlist I think more people would do multiple show runs because they wouldn't want to miss out on one of their favorites. That's what keeps people following the other bands(and the parties), but this is about the music, so I shouldn't get off topic. For most people following a band, it is about the music. The party is just an added bonus.

[miphinz]

How about lets all be glad we get a tour this year and have a good time regardless of what he plays, I always do

[NYCsharkling]

my 2 cents....

For me, the shows are about hearing the music you love with people you love..... I agree that some of the songs are redundant but so what...we all still sing along and have fun....I could do without WDWGDAS...PTM...Juicy Fruit and BEG....but when they come on i dont get upset...

I don't think we are "entitled" to anything.....At any concert you are going to hear that band's "hits". I am just grateful that Jimmy is still touring and I get to see him at least once a year if not more...

[Caribbean Soul Man]

here's my expectation -
I pay
he plays
I sing along and show my appreciation for his wonderful talent

It's all good!

[The Boy Nobody Knew]

If he's going to drop WDWGDAS I hope he only does it to make room for PTYDFYOGH. Thats one of the few left on my list I haven't seen live yet.