Jimmy Buffet Tribute Band Parrotbeach Brings Out the Parrotheads

The parrotheads were out in force in Rahway.

Parrotheads - followers of 'Margaritaville' songster Jimmy Buffet - celebrate the entire lazy beach lifestyle, and had a chance to do it when Parrotbeach, a Buffet tribute band, performed at the Rahway Recreation Center.

The concert, which is part of the city's Summer Concert Series, was moved from the train station venue to the Rahway Recreation Center because of an impending downpour. It was hot and humid inside the auditorium, but nothing could stop the loyal parrotheads from enjoying their Buffet fix.

The decorations and props in the recreation center created a flawless beach scene with palm trees, fire pits, a giant sun, and a lighthouse surrounding Parrotbeach as they performed. 

Four Parrotbeach band members came out to play some of their best songs. Hurricane Harris was on the keyboard, Jah on the bass guitar, Jax played the drums, and Remy St. Martin providing the vocals and guitar.

While Parrotbeach played some of their most popular hits, concert attendees were seen getting up on the sidelines and enthusiastically dancing to Parrothead tunes. Many audience members even sang lyrics back to St. Martin, who provided most of the vocals for the night.

While St. Martin kept the atmosphere about peace, love, happiness, and margaritas, he addressed the audience with topics as varied as drinking, retirement, and even the end of the world. Before playing their newest song, "Party at the End of the World," St. Martin addressed the audience about the recent stories in May about the world ending.

"Some preacher told us the world was going to end back in May, but the Mayans say that the world is going to end on December 21st, 2012, and I believe it," St. Martin said.

Although it may have seemed like an unbearable topic, St. Martin reassured the audience, "I'm not scared about the end of the world because think about it - you don't have to worry about drinking too much, you don't have to worry about drinking and driving either."

"Let your kids have fun, too. Some may say that they are too young but they're not, let them have fun," said St. Martin before he rocked out to "Party at the End of the World."

Remy St. Martin gave a special shout out to all the retirees in the room right before he sang their hit, "License to Chill." Their most attractive performance of the night was "Brown-Eyed Girl," particularly because they dedicated the song to all the brown-eyed girls in the audience and left them smitten right before they sang it.

Tegest Hailu, an audience member was not familiar with Parrotbeach but came out just to preview the free concert. "It was great, there was a positive atmosphere and the location was accomodating because of the rain," said Hailu, who enjoyed the concert with her father.

Some audience members were disappointed at the decision to move to the recreation center. Dennis B., from Woodbridge, who checks out all the free summer concerts in Rahway and Woodbridge, has seen Parrotbeach perform thrice. "I wish it was outside, the aucostics are bad inside and it's really hot," he said, referring to the lack of air conditioning in the large room where the concert took place.

Michelle Laurens, who came from Union to see Parrotbeach perform, also agreed about the heat in the auditorium but remained a trooper about it. "I'm still here, so that's a good sign," said Laurens, who had never seen Parrotbeach perform before.

"I know what it's about and my friends like it, so here I am," said Laurens.