Posts Tagged With: Meeting of the Minds

Another Meeting of the Mind for the Record Books!

Posted on November 2, 2014 by jennifermcguirefl

Another Meeting of the Minds come and gone, and like all my Parrot Head Phriends, I’m sad it’s over, more than a little exhausted and a bit dehydrated. My favorite part of this annual Key West event, even possibly more than seeing all of my fellow trop rockers, is re-connecting with the many Parrot Heads I don’t often see. I got to see friends old and new from Parrot Head Clubs in Atlanta, Pennsylviania, Central Florida, Las Vegas, Tampa Bay, Indiana, Space Coast, Southwest Florida, Kentucky, Coastal Jersey, Charlotte Harbor and many, many more.

Thanks again to Koz from Koz’s Green World Gallery for being such a great supporter of trop rock!

Give me a day or two to recover, and I’ll be ready to turn around and do it all again!

Categories: Parrot Heads, Performances, Trop Rock | Tags: Key West, Koz's Green World Gallery, Meeting of the Minds, trop rock | Leave a comment

When I grow up, I want to be like Mac MacAnally

Posted on March 26, 2014 by jennifermcguirefl

Jimmy Buffett is amazing, but as a songwriter, Mac MacAnally is my idol. Not only has he been the mastermind behind some of my favorite Buffett songs like In the City, License to Chill, Coast of Carolina and It’s My Job, but he’s written songs for artists like Kenny Chesney, Zac Brown Band, Martina McBride, Brad Paisely, Dolly Parton and Toby Keith. And that’s just in the past six years. He’s an amazing artist and an inspiration to every song writer worth their salt.

I had the chance to meet Mac at Meeting of the Minds 2013, and he was every bit as nice and down to earth as I had hoped he would be. I told all my trop rock buddies that this is a picture of me giving Mac song writing tips and him taking notes, but that’s about the biggest load of bull I’ve ever shoveled. He signed my Sarasota Bay Parrot Head Club badge, and it’s something I’ll probably treasure forever.

Categories: Parrot Heads, Trop Rock | Tags: Jimmy Buffett, Mac MacAnally, Meeting of the Minds, Parrot Head Club, Sarasota Bay Parrot Head Club, trop rock

Meeting of the Minds

Posted on August 1, 2013 by jennifermcguirefl

It’s that time of year Parrot Heads — time to start planning for Meeting of the Minds! It’s rumored (as it always is) that Jimmy Buffett is going to make an appearance on the main stage at the Casa Marina Saturday night, and I have it on good authority that it’s true. So set your compass toward Key West and get ready to get your trop rock on!

Looking forward to playing for Koz again at Koz’s Green World Gallery in Key West — a great supporter of Trop Rock!

I’ll be performing at The Rum Barrel, Koz’s Green World Gallery and Durty Harry’s, and am announcing new dates each week, so keep “A Weather Eye” on my tour dates page. I’ll also be releasing my second CD, Footsteps in the Sand at Meeting of the Minds.

So mark your calendar, get your lei and grass skirt ready, and join me in Key West for Meeting of the Minds. It’s one of the greatest weeks of the year for Trop Rock!

See you there!

Categories: Parrot Heads, Performances, Trop Rock | Tags: Casa Marina, Durty Harry's, Jimmy Buffett, Key West, Koz's Green World Gallery, Meeting of the Minds, Parrot Heads, Rum Barrel, trop rock

Schooner booking summer house parties

Posted on June 9, 2013 by jennifermcguirefl

Parrot Head Phriends, Schooner still has some summer dates available for house parties in Florida, southern Georgia, between Florida and eastern Pennsylvania in late July, and the Carolina Coast in early August.

If you’re looking for a trop rocker who can sing your favorites along with clever tunes of his own that are sure to connect with your guests, such as In Arrears Drinking Beer, Pier Pressure and Mid-Life Vices, give Schooner a call for open dates.

Voted Beachfront Radio’s 2012 Bad Boy of Trop Rock, Schooner has played top trop rock venues like Tropical Isle on Bourbon Street in New Orleans; the Sand Box, voted #1 house party venue by Beachfront Radio; Meeting of the Minds; and for Parrot Heads across the country!

Categories: Parrot Heads, Performances, Trop Rock | Tags: Bad Boy of Trop Rock, Beachfront Radio, Bourbon Street, Meeting of the Minds, New Orleans, Parrot Heads, Sand Box, Schooner, trop rock, Tropical Isle

Posted on February 17, 2013 by jennifermcguirefl

During the time I’ve lived here in paradise, I’ve been so fortunate to become friends with other musicians who have followed the call to the beach. Although I have had many musicians influence my music, I can honestly say that those I’ve met chasing the trop rock dream, have been the most open, friendly and giving people that I’ve ever met.

My brushes with Trop Rock greatness probably began with Sunny Jim, who I had the pleasure of meeting at Meeting of the Minds in 1999. Aside from being one of the most talented writers and performers that I’ve met, he and his wife, Adela, are some of the most genuinely friendly people I’ve ever met.

Since that great weekend 14 years ago, I’ve also had the pleasure of performing with the likes of the Conch Republic Band from Lexington, Kentucky — one of the most energetic live shows you’ll ever see, and again, some of the nicest guys and gals you’ll ever meet! My travels have also allowed me to perform with the likes of the Chris Sacks Band, Gary Philips, Mike Mangum, Dani Hoy, Mike Armstrong, David McKenney, Duane Harlick from the Tropoholics, Jimi Pappas and many others.

Recently I’ve had the pleasure of jamming with my friend, Rick “Kid Conch” Schettino at some really cool venues. We first performed together at the Lazy Gecko in Key West and since then have been on stage together at the Sandbox on Anna Maria Island and the Hideaway Cafe in St. Petersburg, Florida He’s a great writer and an incredibly accomplished musician. It’s relationships like this that allow all of us to mold our ideas into the tunes you all come to hear us play, and I’m grateful to Rick and all others who share my vision and continue to raise the bar for Trop Rock Music. Good on ya!

Categories: Performances, Trop Rock | Tags: Anna Maria Island, Chris Sacks Band, Conch Republic, Dani Hoy, David McKenney, Duane Harlick, Florida, Gary Philipis, Hideaway Cafe, Jimi Pappas, Key West, Kid Conch, Lazy Gecko, Meeting of the Minds, Mike Armstrong, Mike Mangum, Rick Schettino, Sandbox, St. Petersburg, Sunny Jim, trop rock, Tropoholics

Meeting of the Minds: Day 3 (a bit belated)

Posted on November 7, 2012 by jennifermcguirefl

Let me just say that by Day 3 of Meeting of the Minds in Key West, I was so exhausted that I never got the chance to blog. Of course, the fact that I was hanging out with the Parrot Heads and my trop rock friends, and playing at Lazy Gecko until the wee hours, may have had a little to do with it…

Had a blast playing with Chris Sacks and the guys for the Sarasota Bay Parrot Heads!

Saturday was perhaps the best day of all. After relaxing on the beach at the gorgeous Casa Marina, I played for the Sarasota Bay Parrot Heads (my home club!) at the Ocean Breeze Inn. They had shots of jello, shots of concoctions that tasted like apple pie, shots Rum Jumbie…an awesome day, to say the least!

I joined some trop rock favorites on stage. Chris Sacks and his band were a blast to play with, and were definitely some guys I could hang with. They played the same kind of music I like — rockin’ trop rock. Mike Mangum sat in, cool guy; and Gary Philips joined on guitar, also a great guy; plus Duane Harlick from the Tropoholics — awesome voice, best version of Bob Seger’s “Night Moves” that I’ve heard. Lastly, John Frinzi took the stage — a charismatic guy with a great voice who apparently the girls really love! Had a blast playing and watching. Good times.

Enjoyed playing with Gary Philips at Meeting of the Minds. Great guy!

Took my family to the Southernmost Hotel Cafe for a late-afternoon lunch. My 8-year-old son and I were very pleased to know that the beach there, which the restaurant overlooks, has a bikini top-optional beach. The second pair of boobies my guy has seen so far (the first was on the jumbotron at the Cincinnati Buffett show). He seems pretty pleased with that. Wish my wife had let me take a picture to share.

Had a late night at the Lazy Gecko to play again with Chris Sacks and the boys, and hang out with John Friday and Danni Hoy (love her new CD!), then back home to Sarasota. Thank God I didn’t have to fly back up north to where it’s snowing. I don’t miss those days one bit. If my worst case scenario is Siesta Key, I’m doing pretty good in life!

The ladies in the Sarasota Bay Parrot Head Club loved John Frinzi.

Categories: Parrot Heads, Performances, Trop Rock, Uncategorized | Tags: Buffett, Casa Marina, Chris Sacks, Danni Hoy, Duane Harlick, Gary Philips, John Friday, John Frinzi, Key West, Meeting of the Minds, Mike Magnum, Ocean Breeze Inn, Sarasota, Sarasota Bay Parro Heads, Schooner, Siesta Key, Southernmost Hotel, trop rock, Tropoholics

Meeting of the Minds: Day 2

Posted on November 2, 2012 by jennifermcguirefl

Schooner chilling at the Casa Marina!

So far, Meeting of the Minds has been two of the most fun and most exhausting days ever! It’s so nice to be back in Key West with my Parrot Head PHriends, listening to some of my favorite trop rock performers and playing songs from my new CD.

We hit the MOTM Mini Mart first thing this morning, ran into Sunny Jim, and then relaxed on the beach a bit. Even though I lived in Key West and have vacationed here countless times, I’d never been to the resort and didn’t know it was that gorgeous. I’m ready to make my reservation for next year now!

Checked out Mike Armstrong on the Duval stage in front of Margaritaville during the street fest. Those Landsharks sure tasted good. Then it was down to Koz’s Green World Gallery for the Key West debut of my first solo CD, Mid-Life Vices. Ran into some of my PHavorite PHriends from the Bluegrass Parrot Head Club, and it was so great seeing some friendly faces from home!

Schooner and one of trop rock’s biggest supporters, Koz of Koz’s Green World Gallery.

Headed down to the Tree Bar for the best margaritas and Bloody Marys on the island, then over to Turtle Kraals, one of my favorite haunts from the good ole days, for some mid-afternoon dinner. Capped the afternoon off with a frozen key lime pie on a stick dipped in chocolate from Kermit’s Key West Key Lime Shoppe — the best ever — then back to drop off the family at the hotel.

It might be an early night for my Wharf Rats, but Schooner is headed back out to listen to some more trop rock and soak in Key West. More tomorrow…

…Schooner

It was so good to see some of the Bluegrass Parrot Heads today!

Categories: Parrot Heads, Trop Rock | Tags: Casa Marina, Key West, Koz's Green World, Landsharks, Margaritaville, Meeting of the Minds, Mid-Life Vices, Parrot Heads, Schooner, Sunny Jim, Tree Bar, Turtle Kraals

Meeting of the Minds: Day 1

Posted on November 1, 2012 by jennifermcguirefl

The annual Parrot Heads’ Meeting of the Minds officially kicked off today in Key West — at least for me and my Wharf Rats. Started off the day with an impromptu performance at Kermit’s Key West Key Lime Shoppe. We stopped in to sample a piece of their key lime fudge (delicious, I highly recommend it) on the way to Irish Kevin’s. From the guitar case I was carrying, it must have been obvious that I was one of the trop rock artists in town for MOTM. I’ve always admitted I’ll play for gumbo. Apparently I’ll also play for key lime fudge.

Headed over to Duval to see my new friends, Michael Armstrong and Dave McKenney at Irish Kevin’s. A lively group of young ladies from Florida requested Mustang Sally, which gave me an excuse to join them on stage. While it’s not trop rock, I’ve always loved that song. After singing Pirate Looks at 40, it was time to head south to visit Koz, one of trop rock’s greatest supporters at Koz’s Green World Gallery.

Lunched at the Southernmost Cafe overlooking a turquoise blue sea, before heading back to Duval to perform in the Tropical Songwriter’s Showcase at T’s Bistro & Bar. Ran into some of my fellow trop rockers, Key West Chris Rehm, Dani Hoy, Swim Skinny and Loren Davidson, which is one of the best parts of participating in events like this. I love being able to kick back and listen to some great trop rock!

Tomorrow it’s back to Duval for the Margaritaville Street Fair, then to Koz’s for my CD release party at 2pm. Hope you can join us!