Jimmy Buffett
Alpine Valley Music Theater
East Troy, WI
June 2, 2001
The color of Jimmy Buffett.
Story and photos by Terry Mayer
If you were in Walworth County this weekend you might have passed a car with a shark fin on the roof or been shocked to see someone walking down the street with a grass skirt and a parrot on their head. Welcome the Parrotheads. The one person who could bring these fun and quirky people together is the king of the Caribbean, Jimmy Buffett. Together with the Coral Reefer Band, they held their
one of a kind beach party at Alpine Valley Music Theater last Saturday night.
Buffett is the master of ceremonies, he commands your attention. The theme this year was "2001: A Beach Odyssey" and started with a caveman throwing a bone in the air, followed by a couple of cave girls moving up and down the fog engulfed stage banging more bones on the ground, making a parody of the opening sequence in "2001: A Space Odyssey." The backdrop fell and Jimmy went into the quirky and rhythmic "Only Time Will Tell." The party had officially started (although the party actually started many hours earlier in the Alpine parking lot). Feeling the good-time vibe from the legion of Parrotheads, Buffett kicked up his leg and ran into the summer never ends hits all the fans knew by heart like "Grapefruit," "Come Monday" and "Volcano." The infectious beats even had the majority of security guards shaking their hips as they were checking tickets.
Jimmy explained that sometimes his shows have logic and other times they don't. From behind, a giant cow dressed in a grass skirt started to dance to the opening chords of "Cheeseburgers In Paradise." Apparently this sequence was one with no logic. Buffet then changed into the slow and thoughtful "That's What Livin' is to Me," a song that was inspired by Mark Twain. He then ripped into "Boat Drinks" and "That's My Story and I'm Sticking to It." Parrotheads were then treated to another video tidbit showing Jimmy flying around in a space ship on a tequila run, continuing the "2001: A Space Odyssey" spoof. The video then showed clips of Alpine Valley, Miller Park and the Lake Michigan shoreline. Jimmy then finished the show with many other hits including, "Why Don't We Get Drunk," "Fins," and what would a Buffet concert be without the ever popular, "Margaritaville."
Every year Jimmy Buffet manages to make his way to Alpine Valley and perform in front of an always sold-out crowd. From teenagers to senior citizens, everyone came together for a great time. Jimmy is not a serious musician nor does he write serious music, but who cares when you catch yourself tappin' your foot to the memories created hours earlier.