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No one's wasting away in Parrotville
Published in the Courier News on August 21, 2003
The calendar says summer's drawing to a close, but for Parrotville, the season never ends. The New Jersey-based Jimmy Buffett tribute band will pay homage
to Buffett 7 p.m. Sunday at Duke Island Park in Bridgewater.
Parrotville's name is based on the Buffett hit "Margaritaville" and the fact that his most enthusiastic fans are called "Parrot
Heads." The band travels from tiki bar to party, from festival to corporate event, spreading the simple joys of relaxation.
Parrot Heads are known for their colorful, tropical dress and wild costumes.
Many come out in full regalia for Parrotville's shows.
"Crazy people come and see us," says Remy St. Martin, lead vocalist and guitarist. "(We see) people dragging out huge inflatable sharks, people
wearing bathing suits and grass skirts."
Jimmy Buffett came into the public eye in 1973 with "Why Don't We Get Drunk" and "Come Monday" in 1974. In 1977, Buffett's "Changes In
Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes" album went platinum with the top 10 hit "Margaritaville." The single "It's Five O'clock Somewhere," by country star Alan Jackson and Buffett, is currently topping the
Billboard Hot Country Singles Chart.
What attracts people to Buffett's music?
"It's all the different styles that he does," St. Martin
says. "He goes from rock to acoustic to swing-reggae, soul and Motown. How can you go wrong when you base everything on vacation?"
He also finds some depth in the songs. "He talks about philosophical things. There are a lot of truths in the music."
Parrotville met while performing in originals bands in clubs.
In their four years together, they have twice played the pre-Buffett party at the Tweeter Center in Camden. The band is rounded out by "Hurricane" Harris on keyboards, Jax on drums and percussion, Sunny "D" on
guitar, and Jah, the "spiritual leader of the band," on bass. Remy St. Martin takes his name from his father's favorite drink.
Though Buffett tunes are by far the largest part of the set, other
island music and party favorites make the list. Songs like Johnny Nash's "I Can See Clearly Now," Van Morrison's "Brown-Eyed Girl," Harry Belafonte's "Jamaica Farewell" and "Who Let the Dogs
Out" by Baha Men are among the songs you might hear at Bridgewater show.
For more info on Parrotville, check out www.parrotvillelive.com. To win a free T-shirt, just count how many parrots appear
on the site.
By ROBIN RENEE Correspondent
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