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BICYCLE BILL IS NO LONGER A (BUFFETT) VIRGIN!!!!

I saw my first JB concert last night at Alpine Valley. I could have picked a better day/night for it ... it was very cool (the high yesterday only got up to around 65º), overcast, and there was a steady, strong wind from the north all day.

I met CaptP, Candyman/Mrs. Candyman, Glorfindel7, WinoYouKnow, RaptopW/Santa and a few others whose handles I can't recall in East Troy Saturday around noon and caravaned in to the parking lot with them. We were able to all park together (about eight or nine vehicles), so we set up the tailgate and we made the best of a less-then-spectacular situation. A couple of other BNers dropped by (TikiBar, for one) and for the most part a good time was had by all, despite the non-cooperative weather.

One observation: after seeing some of the contraptions rigged up to power blenders for the frozen concoctions of choice (and yes, people were still consuming those even with the temperature more conducive to hot chocolate than cold boat drinks), including one using a full-length gas-powered weed-whacker, I am convinced that if the government were really serious about figuring out some way to resolve the economic mess, or settle the Iraq crisis, or even figure out some way to deal with the energy crisis, all they would need to do would be to issue a challenge to a couple-dozen Parrotheads. They'd start by thinking outside the box and have something worked out by Christmas at the latest.

Back to the concert. I got lucky and found someone tailgating near us who was willing to sell a single ticket under the pavilion for less than face; I ponied up the cash and it turned out to be worth every nickel. By the time Jimmy and the band took the stage the temp had dropped at least 5º and there was a definite mist, if not an outright rain, in the air, which continued throughout the concert. I didn't see anybody leaving, though..... although Jimmie did make several comments about the weather (such as the beach balls in danger of becoming snowballs), and did come back out onstage after "recess" wearing a hoodie.

The concert itself was great!! What else can I say? Even the much-discussed "cover songs" (and he did all three; BEG, Submarine, and Southern Cross) worked with the crowd; and the images that they threw up on the huge side-screens during these (and other songs) were beautiful and appropriate. I was pleasantly surprised when he threw in "Gypsies in the Palace", and the medley of "Something to Drink About/WDWGDAS" worked well too.

The concession prices there were definitely an eye-opener: $4.50 for a big pretzel? $5.00 for a hotdog? $8.00 for a silo of Bud? $10.00 and up for a boat drink?? Hey LiveNation; let's leave the piracy to the Somalis, OK?

My one and only complaint: Alpine needs to put some restrooms/porta-a-potties a little closer to the pavilion than 3/4-way up the hill. Maybe along the fence below the party decks, and in the grassy area to the left of section 101/201.

Closing observations? In the long run, I don't feel I was cheated out of a thing. This may have been my first concert seeing Jimmy, but (Lord willing), it isn't going to be the last.

-"BB"-

Bill, it was great meeting you yesterday, I hope you had phun at the tailgate...we'll see you next year!!!

I disagree with your comments on the weather, it was downright cold! I am definately glad that I had upgraded my lawn tickets for the pavillion. It started sprinkling shortly after we entered the venue and was still going as the concert was over.

It was my first concert at Alpine and I am unimpressed with the venue itself. I have seen Buffett all over the country and can't think of a poorer laid out facility.........only basically having one entrance/exit and no sound traffic pattern within the facility............although the audio was great, both on the lawn and in the pavillion.

The tailgating portion of the event was awesome! The number of people and the stuff everybody had, even considering the weather was just unbelievable. I can't imagine what it would have been like before and after if the weather had been cooperative. I think Alpine rivals Frisco for tailgating........

We had lunch on Saturday at Hemmingway's and did the bonfire at Two Seasons after the concert. Loved both and thought Lake Geneva is a great little town. The townsfolk in both Elkhorn and Lake Geneva were very friendly, even if some of them didn't spell Buffett correctly!

Don't let my comments dissuade you, I had a great time and will be back next year!

Boatdrunk.... wrote:I disagree with your comments on the weather, it was downright cold! I am definately glad that I had upgraded my lawn tickets for the pavillion. It started sprinkling shortly after we entered the venue and was still going as the concert was over.

It was my first concert at Alpine and I am unimpressed with the venue itself. I have seen Buffett all over the country and can't think of a poorer laid out facility.........only basically having one entrance/exit and no sound traffic pattern within the facility............although the audio was great, both on the lawn and in the pavillion.

The tailgating portion of the event was awesome! The number of people and the stuff everybody had, even considering the weather was just unbelievable. I can't imagine what it would have been like before and after if the weather had been cooperative. I think Alpine rivals Frisco for tailgating........

We had lunch on Saturday at Hemmingway's and did the bonfire at Two Seasons after the concert. Loved both and thought Lake Geneva is a great little town. The townsfolk in both Elkhorn and Lake Geneva were very friendly, even if some of them didn't spell Buffett correctly!

Don't let my comments dissuade you, I had a great time and will be back next year!

Glad you had fun...and it is even better in the lot when it is warmer!!!
Honestly, I can't remember a show where the yellow lot was half empty at 3:00!!! The weather scared many people off. Too bad.

The venue itself, I have always said that leaving the venue after the show is the worst part. Because of the isolated location, there is NOTHING they can do about it. That's why we just kick our tailgate party off again after the show!!! Have a good time instead of sitting in line for an hour. When we got into our car, we were out in 5 minutes.

The facility, being a NATURAL ampitheater, laid out on natural hills instead of man-made, it makes it a beautiful venue, but yes...it makes it tough to get in and out. I agree with you, I think they could improve upon that...but I'm no engineer, I'll leave that to the experts.

But I still always love the party and the show, and would never miss Alpine for the world!!!

We were back at our room at MIDNIGHT!!
After all the horror stories we have heard, we were surprised

Sorry I did not get to meet you yesterday....it was a fun show..congrats on having your Buffett cherry popped

I'm so glad you enjoyed yourselph!

It was a pleasure meeting you Bill! I'm glad you had a good time! Thanks for showing me your avatar - it was cool!

I didn't realize yesterday was your first Buffett show - the parking lots are definitely displays of astonishing ingenuity, and plenty of things that make you smile.

And I'm happy that you enjoyed the concert too... Jimmy and the CRB always deliver a helluva show, in my opinion! Quite a few of the songs gave me goosebumps, and not because of the cold. I was quite impressed with the video montages they mixed in, and really, really, liked One Love. I hope they include that as a bonus on the new cd.

Welcome to your newest addiction, Bill!

We were on the beer deck and not only watched the show but the show on the lawn was quite entertaining and frightening. Watching the lawn people coming off the side of the hill to the walkways was pretty funny. Hope nobody got hurt.

There was rolling down the hill, slidding on butts, even an end over end, and some crawling back up the hill due to not being able to get any traction . Can we say "Muddy".

We had some beggers wanting on our deck. No such luck. Just glad it didn't rain during the tailgating.

Bill, Congratulations on your first Buffett show!!! I enjoyed reading about your experience. Welcome to your newest addiction!!!!

Karacal wrote:Bill, Congratulations on your first Buffett show!!! I enjoyed reading about your experience. Welcome to your newest addiction!!!!

wKs

Karacal wrote:Bill, Congratulations on your first Buffett show!!! I enjoyed reading about your experience. Welcome to your newest addiction!!!!

wKs

Bill--when I experienced my first Buffett show last year in Detroit I left the venue wondering why it took me so long to become a Buffett fan and why I waited so long to go to a show. Well, better late than never. Welcome to the madness where creativity in the parking lot is at its finest and welcome to your new addiction. This is one addiction that you do not want to kick.

summerlover wrote:We had some beggers wanting on our deck. No such luck. Just glad it didn't rain during the tailgating.

You might have been willing to share the port-a-potties, though; at least with someone wearing a BN necktag/lanyard....
An aside: is the beer (I saw the tap boxes on the decks) included in the package, or do they charge you by the cup also?

-"BB"-

Even in the freezing cold the party sounded HOT on RM!

Bicycle Bill wrote:

summerlover wrote:We had some beggers wanting on our deck. No such luck. Just glad it didn't rain during the tailgating.

You might have been willing to share the port-a-potties, though; at least with someone wearing a BN necktag/lanyard....
An aside: is the beer (I saw the tap boxes on the decks) included in the package, or do they charge you by the cup also?

-"BB"-

Staff are stationed right at the entrance to the decks and will NOT let anyone on. Only thing I could have gotten for you BB is probably a beer (which is not included in the price of the deck.)

Summerlover wrote:

Bicycle Bill wrote:

summerlover wrote:We had some beggers wanting on our deck. No such luck. Just glad it didn't rain during the tailgating.

You might have been willing to share the port-a-potties, though; at least with someone wearing a BN necktag/lanyard....
An aside: is the beer (I saw the tap boxes on the decks) included in the package, or do they charge you by the cup also?

-"BB"-

Staff are stationed right at the entrance to the decks and will NOT let anyone on. Only thing I could have gotten for you BB is probably a beer (which is not included in the price of the deck.)

I was wondering how much IS one of those decks anyway... I figure a party of 20 could chip in the price .....

Glorfindel7 wrote:

Summerlover wrote:

Bicycle Bill wrote:

summerlover wrote:We had some beggers wanting on our deck. No such luck. Just glad it didn't rain during the tailgating.

You might have been willing to share the port-a-potties, though; at least with someone wearing a BN necktag/lanyard....
An aside: is the beer (I saw the tap boxes on the decks) included in the package, or do they charge you by the cup also?

Staff are stationed right at the entrance to the decks and will NOT let anyone on. Only thing I could have gotten for you BB is probably a beer (which is not included in the price of the deck.)

I was wondering how much IS one of those decks anyway... I figure a party of 20 could chip in the price .....

A poster with the handle "rkoener" could probably tell you; I think he was coming with a bus from somewhere in Illinois and had deck #9 (which would have been quite a ways back, and out in the rain to boot). According to this post, he was charging about $180.00 per head, but that did include the bus ride and the tailgate.

-"BB"-

Bill....glad you had such a great time. We'll see you next year!

is it Alpine 2010 yet!?!?

I also got to meet you Bill - I chased you down in the parking lot, I recognized your Critters shirt.

It was a heck of a show.