REVIEW: Jimmy Buffett At Fenway Brings Fun To The Parrotheads

BOSTON, MA — If you’re depressed that you have to live in Boston and the beaches of the South Shore just aren’t doing it for you, then you should have made your way to Fenway Park Thursday night so you could at least pretend to live out your tropical dream in a well-branded fantasy inside a Margaritaville with plenty of Landshark Beer.

Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band, along with their musical dreams of sailing and adult beverages in a warm climate may not be for you, but the Parrotheads that filed the home of the Red Sox Thursday night for the Boston stop of the Son of the Sailor got exactly what they paid for. No one here was looking for the reinvention of the show, they wanted to hear the Big Eight and the Buffett standards they've heard every other time they've seen him live..

There's an optimism in Buffett that every problem is a day away in the sun from being a worry of the past. Bright scenery draped the stage's video screen as the Coral Reefer Band played "Livingston Saturday Night" (Yawkey Saturday Night for the Fenway faithful), "Brown Eye Girl," and the Boston-inspired "Boat Drinks."

In fact, Buffett's history with the city was well on display beyond the song about the time he stole a cab after leaving an establishment owned by Bruins legend Derek Sanderson. A background graphic changed the Citgo Sign to a Finway Sign during "Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes," and the encore was started with a flashback to his 2004 show when he banished Babe Ruth from the stage and performed a voodoo ritual to destroy the Curse of the Bambino. Can't imagine many in attendance are going to complain about the results of that.

At times, Buffett felt corny and predictable as some transitions into songs were painfully obvious.

“The new boat has a grill. What do you think I put on my grill?” Buffett asked before launching into “Cheeseburger In Paradise,” because what other song would he play there?

At one point he went into lame 90s dad territory when he proclaimed, "I thought I’d throw in a love song before Labor Day...not!" before launching into the novelty ode to bad decisions known as ""Why Don't We Get Drunk".

The acoustic combination of "Bluegrass Medley" and Coast of Marseilles" brought a well-needed break to the show and served as the metaphorical night music, with even the background screen changing to an evening moon.

The final two songs "Love and Luck" and a cover of Bob Marley's "One Love" sent the crowd of Frisbee throwing, beach ball passing, glow in the dark balloon waiving fans home happy and it was enough to ensure that most of them will be back next year, whether it be at Fenway or a return to the Xfinity Center in Mansfield.

Country newcomer Caroline Jones and rock legend Peter Wolf and The Midnight Travelers were the opening acts. Jones, who is partnering with Buffett's label, was not limited to the five songs she sang early in the day. She also appeared three times during the main act. Between Buffett bringing her on for his set and Mac McAnally performing during her set, he clearly sees potential in the singer.

Wolf was impressive for a 72-year-old man as he banged through his style of rock jazz, blues, and some J. Giles Band hits. Unfortunately, interest in Wolf and his group of local talent seemed to depend on how old you were with focus decreasing with age. Either way, the man can still sing "Love Stinks" and Musta Got Lost."

Image Credit: Dan Libon/Patch