Parrothead Squawks

John Roos misses the entire point in his review of Jimmy Buffett at Irvine Meadows (“Wasting Away Yet Again in Margaritaville,” Oct. 12).

Jimmy gave Parrotheads exactly what we wanted. The set that Roos calls “breezy, all-too-familiar pop fare” is what we consider to be the background music for life. The Buffett experience is about tailgating in the parking lot four hours before the show, shark fins, Elvis imitators, grass skirts, audience participation and the carnival atmosphere created by Jimmy, the band and their crew.

While Roos may consider Buffett to be “paddling in shallow waters,” Parrotheads want to hear all the old standards as well as some of the new music Jimmy is creating. Next year, Roos should put on a Hawaiian shirt and a grass skirt and take part in the entire experience. He’ll learn why Buffett and the Parrotheads are the people your parents warned you about.

TED EAGLE, Los Angeles