While the Buffalo Bills were getting bashed by Jonathan Taylor–scoring five touchdowns–in the rain, Diane and I traveled to the Shea’s Performing Arts Center in Buffalo to visit Margaritaville. Escape to Margaritaville is a juke-box musical featuring Jimmy Buffett songs and some romantic comedy.
Jimmy Buffett showed up to the opening performance last week while Diane and I enjoyed the final performance of this tour. Plenty of singing and dancing. Buffett’s music propels the plot–two quirky guys fall for two quirky girls who come to visit their island–and provides humor with a large dollop of fun. If you want to leave the Pandemic and political nonsense behind for a couple of hours, check out Escape to Margaritaville when it travels to cruise ships and Las Vegas in 2022. Are you a Jimmy Buffett fan? GRADE: B
MUSICAL NUMBERS:
| 1 | License To Chill | |
| 2 | Fins | |
| 3 | It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere | |
| 4 | Ragtop Day | |
| 5 | It’s My Job | |
| 6 | Why Don’t We Get Drunk | |
| 7 | Three Chords | |
| 8 | We Are The People Our Parents Warned Us About | |
| 9 | Son Of A Son Of A Sailor | |
| 10 | My Head Hurts, My Feet Stink And I Don’t Love Jesus | |
| 11 | Coconut Telegraph – Medley: Coconut Telegraph/Last Mango In Paris/Cabana (Havana) Daydreamin’/Change In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes | |
| 12 | Margaritaville | |
| 13 | Volcano | |
| 14 | Grapefruit – Juicy Fruit | |
| 15 | He Went To Paris | |
| 16 | Cheeseburger In Paradise | |
| 17 | Tin Cup Chalice | |
| 18 | Love And Luck – Medley: Love And Luck/Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On | |
| 19 | Come Monday – Medley: Come Monday, Beautifulness | |
| 20 | A Pirate Looks At Forty | |
| 21 | One Particular Harbour | |
| 22 | I Will Play For Gumbo |
I am, definitely, but sadly, this show did not live up to our hopes. (Disclaimer: we saw our first Buffett show July 2, 1988 and have seen dozens since, most in Madison Squarer Garden or the MGM Grand Arena in Vegas, but also three in Sunrise/Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, once at the now defunct Southampton College on Long Island, the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on New Year’s Eve, and Camden, New Jersey, among others.) In fact, Jackie, normally the more forgiving of us by far, had to be talked out of walking out at intermission. The second half was better (partly because they did my two favorite songs of his – A Pirate Looks at 40 and One Particular Harbor). As you say, if you don’t go in expecting too much, it is a pleasant enough way to pass a couple of cold, rainy hours. A lot better than watching the Bills lose, right?
Jeff, every time we’ve gone to Shea’s to see a musical this Fall, the Bills have lost! A lot of Parrot-heads showed up for this performance dressed in shorts and Hawaiian shirts despite the frigid temperatures outside.
Nope, not in the least. His popularity is one of the great musical mysteries to me.
FRankly, it’s impossible to judge fairly without going to a concert and immersing yourself in the Parrothead mise en scene. Although, to be honest, Jimmy’s best (and most energetic) days are behind him now, and the concerts are more hit and miss than they were 20 or 30 years ago.
Jeff, with the Western New York Covid-19 rate over 9% now, it will be a long while until Diane and I consider going to a music concert. We’re more comfortable with the musicals at Shea’s because of their advanced air-filtration system and our N95 masks. Everyone entering the building has to show vaccination cards and be masked for the entire performance.
Michael, Jimmy Buffett’s relentless touring might have something to do with keeping a connection to his fans strong.
I like him and enjoy his music in small doses. There’s only so many times I can hear “Cheeseburger in Paradise.”
Deb, same here. Jimmy Buffett in small doses as well as cheeseburgers–musical and eatable!
I am a moderate Jimmy Buffet fan and enjoy his music on a once-in-a-while basis. I went to one of his outdoor concerts and NEVER AGAIN. Too many drunks, too many drunken fights. My daughter Christina used to work an ambulance while we lived in Virginia. She’d be stationed in the parking lot during his concerts and were kept continuously busy.
Jerry, fortunately there were no drunks or drunken fights during or after ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE. I’m careful about which concerts I consider attending since the Pandemic.
That’s interesting, because we have NEVER seen a single fight at a Buffett concert (or outside one). They show up early – sometimes 9 AM early for an 8 PM concert – to tailgate in the parking lot, often not going to the concert at all. But no fighting that I’ve seen. Note: I am NOT doubting the story, maybe the venues we go to are more laid back or maybe it’s just coincidental.
No, and what’s a parrot head?
Rick: “The origin of the Parrot Head goes all the way back to June 28, 1985. … Jimmy Buffett was noticing that an overwhelming amount of his concert goers were wearing tropical clothing and parrots on their heads. After seeing that enough times, the term was born by Timothy when he called them all Parrot Heads on a whim.”
He’s okay in small doses but I can’t see what all the cult status is about!
Bob, just ask Jeff and Jackie!
I know they are big fans and if that’s what they like it’s jake with me! Isn’t that how they met Polly the PI?
I’m a big Jimmy Buffett fan and have most of his records in vinyl or CD. Just bought the latest. Have never seen him in concert, but did have tickets a few years back for a show in Sunrise/Fort Lauderdale. Had to cancel my usual spring training trip that year due to a family issue at home so sent the itckets to my friend in Florida. She and her daughter went and had to get their seats moved due to the drunken action of a woman beside them. Did have a chance to go to another concert a few springs later in West Palm Beach, but no seats, just standing room, were available so decided against it. Probably too many Parrotheads stretched out on the ground in that section.
Kent, Jimmy Buffett plans to tour in 2022. You may get another chance to see him!