Anthem Tour

I missed my flight. I rode roller coasters. I saw the Grand Canyon and got yelled at in French. I stood front row center for a seated show and got a pair of Zac Hanson's drumsticks...

and that was just the first three days.

Tour season. For a traveling fan, it's time to see and do anything. You go into it knowing there will be a mix of amazing memories and the kind of huge WTF moments that can only come out of sleeping on a sidewalk in a foreign country. You welcome the good and the bad and the air of craziness that accompanies it all. Consider this post a prequel to show-specific reviews that I'll post later when I'm 1) better rested, and 2) less sick. Traveling fan 101: you will be sick when you come home. Always. If you come home well-rested and healthy, you didn't hit the road hard enough.

My trusty car did the entire east coast run last tour, all the way up to Maine and straight back down through Florida. The poor thing just wasn't up to that level of dedication this year, so I did the most responsible thing a girl in my situation could do--I flew to L.A. where I met up with my friend Rachel (who owns the same car but newer) and did the entire west coast in her car instead. It made for a crazy, beautiful tour symmetry.

On day one, we hit Knott's Berry Farm. Day 2 was the Grand Canyon, and then came the Hanson shows:

Sept. 17th Albuquerque, NM
Sept. 18th Denver, CO
Sept. 20th Salt Lake City, UT
Sept. 21st Las Vegas, NV
Sept. 22nd Tucson, AZ
Sept. 24th San Diego, CA
Sept. 25th Anaheim, CA
Sept. 26th Los Angeles, CA
Sept. 28th Portland, OR
Sept. 30th Seattle, WA
Oct. 2nd, Vancouver, BC, Canada

There was little sleep and lots of driving, eleven shows, eight barefoot walks, dozens of friends both old and new, and 21 days lived at warped speed out of a car. I couldn't possibly capture it all in a blog post or a photo review, but I'll do my best to share what I remember.

I'll leave you with one of my favorite travel quotes as a permanent disclaimer:

"Like all great travelers, I have seen more than I remember, and remember more than I have seen."- Benjamin Disraeli

The Art of Asking: Help me win tickets?

Remember back in 2011 on the Musical Ride Tour, there was a contest to win a pair of tickets at any tour stop, and you got an extra entry for every person that used your link to enter?

I did a full month of tour that year, and that free ticket was worth more to me than you know. I posted a blog entry at the time and I asked you guys to use my link and help me out. Some of you did, and I was lucky enough to win that pair of tickets to a show in NYC.

Another tour, and another three weeks down the coast for me (the west coast this time!), and free tickets are worth a lot to me once again. If you're feeling generous and are also interested in winning your own pair of tickets !PLUS A M&G!, we can do this again.

Click this link. Enter this contest. May we both win!


After you've done that, here's a pretty neat video about the power of simply asking people for help and the amazing response that often comes from humbling yourself enough to ask.

Update: Sometimes I'm not sure if my insane luck is good or bad. For this edition of Holly has weird luck, I just happened to enter this contest for the ONE show this tour that has sold out in advance so far, and I'm ticketless. You using my link to enter just became more helpful than ever. I can't really afford to bribe you or anything, but find me in line at a show and I'll give you a high five and share my Scooby fruit snacks or something :-)

If a picture's worth a thousand words, I'm way behind.

I'm no photographer. As far as shows are concerned, half of the time my camera stays packed along with all the other things I didn't really need to bring, and the other half of the time I'm too busy jumping and clapping to hold a camera steady anyway. (And I will totally judge you if you're standing on your tiptoes holding your camera 6 feet above your head with some sort of hidden go-go-gadget arm talent for the entire show).

Besides, in the event that I DO bring my camera, this inevitably happens:



Backstory: I bought a waterproof camera for Jamaica so I wouldn't ruin my good Sony on the beach. Guess who never had to set foot outside of the hotel room to drop it on the tile floor anyway?



Photographer or not, the Sony (RIP) did capture some fun memories, and in all my nerdy wordiness, a lot of them never made it to the blog. If a picture is truly worth a thousand words, I probably owe you guys a lot more than 13 extra pictures by now. In honor of the late great DSC-H20, a random collection of photos from various places for your viewing pleasure:

(The original version of this post included polite unobstructive tags slightly off to the side in each picture. I've always thought it's pretty annoying to see a great picture with a watermark right over someone's face. Turns out, it's also pretty annoying to find your pictures floating around with the tag intentionally cropped out, so my apologies for the updated "this is why we can't have nice things" style watermarks.)

Asheville 2008

Myrtle Beach 2008

Nashville 2008

Charlotte 2009

Charlotte 2009

Charlotte 2009

Charlotte 2009

Charlotte 2009

Charleston 2011

Washington DC 2011

Epcot 2012

Jamaica 2013

And lastly, one that is arguably too low quality to post, yet too cute not to share:

Tulsa 2013

An Analysis of "Tonight"

Ever since I got Anthem, I intended to do a close reading of "Tonight" to see just how many references to past Hanson songs might be buried in there. I finally sat down with a pen and paper and wrote the lyrics by hand, then started underlining and scrawling notes in the margins. I dug and dug until I hit something--or rather, it hit me.

The first time I heard this song, I loved it. On the surface it made me feel the way I feel at a Hanson show. "Jump in the crowd/ throw up your hands/ and sing it out loud/ tonight." I thought it had the same kind of uplifting urgency as "Scream and Be Free" that tells you to seize the moment and live every day like it's your last, don't let life pass you by, [insert cliche], [insert cliche], etc. And it's probably no revelation to some of you, but somewhere between scribbling little green boxes around "Chase down the dream" and "one more," the finality of the song punched me in the face.

First, I want you to read the chorus as a fan. Picture yourself swaying in the packed crowd of some anonymous dark venue, belting out these lyrics:

Tonight is the first night

Tonight is the last night.

Don't care what has come before;

Tomorrow's an open door

So box to the ropes

Jump in the crowd

Throw up your hands

and sing it out loud

Tonight.

It's a familiar feeling, right? You're throwing up your hands in happiness, just letting go of the outside world and whatever stress may be awaiting you once you walk out those doors. Nothing else matters in that moment, so you're going to let it all go just for tonight.

Now go back and read it from the perspective of a band that knows they've hit a harder rut than anything they've overcome in the past. The phrase "irreconcilable differences" may be looming in the air. It might be the last song you ever write together.


(No...really. Scroll back up and read it again.).


To sum it up in one overused bit of Tumblr terminology: FEELS.

Suddenly that open door is saying you're free to leave, you're throwing up your hands in frustration and defeat, and you're up against the ropes fighting one last round, for one night only before you throw in the towel. Tonight.

Despite all its great Queeny sounds, it's a really heavy song if you let it be.

And because this is what I originally set out to do with this post, here's the version without the punch in the face, just noting all the direct references to past Hanson songs:



 (Pretend I boxed in "walk" in the line "too tired to walk." I totally meant to.)

...and then what happens when you give me a red pen and I form my own ideas:



7/10/13 ETA: I've seen a few responses more or less disagreeing with this interpretation, which is totally okay. I just wanted to clarify that I'm not saying this is definitely what the song is about or what Hanson meant us to get out of it, it's just one interpretation that I think happens to fit pretty well (even if by coincidence). In the end it still stirs up all my "feels" because even if I'm way off base with this interpretation, the fact is we know Hanson did reach a breaking point last year, and I imagine they did have feelings similar to the ones I read in these lyrics. Whether or not they intentionally put them into the song, only Hanson could tell you.

10/11/16 ETA: I came back to this post because I'm working on a similar analysis of "Feeling Alive," and something new hit me. The line "When you walk the line brilliance can sound insane" has always bugged me because I could never really make sense of it. It took THREE YEARS and a great new song for me to come back to this post and have a lightbulb go off in my head. So for what it's worth, I think the line that's being walked in that lyric is the line of deciding to give up or deciding to push through, where one more step in the wrong direction could mean the end, and a step in the right direction is good, but you're still so close to giving up and have a long way to go. When you're in that place and the mindset of just being done, even the most rational, reasonable suggestion or idea can sound impossible or like it isn't worth it, i.e., "brilliance can sound insane" because you're not in the right headspace to be receptive to even the best suggestion in the same way that simple tasks become difficult for those suffering depression. You have all my respect if this is old news to you; I feel like I just pulled out a 3-year-old splinter I didn't even know I had.

Anthem

an·them  \ˈan(t)-thəm\

noun

1. The sixth studio release by the band Hanson

2. An incurable infection of sound punctuated by catchy melodies and harmonies, upbeat tracks, and general face-melting guitar

3. Of or pertaining to awesomeness. See "rock."

4. Aural pleasure

Synonyms: talent, perfection, earworm, #win

Near Antonyms: downer, bubblegum pop, comeback, Kanye West

I sat down to write a quick little album review, and this happened instead. My bad. The opinions I have are usually strong and entirely my own, but we're all susceptible to the influence of other people's opinions. I really didn't want the push of other people's preferences to cloud my own judgement this time, so I avoided reading any. This is it. My reaction to the first time I sat down and listened to Anthem with as little outside influence as possible. It's long. It's prone to tangents. And it was written in a naturally biased state of excitement. Carry on.

General Observations

• Anthem is my favorite album title to date. I geeked out in true word-nerd fashion over the press release that began with a single, powerful definition. I got lots of A's on essays throughout school. My secret weapon? Hand-pick the most suitable definition for the term you want to argue and throw it right in the first sentence. This is me sending a virtual fruit basket to whoever wrote the press release and decided to use that definition of "anthem." 
• I'm thrilled to see an Isaac lead again, though sad they cut "Nothing on Me" (is that the title?). The clips I heard had the same kind of sass and punch I love about "Fired Up" and "You Can't Stop Us." I hope it won't be locked away in the Hanson vault for good. Ditto for "Get So Low," which I enjoyed in Jamaica.
• I hear more Queen in this Hanson album than any other, and that's a direction I'm happy to go. Even the cover art screams Queen! (cue parody called "Scream and Be Queen") 
• I like the design. The colors, fonts, & suits all have a very polished, classy look. It's a step up from SIO in the typo department, though I still spot a few. Free editing offer still stands, guys.

Songs

1. Fired Up

I like the energy; it's a great show opener. I also can't believe Zac said the line "Come with us if you want to live" ISN'T a refrence to The Terminator. I'm not sure how it could ever be anything else.

2. I've Got Soul

Something in the horns or arrangement reminds me of "Soul Man." The whole song has a very 70s vibe to it. It's also neat to hear a guest performer (Michael Fitzpatrick of Fitz & the Tantrums) on a verse and not just as backup. In all truth I like the sound more than the lyrics.

3. You Can't Stop Us

The first time I heard this song, I was standing on a beach in Jamaica. I knew immediately that it would be my new favorite Hanson song. It sounded like Queen and "Life in the Fast Lane" had a happy child and gifted it drums. The album version doesn't quite measure up for me, but isn't everything made better by standing on a beach with Hanson? Also, thanks to Hanson introducing this song to us as "You Can't Stop Us Now," I will never get the title right.

4. Get the Girl Back

It wouldn't have been my first choice for a single, but it's growing on me already.  It's one of those songs I'll always like more live. Bonus points for making me clap.

5. Juliet

A+ from the English teacher here. I heard somewhere that Zac wrote this song for his daughter and just changed the name (Junia-->Juliet). I think it's sweet and brilliant, particularly the line about "any other name," knowing that it IS for a girl with another name, but that hardly changes the meaning. I was nervous when I heard a clip on hanson.net that sounded like "Where is the Love" (of Black Eyed Peas origin, not Hanson), but I'm pleasantly surprised by the full version. Shakespeare allusions + Zac's voice= win.

6. Already Home

I picture buffalo roaming to this one for no particular reason. They're happy buffalo, so it's not a bad thing. I love the harmony in the "oh oh ohs" and the bridge. If there's one thing Hanson is great at, it's building a solid bridge.

7. For Your Love

Maybe I've been watching too much Merlin lately, but I love the knight imagery. It sounds more like a fairy tale love song than a battle cry, but the lyrics tell the story of a loyal man who is willing to fight for his love, whether it involves storming a castle or laying down his life "not for glory," but "for your love." No wonder the first words out of my friend's mouth after we heard it were "I've just heard my wedding song." Swoon.

8. Lost Without You

It's your basic catchy pop love song, but I could go on vacation inside the breakdown at the end when they're repeating "just stay here in my arms."

9. Cut Right Through Me

If you've seen Zac doing the jig to it in the Re:Made in America documentary, you'll never unsee it. It's the kind of song that is going to embed itself in your brain whether you like it or not and may do its best work inside a commercial. The first time I heard part of it was during a livestream. My friend had to leave to go to the bathroom; Zac was drinking Mountain Dew. Jokes were made, and you may catch me unintentionally singing "you go right through me" to a beverage some time.

10. Scream and Be Free

This is one of my favorites. It's the song that gives us the title for "Anthem," and with good reason. I love the lyrics and the image I get from the line "sing it if you know it" of standing in a packed crowd, my favorite place to be. I can't wait to sing along badly at future shows.

11. Tragic Symphony

Word-nerd alert: I really like the title, that pairing of words that probably haven't been put together before. Taylor's voice also sounds particularly good to me on this track. I'll probably always think of KT Tunstall, though.

12. Tonight

The more I listen to it, the more I think "Tonight" could overthrow "You Can't Stop Us" as my new favorite--album wise, at least. Points for all the references to past Hanson songs (On the Rocks, This Time Around, etc.), and I just plain love the sound. I want to build a room with pillows and bright blue walls and pixie stix and put the end ("Don't wait for tomorrow") on repeat. That end is my single favorite piece of the album, hands down, and definitely the Queeniest bit of Hanson music in existence that feels a lot like "Somebody to Love."

13/21. Save Me From Myself

Call it track #13 or track #21, but it's more or less track #8 to me--the infamous Zac ballad. I first heard this song in Jamaica. Granted that night I stood next to the stage where the sound quality was that of a MIDI ringtone being streamed through a toaster, but it was forgettable to me. It rings a few bells now that I hear it again, like the name "Amelia," which, by the way, all my favorites have sung about. Andrew McMahon, Jon McLaughlin, & now Hanson. She must be some girl! The nerd in me likes the song more now that my friend Rachel pointed out how well it fits with Doctor Who. If anyone ever needed saving from himself and felt the loss of his friend Amelia, it's the Doctor.

If you've read this far and haven't already purchased and replayed Anthem at least half a dozen times, I'll be genuinely shocked. But if that is indeed the case, you can find it online at iTunes and Amazon, hanson.net, and physical copies in many stores that carry music like Walmart, FYE, and Best Buy.

A Note on Negative Feedback

I've seen a lot of anger from fans lately about bad reviews, incorrect articles in the media, and unfounded insults in the comments sections.

Here's an analogy about why I don't let bad publicity and negative feedback about my favorite band bother me so much:

We were in New Haven, CT, some time in the early afternoon during the Musical Ride tour. My friends and I were sitting on the sidewalk with 50 or so other people, all waiting in line for the show later that night. We got plenty of the usual "What are you guys in line for?" "Hanson? Like MMMBop Hanson?" "Who?" "Is it sold out?" etc. We answered quickly, budged people along, and didn't bother arguing with every single person that gave us weird looks, because who wants to spend all of their free time arguing with the kind of people that give you weird looks anyway? Then all of a sudden, this girl in a banana suit walks up. True story. We're minding our own business, it's the middle of the day and weeks away from Halloween, and this girl wanders up all alone, completely wasted, wearing a giant banana. (It was the Yale campus. I don't know if that explains anything in this situation). And do you know what she says?

"OH MY GOD! Are you guys seriously sitting out here for Hanson?" She added a maniacal laugh and sounded as condescending as one possibly can while drunk in a banana suit.

So my friends and I looked at each other, and I said what I know we were all thinking:

"OH MY GOD! Are you seriously wearing a giant banana?"

/end scene.

There will always be the hecklers wanting to know what on God's green earth would make someone sit on a sidewalk for hours and wait for a band whose most negative attribute they can come up with is the fact that they were teenagers 15 years ago. And lately, there's been an influx of cookie-cutter poorly researched articles from various media outlets, labeling Hanson as "one-hit-wonders" and citing the "comeback" we inevitably read about with every new album release. They use apostrophe's to pluralize words (see what I did there?), they spell names wrong, and sometimes they just make crap up because it's easier than doing any research. And the reader comments? I can't even begin to tackle the level of crazy inaccurate insults that happen there. Plenty are just trolling for a reaction anyway.

There are a few ways to respond. You can read every single one of them and get really riled up and head a small online lynch mob to berate them with equally bad insults. You can go all Rodney Dangerfield and feel victimized and misunderstood and like nobody gives your favorite band the respect they deserve.

Or you can remember that you need only take the opinion of a drunken banana so seriously.


*Disclaimer- I'm talking specifically about the type of insult/article that is factually incorrect or without background research. If you've listened to the newer music and dislike it for reasons other than hair length/color, age, and what you thought in the 6th grade, I can totally respect that opinion.

Hanson Day 2013

I'm going to skip the usual sentimental opening I give to these Hanson Day blogs--you can read that in any other entry about Hanson Day in the archive here. My first show will always be the Tulsa MOE in 2007, so by default I'm always going to be a sentimental sap about going back every year right around that anniversary. I'll spare you the mushiness surrounding what was anniversary #6, Tulsa trip #7, and birthday #??

The Dinner

I know you're not reading this for food commentary, but you're going to get it anyway. The dinner at Caz's Chowhouse was great. Though I've been aware that chicken and waffles is an actual thing for over a year now, I had never tried it before. It's a somewhat regional thing (though I've definitely seen it offered in both Tennessee and Oklahoma, so it can't be THAT regional), and we don't have it here. I finally opted to try it at Caz's and was pleasantly surprised, mostly because it was the best waffle I've ever tasted. Good food aside, it was fun getting to meet and catch up with everyone. Also, Isaac wagged his finger at my cheesecake. IDK. It wasn't doing anything wrong.

The Documentary

Next was the screening for the new documentary, Re: Made in America. I'm not a fan of spoilers, so I'll refrain from going into too much detail on this as well as the new music. If I had to choose one word to describe it, I would use "genuine." This documentary addresses some of the issues that have been rumored among fans regarding tensions in the band. I will say it's not quite as universal as Strong Enough to Break in that I don't think just any music fan could pick it up and fully appreciate the struggle/journey, but that may be a special treat for more hardcore fans that are already familiar with the band's dynamic. It was an interesting inside look at the recording process for a band that has toughed it out for 20 years and included a few good laughs along the way. If you don't purchase a package, I would encourage you to still sit down and watch it with a friend some time.

The Walk

I was a little nervous for the walk since it was the first hosted by Hanson in about three years. It was freezing and had just finished raining, so for the first time after twenty or so walks, I kept my shoes on. Maybe I'll use it as an opportunity to appreciate being a spoiled middle-class American with the option to wear shoes and socks when and wherever I want, and to recognize how awful it must be to not have that option. Despite the weather, the turnout was good, and many still walked with bare feet.

The Listening Party

Good stuff. Buy the album June 18th. You won't regret it. I'll post a full review of the album on the release date :-)

Sidenote: Hanson is not even kidding around about leaking new music and filesharing. There were multiple signs saying anyone caught recording in the listening party or the show would be immediately banned for life from any future Hanson shows. Just say no, guys.

The Show (session two)

I have to admit I was wary about the setlist. I feared that they would play the new album in its entirety and be done. And as amazing as that would be and as spoiled as it sounds, I really didn't want to travel 1,100+ miles one way just to hear something I could hear nine times on tour much closer to my house. They didn't disappoint, and I have to say this might have been my favorite member event to date. They began by playing a few new songs from Anthem, but then surprised us all by announcing that we were going to help them record the new fan club EP. We stomped and clapped and provided "oohs" on cue, and for the second time in my life, I enjoyed stomping in heels at the top of a set of bleachers in Cain's. (I also didn't fall and break my neck, which is an added bonus.) I don't get too many super flustered OMG IS THIS REALLY HAPPENING type moments, but seeing Zac and Taylor drum in unison, mirrored on a set of left and right-handed drum kits was a good enough catalyst for that reaction in us all. I'm almost as excited for the new EP as I am for the new album.

I was surprised and not surprised when the Q & A session opened up with the question I had submitted. When those things start, you always envision a Hanson reading off your name, right? Like you're willing it to happen and mentally preparing yourself for if it does. And then they do or they don't, but this time the scenario that played out on stage was the same one that preceded it in my head. And for what it's worth, it was also edited a bit from my original version.

What Zac read: "Do you plan to continue the walks on the next tour?"

What I wrote: "Do you plan to continue the walks at every tour stop on the next tour?"

I've heard them say a few times now that they plan to continue the walks, but the explanation has always been a little vague. I was curious if they plan to continue them at every show in the same fashion as The Walk Tour, or if they're going to be changed or updated in some way, like how they're donating $1 from ticket sales this time. I should have elaborated when I wrote my question, but I'm happy with a "yes" either way!

The Rest 

Pun intended, of course, because there was no rest during the rest of the trip. "The rest" can be summed up in two parts: riding in the car, and photobombing. My trip to Tulsa was a 20 hour drive, split 8 hours one day and 12 the next. The trip home was a straight 23.5 hour drive, with at least one of those extra hours courtesy of a dead car battery at midnight in nowhere, SC. I sincerely hope to never see two sunrises on the same car trip again without sleep in between. That being said, it won't stop me from doing it again next year.

The rest, in picture form:


          
                     
         

                                 

                                  

Taylor Hanson Turns 30!!!!! Feel Old?

There are two kinds of people in the world:  People that age normally, and child stars. For example, Taylor Hanson was 14 years old in 1997. Let’s say A.J. (that’s Average Joe) was also 14 in 1997. Check out this table charting their ages in surrounding years:

              A.J.      Taylor
1993    10            10

1995    12            12
1997    14            14
1999    16            14

2001    18            14

2003    20            14
2005    22            14
2007    24            14
2009    26            14
2011    28            14
  2013    30           30?!

Note that both followed normal aging patterns until 1997 when fame froze Taylor at 14, while A.J. continued to age at a normal rate. This allows A.J. and others in his peer group to advance into adulthood leaving Taylor with the "kid" label for years to come.

Ironically, the song that shot Taylor and his brothers to fame in 1997 was about the passage of time.  The lyrics touch on the fleeting nature of life and the moments that pass us by so quickly ("you turn your back and they're gone so fast"). The title word "MMMBop" itself, coined by the young brothers, means "a short moment in time." Little did Taylor know that a catchy little song about time would have the power to freeze him in adolescence indefinitely.

Given the facts, it's understandable that news of Taylor's 30th birthday has shocked pop culture enthusiasts everywhere today.  A quick Google search of "Taylor Hanson turns 30" will yield a multitude of articles, all beginning with the variation of a single sentence:  "Are you ready to feel old?" There's nothing scarier than waking up to find that someone you knew to be a young teen has gone and aged 16 years in a single day. If that can happen, what next?

If you're still skeptical, you can check these sources for proof:

OK! Magazine
(in which you can vote for which is hotter: 90's Taylor or Taylor Today. Um, creepy?)
Pop Dust
(in which the female author seems to have grasped his age, but not his gender)
Pop Goes the Arts
(in which four!!!! exclamation points were necessary)


Happy 30th Taylor! May this be the year that people finally let you grow up.

How to Tell Your Loved One That You're Going to Jamaica...Again.

There! That was easy.

Back to the Island 2013

There's nothing quite like running into the ocean during "Thinking of You" or twirling in a dress in the sand during "Penny and Me" as you actually gaze at starry skies. The whole trip was just a completely different experience from the usual Hanson show, and I'm glad I went. The fans all seemed more calm and laid back than at a tour show, myself included. Everyone I talked to was super nice, and there's something oddly relaxing about not having access to a cell phone and having to meet at a set time and place instead.

The first show was my favorite, probably because I was just so excited to finally be there dancing on the beach, and there were a lot of high-energy songs in that set. The acoustic show felt like the exact opposite of the first day; it was mostly made up of slower songs and ballads. There's this stereotype that Isaac rambles a lot if you let him talk. Give him alcohol and a stage to himself and it's no longer something people just joke about. I'm pretty sure his introduction to "More Than Anything" was longer than the actual song, and when he finally started playing, he stopped about 10 seconds in and said something to the effect of "Guys, I just love the sound of the waves behind me as I play!" like a child with ADD pointing at a flashing road sign. It was kind of adorable.

After "Wish That I Was There" they played "Wish That I was There," or at least Isaac did. I never realized how similar it sounds to the intro of Deeper until Isaac began singing the WTIWT chorus again instead of the first verse of Deeper. We all had a good laugh and Taylor stepped in to remind him of the lyrics...or maybe to threaten him. Who knows.

I absolutely LOVED "You Can't Stop Us Now" on the final night. From the beginning, it had a bit of a Queen feel to it, with a beat similar to "We Will Rock You" (nevermind the title similarity to "Don't Stop Me Now"). It's pure rock and Zac sings lead. I can't wait to hear it again when the new album comes out.  Overall the shows were good, but I have to say my biggest complaint of the trip is that they repeated some songs on multiple nights. It's part of following a tour; you go to different cities and see shows with different audiences, and you're going to hear a lot of the same songs multiple times. It's expected and still fun. But when you know the audience is going to be identical three nights in a row, I didn't expect (or want) any repeats.

I was in the group with Green Passes so I saw Zac's first Tie Dye session, aka the guinea pig trial that failed and had to be changed the next day. There was a small stage in the grassy area where we were all sitting, and we all assumed he would be on the stage. Instead, he walked up, stopped about two feet in front of where I was sitting, announced "I'm Tie Dying right here!" and sat cross-legged in the grass. Before I knew it, there was a swarm around us on all sides. I'm sure Zac intended to mingle and go around to different groups of people, but we were all locked into that space as soon as he sat down and people mobbed. It was uncomfortably close for everyone and I'm sure people further back couldn't hear or see. I hear the following day things were more relaxed and he did speak from the stage and walk around to different groups instead. The instructor grabbed my shirt out of my lap for the demonstration, so I just sat back and watched.

The next day was Taylor's cooking and Isaac's drink mixing. The escovitch fish Taylor cooked was delicious.

I'm not even sure how to describe the drink mixing session. It started with us doing the YMCA and we got to see Isaac attempt the cha cha slide, soulja boy, and something the staff called "smooth & deadly." At one point he took a shot of vodka straight from the bottle and he named his own personal concoction at the end the "Let's Get it On...or at least try."

The trip home deserves a post to itself, but suffice it to say our bus broke down like five times and they had to send an extra bus to come pick us up about a mile from the Montego Bay airport. Never a dull moment.

I think Andrew McMahon can provide a better ending to this than I can, so I'll let him:

But if you left it up to me,
Every day would be a holiday from real.
We'd waste our weeks beneath the sun;
We'd fry our brains and say it's so much fun out here!
But when it's all over,
I'll come back for another year.