Nearly four decades ago, Jimmy Buffet started bringing his unique style of Reggae and islander inspired Country music to a very welcoming audience. Today, those same fans, called Parrotheads, are still hungry for more of Buffet’s signature style and music, but unfortunately this hunger cannot always be satiated in a live setting. However, for parrotheads in Newton County, the chance to listen to their favorite Buffet classics has arrived.
On September 26, in an event sponsored by the Arts Association of Newton County, the original, official Jimmy Buffet Tribute band, A1A, will be preforming some of the tropical-rock giant’s greatest hits in Porterdale, at the historic Porterdale Gym. According to their website, A1A, the brainchild of Jeff Pike, the bands front man, was the first band to take up the mantle of recreating Buffett’s music, and are the only band to have been given the blessing of Jimmy Buffet himself. In fact, Buffet was instrumental in landing them one of their most prestigious gigs; playing “Why Don’t We Get Drunk” for the movie What to Expect When you’re Expecting. Since their inception in 1992, the band has been playing all over the country for all kinds of events, from weddings, to birthday parties, and like their upcoming show in Porterdale, in concerts for their own loving fans and fans of Buffet’s music. And if there are still any doubts as to their ability, they can be dispelled a look at some notable selections from their long list of Clients, including NASCAR, CNN, Bill Gates and Microsoft, and even the United States Navy.
The band boasts a wide selection of Buffets greatest hits. These include the “Big 8” ("Margaritaville", "Come Monday", "Fins", "Volcano", "A Pirate Looks at Forty", "Cheeseburger in Paradise", "Why Don't We Get Drunk", "Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes") and around ten to twelve more Buffet Classics. And it doesn’t stop there. The band always has a few more tricks up their Hawaiian-shirt sleeves, including a few reggae hits from greats like Bob Marley, and a few of their own original songs thrown into the mix just for fun. Add in their own special light show, and this special tropical rock experience is complete. The only thing left to do is to relax and enjoy, and also to perhaps find a few drinks, preferably margaritas.
For more information on A1A visit www.a1a-live.com and their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/A1A-193876370837/timeline/?ref=page_internal. For more information on the Arts Association of Newton County, visit newtoncountyarts.org.
