Review of Saturday’s Chicago Show

Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band played the first of two shows in Bridgeview, Illinois (suburb of Chicago) on Saturday night at Toyota Park. The Southtown Star has a review of the show: “Buffett brings the weather, and the fun, with him”

Was it just a coincidence or did the final arrival of summer weather in the Chicago area have something to do with Jimmy Buffett’s first visit here?

There wouldn’t be any doubters among the throngs who packed Bridgeview’s Toyota Park Saturday for the first of two Chicago-area shows on Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band’s “Summerzcool” tour.

But then Buffett’s music and concerts have always been a sort of religious experience for his Parrotthead fans, who flock to the shows whether he’s got a new album out or not, and who turn the venue’s parking lots into a huge summer outdoor bash even in the worst of economic times (though I did see something I never saw in any of my previous shows: some empty seats).

Those who did make the trip were rewarded with a more than two hour show featuring the usual lineup of classic favorites, fun covers and a couple of surprises.

The biggest surprise was near the end of the night when guitarist Joe Perry of Aerosmith joined the already dozen or so band members on stage to add a few licks during “Margaritaville.”

Read the full review here.