I got a PBS Mind in an MTV World (Pittsburgh Concert/Punks)

[captainalex]

Hi everyone. I attended the Pittsburgh show with my wife and the show itself was great. Jimmy and the reefers never sounded better. To hear Dreamcicles in person made the entire show for me. The banter with Jimmy and the band and Jimmy and crowd is always a treat as it never feels forced or scripted. A real genuine performer and I have very warm memories of that very humid night.

Now here’s my concern. This is the 1st Buffett concert I have attended where I had to put on my “grown up” hat (I’m in my 30’s) and tell two pinks who may have been no older than 20 to knock it off. Let me explain.

About 5 songs into the show a group of 4 individuals, 3 guys and a girl, come on over to our section of the lawn. One guy seemed pretty mellow and so did the girl. However 2 of the guys were beyond drunk. The louder of the two kept saying, “F**K YOU JIMMY BUFFETT! WE’RE JUST HERE TO GET F**KING WASTED!” The other guy was little less local but was parroting this louder one.

So this goes on for about two songs. The louder one takes some poor ladies flip flop which was right behind her and throws it a figurative mile across the lawn. He all proud of himself like he just split the atom and his friend congratulations him like he’s Von Braun launching a rocket to the moon.

I just roll my eyes.

So now these guys decide to invade my personal space and drop to the crown and lie back with both of their heads almost touching my toes. I look down at them the way I look down at my dog when she pees in the house.

They get the hint and sit up. Well now the less loud one decides to take a straw he finds on the ground and lobes it like a grenade. In the process he gets all of this liquid/spittle on my face. I tap him of the shoulder and tell him bluntly that I did not appreciate it. I then told him that I didn’t pay good money to see him but I wanted to enjoy the show. He’ saying, “Sorry man” as I keep trying to explain to him how annoyed I was. My wife in the meantime is telling me let’s move, it’s not worth it. I was saying to her that I am not going to be intimidated by a bunch of thugs. She proceeds to go further down the side of the lawn as I stay put. We can still see each other.

The girl with this group keep apologizing to me and says her friends are really wasted and don’t know what they are doing. I tell her it’s not her fault and her apologies aren’t necessary.

I get a tap on my shoulder form this blonde cutie who told me she had my back. I thanked her but I honestly thought unless she was going to blind them with her beauty her getting my back wasn’t going to help me much.

I thought it was all settled as all parties have gone back to the pre straw spittle positions.

So the next song is underway and the one who threw the straw decides to turn around and start with me and his loud friend starts in with me. Both of them like a Grand Canyon echo say I had no right to talk to them that way because they were sorry. The loud then tell me to *f*** myself.

I shoot back and tell them to turn back around as it’s over. Before I can get another word out I feel a hand on my arm. It was my wife pulling me away and with a panic in her voice, “They are disgusting drunks, there is no reasoning with them. Let’s go” I went with her as the tone in her voice was one of fright and genuine concerns. I like to think it was for the two punks but I know it was for my own safety.

So we finally get to where she wants to be and she lets me have it. She was right despite my view that behavior like that shouldn’t be ignored because good people suffer.

Regardless she is totally right in her view that there is no reasoning with people like that. The punks stayed in our old spot for a few more songs only to disappear and never be seen again.

I was ticked about the whole things until I heard Dreamcicles and the world went back to being right and I felt again among the brotherhood/sisterhood of Finland.

But it really has left me with a feeling that maybe my days of concert going on the lawn are over. I still want to go to Buffett concerts as long as he still performs but I don’t think I have the patience for the lawn.

I’ve been a Parrothead since 1994 with my 1st show in 1995. I do remember having REALLY good times at the show and having more than my share but my friends and I were always respectful of those around us. We were always good natured, willing to share and really living up to being what a good parrothead should be. And you know what I can respect you come to a Buffett songs and only know a handful of songs or SYKBH and nothing else. But to come to the show and yell “F*** YOU JIMMY BUFFETT, WE’RE HERE ONLY TO GET WASTED!” really made me mad. How disrespectful and in utter pour taste.

I am usually the peacemaker but on Tuesday night I wanted to go totally Darth Vader on those punks.

Thanks for listening to me vent.

[maid memories]

That honestly sucks that they dampened your experience like that. I've sat on the lawn the vast majority of my concerts and have always had great experiences. I was at Great Woods Saturday night on the lawn and it was one of the best yet!

[C-Dawg]

I've done the lawn twice....first time was a similar experience to yours with a drunk chick stealing my hat repeatedly.....but the other time was one of my favorite Buffett experiences ( Tampa lawn this year with Jack, Jon and Janice, listening to one of the best setlists I've ever heard).
If I can afford it, it's well worth the money to get off the lawn...but I won't let it ruin my concert.

[captainalex]

I have always been a lawn person because my exeperiences have always been positive up until Tuesday night. I don't know if it is because I'm older or am a father of three or in a position of management in the organization I work in but I just was disgusted by these punks and their disrespect for me and by extension Parrotheads and what we stand for. I sound old when writting it but back in my day when I was their age I didn't so that. I'm no stick in the mud but good God what the hellis wrong with some of these punks?!

[maid memories]

I've done the lawn twice....first time was a similar experience to yours with a drunk chick stealing my hat repeatedly.....but the other time was one of my favorite Buffett experiences ( Tampa lawn this year with Jack, Jon and Janice, listening to one of the best setlists I've ever heard).
If I can afford it, it's well worth the money to get off the lawn...but I won't let it ruin my concert.

The reason you had such a good time on the lawn is the reason I always have such a good time on the lawn. I'm always surrounded by friends and it makes it that much better for me. I'll never forget Stacie dancing around in that shark suit as long as I live.

[ph4ever]

I've been going to Buffett shows since the 70's and haven't sat in the lawn for years because of the drunks. I remember at one time you could take a young kid to the shows and sit in the lawn and everyone would be real cool and friendly and nice to your child. Now I wouldn't take a child to a show, not at the age my son was when he first attended a Buffett show that's for sure. The lawn crowd has grown more obnoxious throughout the years. It's as if the younger kids (sorry but your age included) often have these jerkoffs who will get so wasted they ruin the fun for all around them. It's not like I haven't been wasted at a show, or have had friends wasted that I needed to take care of. It's the mentality of the people today that's the problem, IMHO. The younger generations have lost civility so much that it's now a class at George Mason University. The younger generations parents neglected to teach some of them manners, respect and tolerance and it often shows up in their behavior out in public. It doesn't have to be a concert, you find young jerks EVERYWHERE.

[maid memories]

I've been going to Buffett shows since the 70's and haven't sat in the lawn for years because of the drunks. I remember at one time you could take a young kid to the shows and sit in the lawn and everyone would be real cool and friendly and nice to your child. Now I wouldn't take a child to a show, not at the age my son was when he first attended a Buffett show that's for sure. The lawn crowd has grown more obnoxious throughout the years. It's as if the younger kids (sorry but your age included) often have these jerkoffs who will get so wasted they ruin the fun for all around them. It's not like I haven't been wasted at a show, or have had friends wasted that I needed to take care of. It's the mentality of the people today that's the problem, IMHO. The younger generations have lost civility so much that it's now a class at George Mason University. The younger generations parents neglected to teach some of them manners, respect and tolerance and it often shows up in their behavior out in public. It doesn't have to be a concert, you find young jerks EVERYWHERE.

My mama whipped my butt when I was ugly in public. I feel like the codger when I go to the movies or a concert and people are being rude around me. I'm the first person to let them know they're annoying 99% of the people around them. Another couple of years and I'll be Clint Eastwood with a shotgun yelling at them to "Get off my lawn!"

[LIPH]

[ph4ever]

I've been going to Buffett shows since the 70's and haven't sat in the lawn for years because of the drunks. I remember at one time you could take a young kid to the shows and sit in the lawn and everyone would be real cool and friendly and nice to your child. Now I wouldn't take a child to a show, not at the age my son was when he first attended a Buffett show that's for sure. The lawn crowd has grown more obnoxious throughout the years. It's as if the younger kids (sorry but your age included) often have these jerkoffs who will get so wasted they ruin the fun for all around them. It's not like I haven't been wasted at a show, or have had friends wasted that I needed to take care of. It's the mentality of the people today that's the problem, IMHO. The younger generations have lost civility so much that it's now a class at George Mason University. The younger generations parents neglected to teach some of them manners, respect and tolerance and it often shows up in their behavior out in public. It doesn't have to be a concert, you find young jerks EVERYWHERE.

My mama whipped my butt when I was ugly in public. I feel like the codger when I go to the movies or a concert and people are being rude around me. I'm the first person to let them know they're annoying 99% of the people around them. Another couple of years and I'll be Clint Eastwood with a shotgun yelling at them to "Get off my lawn!"

You can't whip your kids anymore, at least not in public (Thank you child protective services across the nation. ) I remember if I got told twice to behave, when the 3rd time rolled around my butt was taken to the restroom and I got a spanking. If I were with my dad, I'd get taken out to the car and get it. Pretty soon I learned to behave and I wouldn't get a spanking.

[Tiki Torches]

How disrespectful and in utter pour taste.

I can appreciate the irony.

[captainalex]

LOL. I didn't even realize I did that.

[catsway]

We sat in section 8 in Tampa. I think the same drunk punks were sitting two rows in front of us. That combined with dude behind me yelling for us to sit down made for some bummer moments. It all was better when the off-duty officer sitting next to us wanted to thank us for the contact high we were giving him.

[Finnsaremorefun]

First off, apologies for the blemish on an otherwise joyous evening. I have to post just to try to represent the youthful parrothead contingent that too, enjoys the music without all of the other nonsense. I am 23 and have loved Buffett since I was about 11 or 12. I was the first follower in my family and after I was hooked, my passion has caught on with my entire family and multiple friends alike.

I know after hearing about such an experience that it'd be easy to paint all college aged kids as drunks that 'don't get it'. I know that was not the intention of the original post or poster, but I know many do not believe someone my age could possibly be a true follower. I just want to reassure the phlock that there are many of us in the younger generation that truly appreciate what a rare act Jimmy is. Not only that, his music rescues me from the Upper Peninsula's winters and takes me to another place, as he does for us all.

So I guess the purpose of my post is to 1) apologize for the idiotic youth and 2) show you that there IS young, passionate followers just like you.

Enjoy tonight's concert everyone!

[captainalex]

You have nothing to apologize Finnsaremorefun. I started my adventures in Margaritaville when I was 19 and haven't looked back. It has very little to do with age. Like being a Parrothead is a state of mind, the two young punks who hassled me like they worked for San Juan customs were just jerks.

Like I said the thing that bothered me the most was the punk who was screaming "F**K YOU JIMMY BUFFETT! WE'RE ONLY HERE TO GET WASTED!" To me a faithful Parrothead it's like going to church during Sunday service and yelling "F**K YOU JESUS! WE'RE ONLY HERE FOR THE HOLY WAFFERS!" (ok not an exact linkage but you get the point)

It's offensive as a member of the flock.

[Reefdiver]

First of all...not ALL young people are douchebags like the ones you encountered. Sadly though, you're gonna encounter a few no matter where you go anymore. You're also going to encounter older douchebags too. I've found that the older I get, the less appealing the lawn is to me. This year I opted for lawns instead of the usual pavillion seats because there were 8 of us and no one really wanted to spend the $'s for seats.
Ok....fast forward to the start of the show. We had our blankets in place and thought we were good to go. Ilo starts his set and 2, mid to late 20's girls appear right in front of us. Pretty drunk BTW. OK...they have a right to stand in front of me....I mean it is the lawn right. Apparently, they worked together and felt like bitc$ing about their jobs. They bitc#ed through Ilo's entire set. Keep in mind they were no more than 2 feet in front of me, and were very vocal about how they felt. I bit my tongue and figured they had to stop when Jimmy took the stage. Nope....they kept right on doing their yelling back and forth. By the time Brown Eyed Girl started ( second song ) I had had enough. I figured I could look like a grumpy older guy and tell them to either shut up or move, but I decided to play the diplomat instead. I simply put one arm around the first girl, then my other arm around the 2nd girl. I started dancing with them in my arms and singing BEG. They IMMEDIATELY started singing along with me and dancing. We danced and sang for about 3/4 of the song when I very nicely danced them both off to the side of our spot and said " enjoy the show girls". Didnt hear them bitc%ing anymore the entire show. I then went back to my group and enjoyed the remainder of the show. Even my wife and daughter thought I handled it well. I fully expected my wife to elbow me in the gut for dancing with 2 cute women, but she didnt. I know that wouldnt have worked in your situation, but the old saying about catching more flys with honey than vinegar, apparently works.

[looking4OPH]

How disrespectful and in utter pour taste.

I can appreciate the irony.

Glad I'm not the only one who noticed that.......

[looking4OPH]

I simply put one arm around the first girl, then my other arm around the 2nd girl. I started dancing with them in my arms and singing BEG. They IMMEDIATELY started singing along with me and dancing. We danced and sang for about 3/4 of the song when I very nicely danced them both off to the side of our spot and said " enjoy the show girls". Didnt hear them bitc%ing anymore the entire show.

Wow, that was just magical! Good job. So odd how a decision made in one direction over another at a split second in time can change things so much.

[captainalex]

I don't think putting my arms around dumb and dumber were going to make my situation any better. However I'm glad your solution worked for you. It does make everything easier when the other party is receptive to dancing and singing diplomacy.

[sonofabeach]

I simply put one arm around the first girl, then my other arm around the 2nd girl. I started dancing with them in my arms and singing BEG. They IMMEDIATELY started singing along with me and dancing. We danced and sang for about 3/4 of the song when I very nicely danced them both off to the side of our spot and said " enjoy the show girls". Didnt hear them bitc%ing anymore the entire show.

Wow, that was just magical!

especially if he copped a feel!!

[maid memories]

This is essentially me every time somebody starts acting a fool in public and making everybody else's experience a little worse. What happened to decorum? I've quit being nervous about being the enforcer. Concerts, movies...they all have security to get rid of people nowadays that can't adhere to standards of common decency.