tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60315265356490664162024-03-05T11:18:32.768-05:00 If You Give a (Fan) a (Ticket)...If you give a fan a ticket...she's going to travel the world for a band.Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08236279805991788308noreply@blogger.comBlogger225125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031526535649066416.post-86966606575592239202024-01-10T22:01:00.005-05:002024-01-21T20:14:14.153-05:00Back to the Island 2024I'm not going to rank all BTTIs against each other, but on a scale of 1-11, this year belongs somewhere in the upper third. I met quite a few first timers, and when I asked how it measured up to what they expected, every last one of them said it was even better than they imagined and that they plan to come back again. If you haven't been and think you can go once and get it out of your system, Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08236279805991788308noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031526535649066416.post-83233724949005013722023-11-22T17:30:00.013-05:002024-01-30T19:00:52.800-05:00These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things: Carry On EditionI don’t know about you, but I'm a total gear nerd when it comes to having the right packing tools and items to keep me comfortable on a trip. I’ll spend hours reading reviews and searching for travel blogs and Youtube videos before I decide which one is right for me. It's totally extra, but maybe you can benefit from the time I've already put into it, and what better time to share than a week Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08236279805991788308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031526535649066416.post-38229786104079744472023-11-07T08:13:00.004-05:002023-11-07T11:49:02.390-05:00Island Casino ShowsThis past weekend, I traveled to see Hanson play at a casino in a small town in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. For scale, I think telling you that the airport has one gate and only two flights per day gives you a good enough idea of the general size and availability of tourist attractions. Before I get into the show details, let me just express to you how many fake flight change notifications Delta Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08236279805991788308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031526535649066416.post-30843211786150649522023-09-13T14:57:00.004-04:002023-09-13T20:48:50.052-04:00What Lives In My Bag? A Lazy Person's Guide to (Not) PackingAs far as I can tell, there are two types of packers in the world:Type 1Starts pulling together outfits and packing a little bit at a time weeks before the tripHas a detailed packing list and checks items off as they goHas tickets, hotel reservations, and any important travel documents printed and/or saved digitally in one organized locationHas a trip countdown and a to-do list with a timeline. Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08236279805991788308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031526535649066416.post-29696999064498490562023-05-23T13:15:00.005-04:002023-05-23T13:19:54.527-04:00Hanson Day 2023Do I even need to write a blog post about Hanson Day this year when Hanson released a perfectly accurate summary on a t-shirt?I bought it immediately, but I also couldn't help making a few adjustments to reflect my own Hanson Day 2023 experience:We may joke about chair duty, but HDay from the volunteer side is still a lot of fun. I'm often asked if I like helping out or if it's hard or if I miss Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08236279805991788308noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031526535649066416.post-45922952702535417182023-01-11T18:02:00.009-05:002023-01-16T22:55:16.899-05:00Back to the Island 2023Before I even left the resort this year, I was already hearing people praise Back to the Island 2023 as the best one yet. The feedback I’ve heard so far is overwhelmingly positive, and while I’m not sure I would label it my personal favorite, I would agree that it has probably been the smoothest event yet where everything consistently went well overall. The music was well-rehearsed and varied, Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08236279805991788308noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031526535649066416.post-60718273191025614572022-11-08T21:58:00.009-05:002022-11-09T09:55:21.267-05:00RGB Tour: Rio de Janeiro How do you kick off a post for a city that has so many things going for it? There was Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain, some of the world's most famous beaches, swimsuits and snacks on practically every corner, and a guaranteed M&G with the band. Dear Mickey: here's a relocation address if you want to maintain the Happiest Place on Earth title.TourismIn all seriousness, Rio de Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08236279805991788308noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031526535649066416.post-32275063823016302232022-11-02T12:35:00.011-04:002022-11-02T13:12:33.711-04:00RGB Tour: Uberlandia & BrasiliaMe: "When I get to Brazil, I'm going to make the most of every moment. No show lines, no American food chains, and no wasting time in hotel rooms when I could be sightseeing."Also me, "Sightseeing" in Uberlandia at 3pm after eating lunch at Outback:Listen. It was hot, we were exhausted, and Uberlandia isn't exactly a big tourist destination. It may now top the list of most random places I have Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08236279805991788308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031526535649066416.post-5686501284528920512022-10-27T12:53:00.007-04:002022-10-27T13:00:31.891-04:00RGB Tour: Sao PauloFor anyone interested in the backstory, the planning that led to me seeing Hanson in Brazil went something like this:"So flights to Brazil are cheap right now. What if we went there?""Haha yeah, that would be wild."And then, just out of curiosity (traveling fan famous last words right there), I looked up how much a flight to Brazil would cost me since it was relatively cheap for my friend. The Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08236279805991788308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031526535649066416.post-10914692317811509812022-09-04T15:12:00.006-04:002022-09-04T15:13:10.418-04:00RGB Tour: WinnipegLiving in the southeast U.S. comes with a certain "niceness" stereotype. You've probably heard the phrase "southern charm," and if you've ever been to a small town down here, you'll eventually realize that we smile and wave at anyone who drives past on a country road, regardless of whether or not we've ever seen you in our lives. Of course there are always exceptions, but I got a similar vibe Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08236279805991788308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031526535649066416.post-71826088489774080972022-08-31T12:08:00.002-04:002022-08-31T12:09:06.928-04:00RGB Tour: FargoConsider this your friendly RGB Tour installment of “Places Holly Never Meant to Be.” I knew when tour dates were announced and I only planned for Nashville, Atlanta, and Raleigh that I would want to add something later, but I had no idea where. I figured I would know it when I saw it even if it came down to “I have these two days off in a row; where is Hanson playing on those dates?” The Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08236279805991788308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031526535649066416.post-75986535132687664252022-08-27T13:27:00.003-04:002022-08-27T13:42:06.540-04:00RGB Tour: MinneapolisAnd I WaitedFor round two of the RGB tour, I flew from South Carolina to Minneapolis, then roadtripped from Minneapolis to Fargo and Winnipeg with four friends. If you enjoy reading fan experiences and are also a reader of the blog Scream and Be Frees or Hansonstage, be forewarned that we traveled together for these three shows and our stories are bound to have similarities. We’re also different Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08236279805991788308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031526535649066416.post-54798615342721558672022-07-30T20:40:00.010-04:002022-07-30T21:12:24.865-04:00RGB Tour: RaleighBeforeConfession: Raleigh was always a little bit of a "throwaway" show in my mind when I started making tour plans. There's no way I was going to miss it when it's the closest show to home, but it wasn't part of a multi-show trip and I didn't make plans to go with friends. I drove up Wednesday and drove back Thursday morning, and I knew in advance that there was no way I was going home feeling Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08236279805991788308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031526535649066416.post-89990295632681161972022-07-25T22:57:00.019-04:002022-07-25T23:19:36.641-04:00RGB Tour: Nashville & AtlantaRGB SetlistBefore I jump into city specifics, I think it makes the most sense to talk about the RGB tour in general (keep in mind I have a whole three shows’ expertise under my belt and that the tour isn’t even halfway done, so obviously this is super subjective). Despite avoiding setlist spoilers before attending these shows, I couldn’t escape comments here and there wishing that Hanson would Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08236279805991788308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031526535649066416.post-58170203334665030052022-05-30T17:58:00.010-04:002022-06-01T20:27:20.064-04:00Red Green Blue: An Album ReviewThis may be the longest blog post I have ever written, but I am so grateful to be weighed down by the burden of too many new Hanson songs at one time. It's the best problem to have, really.I always struggle with writing music reviews because I can analyze lyrics and word choice all day long, but I don't have the right vocabulary or music background to discuss the sound, the instruments, the Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08236279805991788308noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031526535649066416.post-51295694520461660932022-05-23T14:19:00.003-04:002022-05-23T18:18:41.837-04:00Hanson Day 2022I'm not sure how cutting out Hop Jam left me feeling busier than ever, but maybe two years off from a traditional Hanson Day just has me out of practice. HDay 2022 was back in full swing with all of the in-person events that have been missed in Tulsa since 2019 as well as keeping plenty of virtual content for those enjoying from home. See Exhibit A below. There's no free space on this bingo Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08236279805991788308noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031526535649066416.post-8668821841926009832022-04-30T20:32:00.013-04:002023-04-12T11:59:50.290-04:00So You're Thinking about Going to BTTI...With the recent announcement of the next BTTI, I've seen a lot of questions from hopeful first-time attendees and thought it might be helpful to write a more logistical post in addition to the reviews I've shared in the past. Think of this as a practical overview of what to expect in place of my usual fangirling and gushing about how much you'll love the shows. (Spoiler: you're also going to loveHollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08236279805991788308noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031526535649066416.post-58003383214478823642022-04-01T08:42:00.001-04:002022-04-01T10:28:20.566-04:00How To Get Front Row At A General Admission ConcertToday we’re going to talk about a topic on par with the likes of Bruno, Fight Club, and recent inductee Jada Pinkett Smith: how to get front row at a GA concert. If you’ve clicked on this link, it’s probably safe to assume that you are either 1) dying to know all of my best front row tips, or 2) terrified that I’m about to reveal yours. I have thought a lot about whether it is my place to share Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08236279805991788308noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031526535649066416.post-79785087700795178662022-01-21T17:53:00.009-05:002022-01-21T18:11:49.636-05:00Back To The Island 2022I don't think I have ever looked forward to a trip more than this Back to the Island since the very first one in 2013. I spent the weeks leading up to the event balancing extreme excitement while also trying to mentally prepare myself for a possible last minute cancelation. I wasn’t fully convinced that it was happening until I was standing on a beach in Jamaica seeing mildly creepy photographic Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08236279805991788308noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031526535649066416.post-90152071117107771562021-12-28T22:32:00.005-05:002023-12-13T13:37:01.209-05:00BTTI Essentials: A Packing ListToday's procrastination technique: writing about packing instead of actually packing. May my past fails be your future successes. If you're headed to the next Back To the Island or are considering going at a later date, here are a few things you should bring that may not make your regular packing list:1. A pen you can easily reach mid-flight. You'll have to fill out a customs card before you landHollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08236279805991788308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031526535649066416.post-83795523164866553452021-11-12T13:55:00.005-05:002021-11-12T19:51:58.010-05:00Against The World ReleaseIt's official. Hanson's latest album/project/controversially labeled collection of songs, Against The World, is finally out in full. I tried to get on board with the unique release format and honor the band's wishes of giving each song the spotlight for a month by posting a separate blog about each, but I'm admitting defeat here in the 11th hour with the final two songs. I don't have it in me to Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08236279805991788308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031526535649066416.post-19642750487029428732021-10-19T13:14:00.005-04:002021-10-19T13:20:14.849-04:00Against The World: StrongerWhen Hanson announced Against The World, I committed to writing a blog entry per song. They chose this song-per-month release format to give each song the attention it deserves, and for better or for worse, I signed on to blog in that same format for the duration of the project. At first I kind of liked the idea of challenging myself to dig deeper into every song. There can be no skip songs here,Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08236279805991788308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031526535649066416.post-58693784960897283142021-10-10T16:54:00.225-04:002021-10-10T19:45:27.226-04:00Listener's Choice: ATW + Concert SeriesWhen You Have No Flight To Guide YouWelcome to the trip that almost didn't happen. I'd like to start by giving a shoutout to American Airlines for having more cancellations in one day than Hanson had in all of 2020. What a truly remarkable accomplishment.I started out with a flight to Tulsa the night before the first show. As in, about 24 hours early. As in, if anything goes wrong there should beHollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08236279805991788308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031526535649066416.post-47721424905689973772021-09-04T16:12:00.007-04:002021-09-04T17:09:23.086-04:00Against The WorldWelcome to another edition of ex-English teacher Hanson fan gets carried away analyzing lyrics and seeing connections between songs.You don't have to read my past posts about "Tonight" and "Feeling Alive" to make sense of this review, but at the very least you'll need a TL;DR summary: "Tonight" is about a band that feels defeated and is struggling not to throw in the Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08236279805991788308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031526535649066416.post-54402921317870471902021-08-29T13:45:00.004-04:002021-08-30T16:43:04.140-04:00I Get Around: Iowa State FairI had no intention of being at this show. When it was announced well over a year ago alongside the possibility of a world tour with new music, I told myself I'd rather save my PTO for something more worth the effort. Why spend money on a flight to Iowa for a one-off show with a predictable setlist when I could buy a flight to a tour stop, potentially hit 5+ shows in a row, and get new music? It Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08236279805991788308noreply@blogger.com0