Friday, August 20, 1999
Life's a beach, Buffett rules
Parrotheads' idol captures Riverbend
BY CHRIS VARIAS
Enquirer Contributor
Parrotheads turned Riverbend into Margaritaville.
(Thomas Witte photos)
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The beach bum still rules Cincinnati's concert scene.
Jimmy Buffett led his Coral Reefer Band in a two-hours-plus performance Thursday in the first of a two-night stand. The show was a sell-out, as is Saturday's. Mr. Buffett is the only performer to sell out two shows at Riverbend this year.
The concert was part of Mr. Buffett's “Beach House on the Moon” tour, named for this year's album release of the same name. The show was styled as a trip to the moon. Walter Cronkite (wearing a Hawaiian shirt, of course) appeared on the video screens and gave news updates on the proceedings.
When two clocks on stage — counting down the “time to launch” — hit triple-zeros, the show began. Mr. Buffett and his band broke into the Caribbean-flavored “Lage Nom Ai.” They probably could have played “Que Sera Sera.” It didn't matter. His presence was enough. Mr. Buffett owns this town.
Buffett talks to the crowd
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“When are you people going to grow up here in Cincinnati?” he asked. “Never? Good!”
A few songs in the two-set show came from the new album, like “Waiting for the Next Explosion,” “I Will Play for Gumbo” and “Math Suks.”
But Mr. Buffett kept referring to “the beginning.” He played several songs from his earliest days and repeated that Cincinnati was the origin of the first Parrotheads, the name given to Buffett fanatics.
He called “Changes in Latitudes” the definitive Parrothead song. During its performance, the video screens showed clips of the boozy antics of fans — clothed and otherwise — in the parking lot before the show.
“That's just good old conservative Cincinnati,” Mr. Buffett joked.
Among the other old standbys Mr. Buffett played were “Margaritaville,” “Fins,” “Volcano,” “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” “Why Don't We Get Drunk,” and “Come Monday.” He covered “Johnny B. Goode,” “Brown Eyed Girl” and “Southern Cross.”
Crowd warms up.
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The show had a life of its own from the get-go. All Mr. Buffett had to do to guide it along was sing into the microphone and crack a joke between songs. Playing a bit of the guitar solo during “Southern Cross” was the extent of his musical involvement.
If he ever decides to hang it up, he should send the Coral Reefer Band out on tour and leave the singing to the crowd. If they don't sell out two nights at Riverbend, it'll be close.
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