Thursday, May 31, 2012

Official Tailgating Info for Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Jimmy Buffett Concert



Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band returns to The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands June 2. The concert starts at 8 p.m. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. Concertgoers attending the event have several parking options.

Official Jimmy Buffett Tailgating Lot is Sold Out!

The parking lot located on the northeast corner of the Six Pines Drive and Lake Robbins Drive intersection has been designated as the Official Jimmy Buffett Tailgating Lot. This parking lot opens at 10 a.m. on June 2 and closes at midnight. Overnight parking is not permitted.

In the Official Jimmy Buffett Tailgating Lot, live entertainment will be provided, along with restrooms, trash cans and recycling containers. Guests are asked to be “user friendly” by leaving glass containers, weapons, fireworks and pets at home. Small propane grills are permitted. Charcoal or wood-burning pits are not allowed. In order to ensure the safety of all guests, golf carts, Segways and motorized coolers are not permitted. Guests also are encouraged to drink responsibly.

Town Center Garage at The Pavilion

Concertgoers also can purchase parking tickets for the Town Center Garage, located at The Pavilion and accessed via Six Pines Drive. The garage opens at 3 p.m. the day of the show. Parking is $15 per vehicle based on availability. Tickets for the garage can be purchased in advance at all Ticketmaster outlets and The Pavilion Box Office. Advance purchase is not required, but guarantees a space the day of the show. Please visit www.woodlandscenter.org the day of the show for the latest parking information.

Free Parking in Designated Lots

Concertgoers also can park in any of the five free parking lots on the southwest side of The Pavilion. The free, color-coded lots are connected to The Pavilion by corresponding pathways with signs leading across The Waterway. These parking lots open at 6 p.m. the day of the show.

Please visit www.woodlandscenter.org for more information about parking, including a map showing all of the parking areas, and updated information about the concert. Information about parking availability will be frequently updated on the website the day of the show.



Great Jimmy Buffett Article in Houston Chronicle



Ultimate Jimmy Buffett fan gets sneak peek at rehearsal

Ken Hoffman, Houston Chronicle

If you're going to the Jimmy Buffett concert Saturday night at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, be in your seat by 8 p.m.

You do not want to miss Buffett's stage entrance. I'm not allowed to say what he does, but it's the best, funniest, most surprising entrance I've ever seen. And I've been to my share of Buffett concerts. Probably your share, too.

I'm a fan.

Monday I had total access to Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band's final rehearsal before their 2012 Lounging at the Lagoon tour starts in The Woodlands. The band began practicing two weeks ago in an empty warehouse near Austin. It was the first time an outsider was invited to a full-blown rehearsal. Here's what I heard and saw.

Technicians and crew arrived around 9 a.m. The stage had been set up since the start of rehearsals. It is the stage that Buffett will take on the road. The warehouse, front to back, was turned into a concert venue, complete with props, soundboard, lighting and video production areas and upstairs catering. The only thing missing was an audience. The place was eerily quiet.

If you weren't essential to the show, you had no business being there. There was a 6-foot-10 scary man at the door to keep out intruders.

Bicycles were leaned against aisle railings. The crew needs bikes to get around. There was a portable golf driving range at the back of the house. Tuesday was a day off. It sounded like everybody was planning to play 18.

Although the floor and seats were empty, the warehouse was decked out for a packed concert. Chaise lounges and "Lounging at the Lagoon" signs were set up outside the entrances for fans' photo opportunities. Pretty girls will be there to keep the line moving. The photo ops and chaise lounges were Buffett's idea.

I learned that practically everything you see at a Jimmy Buffett concert was Buffett's idea. He's the boss, and everybody in the warehouse - 11 Coral Reefers, the lighting crew, six video technicians, four sound guys, two costume coordinators, two large security men, tour manager, accountant, IT wizard, Radio Margaritaville disc jockey, stage decorator and even the guy who runs onstage to hand guitars to Buffett - knows it. He's Bubba.

The band began playing at 3:30 p.m. without Buffett. It did a jazzy song called "Give Henry the Receipt," written and performed by backup singer Nadirah Shakoor, and dedicated to Buffett's tour accountant Henry Rosquette. He was there, too.

"I handle anything involving money," Rosquette said. "I give out the per diems. I pay security. I rent the facility. I pay the caterer and the light bill. I'm petty cash. I'm basically the payroll department."

Buffett arrived a few minutes later, wearing a white baseball cap, aviator sunglasses, white T-shirt, pink shorts and flip-flops. He headed straight to video production. The entrance was his idea, which has tricky special effects. He watched every inch of tape.

Buffett removed his cap and sunglasses, kicked off his flip-flops and climbed onstage at 4 p.m.

The video wall behind the band comprises 96 big-screen televisions. The stage is decorated to look like a lagoon. Buffett's usual coconut trees are replaced by swamp grass and hanging cypress trees.

The rehearsal lasted about three hours, lengthened by cutting up between songs, Buffett banter and an occasional blooper. Buffett couldn't get the beginning notes of "Jolly Mon" right, before realizing he had grabbed the wrong guitar.

Buffett wasn't happy with the video that accompanied "Come Monday." He told the video producer, "I have some newer video I shot last year in Montana on my bicycle and on a horse. Let's use that. Trust me, it will work better."

They did several takes of "Cheeseburger in Paradise" because Buffett wants to include "Na na na na na" from "Land of 1,000 Dances" before the "I like mine with lettuce and tomato" chorus.

He played 25 songs. This was the concert.

After the rehearsal, in the warehouse garage, I got a chance to talk to Buffett.

"This band has been with you for 24 years, a few of the guys even longer. You've been doing some of these songs for 40 years. Do you really need to rehearse them?"

Buffett said, "Rehearsal is very important. I do some new songs with each tour, and we need to learn them. Plus, I like to put some fresh paint on other songs. I'm going to write new verses to 'Margaritaville.' But mostly, we rehearse to give fans the best show we can. It's why we're still doing this 40 years later. There's a right way to do things, and that requires rehearsing. We respect the audience. It's just how this band does things.

"It's like what we're doing with 'Cheeseburger in Paradise.' I got the idea in my head a few days ago to put part of 'Land of 1,000 Dances' in there. Now it's 'Land of 1,000 Cheeseburgers.' We needed to rehearse that."

Coleman Sisson, who manages Radio Margaritaville for Buffett, put it this way: "Jimmy likes a professional atmosphere. That takes work."

Sisson lives in The Woodlands. He put a good word in for me; that's how I was invited to the rehearsal.

Everything about a Buffett concert looks casual, but nothing is left to chance. You think Buffett rolls out of bed, throws on a T-shirt and shorts, and plays in front of 17,000 people?

Helen Hiatt has been his wardrobe designer for 21 years. She buys his T-shirts from a store in Palm Beach. They're adult large.

"I dye them myself," Hiatt said. "They have a nice fit. Jimmy doesn't like them baggy, so when he changes guitars, his T-shirt doesn't move around and look sloppy. The T-shirts are 100-percent cotton, but they don't shrink. The neck and arm holes are very tight, so he's comfortable. I get him five T-shirts before each tour. After a concert, I just send them to a local 'Fluff 'n' Dry' laundry service to have them cleaned. We don't do anything special with them."

Hiatt also has designed stage outfits for Janet Jackson and Paula Abdul. She created the butt-less pants for Prince. She won an Emmy Award for her work with Cher.

Buffett has never had a wardrobe malfunction.

"When people find out I do the clothes for Jimmy, they ask, 'Oh, you buy his T-shirts and shorts?' I say, 'Yeah, as a matter of fact, I do.' I've worked with a lot of entertainers. Jimmy is the best. It's been 21 years, and I still look forward to the call that we're going on tour."

Buffett rehearsed in Austin because he has friends in the area and he likes the restaurants. The warehouse air conditioner was cranking full blast. It was about 60 degrees. Radio Margaritaville deejay Kirsten Winquist sat in the row in front of me. She rubbed her hands to stay warm. Buffett hired her six years ago straight out of Florida State University.

"I will be at The Woodlands concert. Jimmy puts every one of his concerts live on www.radiomargaritaville.com, and I'll be doing a show before the concert," she said.

At 7 p.m., Buffett did his last encore and announced, "That's a wrap."

Immediately, stagehands began tearing down the stage and loading 500 cases of equipment onto a fleet of 18-wheeler trucks headed to The Woodlands - for the start of another Jimmy Buffett summer tour.

ken.hoffman@chron.com

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Sunday, May 27, 2012

2010 Camden, NJ Jimmy Buffett Tailgate Limbo Girls




Limbo is a traditional popular dance contest that originated on the island of Trinidad. The dance originated as an event that took place at wakes in Trinidad and Tobago, and was popularized by dance pioneer Julia Edwards (known as the First Lady of Limbo) and her company which appeared in several films, in particular, "Fire Down Below" (1957) and toured widely in the Caribbean, Europe, North and South America, Asia and Africa in the 1960s and beyond. A film "Julia and Joyce" was released in 2010 by Trinidadian/American dance researcher/choreographer Sonja Dumas which features the evolution of the Limbo and the contribution of Julia Edwards to the explosion of its popularity.

Traditionally, limbo dance began at the lowest possible bar height and the bar was gradually raised, signifying a emergence from death into life. In its adaptation to the world of entertainment, troupes began reversing the traditionally order, and Julia Edwards added a number of features that are now considered standard, such as human 'bars', formed by the limbs of other dancers, and the use of fire in the performance of limbo. Limbo dancers generally move and respond to a number of specific Afro-Caribbean drum patterns. As Limbo gained popularity as a tourist activity and a form of entertainment, pop music emerged using Caribbean rhythms to respond to the emerging craze in the United States (one major example is the song "Limbo Rock" recorded by Chubby Checker), from which emerged the popular quote that is associated with limbo that says "How low can you go?". Limbo was also brought into the mainstream by Trinidadian Calypsonian, Brigo (Samuel Abrahams) with his popular soca song "Limbo Break".

Thanks to Shawn C. for the great pictures!

8/7/2010
Susquehanna Bank Center
Camden, NJ

Saturday, May 26, 2012

2011 Chicago Toyota Park Jimmy Buffett Tailgating






Photo credit to Charitanslle for all the awesome shots. It looks like the entire crew had a great time and we appreciate the submission to the Buffett Book!

7/23/2011
Toyota Park
Bridgeview, IL
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2011 Toyota Park Jimmy Buffett Tailgate Pictures






Thanks to Charitanslle for the pictures!

7/23/2011
Toyota Park
Bridgeview, IL
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2011 Alpine Valley Jimmy Buffett Tailgate Photos






Special shout out to WhereRu for the great shots!

6/25/2011
Alpine Valley Music Theatre
East Troy, WI
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2012 Frisco, TX Tailgate Shot

Thanks to Buffett Book contributor Wayne for the great shot!

Conch Republic Bikinis at the 2011 West Palm Beach Show


 

Conch Republic Bikinis make the hottest suits from the coolest place. Not only do they make bikinis and micro-bikinis, but they're also all about the Florida Keys, Caribbean and Island lifestyle.

Check out the 2012 line at www.conchrepublicbikinis.com

April 23, 2011
Cruzan Amphitheatre
West Palm Beach Florida


Conch Republic Bikinis at the 2011 West Palm Beach Show





Conch Republic Bikinis make the hottest suits from the coolest place. Not only do they make bikinis and micro-bikinis, but they're also all about the Florida Keys, Caribbean and Island lifestyle.
Check out the 2012 line at www.conchrepublicbikinis.com

April 23, 2011
Cruzan Amphitheatre
West Palm Beach Florida

Conch Republic Bikinis at the 2011 West Palm Beach Show

Conch Republic Bikinis make the hottest suits from the coolest place. Not only do they make bikinis and micro-bikinis, but they're  also all about the Florida Keys, Caribbean and Island lifestyle.




Check out the 2012 line at www.conchrepublicbikinis.com

April 23, 2011
Cruzan Amphitheatre
West Palm Beach Florida