One night, two concerts: REO Speedwagon vs. Jimmy Buffett

Seems like only yesterday you pulled on those navy blue corduroy pants, slipped that thick-toothed comb into the back pocket and scrounged around in the hamper until you found that glorious REO Speedwagon concert jersey. You know the one. Black sleeves, winged logo and that classic "81" on the back to signify that epic Hi Infidelity tour.

This coming week is an odd one here in Tampa Bay. No less than eight concerts are rolling through town. And on the night of April 25, fans will have to choose between REO Speedwagon (with Night Ranger as the opening act) and ... Jimmy Buffett?!?

Let me be as clear as I can here. REO is everything that's right about rock 'n' roll, while a Jimmy Buffett concert ... well, it's everything that's wrong about a really bad family reunion.

Oh look, there's crazy Uncle Larry wearing a fake parrot on his sunburned head, chugging frozen margaritas while sliding around in a pool of his own vomit. Wait, it could be the vomit of Aunt Shirley next to him. Yeah, the passed-out lass with the grass skirt who was drinking tequila out of a shoe two minutes ago. Hopefully they'll still have money to pay the babysitter back home after making bail later that night.

Times film critic Steve Persall is defending Buffett over REO at his Reeling in the Beers blog, renamed in honor of the concert he's attending that no one will remember being at the next morning. In the meantime ...

TOP 5 REASONS REO RULES OVER BUFFETT:

5. BUFFETT HAS GROWN BORING: I'll always have a soft spot for many of Jimmy's tunes, but I'm long past worrying about cutting my heel on a pop-top and that damn missing shaker of salt. Plus, and I don't mean to sound trivial, Buffett's just a little "kountry" for me.

4. BUFFETT'S A CLOWN, NOT A CROONER: Buffett sorta slinks onstage, strums a little on a guitar, makes up new lyrics when the wind changes direction, grins and makes fin gestures. The crowd eats it up. Why? Well, the booze helps. A lot.

3. REO HAS THE ANTHEMS: Tough Guys, Roll With the Changes. And then the gold standard in power ballads, Keep on Loving You. Don't forget that with Night Ranger opening the show, you can add Sister Christian, Rock in America and Don't Tell Me You Love Me to the mix. You won't sit down the whole night. And unlike the Buffett concert, it won't be because someone urinated on your seat.

2. THE PERSON STANDING NEXT TO YOU: At the REO concert, it could be Janette, that girl you dated as a sophomore. Hey, she's still looking great, with that smoking-hot red hair. And you're both divorced now? Oh, this is gonna be great. Meanwhile, over at the Buffett concert, 20,000 people dressed in Hawaiian muumuus are brawling over the last lukewarm can of refreshment from the Zima vendor.

1. KARMA: REO Speedwagon doesn't have a world-renowned restaurant in its name. Some would say the same about Jimmy Buffett. Oh, Margaritaville serves up a mighty fine Catfish Reuben and the conch fritters aren't too bad. But is that all you want from your music hero? Me, all I want is the spine-tingling feeling of hearing that siren crank up for the start of Riding the Storm Out.

Sorry, Jimmy. Next time I have a beer buzz and the stomach rumblings, you're the man. Otherwise, I need REO Speedwagon to feed me.

-- REO Speedwagon with Night Ranger. Saturday, April 25 at 7:30 p.m. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater. $85.00, $49.75. (727) 791-7400. [Listen to our Kevin Cronin interview here.]

[Publicity, Times file photos]

Comments

[DerekT]

http://www.speedwagon.com/news.php#109

For all REO and STYX fans, check out this website from REO's website. It has Tommy Shaw and Kevin Cronin cranking out some tunes with just thier guitars. It is pretty cool hearing Too Much Time on My Hands that way.

[Landy Johnson]

Sorry, REO jumped the shark with High Infidelity. Everything past "Decade" isn't worth the ear pain. Besides, the argument that "Buffett already has more money than he will ever need" (Rich | April 21, 2009 at 08:24 AM): Please - I should go see a washed up, shark-jumping band that is out on tour so they can make some money to buy the walkers they are such in need of? I'll take a Buffett Party over the metamucil-fest that is REO/Night Ranger. BTW, I have 5-6 REO CDs and 2-3 Night Ranger. I like both bands, but please - there is no question: It's Buffett.

[Rich]

As far as I'm concerned the biggest difference between the two shows is the price. Buffet will cost you close to $150 for the better seats while REO / Night Ranger (2 bands as opposed to one) will cost you about $50. Let's face it, Buffet already has more money than he will ever need and he does not need to charge the fans for such an expensive ticket. The man is just plain greedy and lets face it, it's the same old tired show every time out. REO and Night Ranger get my vote hands down and lets face it who do you have a better chance of meeting after the show. Enough said.

[Speedwagoners Forever]

REO NO CONTEST !

[Darlene]

I listen to several music styles, rap not included. 90% of my music time is spent with Margaritaville Radio and I own nearly every Jimmy Buffett album recorded. The question at hand being "who's fans are most loyal?" I have to say Buffett fans win this one, hands down. Most musicians end up dropping off the face of the earth for several years and then re-surface, counting on the olden days to help them re-live the past. Buffett has perpetuated sanity for many years and will continue to do so, in addition to "finding" and encourageing new musicians to join the musical world. Yes, in high school I listened to REO and they DID have some good tunes...Buffett HAS good tunes and they just keep on coming!

[Scott]

To follow up on Frick's analysis:

Buffett concerts: you pass the margaritas

REO concerts: you pass the Metamucil

[Ted]

I tried going to a couple of parrot head meetings. Just seemed like a hook up spot for 50-60 year olds that have been drinking all day, enough with the old dudes in ponytails. Grow up.

[Cindy LouWho]

Heard it from a friend who
Heard it from a friend who
Heard it from another you think REO is better than Buffett!

I am here to say that I CAN fight this feeling!

Only with Buffett can a nearly forty victim of fate spend their weekends searching for lost salt with the people our parents warned us about and know that Come Monday It’ll be all right!

Jimmy Buffett lets go for some "Cheeseburger in Paradise" while relaxing in "Margaritaville"!

Reo Speedwagon its “Time for You to Fly”!

[Jake]

I stopped burned all my Buffett CDs and I am no longer a fan after he played at an Obama Rally. Jerk.

[CHAD]

richrath has been out of reo since '89

[DerekT]

Cannabeans, Gary Richrath has not been REO's guitarist for quite a long time. The guitarist name is Dave and he used to play with Ted Nugent. He is a great guitarist as well.

[cannabeans]

Love em both but going to Reo and Night Ranger.These bands made songs considered the soundtrack to many lives.Were you making out at a party listening to Son of a sailor NO it was Keep on loving you and Sister Cristian?How about air guitar to He went to He went Paris NO it was You can still rock in America?Some 1 said Reo is not relevant,they have #1 hits in the 70's 80's 90's and a little movie called Horton hears a who.Sorry Jimmy but i can go see the same act for the next 15 yrs.At least Dead heads get a different show every night.Seen Buffet in NY,Toronto,NJ and of course FL and it always the same.So for me I will be Rocking with an incredible guitarist Garry(REO) and take a ride down memory lane.Jimmy should be seen once or twice his music is more of a state of mind which has a time and place.

[bobrob]

Concerts:
Buffett: 72
REO: 4

Love 'em both and don't see any viable reason asking for comparisons on the two artists. Apples and oranges in my mind, or mangoes and papayas if you will. But if I had to choose between the two, Buffett wins out every time.

BobRob
Founder
Sandlapper PHC
Percussionist
Rum Punch Bandits
Chester, SC

[Crilly]

Neither. Buffett stopped being relevant to me after his third album and REO is just...well, lame. It's also hard for me to watch a stadium full of people in their 50's trying to be hip.

[Becky]

Buffett rules! It's not just the music, but the whole laid back, tropical, kick back and enjoy attitude

[Janice]

Jimmy Buffett is a true classic with a long standing fan base that remain loyal.
I experienced an REO concert, sometime in the late 1980's, front row and was deaf for a week...great for people that like VERY LOUD music and will need hearing aids in their 40's. My only other memory of REO is that of a group with a one hit wonder.
Good Luck REO... the parrotheads are loyal and will remain so.

[Starfish]

I will happily be tailgating at the Buffett show the entire day. It is by far THE BEST concert I've ever been to. Seen him 6 times and it never gets old.

[Douglas Arthur]

Buffett or REO?

Considering REO ceased being relevant about 1982, I'd have to go with Jimmy on this, even though I couldn't name more than 2 or 3 songs of his.

Still, I'll see neither one and save my cash for Devo this fall when then do a tour to support their first new album in 19 years!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPJV2M5HXZ8

[PHred]

Ive gone to my share of both REO and Bubba concerts..and after pondering for sometime to write this i have one thing to ask..
What do you wear to a REO tailgate??
hmm..
Buffett WINS..FINS DOWN..

[Steve Persall]

Some folks just can't hang, Jay. Buffett fans understand. REO fans just have someone hold their hair back. You guess why.

[Jay]

After my fourth Buffet concert I said enough. The same show year after year and all the old hippies get on my nerves.

[John]

This is like that South Park episode where the students had to choose between a giant douche or a turd sandwich as their school mascot.

[Ray]

No contest! Buffett wins.

In full disclosure, I will have to admit that I have not seen REO in concert.

There is a reason that Buffett has remained one of the top concert draws year after year -- He is an excellent performer.

It's not just a crazed fan base that appreciates Buffett. In a recent interview, Bob Dylan said that Jimmy Buffett was one of his favorite song writers. That's true Karama.

[Tania]

I'm with you, CAT!!! All I can think about is Tom Jones too!! Enjoy the show!

[DerekT]

JB fans are much more passionate about thier man than us REO Speedwagon fans. I guess it is because JB sells a dream while REO just plain ROCKS and most people would rather be Lost in a Dream (a classic REO song for those who don't know it.) So for all the dreamers, enjoy Mr. Buffett, the real party is over at the REO/Night Ranger show.

[Greg]

Neither of these tours will be closer than 3 hours away from me.
I've seen Buffett twice; both in the 70s, when it was still a concert an not an event.
REO I've never seen. Haven't seen .38 Special, but have seen Styx.
REO wins, but I can't get to the only show anywhere near.
Oh to live near a semi-metropolitan area...

[Spears]

You know, I do actually GET IT that Parrot Heads are infatuated with Buffett. (Just keep the lighters away from those Rayon and Polyester shirts!)

I still think that outside of their cult, most people are 50-50 or prefer REO and Night Ranger.

[CAPT. DAVE]

Never thought about it before,REO vs.Buffett. No Voter, you will find me with my friends Livin' On Island Time!
Never heard of anyone wanting to move to the tropics and live like REO Speedwagon.

[Woman Going Crazy (on any Street!)]

It's not Jimmy the guy on stage having a great time doing what he does BUT the lifestyle he projects, the escapism we all need. The irony is that "Wasted Away (Again in Margaritaville)" is more the daily grind than the party. The party is the balance of not taking life so seriously-a group therapy, a vacation from all the stress. And although there's that tropical island get away theme throughout, phlocks of Parrotheads all over are involved in charity events. Parrotheads are the greatest people you would want to have in your life-leaving the world a better place whle having phun!

There's no competition here. REO, or any other band may have great music and memories, but Jimmy is the King (of Something HOT!)

Proud Member Tampa Bay Parrot Head Club

[Greg Williams]

To put it simply, I'd rather get wasted at "Margaritaville" than contract Salmonella at "Take it on the Runs"...

[chase]

Be careful at the show ... Buffett owes me about $8k, the way I figure it.

wasn't pleasant. but I learned a lesson and moved to a city with public transportation.

[Cruiser]

REO who??? oh didn't they have a song or two in the 70s...

JB rules....his music spans the ages and all ages still tune in. What is the XM or Sirius channel that is dedicated to REO? That's right, they don't have one.

"Am I country, pop or rock and roll? I guess they're all related, so I'll just let you be the judge. It's simply complicated...."

If you live in FL and don't get Jimmy, you need to move north.
Cruiser

[DerekT]

Although Hamptune does make a good point, if you want to pick up a drunk chick, then I guess Jimmy would be your thing..... now are the drunks chicks cute? I might have to change my vote if that is the case. (just kidding of course)

[DerekT]

Perhaps because I actually listen to more radio stations then Jimmy's, I only know the one song with the lost shaker of salt or something (Margerettaville). What other song does he have? Now REO has thier ballads, plus rockers like Roll with the Changes, Keep Pushing, Golden Country and more. Can someone please tell me another song he has that was a hit. It sounds like Jimmy is the fad, not REO/Night Ranger (plus both bands might jam at the end of the show like REO does with Styx)

[Mick in Sydney]

I'd go to the buffet just because of the drink/party atmosphere. Hate the music but love the big drink. I have a bunch of friends who are huge buffett fans and always go to the show. Out of my 5 friends who are fans i was the only one to make it on "parrot cam" during one of the shows and as the camera was going down the line of people it stopped right on me and my friend could see me on the big screen mouthing this music sucks arrrrrghhhh! hahahaah still makes me laugh everytime and they are pissed it wasn't them. Imagine a buffet concert without booze, it's be like say anything without lloyd dobbler. Nothing

[CHAD]

reo a fad? do fads last for almost 40 years. if so, that's a fad i'd like to be a part of. oh wait! i already do. reo rules.

[Steve Persall]

Sorry, two Ts in Buffett but I'm emotional right now.

[Steve Persall]

And Spearsy: Buffet fans aren't out of work. They're just on boats in the Caribbean living the life we wish we were, or will. (Adam West Batman-style THWACK!)

[Steve Persall]

Hamptune: So, what's your point?

Love the Parrothead Nation coming out for Jimmy. All I can add is that REO is a fad and Jimmy is a lifestyle.

[don in tulsa]

reo all the way. it's a well known fact that buffett does not live the image that he portrays. it's just that, an image nothing more. it's the way he makes money. personally i can't stand his brand of music but reo and night ranger are right up my alley.

[Cat]

All I can think about is Tom Jones right now.

[Bassnote]

I like both, but if we just go on the music, I have to go with REO/Night Ranger. Sure, Buffett has some good tunes, but they all sound the same after awhile, and no one is really going to that show for the music. Buffett is all about the party. When I go to a concert, I go for the music. REO and Night Ranger is an awesome double bill with plenty of tunes to keep you rockin' all night. Buffett is fun to see once, but so is "Weird Al" Yankovic.

[Anna]

I can't take sides here. I like them both, and I see them both, at every opportunity. It's a win-win for me.

[Spears]

Persall has more comments because he posted his blog item about 5 hours before I did.

And because most Buffett fans are probably unemployed and had all day to kill at their home computers. (Thwack!)

[Bryan "Crews Director" of the Tampa Bay Parrot Head Club]

Here is one of the soon to hundreds of comments that will just continue to prove how overwhelmingly Jimmy Buffett ranks above reo speedbump!

On Thu, Apr 16, 2009 at 1:27 PM, Frick wrote:

My posting, respectfully submitted...

I am an engineer by education, so my arguments may be a rather analytical. I also am a member of the Tampa Bay Parrot Heads, so my answers may be a rather biased, but my reasons to see Buffett versus REO speedwagon are as follows:

REO - Lost in 70's
Buffett-Timelessly filling concert halls since the 70's

REO fans - Also lost in the 70's
Buffett fans - Successful business people in search of temporary insanity.

REO - Hair farmers
JB - Gracefully searching for his hair like a lost shaker of salt

REO initiatives - Destroying the ozone through the exhaust fumes of a 1920's fire engine and thousands of Joe Dirt '69 chargers
JB initiatives - Save the manatees, Clean the Beaches, USF scholarships, Clearwater Marine and Seabird Sanctuary fundraisers to name a few

REO song - Son of a Poor Man
JB song - Son of a Son of a Sailor

REO album - You can tune a piano, but you can't tuna fish
Buffet album - White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean

REO hometown - Champaign, Ill
JB hometown - Margaritaville, Florida

REO Pickup artists - Bryan Hitt from Wang Chung
JB Pickup artist - Timothy B Schmit from the Eagles

REO next local gig - Ruth Eckert Hall tickets still available
JB next local gig - Ford Amphitheater Sold out since day tickets went on sale

JB concert tour - consistently in top 10 list of US concert tours
REO tour - Also ran, in top 1000 for sure...

Buffett - to open a Casino in 2009
REO - to open a Wal-Mart in Peoria

I could go on and on, but if you want to know what the concerts were like, you really "had to be there"

Tampa Bay Parrot Head
Frick
Madeira Beach, Florida

WELL Done Frick!

to see more visit Steve Persall's blog: http://blogs.tampabay.com/movies/2009/04/jimmy-buffett-vs-reo-speedwagon-no-contest.html

[Mark in East Texas]

Buffett or REO? I'll choose "none of the above."

Now Night Ranger: that's another story. They still rock in America.

[Dick]

Buffett boring? maybe at times but Parrot Power Rules!!!

Anthems? Margaritaville is your hedonistic anthem of slap-happy escapism, and Why Don't We Get
Drunk and Screw is another.

I love REO dearly, I do, but Buffett is the bigger draw with copious amounts of fans everywhere, even Africa, and that is why Mr. Parsell has more comments.

[CHAD]

reo and night ranger are classic as apple pie. buffet, well he's the scrapes that no one eats from said pie. c'mon, it's a no-brainer, don't let him go, roll with the changes, keep pushin', time for me to fly, don't tell me you love me, secret of my success, 4 in the morning, and sentimental street, do i need to go on. i'll be seeing reo with styx on the can't stop rocking tour in june, buffett has never rocked.

[Mangomama]

I don't know where to start with this!1st of all Buffett has something like 600 songs recorded.Granted they are not all his own, but most of them are.Last count- 30 albums. He's way more than Margaritaville and Cheeseburger.How many does REO have? 30-40 songs? Buffett fans span all ages- young & old.We Parrot Heads are all about having fun, but we party with a purpose, working and giving millions of hours and dollars to a long list of charities. So we aren't all "obnoxious". I think you'd find obnoxious at at many bands concerts. Right now the membership for Tampa Bay Parrot Heads stands very close to 700 members.I can't begin to tell you how many nationwide.Buffett has stood the test of time because he can't be pigeon holed. His songs styles run from Big Band & Swing sounds to Zydeco, from Country to Calypso,from Rock to Reggae-and everything in between.Even though I like REO- There is no comparison! Buffett wins!

[Six]

Oops! Sorry for the typo in my previous comment. lol

I meant to say, "It's a great song, but Night Ranger will thrash Buffett. Trust me. ".