Columnist Spencer Patterson: Margaritaville a Buffett buffet for Parrot Heads

Spencer Patterson

Friday, Jan. 16, 2004 | 8:22 a.m.

Having trouble scoring tickets to Jimmy Buffett's free concert at the Flamingo Las Vegas next Thursday?

For hardcore Parrot Heads, there's another way to catch a free appearance by the 57-year-old Floridian singer: camp out at Margaritaville.

Buffett has already made one surprise stopover at his new tropical-themed restaurant/bar/music venue and the facility doesn't officially celebrate its grand opening until next week.

Buffett is expected to play Margaritaville Las Vegas unannounced from time to time, as he does at his seven other locations in Key West, Fla., Orlando, Fla., New Orleans, Cancun, Mexico, and Jamaica.

The Vegas location, set along the Strip at the north end of the Flamingo, features two stages, one indoors on the ground floor and one on the third-floor terrace.

Neither is huge, so don't look for Margaritaville to bring the Rolling Stones to town. But the venue should be ideal for locals and small national acts suited for after-dinner crowds.

We'd hoped to speak with Buffett for this piece, but were informed that he isn't doing interviews. Strange for a guy starting a new Las Vegas venture, but the Buffett name over the door -- along with the 3,000-square-foot retail space filled with Margaritaville goodies -- must be a more effective marketing technique.

Margaritaville features an island theme, with replicas of boats and seaplanes throughout the three-story structure. A giant margarita volcano sits behind the main bar downstairs, erupting each night beginning at 6 p.m. Live music begins at 10 p.m. nightly.

The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

The menu is varied, featuring several types of fresh fish, ribs and, of course, the Cheeseburger in Paradise, named after one of Buffett's signature songs.

As for the Thursday concert, around 6,000 fans are expected to flock to the Flamingo for the event, with Buffett scheduled to begin his set around 5 p.m.

The concert will take place around the hotel's main swimming pool, which has been filled with 2,500 tons of sand (110 truckloads) for the occasion.

Free tickets have been available to fans through www.margaritaville.com and from local radio stations KOMP 92.3-FM and KXPT 97.1-FM (The Point) through contest giveaways.

Four tickets to the show recently sold on ebay for $1,700, while a single ticket went for $600.

Music notes

Stars and Stripes: Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera and the White Stripes have been announced as the first round of performers for this year's Grammy Awards, slated for a Feb. 8 broadcast.

OutKast will also be onstage for a special funk production featuring George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic, Earth, Wind & Fire and Robert Randolph & the Family Band.

Jam sessions: The Las Vegas Jamband Society presents a pair of shows this week at Moon Doggies West, 1750 S. Rainbow Blvd.

San Francisco quartet Tea Leaf Green plays at 10 p.m. Saturday and Brooklyn, N.Y., trio Cerulean City performs at 8 p.m. Monday. Both are 21-and-over events. Admission is $10 for Saturday and $5 on Monday.

Method men: Electronica duo and Las Vegas natives the Crystal Method released their third studio disc, "The Legion of Boom," on Tuesday. The album immediately shot to No. 1 on online music provider iTunes' electronic sales rankings.

Crystal Method mates Ken Jordan and Scott Kirkland grew up in Southern Nevada before relocating to Los Angeles.

Hip-hop hooray: Rap stars Ludacris and Chingy will finish a 27-date North American tour with a show at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay on March 21. Ticket information has not be revealed.

Good morning, good morning: Dennis Mitchell's weekly "Breakfast With the Beatles" will return to its longtime time slot, 8 a.m., this Sunday on KKLZ 96.3-FM. The show has been airing at 7 a.m. Sundays.

On sale

Luciano Pavarotti kicks off the North American leg of what is being billed as his final world tour at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace on Feb. 28. Tickets range in price from $125 to $800 and were to go on sale today at 10 a.m. at the Caesars box office, at TicketMaster outlets, by phone at 474-4000 and at www.ticketmaster.com.

Sting plays The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel on Feb. 15. Tickets are $505, $355 and $155 and go on sale Saturday at noon at the Hard Rock box office and through TicketMaster.

Rufus Wainwright stops by The Joint on Feb. 27. Tickets are $20 and $25 and go on sale Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Hard Rock box office and through TicketMaster.

The House of Blues at Mandalay Bay hosts Bob Weir & Ratdog on Feb. 25. Tickets are $25 and $35 and go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. at the House of Blues box office, at www.hob.com and through TicketMaster.

Jeff Healey lands at the House of Blues on March 4. Tickets are $15 and $25 and go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. through the House of Blues box office and TicketMaster.