Meeting of the Minds 2014

         Every year on the first week of November, thousands of Parrot Heads and Trop Rock music fans "flock" to Key West, Florida for the annual Jimmy Buffett fan club convention called "Meeting Of The Minds". Four (or five, or six, or more - depending on your stamina) days of sun and fun in the bars and watering holes around Key West. Like many of our friends, Georgia and I like to take the long way down - flying in to Ft. Lauderdale, renting a car and driving down US 1 until we get to the end of the road. Along the way, we all have our favorite stops for fish sandwiches, conch fritters, and a variety of frozen drinks and cold beer. Here is a random picture diary of this year's trip. If you were there, we hope you reminisce along with us. if you weren't - or have never been - maybe this will coerce you into planning a trip in 2015...

 Alabama Jacks, Key Largo

 BO's Fish Wagon, Key West

 John Frinzi, Smokin' Tuna Saloon, Key West

 Sunset at Ft. Zachary Taylor State Park, Key West

 Geiger Key Marina, Key West

 Sunset in Key Largo

 Ft. Zachary Taylor, Key West

 Gilbert's Resort, Key Largo

 Jim Morris at Hog's Breath Saloon street party, Key West

 Kelly McGuire and Mark Mulligan, Key West Lighthouse

 Duval Street, Key West

 Lor-e-lei, Islamorada

 Looe Key Tiki Bar, Ramrod Key

 Peter Mayer and Coral Reefers, Casa Marina, Key West

 Rob Mehl, Hog's Breath, Key West

 Rum Runners, Islamorada

 Schooner Wharf, Key West

 Sunset in Key Largo

Sunset, Mallory Square, Key West

Meeting Of The Minds: Sunday, November 6th - The Last Waltz

We had originally planned to fly back to Atlanta on Sunday, but were told by several MOTM veterans that we should stay to catch Sunny Jim's songwriters showcase at Blue Heaven. So, we made some last minute adjustments - which included having to move hotels - and stayed another day. And we were very glad we did. Getting reports that Blue Heaven was packed to the gills for brunch, we decided to wait a few hours before going and, instead, headed to the Smokin' Tuna Saloon, Scott Kirby's new place just off Duval (you can read more about it in my earlier interview with Scott here on BB&B). The place was also pretty packed but we ran into our new friends, Jimbo, Tracy, and Brett again, who were getting ready to leave and offered us their table, where we sat and watched Howard Livingston and, then, John Frinzi with special guest, Doyle Grisham.

The Tuna is one of our new favorite places in Key West, with plenty of room, a cozy feeling despite being largely outdoors, and good food - the Smokin' Tuna Dip and peel & eat  local shrimp were especially tasty. One funny note: After turning down my first couple of beer requests, saying they were out of stock, the bartender shrugged and by apologized, saying "This is our first Parrot Head convention. We just weren't ready!"

We hated having to give up our much coveted table, but we wanted to catch at least some of the acts at Sunny Jim's showcase, so we closed out and walked up Whitehead Street. By the time we got there, the brunch crowd had subsided and, although there was still a good sized audience enjoying the music, there were plenty of places from which to watch the show.

If you've never been to Blue Heaven it's REALLY an outdoor venue. Unlike Smokin' Tuna, where there are at least some covered areas where you can go when the weather doesn't cooperate, there is no such shelter at Blue Heaven. Luckily, it was a beautiful Fall afternoon so being outdoors was exactly where we wanted to be. especially given the caliber of entertainment. Another interesting feature of Blue Heaven is that the "stage" is about ten feet up in the air, surrounding an old water tower. So, to see the performers, you have to look up. The advantage is that, unless you were to maybe get behind a group of NBA centers, you never have to worry about people blocking your view.

We caught Tall Paul, Latitude, Rob Mehl and several others before heading back to the Smokin' Tuna to see Kelly McGuire and Scott Kirby. On the way, we stopped by the Green Parrot, where the Sauce Boss was rocking the house while mixing up a pot of Gumbo.

Back at the Tuna, we found the place to be even busier than before. Apparently, even though the convention was officially over, lots of folks had the same idea we did and had decided to stay another day. Georgia eagle-eyed a group with young children sitting at the very same table we left a couple hours earlier ("They can't stay long, they have kids") and this time we were able to repay the favor by inviting Brett and his buddies from the Ft. Meyers area PHC to come sit with us.

Kelly and Scott are two of my favorite Trop Rock artists, and the chance to seem them play together was a real treat. They were joined by Mike Aiken and the three took turns performing their own songs. And that was just the "appetizer" for the main event, Scott Kirby and guitarist Dave Edmisten (along with a fiddle player whose name I didn't catch). Together, they ran through some of Kirby's catalog, including one of my favorite all time Trop Rock songs, "Lucky Enough". The line "I'll raise my glass, you can kiss my old ass...I'll die with my feet in the sand" will probably wind up on alot of Parrot Head tombstones.

A full day of music, wrapping up a long but thoroughly enjoyable convention, but it wasn't over yet. The last hurrah was the "No Plane On Sunday" party featuring Jim Morris & The Big Bamboo Band at Schooner Wharf. Morris had the crowd singing along to every song, mixing his own originals with rowdy covers, like Jerry Jeff Walker's "Up Against The Wall You Redneck Mothers". Wiped out but grinning ear to ear, we called it a night - and a week. On the way back to our hotel, Georgia turned to me and said, "As soon as we get home, we're registering for next year."

Meeting of the Minds: Like a Kid In A Candy Store

I mentioned in a previous post that I had promised to be diligent about blogging while here in Key West for the annual Parrot Head/Trop Rock convention called Meeting Of The Minds. The problem has been that blogging takes time. And, if you want to catch even half the artists performing on the island during the convention, while simultaneously trying to see some of the sights of Key West - like the sunset celebration on Mallory Square - maybe squeeze in a little shopping, time is in short supply....Oh, and there is that minor human requirement: food. Hear some music, tour the Hemingway House, grab a quick meal or two and next thing you know four or five days have flown by. Having been in Key West a number of times before, and as someone who can easily afford to skip a meal or two, our main focus this week was on the music. We tried to catch as much of it as we could, in as many places as we could. Here are some of the highlights:

Thursday.....


John Friday, Rum Barrel; Trop Rockers are a pretty magnanimous and supportive bunch and are usually happy to invite other performers up to do their own material. We saw it over and over again all week long. This late afternoon show on the upper deck of the Front Street bar was a revolving stage of songwriters and guitar pickers, hosted and otherwise held together by John Friday and enjoyed by a number of smiling Parrot Heads from around the country.

In between acts, I sampled a flight of top shelf Rums and, for my efforts, was awarded a "Baccalaureate of Cocktailology" from Boat Drink University.

Tropical Soul, Hog's Breath: An always entertaining band from central PA fronted by Dennis McCaughey, it also featured one of the ladies up for "Female Vocalist of the Year" at the Trop Rock Awards, Heather - whose last name I never caught. I actually didn't even get her first name right, either, because I called her "Sue" when I introduced myself after their set, thinking she was Dennis' wife, who had sent me a number of their songs for an internet radio show I'm working on. Heather was gracious, however, and - instead of correcting or reprimanding me, she handed me two of her own cd's. She is also incredibly talented, rocking a flawless version of Adele's "Rolling In The Deep".

Jimmy Parrish, Willie T's: It's always great to see Jimmy and this Jacksonville, FL based Ocean Waves Band. The house was packed, the band sounded great, much tequila was consumed - a typical Jimmy Parrish show.

Jim Morris and The Big Bamboo Band, Smokin' Tuna Saloon: This was our first chance to check out Scott Kirby's new place (see previous interview with Scott about the Tuna on this blog) and to hear Jim Morris do a full set with his band. I never heard why, but the show began with what surely must have been the longest sound check in history- "check one" became "check a hundred and one"- but, this was a party for Jim's fan club, so the place was full of folks I have a feeling would have sat through a hurricane to hear him play. And he didn't disappoint, despite the late start, runing through a long list of his original songs, plus some great covers, like Jerry Jeff Walker's "Navajo Rug".

Interesting side lights included two girls in the front row who were either auditioning for - or had just been fired from their job as - background singers. They had carefully choreographed, synchronized dance moves to EVERY SONG Morris did. There was also a visit from the Beer Fairy. Not making that last one up.

Jimmy & The Parrots, Schooner Wharf: Our last stop of the night, this one was memorable for being the biggest and most entertaining train wreck we saw all week. I had heard soem great things about Jimmy and his band and was anxious to see them rock the Wharf's outdoor stage. By the time we got there, however, the band had obviously consumed much of the bar's supply of adult beverages because it had deteriorated into a drunken mess, with people climbing on and off the stage, songs started but not finished, and songs started that shouldn't have been in the first place. The band was having a blast, though, and so were their friends up front, so chalk it up to the late hour...and blame it on the Rum. Jimmy and The Parrots more than made up for it a few nights later, opening for the Coral Reefer band at the Casa Marina Beach party.

New Hot Spot in Key West: They're Smokin' Tuna...And it's Legal!

You can’t swing a rubber chicken in Key West without hitting a world class watering hole. Captain Tony’s, Sloppy Joe’s, Hog’s Breath, Louie’s Backyard, Schooner Wharf, The Green Parrot, Blue Heaven, The Bull (and, for the more adventurous, Garden of Eden upstairs) and, of course, Jimmy Buffett’s  Margaritaville on Duval Street. Now, you can add one more to the long list of “must visit” places the next time you’re getting your Southernmost drink on: The Smokin' Tuna Saloon.

Owned and operated by a partnership of five individuals, including well known Trop Rock singer/songwriter, Scott Kirby, Smokin Tuna is located just off Duval. Scott and some friends were on stage for the Grand Opening party on June 17^th and the group have big plans for the future. I got a phone call from  “Mr. Lucky Enough” while he was enjoying some down time in Washington State and talked to him about the new venture…

Thanks for the call, Scott – have you got a few minutes to talk about your new place in Key West?

“No problem, Fred.  And, yes, I can definitely talk now. I’ve got three shows up here - including a house concert on Thursday, but I’ve got a couple days off and I’m going to spend them in the San Juan Islands. So, I’m just sitting here right now waiting for the ferry.”

 

A lot of buzz about your new bar, The Smokin' Tuna Saloon. Did you have any prior restaurant or bar experience?

“Only from the standpoint of having spent a lot of time in both of those – especially the latter! But, no, I’ve never run or owned one before.”

So what made you want to do it now?

“Do you know Charlie Bauer?”

I know the name but don’t think we’ve ever met….

“If you have ever been into Hogs Breath in Key West, chances are you ran into Charlie. He was the founding Manager  – ran that place for about 20 years. He is also the founder of the Key West Songwriters’ Festival, which is the largest festival of its kind in the world.  He approached me about, maybe, opening a place in Key West – someplace that would be set up specifically to showcase live, original music. We looked for over a year, until we found what we felt was just the right spot."

An existing bar?

“It was called The Alamo. It’s got a great open air layout – two bars and an elevated stage, all of it outdoors. But, the bars are covered, there is a brick floor, and it’s all surrounded by three historical buildings, which cut off any wind or noises from the street. So you sort of feel like you’re inside, until you look up and see the sky.”

Did you have to do any major work to get it the way you wanted it?

“No major renovations, if that’s what you mean. We re-did the two bars, gave them more of a tiki bar feel, and put in a Mackie sound system for the stage, to fit the kind of music we’re going to be doing  – speakers, subwoofers, and a sound board. Other than that, it was mostly some cleaning, painting, sprucing up."

Count your blessings. I spent almost ten years in the bar and restaurant business - was an owner/manager of a couple places here in Atlanta - and it seems there is always at least one big unexpected problem when you’re trying to get a place open!

“Yeah, we were lucky, I guess. No ‘horror stories’. Of course, we had been looking for a while, checked the place out pretty thoroughly."

What was it that you liked about this particular spot?

“As I said, we wanted a music room and this place is perfect. It’s got an intimate feel – with the brick floor, surrounding buildings, and a big tree to provide some shade – but can hold a few hundred people, and the acoustics and sight lines to the stage are great. It’s got a great vibe, right in the heart of Key West on Charles Street but a little off the beaten path, about 150 feet off Duval…”

That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, a chance to get away from the crowds. What’s in the three buildings?

“One holds our offices, another we’ll use for private parties, and the last one is our merch shop.  Before we even found the bar, Charlie has an idea for the logo and we knew we were going to want to have t shirts. So far, the merch has been doing great. People love it…”

What about food?

“Right now we’ve got a temporary menu but our plan is to be a good, casual dining place with a lot of fresh, local fish. One of the partners is a chef. He owns another place in Somers Point, at the New Jersey shore, has had it for almost thirty years, and he’s working on a permanent menu. We will have it up and running in September. We have already implemented some of his recipes – like Smoked Tuna. “

What can people expect at the bar?

“It’s full service. You can get cheap tequila if you want, all the way up to single Malt Scotch. We also have a good wine selection, several drafts, and a good selection of bottled beer – including our own ‘Smokin Tuna Ale.’ ”

So, you have food and drink covered. But, you said the place is primarily a live music venue. What are your plans in that direction?

“I’m really excited about the music. The stage will hold a six piece band comfortably, and – as I said, the sound system, acoustics, and sight lines are all excellent. We’ll have music seven nights a week, from local songwriters, to well-known trop rockers like Hugo Duarte, John Frinzi, and James White, to national touring acts like Robert Earle Keen. Deblois Milledge and Mass Acoustic are two more shows I’m looking forward to.”

Cover charge?

“There won’t be any cover charge except for the bigger shows, which will be ticketed. On November 2^nd, during MOTM, we’ve got Peter Mayer coming in. I’ll be opening that show, with Dave Edmisten and some other friends. We expect to have about 400 people here that night.”

Can you buy tickets in advance for that?

“Yes. Tickets for Peter Mayer are $25. They go on sale August 1 through keystix.com”

How often will you be playing there?

“I’m planning to be there at least one week a month from October through the Songwriters’ Festival, which is in May – including the whole week of Meeting of The Minds.”

You’re on the road six months a year. Who is going to be running “The Tuna” when you’re not there?

“Charlie is the Managing Partner, he’ll be handling the day to day. My responsibility will be more the music and marketing. I’ll be doing a monthly newsletter, doing interviews like this, that sort of thing. As you said, I’m on the road at least half the year, so can’t be there all the time. Two of the other partners own Fury Water Sports, they’re successful Key West businessmen, so they will also be very involved.”

The place sounds awesome, Scott. I think I found my new favorite hang out in Key West! I can’t wait to check it out when my wife and I are down there in November…

“Please do come by, let me buy you a couple of beers!”

It’s a deal. Good luck with it and thanks again for calling, Scott.

“No problem. Always good talking to you, Fred.”

http://smokintunasaloon.com/index.php

http://www.scottkirby.com/

http://www.petermayer.com/