Palm trees, Hawaiian shirts, and the smell of tequila in the air. "Now batting for your Boston Red Sox, Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band." On a stage in center field, the shoeless Buffett transported nearly 35,000 screaming Parrotheads around the world with him on his adventures last Friday night in Fenway Park. Even the scoreboard read, "Jimmy Buffett." Friday night's show was one of two; the second was on Sunday. Before all was said and done 70,000 fans would experience the Red Sox all-star centerfielder.
These shows were two of 13 sold-out shows in a row that has been named the "License to Chill" tour. License to Chill, which was released on July 13, sold over one million copies to date and was ranked No. 1 on Billboard's top 10 records. The set comprised of many perennial Buffett power ballads like "Come Monday" and "Margaritaville." Jimmy also mixed in many songs featured on his new album like "Coast of Carolina" and "License to Chill."
On stage with Buffett were guest slide guitarist Sonny Landreth and pianist Bill Payne of Little Feat. The evening started off at a slow pace with Jimmy performing "Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes." From there Buffett slowly brought out more of the Coral Reefers. The band was complete with the "Coral Reeferettes," a group of three dancers who entertained the crowd throughout the show with their fluid dance moves and Caribbean outfits. Alongside Buffett as he has been for over 30 years was guitarist and songwriter, Mac McAnally.
Throughout the set Buffett entertained the crowd with many interesting medleys. One such medley included Prince's "Purple Rain," Buffett's "Why Don't We Get Drunk," and Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline." There was one intermission in the set. Before leaving the stage, Buffett and Company performed a rendition of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." This performance was one of many references to the Red Sox.
When Buffett returned to the stage he announced that the Yankees were losing by 10 runs and the crowd erupted. At one point in the show, Buffett brought out a man dressed as Babe Ruth to represent the infamous "Curse of the Bambino." After a passionate booing by 35,000 people, Buffett brought out the Jolly Mon (subject of one of Buffett's songs) to banish the curse. The Jolly Mon threw Buffett four pitches of balled up T-shirts. Buffett went 4-4 on the evening, launching the T-shirts into a roaring crowd.
Buffett was clearly overwhelmed as he performed onstage at Fenway. Numerous times throughout the show he mentioned how Boston was one of the few cities he could always find a place to play when he started his career. The song, "Boat Drinks," was written in Boston after Buffett stumbled out of a bar into 20 degree weather after an evening partying with Bruin Derek Sanderson. Buffett also mentioned that this coming week he plans on heading to Buzzard's Bay, Cape Cod to sail to Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard.
The most solemn moment of the night was Buffett's performance of Jesse Winchester's "Defying Gravity." This was the last song of the evening which Buffett dedicated to "all those Parrotheads who lost their lives on Sept. 11." Buffett said during one of the songs, "57 and still kicking ass." That pretty much sums up the two hour performance. 70,000 Bostonians relished all those summer feelings on a beautiful evening in the heart of Boston, Fenway Park.
Be the first to comment on this article!