Newport Not What Was Promised

[Docktails at 5]

I love Jimmy's old stuff from the 70's. Don't like the covers or a lot of the new stuff. But I go to the concerts because I love escaping for a few hours. When it stops becoming fun, and when the cost/benefit ratio gets too high, then I'll stop. I hate DFB's, but I love it when I run into 3 generations of one family there, or the great friends I meet, if only for a few hours, or countless other great people. Those are the reasons I go. And I do still enjoy Jimmy singing. I'm enjoying him while I still can.

[Catch&Release]

I think Jimmy should play Bama Breeze every concert. He does have alot of 20ish fans that do appreciate all his music, but feel connected to the Bama Breeze song because it's new. Now, I can't stand seeing young annoying kids drunk out of their heads that go only for the party and don't know anything about Buffett, but I can't stand any age people that do that.

Dude, Jimmy is not playing 'Bama Breeze, in my opinion, because it requires him to hit notes in his singing the refrain that I don't know if he could duplicate on stage. Plus it is a slow, boring song with a vapid message.

[parrothead_nj]

Provide reciepts of all the CDs they have purchased or show pictures of what they own. At least show old ticket stubs or something.

I'm in...Here are my ticketstubs.

[RinglingRingling]

I had the "why does he play the same stuff all the time" conversation with the gentleman in charge of booking at a medium sized venue nearby after a Willie Nelson concert. Our talk evolved into what is expected of artists in general when they are booked into a venue. What it comes down to is quite simple...the venue includes in its contract certain songs that the artist MUST play. They also give a time slot that the show MUST be performed in, so the days of the four hour Dead shows are long gone.

I think the only way Jimmy could do a tour with songs that most people here would like would be to announce it was going to be an acoustic tour only...no Peter or Jim, no Utley, no Roger Guth, just Jimmy and maybe Mac and Robert on the pans. Then the concert venues could take it or leave it. And, I think a bunch of the bigger venues might leave it.
It seems to me that maybe the setlists get old to some people because they go to so many shows. I realize that most of you go for the party and the friends, but hearing Margaritaville 15 times a year has got to grow on you. After Anguilla, I said I wasnt' going to any more shows, because nothing could live up to that experience...well, I'll be at Jones Beach in a few weeks for my first show since the island. And, I'm looking forward to it...Margaritaville and all the rest.

It does sound to me that maybe Jimmy went back on his word. Who among us hasn't, whether knowingly or un-knowingly. The lesson learned for Jimmy, and all of us, is "sometimes we should just shut the ----up."

And on that note, I'll take my own advice

somehow, with Jimmy being one of the few acts to come even close to putting butts in every possible seat and sq. in. of lawn, I don't think he is in quite the same position as the Grand Funk Railroad-Loverboy-The Knack tour saying, "we're not gonna do hits, we're gonna do deep tracks off our album(s)"

[Catch&Release]

I think Jimmy should play Bama Breeze every concert. He does have alot of 20ish fans that do appreciate all his music, but feel connected to the Bama Breeze song because it's new. Now, I can't stand seeing young annoying kids drunk out of their heads that go only for the party and don't know anything about Buffett, but I can't stand any age people that do that.

Dude, Jimmy is not playing 'Bama Breeze, in my opinion, because it requires him to hit notes in his singing the refrain that I don't know if he could duplicate on stage. Plus it is a slow, boring song with a vapid message.

I stand corrected. He played Bama Breeze at length in 2007. I still think it's the most tiresome song on TTWWY

www.buffettnews.com/resources/songs/?song=588

[JustDucky]

Hey Finnsaremorefun, are you actually a frat boy? One of those big silly drunken oafs in college and also at a Buffett show? Or are you just thinking that the term is strictly reserved for a certain age and that all people between 18 and whatever, 24, are frat boys?

Or do you resemble the remark?

Just curious, because that dude is right - there is a lot of frat boy behaviour at Buffett shows, along with the rude ignorant oafs that talk through a song they don't know because it's not on SJPTD. And over the years that behaviour has gotten to be embarrassing. As in to say you are a Buffett fan - because then people automatically assume you are a Parrothead. Which means you are a drunken rowdy out of control moron eating cheeseburgers and getting sloppy on bad margaritas singing along to 3 songs to most people.

Oh yeah - I don't boycott Buffett's shows because the set lists are boring and predictable and that will teach Jimmy - I just don't make the effort to go anymore because the set list is boring and predictable. I don't expect him to change anything. In fact, I'm surprised he doesn't play more of his SJPTD tunes and more covers.

[Finnsaremorefun]

Hey Finnsaremorefun, are you actually a frat boy? One of those big silly drunken oafs in college and also at a Buffett show? Or are you just thinking that the term is strictly reserved for a certain age and that all people between 18 and whatever, 24, are frat boys?

Or do you resemble the remark?

Just curious, because that dude is right - there is a lot of frat boy behaviour at Buffett shows, along with the rude ignorant oafs that talk through a song they don't know because it's not on SJPTD. And over the years that behaviour has gotten to be embarrassing. As in to say you are a Buffett fan - because then people automatically assume you are a Parrothead. Which means you are a drunken rowdy out of control moron eating cheeseburgers and getting sloppy on bad margaritas singing along to 3 songs to most people.

Oh yeah - I don't boycott Buffett's shows because the set lists are boring and predictable and that will teach Jimmy - I just don't make the effort to go anymore because the set list is boring and predictable. I don't expect him to change anything. In fact, I'm surprised he doesn't play more of his SJPTD tunes and more covers.

As a matter of fact, I am 21, just turned, and don't drink. I should've cleared that up before you wasted 3 paragraphs asking.

[Finnsaremorefun]

I think Jimmy should play Bama Breeze every concert. He does have alot of 20ish fans that do appreciate all his music, but feel connected to the Bama Breeze song because it's new. Now, I can't stand seeing young annoying kids drunk out of their heads that go only for the party and don't know anything about Buffett, but I can't stand any age people that do that.

Dude, Jimmy is not playing 'Bama Breeze, in my opinion, because it requires him to hit notes in his singing the refrain that I don't know if he could duplicate on stage. Plus it is a slow, boring song with a vapid message.

I stand corrected. He played Bama Breeze at length in 2007. I still think it's the most tiresome song on TTWWY

www.buffettnews.com/resources/songs/?song=588

Also, above, I did not make the quote about 'Bama Breeze'...scroll up

[popcornjack]

Oh yeah - I don't boycott Buffett's shows because the set lists are boring and predictable and that will teach Jimmy - I just don't make the effort to go anymore because the set list is boring and predictable.

That may be the funniest thing I've read in a long time.

[Finnsaremorefun]

I have come to find that through my time on this board, that not only are us group of followers very passionate about our music -- but to the extent that we so selfishly wrap ourselves up in it that we feel almost violated when someone else 'threatens' to like it as much as we do.

Maybe this underground competitive environment is what really drives this 40+ year phenom. And ironically, it backstabs the vibe in which the music is suppose to give.

Just a thought, but you can't ignore it..unfortunately.

[Randy1278]

I think Jimmy should play Bama Breeze every concert. He does have alot of 20ish fans that do appreciate all his music, but feel connected to the Bama Breeze song because it's new. Now, I can't stand seeing young annoying kids drunk out of their heads that go only for the party and don't know anything about Buffett, but I can't stand any age people that do that.

Dude, Jimmy is not playing 'Bama Breeze, in my opinion, because it requires him to hit notes in his singing the refrain that I don't know if he could duplicate on stage. Plus it is a slow, boring song with a vapid message.

For the record, I did not write that Jimmy should play Bama Breeze and the rest of that quote. That was a misquote by someone else. However, I could go either way with the song.

[ParrotheadPeteNJ]

I bought tickets the first day-in part of the hope of going solo after my friends said they'd be too busy to go. Life got in the way I really missed seeing Newport. However as even the HOJO's outside of Newport was $250 a night I'm glad for financial reasons that I did not go. Jimmy said it was going to be a non standard Parrothead show and it appears from what all have said that Jimmy did say that the set list would not be a normal set list (why I wanted to go to Newport). Either Jimmy decided that it would be a bad idea to play a non Parrothead set or more likely he decided not to bother.

I think Jimmy has gone through the motions for some time now in terms of a creative set list-but at this point you pretty much know what you are going to get. I have also heard and seen many stories on how Jimmy
is the shrewed (sometimes nasty) businessman. Like many others (jaded?)
at the music industry he does what he has to do. You go for the standard setlist with the nice cover or two-and enjoy the partying with the other Parrotheads.

I love Jimmy and he's always been nice in terms of giving me a fins up while on stage or passing but it seems to be all about the Margaritaville and Landshark brand now (it's possible he could have problems such as health that limit him). His time is likely spread way to thin to focus solely on the music. In fact I just saw his "successor" Kenny Chesney in New Jersey and frankly at this point Chesney's show blows Jimmy's away. By the way I was 5th row for that show and saw the setlist. Chesney had a great night, reminisced about the venue (ironically I was outside selling tickets for one of the earlier shows) and ad libbed a few additional songs to the setlist including Steve Miller's "The Joker".

I spent my Newport money on the 3 (saw 2) Bruce Springsteen shows at Giants Stadium. Bruce at 58 still puts on the best show in music-he changes his set list immensely nightly and even went out into the crowd each night to collect signs for requests/oddities. Bruce may not be on the other worldly level he and the band were at 35 but he's made up for it with his showmanship. Yes due to the varying setlist you may miss a "Thunder Road" at a given show. However Bruce fans see multiple shows. And by the way by showtime the "easy" tickets for the 3 shows (admittedly 150,000 seats for Jersey were much less than usual)-especially last Thursday-became impossible. I landed my seat due to a contact who landed a block from the box office that was supposed to be saved for Bruce (reportedly the Governor wanted those seats, was ticked off and made a big deal of it). That's repeat business folks.

[Finnsaremorefun]

Not only do I hope Jimmy mixes it up, but I hope some of this forum alters their own thoughts to be accepting to its own fan base. Sometimes we get too selfish, too spoiled, until our passion is gone for good...

Well said!

Thank you - I think its very true..

[PA PAR8 HED]

I've come to the conclusion that we have Don't Stop the Carnival - the Musical to blame.

I think that was the one real flop for Jimmy, especially one that he invested so much of his soul into (or at least that is the impression I got).

Perhaps the lesson he took away from that venture is that branching out from the safety of what his is know best for is too risky.

Now I don't think the show was that big of a stretch for him (didn't like the songs though). But maybe he thought anything with Jimmy Buffett's name on it better have Margaritaville close behind. But as a whole, tickets to that show is the one thing we as "mindless followers" did not buy - at least not enough to make it a success.

As far as the Newport set list goes, that would have been the perfect environment to pull out songs people don't already know. Isn't that the point of a music festival, to hear new music?

I think DSTC has made Jimmy affraid of flopping.

[Cane Garden Bay]

I had a great time, it was sunny perfect day, the scenery was beautiful, and the people were great. Watching Jimmy by the water with all the sailboats was fun. Jimmy sounded wonderful and his concerts always make me smile so that good enough for me. Plus we got to see jake that day too.

[wanderingtoes]

Breath In, Breath Out, Move On. When he retires and plays only his Margaritaville Cafe's he can sing anything he wants, but right now there is no doubt he feels and obligation to play a lot of the songs people know by heart. I think it is called entertainment. I have only been to 18 concerts and I liked them all. In a small way we are like concert snobs, but entitlement to set lists we don't have. Since most people on BN's like all of his music, it makes us different. Two of my friends, New PH's went to the Chicago concert, they saw the first one, found tickets, stayed over and saw the second. Now that is all they want to talk about, maybe that is what it is about.

[tryin' to reason]

I think Jimmy would love to change up his setlist but would get so many complaints. Out of the 15,000 people or so that go to his shows, what percentage do you think would actually know songs like treat her like a lady, king of somewhere hot, thats my story and im sticking to it, etc. Not many! Most of the people that goto shows are familiar with the SYKBH album and thats pretty much it. I compare it when I go to other shows such as Tom Petty and Bruce. I know the greatest hits buts thats about it. If I went to one of those shows and they played all stuff I didnt know I would be upset. Of course we here, all jimmy die hards would love to hear a new set list filled with those classic gems and treasures he rarely plays but it is just not feasible for the 80% of people there that are not avid PHs. Hopefully one day, Jimmy will tour little backyard places and small exotic destinations and we will get our wish. Until then, enjoy his music and vibe and be greatful he is still giving us as many shows as he does. And if anybody thinks its "just to collect a paycheck", get your head out of your a**, the man is worth 400million dollars!

Tell him to call me when he thinks he's rich enough, and "successful" enough, and artist enough to do that...

[MammaBear]

my 'keet has been in pediatric intensive care since 2/08. when I heard this show as going to be "different" we decided to go ahead and get tix, hoping the 'keet would be better. 'keet is still in ICU and while it was a nice day out, it was not what was promised and given the safrices hubby and I made to be there, I am a tad bit bitter. Had this been a "regular" show, we would not have made the effort, but being longtime parrotheads and getting tired of the same old (cheeseburger and brown eyed girl!) we though we would give it ago. never again. what a true disappointment.

(((Kerpat)))...then there are the really important things in life.........Thanks for the reminder as to what they are!

[aeroparrot]

The way I see it is that Jimmy can do whatever he decides to do. Also, has anyone considered that he may have changed his mind from when he said it wasn't going to be a "Parrothead" show to when he performed? Also, has anyone considered that when he said it wasn't going to be a parrothead show that he meant that there's not going to be the type of tailgating that a normal "Buffett-Style" tailgate? I'm not defending him but just bringing in another perspective.

[JustDucky]

Hey Finnsaremorefun, glad to see you figured out what I was getting at. Don't confuse your age with being labeled because of your age.

I don't think DSTC was a flop exactly. Maybe in the view of Well I want to bring this to Broadway.

Broadway demands quality, something good. Maybe DSTC wasn't either of those. That's not anyone's fault except for the people who put it together.

The album wasn't a flop. And I'm not sure the musical was. But just as Mick Jagger says and album is really good or great or it's terrible - it's all based on how much it sells. Jagger could care less about whether he likes the album or not - it's either a great album if it sells 8 million copies, a good album if it sells 3 million copies or it's just not very good (under one million).

Yeah, keep it up with the boring drivel of "Jimmy can do what he wants" garbage - the point is there are people here that are sick of that. Jimmy can do what he wants? NO. That is not the case. How many times has he said he'd love to do a show of ballads but his audience would kill him because that would mean no Cheeseburger/Margaritaville/Brown Eyed Girl?

That's one hell of a fan base! I mean parrot base! That's fantastic. "Gee, I've got these great tunes I'd love to play but goddammit, I HAVE to play fu*cking 'Cheeseburger' and all that crap."

Jimmy is very confused on what he thinks his audience wants. If he still plays some of the hits, he can play them at the end. The people are already there. Just like with a new album, he plays the new songs, people either hit the p i s s e r or get a beer or, oh my dear jesus lord, listen. But the next year those songs are more meaningful because when people stopped getting loaded they actually listened to the album and, oh my dear lord jesus, liked something NEW!

My dad was a huge fan back in the 1970s. He took me to see JB on the Coco tour. The last tour I caught for years in a row was 1992. The next tour I saw was fall of 1999. I saw a couple of shows at the Marg in New Orleans 1995, 96 and whenever as well as Jazz Fest in 1998 - which was just basically the hits, although he did do Fortune Teller and Saxophones in 1998 and that was awesome (gee - New Orleans songs). 2001 was OK. He did Cousin In Miami and it was excellent.

Well, my dad, got fed up with the same set list after a while (how many more times is he going to play Brown Eyed Girl? It's not even his song! he would say to me - and he likes the OPH version but ENOUGH IS ENOUGH) and the behaviour of the parrotheads. We both realised we were just fans of the music, not parrotheads. So we both stopped going. We gave it another shot, in 1999, but I think the venue was to blame. Although the fact that so many people didn't know Ringling Ringling or songs from the new album at the time was very disappointing - they were there for that ONE song and when was he gonna play it?

Parrotheads. "True" Buffett fans. All kinds of words being thrown around these days about why are you here, you're not a fan, Jimmy will do what he wants, people will buy any s h i t with Margaritaville on it. All valid points.

And all moot points.