SAT 5/1
Come Saturday, flocks of fans awash in Hawaiian shirts, grass skirts, zany hats, and margaritas will point their fins toward the Jimmy Buffett concert at the Office Depot Center (1 Panthers Pkwy., Sunrise). Boynton Beach musician David Soreff, who formed a Coral Reef Revue tribute band, says that hard-core Buffett fans -- dubbed "Parrot Heads" -- are "like Deadheads with a blender." Buffett's tropical music and spirit have inspired nearly 200 cult-like fan clubs internationally -- including a "Church of Buffett, Orthodox." Like Buffett, whose Office Depot Center performance marks the loss of his father one year ago to Alzheimer's disease, fan clubs often organize philanthropic events.
"Jimmy makes everybody in the audience feel like a personal friend," says Boca musician Nicole Yarling, a former Coral Reefer who likens her hero's tours to summer camp and his concerts to college parties. Because tailgating at the Office Depot Center is prohibited, local Parrot Heads will unearth Margaritaville with cheeseburgers, discounted drinks, and live entertainment at noon Saturday at the Crowne Plaza Sawgrass (13400 W. Sunrise Blvd., Sunrise) hotel pool. Concert gates open at 5:30 p.m.; the performance begins at 8. Call 954-835-8499 for tickets ($31 to $65), 561-251-8732 for party info. --Michelle Sheldone
Here We Are Now, Entertain Us
Sift through SunFest
FRI 4/30
At events like SunFest -- West Palm Beach's ultracommercialized, overhyped, mediocre-but-hey-it's-something-to-do festival -- concertgoing is an art form. Planning and leadership are required to find the pleasant balance between catching worthwhile performances and staying safely near the beer truck. On Friday, April 30, choose between seeing Peter Frampton on the Washington Mutual Stage or Cyndi Lauper on the Real Yellow Pages stage; both play at 7:30 p.m. On Thursday at 8:30 p.m., catch either Journey or Buddy Guy with Double Trouble. Other acts worth gambling on: local surf/funk/rockabilly band the Hep Cat Boo Daddies play at 1:45 p.m. Saturday; pee-wee punks Odd Man Out go on at 4; and Chaka Khan sings at 8:15. On Sunday, the Reggae Ambassadors play at 12:15 p.m., 17-year-old Stacie Orrico hits the stage at 3:45, and American Idol's Ruben Studdard wails at 5:30 p.m. Call 1-800-SUNFEST, or visit www.sunfest.org. --Deirdra Funcheon
He's Hot
... but Kenny play?
WED 5/5
The country singer Rolling Stone calls "Nashville's Jimmy Buffett" gets more inspiration from Captain Morgan than from Jack Daniels. Kenny Chesney comes to the Sound Advice Amphitheatre (601-7 Sansbury's Way, West Palm Beach) on his "Guitars, Tiki Bars and a Whole Lot of Love Tour" in support of his album When the Sun Goes Down, whose title track is a duet with Unkle Kracker. People magazine named Chesney one of the world's sexiest men -- a claim that's hard to verify, since the humble singer rarely sticks more than half an eyeball out from under his cowboy hat, even when he's wearing nothing else but a pair of linen pants and a puka shell necklace. Tickets cost $27.75 to $59.75. Call 561-793-0445. --Deirdra Funcheon
You're getting very funny...
WED 5/5
Comedy and hypnosis combined can make for a rather frightening experience, particularly if the joke's on you. Fortunately, comedian/hypnotist Denny More keeps a balance of the humor and hypnosis. More casts a comic spell at Uncle Funny's Comedy Club (9160 State Rd. 84, Davie) Wednesday through Sunday. Tickets cost $12. And, no, he won't turn you into a chicken. Call 954-474-5653. -- Jason Budjinski
