Is there anything different?

chitownpirate · Post by **chitownpirate** » January 31, 2006 11:47 pm

I'm 28 years old I know that there are plenty of people on BN born after me and even more born before.
I'm wondering what you people who were my age during the 70's and 80's thought of the shows and the general atmosphere around Buffett fans...specifically, what's different and are we missing anything now that you experienced back then?

Wino you know · Post by **Wino you know** » February 1, 2006 12:26 am

Well, I'm 54, and I didn't go to my first Jimmy Buffett concert until 1987 (at the tender young age of 35).
Probably the biggest thing you missed out on was hearing some of his classics when they were new, but, of course, with Jimmy, all of his songs are timeless.
Crowds were pretty much the same-partying, parrothead gear, and generally just out for a good time. Of the 30-plus concerts of his that I've been to, I don't think I had any REALLY bad experience.
(Other than what happened to me at Alpine Valley in 2000-it COULD have been a bad experience, but in the end it turned out to be very funny-unless your name is Garry Joseph).
But 10 year from now, if there are still concerts, you'll find that the atmosphere and ambience of the songs are just about the same.
And you'll have fun.

chitownpirate · Post by **chitownpirate** » February 1, 2006 12:30 am

Wino you know wrote:Well, I'm 54, and I didn't go to my first Jimmy Buffett concert until 1987 (at the tender young age of 35).
Probably the biggest thing you missed out on was hearing some of his classics when they were new, but, of course, with Jimmy, all of his songs are timeless.
Crowds were pretty much the same-partying, parrothead gear, and generally just out for a good time. Of the 30-plus concerts of his that I've been to, I don't think I had any REALLY bad experience.
(Other than what happened to me at Alpine Valley in 2000-it COULD have been a bad experience, but in the end it turned out to be very funny-unless your name is Garry Joseph).
But 10 year from now, if there are still concerts, you'll find that the atmosphere and ambience of the songs are just about the same.
And you'll have fun.

Thanks Wino....I was Alpine that year....you didn't happen to be on the bus from Bloomington/Normal?
There was a fight, someone passed out, and in the end there were 2 extra tickets.

Wino you know · Post by **Wino you know** » February 1, 2006 12:36 am

No, I was on the bus from Cedar Rapids.
I have a few friends with the Bloomington & Peoria groups, and heard about the fight, but didn't get all the details.
All I know was I had a great time.
(And was able to be at the Key Wester in Naperville when Amy Lee, Doyle Grisham, and T.C. Mitchell jammed with the local band, Boat Drunks.

On The Edge · Post by **On The Edge** » February 1, 2006 12:52 am

74 shows, 22 venues, 25 years - Somehow Jimmy Buffett has managed to keep the Magic alive. Today, the shows are a bit more rehearsed, same lines different city, (you know what I mean), more indoor shows, fewer and fewer day time shows, he once had hair, he use to play drunk, he use to play high. Yet, he still manages to surprise us, continuing to show up in small clubs ( Fillmore SF, Belly Up Alpine), the return of Freddy and the Fishticks (proving that it was not just a myth), and some of the music industries best cameo appearances.

Overall, he has stayed true to his audience. Other than the differences listed above, he use to have some amazing opening acts, and would often feature some of the best local talent. This feature of his shows is all but gone.

Travis McGee · Post by **Travis McGee** » February 1, 2006 5:59 am

I went to my first show in 1980. I was 16 years old. We had 12th row seats. First of all. it was a lot easier getting tickets then. There was not as much competition for them. I have seen Buffett more than 100 times since then, and there are some changes. The shows seem to no longer be laid back. They seemed to be less "A1A" and more "Don't stop the carnival".
I don't know if that is a good thing. I really look forward to seeing JB in concert, but I wish once in a while he would scale it back to the band of the old days. I also notice in some of the old photos, not a Hawaiin shirt in sight. I guess in the day, we didn't put as much thought into what we wore.
I remember being at a concert (I think it was 1984, but couldn't swear too it, too many Moosehead beers!) and looking around and saying "where the hell did all these people come from?" It was amazing. My brother and I always wished Buffett was successful enough so that he would tour ever year. Amazingly enough, since 1980 (the first year for my brother and me) he is one of the few artists who has.

tikitodd · Post by **tikitodd** » February 1, 2006 9:03 am

I was just talkin' to someone yesterday that said they remember seeing JB play at a small college down south in the 70's. This person claimed they paid only 50 cents to get in to hear JB! So I guess that IS one small difference. I paid $92 to see him last summer! But as usual, worth every penny!!

Prthd119 · Post by **Prthd119** » February 1, 2006 9:10 am

tikitodd wrote:I was just talkin' to someone yesterday that said they remember seeing JB play at a small college down south in the 70's. This person claimed they paid only 50 cents to get in to hear JB! So I guess that IS one small difference. I paid $92 to see him last summer! But as usual, worth every penny!!

I paid $5 to see him at The Citadel in Charleston..in ..well it was either 1974 or 1975...

He was told , by letter, he was not welcome back there, after playing WDWGDAS....

Cubbie Bear · Post by **Cubbie Bear** » February 1, 2006 9:19 am

I saw him in '78 for about $7.50. My Mom lectured me for spending $15.00 to see one show, when "You can buy all his albums for that and have them the rest of your life"

Previous hit it on the head, he was more spontanious, less rehersed, more profane and more country/rock, rather than country/calipso/rock. The minute the lights went down, 80% of the place started "sparkin".

Then there was the "mid-life crisis" Jimmy in the early/mid 80's doing hour shows, like he could care less. He almost lost me after Poplar Creek, '85. In fact it was several years before we went again, but he (and I ) recovered nicely

Jahfin · Post by **Jahfin** » February 1, 2006 9:23 am

chitownpirate wrote:I'm wondering what you people who were my age during the 70's and 80's thought of the shows and the general atmosphere around Buffett fans...specifically, what's different and are we missing anything now that you experienced back then?

Buffett wasn't thought of as a nostalgia act back then and played more cuts from his new albums when he was on tour in support of them. The Parrothead contingent was nearly non-existent and Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band were actually more of a band back then rather than a frontman and a backing band as they seem to be now. In that regard the shows were also a lot more spontaneous without relying on a structured setlist from night to night. There were usually few (if any) props and the size of the band didn't reach orchestra-like levels. Some things that haven't changed are the loyalty and rabidness of the fans and Buffett's ability to deliver an outstanding live show night after night.

LIPH · Post by **LIPH** » February 1, 2006 9:28 am

I've been a fan since the '70s but I didn't go to my first live show until 1987. Maybe I'm in the minority here but back then I think people were more interested in the music than the tailgating. Now, it seems to me there are a lot of people who only come to the shows so they can get hammered in the parking lot.

tikitodd · Post by **tikitodd** » February 1, 2006 9:36 am

Prthd119 wrote: I paid $5 to see him at The Citadel in Charleston..in ..well it was either 1974 or 1975...

He was told , by letter, he was not welcome back there, after playing WDWGDAS....

That is a great story. For someone who just started seeing Buffett concerts for the past 7 summers (haven't missed one yet in those 7 years), it is so cool to hear these concert stories from "back in the day".

One way I try to imagine the beginning of all this parrothead madness is by listening to the double CD "You had to be there". It is amazing the differences between that recording and the newer live CDs. I really enjoy his versions from the past. Old school Buffett!

ToplessRideFL · Post by **ToplessRideFL** » February 1, 2006 9:37 am

Many good points here.... and truths!

I saw my first "concert" in 1977 when I was 17. Tampa Stadium... Jimmy opened for the Eagles. There was no tailgating so to speak.... and really not alot of dressed up parrot heads.... That didnt start until the 80s as I recall... I mean there were some who donned the grass skirt or funny hats.... but not the majority.

And in the seventies.... a lot of folks smoked pot... which mellows people out.... so they were more into the music than the party so to speak.

The first time I saw Jimmy .... it was on the beach... just him and his guitar... I was playing volleyball and he was sitting outside on a barstool with a mic and a guitar. I was barely in highschool. It was free as I recall.

But its was ALWAYS about escapism.... that hasnt changed.

SO.... the big differences now IMO...

Commercialism, Technology and Inflation. Pretty much the normal progression of things....

Jahfin · Post by **Jahfin** » February 1, 2006 9:44 am

ToplessRideFL wrote:Commercialism, Technology and Inflation. Pretty much the normal progression of things....

Except when applied to Buffett's contemporaries at the time such as Guy Clark, Steve Goodman, Jerry Jeff Walker, Jesse Winchester, John Prine, etc. who are all (with the obvious exception of the late, great Mr. Goodman) are performing largely to the same cult size audiences they were in the 70s. A bit part of what's changed, for better or for worse, is the whole Parrothead phenomenon and Buffett capitalizing on his fanbase through the Margaritaville franchise. I'm not saying these are necessarily bad things, I'm just saying they're a big part of the change. Instead of opening the first Margaritaville in Key West Buffett could have just allowed himself to slip into obscurity as a one hit wonder but being the wise businessman that he is, that didn't happen. I don't fault him for doing that one bit but with it has come lots of positives and negatives.

Prthd119 · Post by **Prthd119** » February 1, 2006 9:47 am

ToplessRideFL wrote:Many good points here.... and truths!

I saw my first "concert" in 1977 when I was 17. Tampa Stadium... Jimmy opened for the Eagles. There was no tailgating so to speak.... and really not alot of dressed up parrot heads.... That didnt start until the 80s as I recall... I mean there were some who donned the grass skirt or funny hats.... but not the majority.

And in the seventies.... a lot of folks smoked pot... which mellows people out.... so they were more into the music than the party so to speak.

The first time I saw Jimmy .... it was on the beach... just him and his guitar... I was playing volleyball and he was sitting outside on a barstool with a mic and a guitar. I was barely in highschool. It was free as I recall.

But its was ALWAYS about escapism.... that hasnt changed.

SO.... the big differences now IMO...

Commercialism, Technology and Inflation. Pretty much the normal progression of things....

I know nothing......

RinglingRingling · Post by **RinglingRingling** » February 1, 2006 9:49 am

Jahfin wrote:
ToplessRideFL wrote:Commercialism, Technology and Inflation. Pretty much the normal progression of things....
Except when applied to Buffett's contemporaries at the time such as Guy Clark, Steve Goodman, Jerry Jeff Walker, Jesse Winchester, John Prine, etc. who are all (with the obvious exception of the late, great Mr. Goodman) are performing largely to the same cult size audiences they were in the 70s. A bit part of what's changed, for better or for worse, is the whole Parrothead phenomenon and Buffett capitalizing on his fanbase through the Margaritaville franchise. I'm not saying these are necessarily bad things, I'm just saying they're a big part of the change. Instead of opening the first Margaritaville in Key West Buffett could have just allowed himself to slip into obscurity as a one hit wonder but being the wise businessman that he is, that didn't happen. I don't fault him for doing that one bit but with it has come lots of positives and negatives.

it's probably a bit hard to do those three with Steve Goodman...

ToplessRideFL · Post by **ToplessRideFL** » February 1, 2006 9:51 am

Jahfin wrote:A bit part of what's changed, for better or for worse, is the whole Parrothead phenomenon and Buffett capitalizing on his fanbase through the Margaritaville franchise. I'm not saying these are necessarily bad things, I'm just saying they're a big part of the change. Instead of opening the first Margaritaville in Key West Buffett could have just allowed himself to slip into obscurity as a one hit wonder but being the wise businessman that he is, that didn't happen. I don't fault him for doing that one bit but with it has come lots of positives and negatives.

I agree with you.... All we had back then was the music. And maybe a t shirt or 2. There were no cafe's... no Internet sites, no BN..... the music was the escape. And here in FLorida... we took to it like a fish takes to water.

ToplessRideFL · Post by **ToplessRideFL** » February 1, 2006 9:52 am

Prthd119 wrote:

I know nothing......

Me either.... I waited until the 80s to induldge.....

chitownpirate · Post by **chitownpirate** » February 1, 2006 9:54 am

tikitodd wrote:
Prthd119 wrote: I paid $5 to see him at The Citadel in Charleston..in ..well it was either 1974 or 1975...

He was told , by letter, he was not welcome back there, after playing WDWGDAS....
That is a great story. For someone who just started seeing Buffett concerts for the past 7 summers (haven't missed one yet in those 7 years), it is so cool to hear these concert stories from "back in the day".

One way I try to imagine the beginning of all this parrothead madness is by listening to the double CD "You had to be there". It is amazing the differences between that recording and the newer live CDs. I really enjoy his versions from the past. Old school Buffett!

Looks like we're in the same boat, Tikitod- I started in 1999 also. I guess we should consider ourselves lucky that there are old recordings of the Exit In, Live on KSAN, etc...
'Introducing Jimmy Buffett' was pretty cool to watch...that's the only way we could actually see the Key West of yesterday, and JB and his friends not playing in front of thousands.

Prthd119 · Post by **Prthd119** » February 1, 2006 9:54 am

ToplessRideFL wrote:
Jahfin wrote:A bit part of what's changed, for better or for worse, is the whole Parrothead phenomenon and Buffett capitalizing on his fanbase through the Margaritaville franchise. I'm not saying these are necessarily bad things, I'm just saying they're a big part of the change. Instead of opening the first Margaritaville in Key West Buffett could have just allowed himself to slip into obscurity as a one hit wonder but being the wise businessman that he is, that didn't happen. I don't fault him for doing that one bit but with it has come lots of positives and negatives.
I agree with you.... All we had back then was the music. And maybe a t shirt or 2. There were no cafe's... no Internet sites, no BN..... the music was the escape. And here in FLorida... we took to it like a fish takes to water.

We did on the Coast of Carolina too...

That's the first place I saw him..and it was 1974..in a bar..in North Carolina...visiting a friend who was at the Citadel..who consequently had a hand in the concert there......

He was in rare form..talked a lot back then and told the stories about the songs...

and he made me laugh..and he made me cry...

and I was hooked.

Never looked back.

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