Workin' and Playin'

 

June 23, 2015

Jimmy Buffett passed on the good, if not faithful, city of Indianapolis this year on his tour with the afore mentioned name in the title.  He did, though, schedule a stop in the southwestern city of Cincinnati in Ohio, along the banks of the Ohio River at Riverbend Music Center, as of yet untainted by corporate renaming.

                                                                       

Pre-Concert Preparation

 

After missing his summer shows last year, I acquired tickets for my hometown concert, and convinced my buddy Mark, a longtime compatriot of Buffett concerts and other various unnamed excursions, events, and shenanigans in general, to accompany me.  By “convinced”, I mean a text saying, “Hey, want to see Buffett in June?”                                                 

Me, my buddy, Mark

A Buffett concert, to me, is a phenomenon that elicits mixed emotions.  I’m a guy that pays close attention to the set list.  I’ve been to Dave Matthews with my daughter, and I understand that you are to expect the unexpected, and leave a DMB concert without regret if he doesn’t play a particular tune.  With Buffett, there are the ‘gimmes’, the Songs You Know by Heart, which are automatics on each and every set list.  For so many, possibly the multitude, a Buffett concert is an event, a time to let loose, an excuse to lose inhibitions for a short time, and certain songs are the soundtrack.  At the given price per ticket, Buffett understands this.

"Cheeseburger in Paradise"-You're going to here this one!

I am a fan of his music, and look for what I consider to be his gems, the heartfelt stuff that doesn’t ring of novelty.  I will not deny that a Buffett concert is a form of escapism for myself.  It is.  There is nothing quite like entering the grounds of the concert property, starting with the parking areas, and studying the brightly attired denizens ranging from gaudy, to redneck, to, often times, just a bit crude.  And I’d expect nothing less.  There is camaraderie in the crowd, but I do tend to stay away from the lawn these days, as staking out prime real estate close to show time should be a young man’s sport, or burden.

As for the concert, I will not bore you with a song by song replay, since I can include a link for the set list, but I will mention that Buffett has a talented band, his Coral Reefers, whom add a level to the musicianship and quality of each song.  Buffett understands what he has, and is quick to show his appreciation.  In this show, he put his steel drummer of many years, Robert Greenidge, on display with a solo medley of songs including traditional Caribbean fare like Paradise Garden, and lesser known Buffett songs such as King of Somewhere Hot, of which Greenidge has co-songwriting credits.  Mac McAnally’s songwriting expertise was highlighted as well with him and Jimmy performing a duet on Mac’s beautifully stated It’s My Job, which always entices me to think about my own role as an educator.  Buffett is still sneaking in creative surprises, like the Allman Brother’s chorus from Midnight Rider into the early country conundrum of The Great Filling Station Holdup.  I felt the power of the audience most strongly during the last song of the regular set, One Particular Harbour, as Jimmy sang,  

 

I can see the day, when my hair's fully gray, and I finally disappear...but not yet!

 

Lastly, I pay attention to the final song of the encore, which generally involves Jimmy and his acoustic guitar.  I was pleased to hear Defying Gravity, a tribute to his late song writing friend, Jesse Winchester.

 

Earlier, I mentioned mixed emotions about attending Buffett concerts.  It pretty much comes down to this.  I go, drink the juice, listen to the lyrics, see the palms and blues of the ocean in the scenery behind the stage, yet, when the concert is over, I’m not in Key West.  No, still here in the Midwest.  But, I think of the lyrics of a song that I don’t think I’ve EVER heard in concert, Lucky Stars.

I got a roof over my head,
Someone to love me in a four poster bed,
And I can play this here guitar
I thank my lucky stars.



Am I in Cincinnati?

Or Havana??

Well, heck, I’m a pretty damned lucky guy to be able to go to a concert at all.  Let alone Jimmy Buffett.  Even as I walk back out into the parking lot of a Midwest city.

By the way, Buffett played Island tonight, one of the most heartfelt songs about meeting and experiencing land surrounded by water, chock full of metaphors about love and lost opportunities.  Worth it.

See the complete set list.