Age and Parrotheads Know No Boundaries

The economy may be as unpredictable as Republicans running for President. Social Security may be as unsteady as a one year old trying to jog on a treadmill and the future may be as shaky as my investment portfolio. But I've discovered quite by accident that Seniors still know how to party hearty.

I just returned from Las Vegas where I attended my first Jimmy Buffet concert. If you aren't that familiar with Jimmy Buffet, you may know two of his more well-known songs, "Come Monday" and "Margaritaville." Or you may have been in one of his Margaritaville restaurants.

While many acts in the music business have falling CD and download sales, shaky attendance at concerts and unsure futures, Jimmy Buffet is and has been secure for a long time and most of today's Seniors have kept him there. Besides, his music just makes you feel good.

As I made my way to the concert venue Saturday I was a little surprised at the fact that Jimmy's demographic has aged with him. I'd say that at least 80% of the people attending were over 50 years old. It looked like every retirement home in Las Vegas had been emptied.

Jimmy Buffet, by his own admission, is not a great singer and only a fair songwriter. But he's been very successful and his fans are extremely loyal and, well, almost obsessed! Jimmy's songs promote a lifestyle of hanging out on beaches, drinking alcohol and loving the one you're with....perferably on an island somewhere. His fans take that mantra to heart. At least one in three people attending his concert wore parrot hats (his fans are affectionately called "parrotheads"), shark hats, hula skirts with coconut bras (mostly guys), Hawaiian shirts, flip flops, floaties, pirate costumes (it's a sub-theme in one of his songs) and just about anything else that reeked of whimsy.

I was hooked on the overwhelming enthusiasm of the crowd. It was obvious that they were there to party and have a good time. No wait, an EPIC time! Before we even got through the security gates it was obvious that at least half the crowd already had a fair amount to drink. Once they got inside the arena, they did not need to be coaxed to drop inhibitions and have a good time. It came naturally. Not just one or two beachballs floated around. There were at least 20-30 and no one took them away. Many people compared their island-nouveau-trashy-retro attire, which they wore to the six hour, pre-concert Margaritaville Street Party next to the Flamingo Hotel and Casino. This wasn't just a concert, it was a weekend event.

Everyone had a common ground (Jimmy and his lifestyle) and it bonded the crowd.

I've been to many, many concerts though the years from heavy rock to pop rock to Rock icons to truly unique entertainers. But I've never experienced a crowd like Jimmy's. I loved the fact that these may have been people in the twilight of their years, yet their spirits were still embedded in the dawn of the age of Aquarius.

We may be the old people of today, but we were the protester's, flower children, rock and roll pioneers and makers and shakers of yesterday. It's good to know that even though our "vibe" may have aged a bit, it's still as vital as ever! Especially at a Jimmy Buffet concert!