Buffett Hasn’t Lost His Tropical Punch

Decked out in loud Hawaiian shirts, grass skirts and balloon hats, thousands of enthusiastic Jimmy Buffett fans packed the Hollywood Bowl on Friday to hear the veteran performer preach the virtues of riding with the top down, basking in tropical breezes and other hedonistic pursuits.

Buffett has always been obsessed with pleasure seeking and exotic escapism. His songs invariably concern lovable rogues and devil-may-care dreamers seeking solace and the next charter boat to Havana, and he frequently embroiders his sprightly melodies with steel drums and gentle samba rhythms.

On Friday, Buffett and his Coral Reefer Band shamelessly played up to the adoring crowd with a set that favored his strongest and most popular party anthems, while two giant video screens flanking the stage showed audience members, dancing sharks and swelling breakers. There was even a “stump the band” segment with prizes for lucky audience members.

All of which could have degenerated into Vegas schmaltz were Buffett not such a likable performer. He looked every inch the middle-aged beachcomber, and he sang in a soothing, avuncular tone ideally suited to his low-key losers’ tales. A quarter-century after his first album, Buffett remains the consummate showman, even if his act has become as predictable as a TV rerun.

* Jimmy Buffett & the Coral Reefer Band play Sat.-Sun., 8 p.m., at Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre, 8800 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine. Sold out. (714) 855-4515.