It was 10 years ago today..

[OldFriendTheSquid]

Probably the best concert I've ever been to in my life..I can remember it like it was yesterday:

Emotions were high after 9/11. American flags outnumbered parrothead decor. There was a perfect blend of fall crispness/summer warmness in the air and not a cloud in the sky. The day was spent drinking margaritas and Corona's, throwing football, grilling cheeseburgers, and meeting/reconnecting/hanging with fellow P-Heads. As darkness fell you could just tell we were in for a special treat, not just your average Saturday night show in the suburbs of Chicago. The feeling in the air was magical, as a if there was a sense of urgency to get into the show so we could forget about the nation's grief for a little while.

I remember everyone seemed to love each other at this show. Strangers stopping strangers, just to shake their hand. I walked in with a lawn seat ticket, but my friends had upgraded to great pavilion seats scored in the lot. I knew that I would waltz right by security and sit with them, and that everything would be OK. And I did. And everything was OK. Now onto the show itself.

Jimmy didn't dissapoint. Each and every song was played with an enthusiasm but seriousness that I'd never heard from Buffett before. It was a fun and joyful atmosphere, but it wasn't a joke and the set had a very serious tone. 'One Particular Harbor' took on a life of its own, and I'd be lying if I said it didn't bring a tear to my eye. The main highlight of the 1st set was 'Barefoot Children in the Rain', wow, if you have a copy of this show or can obtain one just listen and see what I mean! I just happen to have a crusty old copy some "Buffetnews" dweller named 'Gumby' made for me 10 years ago...and I think I'll give it a listen later.

Anyway, I made my way up to the lawn with my friend Joey to listen to the acoustic set. 'Jolly Mon' and 'Coast is Clear' were perfect selections and I always loved this point in the shows. Jimmy speaks and its just him and Mac-a very intiment part of the night. The 2nd set is played perfectly but no true highlights. But the encores were a different story and really seperate this show from others. 'Saturday Night' was standard but then Jimmy steps to the mic and says were all going to heal now. 'City of New Orleans', written by Steve Goodman, with its famous line .."good morning, America, how are you!", a song I had never heard Buffett perform, was simply awesome. Everyone is blazing and filled with patriotic tears and American pride! Jimmy knows what he's doing. And when he says he is sending us home with a special treat, we know we're for something good. 'In My Life' written by John Lennon, was the PERFECT song to end the night. Chills, and I mean chills when I even speak of it today, fill my body when I think of the emotion I felt as Jimmy sang. Thos eof you that were there know what I mean. Not a dry eye in the house..

He steps up to the mic one last time at songs end. He bids us good night, says God Bless America!, and that he hoped his concert helped us heal just a little bit. It did. Somewhere I used to have a picture of me and my friend taken after this show and the look on our faces says it all. I wish I could find that picture so I could be transformed back in time to that night, just for a few minutes, because it was a great night both musically and spiritually. Good night, a good night indeed.


Beach Odyssey Tour
Tweeter Center Chicago – Tinley Park IL
Saturday September 29th, 2001



Hot, Hot, Hot
Beach Odyssey theme (spoken by Jimmy)

1 Only Time Will Tell
2 One Particular Harbour
3 Brown Eyed Girl
4 Frank And Lola
5 Grapefruit-Juicy Fruit
6 Meet Me In Memphis
7 Come Monday
8 Jamaica Mistaica
9 Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes
10 Barefoot Children In The Rain
11 Volcano
12 Cheeseburger In Paradise

Intermission
Video: Referee Video
Video: Making of the album “Far Side of the World”

13 Jolly Mon Sing (acoustic)
14 When The Coast Is Clear (acoustic)
15 Last Mango In Paris
16 Boat Drinks
17 Why Don't We Get Drunk and Screw
18 That’s My Story And I’m Stickin’ To It
19 A Pirate Looks At Forty
20 Desperation Samba (Halloween In Tijuana)
21 Fins
22 Southern Cross
23 Margaritaville

First Encore:
24 Another Saturday Night
25 City Of New Orleans (Steve Goodman)

Second Encore:
26 In My Life (the Beatles)

[KruzinParrots]

What a great memory. Thanks for sharing it with us.

FINS UP ^^

[daaave33]

It gave me chills just reading it. Wish I could have been there, but thanks for illustrating it so well!
~ A3 ~

[Karacal]

Thanks for sharing your wonderful memory!!

[phjrsaunt]

I'm so glad you shared that.

[drunkpirate66]

I don't usually come around here much at this time of the year but I am glad I did because of this thread. I love and appreciate stories like these; not just 9/11 related but stories of positive experiences only Parrot Heads can illustrate so confidently.

Thank you for a good read.

[Bfan53again]

Nice......

[Deanna]

Really nice! Thanks!!

[conched]

Listening to that show now. Thanks for the suggestion and nice story.

The Coast Is Clear is very nice!!! Good memories of Amy Lee, who is featured on CIC. Made me think of the Gulf Coast show too.

[aeroparrot]

Damn allergies.

[SchoolGirlHeart]

I was there. It was only my second live Buffett show. I knew it was my last one for a while: I'd already been recalled to active duty and left a couple of weeks later. It was pre-Buffettnews days for me. My friend and I didn't tailgate because she had to work. I think I felt almost every emotion in the book that night.....

[Red Parrot]

Old Friend... that was one of the best posts I read in a while. Moments captured in time that you never get back. I often say of being a Parrothead that you "get it" or just don't. You get it my friend. Fins up!

[Wino you know]

I was there. It was a GREAT concert.
Somebody here (I forgot who) made me a C.D. of that show. I listen to it every so often and still get goose bumps.