MMMStop: A Fan’s Reaction to Hanson in the Media

We’ve seen an unexpected spike in Hanson mentions lately, and it’s kind of ironic when you think about it. In the last twenty years, Hanson has had multiple new albums and tours, started a non-profit charity organization, founded a music and beer festival with over 40,000 attendees, and started their own record label, all while most media outlets were busy covering things like the next seasonal Starbucks flavor or which muffin looks the most like a Chihuahua. Meanwhile, all it takes is someone getting confused about the release date of “MMMBop,” and suddenly an article about singing the wrong words to a ~20-year-old song goes viral. As a die-hard fan, it’s a little annoying, but we’re used to the MMMBop commentary by now. I’ll hit the “share” button and smile knowing that maybe a handful of people will be reintroduced to a forgotten talent, because this is the internet, and I know all too well that sometimes you click a random link and find yourself 47 Youtube videos deep three hours later.

Right after these MMMBop articles made the rounds, I spotted a new article with the title "Reminder: The Men from Hanson Are All Grown Up Now" while scrolling through Facebook on a break at work. I spent the rest of the day thinking “Good for them. Here’s someone that actually wants to focus on Hanson’s current music.” I sat down at my computer to read it as soon as I got home, ready to applaud whatever forward thinker took the time to see past the apparent blinding success of “MMMBop.”

Maybe I should have anticipated that the entire article would be one big Buzzfeed slobberfest over Hanson’s appearances. It turns out grown-up Hanson is “hot enough to just melt the pants right off ya” and not much else these days. Somewhere around the gif of Isaac’s hair flip, it occurred to me that I can either continue to be annoyed by shallow articles, or I can stop hoping to click on that perfectly enlightened piece that doesn’t exist and write it myself. It won't go viral and I offer no sweaty gifs to lure you in, but here’s the truth every Hanson fan wants you to know every time you see another “MMMBop” article.

1. First of all, MMMBop rocks, okay?
It’s not the embarrassing Pokemon shirt you refused to take off in 3rd grade that your friends still won’t let you live down; it’s a Grammy-nominated song that hit #1 in 27 countries. You’re doing pretty well if that’s the one moment from your childhood that people choose to dwell on.

Also, every possible groan-worthy stick-an-MMMBop-pun-in-the-title variation has already been done. Yes, every single painfully cheesy variation. Time to mmmove on.

2. Who cares if they're pretty?
I’m not about to argue with the fact that the members of Hanson are attractive, but that fact is so irrelevant to their talent and their craft that it shouldn’t even rank in the conversation. It’s like writing an article about a presidential candidate and mentioning the fact that they have feet. Who cares, unless we’re looking for a candidate that can run a marathon in addition to a country? Nobody in Hanson is trying to be a model or a pinup, and I’m pretty sure Zac’s face isn’t going to surprise us with a killer drum solo any time soon.

3. The Hanson I know melts faces, not pants.
If you go to a show, yeah, they’ll probably play “MMMBop.” They’ll also play songs from their other five albums, and the whole crowd will know every word. The energy is intense, so you’ll probably get your feet trampled if you try to stand still during “If Only” or “In the City.” You’ll involuntarily stomp during “You Can’t Stop Us;” I don’t care who you are. If you're lucky, you'll get to experience their cover of the Beatles’ “Oh Darling,” and you’ll have to swear to yourself that you’ll never tell another soul that Hanson did it better. Their harmonies will SLAY you. I dare you to go to a show and not enjoy or at least respect some aspect of it.

4. Their current tour and/or album is neither a “comeback” nor a “reunion.” 

As a Hanson fan with an English degree, I'm offended by articles like this on two levels. Thirty seconds, an internet connection, and the ability to spell both “Google” and “Hanson” is literally all it takes to find out that Hanson has never stopped making music and has been steadily touring and releasing albums since 1997. Suggesting otherwise is pretty insulting to both the band and their fans, and it’s insulting to the entire audience of readers who expect accuracy when choosing to spend their time reading a publication. If I wanted fiction, I’d go to the library. It also says a lot about modern journalism when even the most reputable sources show zero effort to do research to verify basic facts.

And then you get the media outlets that post “reunion” articles every single tour, for which I can only suspect amnesia is to blame.

5. Hanson isn't a "boy band."
They're often lumped into this category for two reasons: 1. They were literally boys in a band, and 2. They became famous around the same time as several well-known boy bands. The term "boy band" refers to a group of male singers also known for dancing. They're typically vocalists/performers who do not write or play their own music.

Isaac, Taylor, and Zac have written and performed all of their own music since the band formed back in 1992. In the last decade, I have personally seen them play the piano, guitar, drums, harmonica, tambourine, mandolin, cajon, cowbell, glockenspiel, and half a dozen other percussion instruments I can't even begin to identify. I've seen Taylor and Zac drum in unison, mirrored on a set of left and right-handed drum kits. I was also on the set of a music video shoot that involved choreographed dancing in homage to the Blues Brothers. The finished product is solid, but let's just say no one mistook them for a boy band while we were filming the flashmob scene.

6. They continue to grow and change, just like everyone else.
And if you must judge them on qualities beyond their music, remember that they’re philanthropists and goofballs and genuinely good people. They aren’t afraid of hard work or criticism, and they’ve had lots of experience with both. I hope we never forget MMMBop, and I hope their faces will stick around for a long time, but man, I sure hope they keep making music more than anything. You guys can keep your nostalgia; I can't wait to see what they do next.

I'm (Not) With the Band

If you're going to follow a band, someone somewhere is inevitably going to call you a "groupie." The definition varies depending on where you look, but a quick Google search reveals the connotation most people connect to the term as "a particular kind of female fan assumed to be more interested in relationships with rockstars than in their music."

It's a harsh term that doesn't describe me in the slightest, but I have to admit I'm a little intrigued by anyone that would actually fit the description and claim that title. As an avid reader (and scourer of Goodreads recommendations), I've come across the book I'm with the Band: Confessions of a Groupie by Pamela Des Barres on multiple occasions. It's an account of one of rock's "original" groupies coming of age during the 60's and into the early 70's, and it tells of her encounters with a slew of rockstars like Mick Jagger and Jimmy Page, just to name a few of the most recognizable on the list. When I found out that Pamela was part of the inspiration behind the notorious Penny Lane in Almost Famous, I was further intrigued. After years of telling myself that it sounded interesting and that I would read it one day, I finally sat down and read her story.

I felt a little more than just morbid curiosity before I opened the pages. Here was a real girl that loved music and grew up idolizing her favorite musicians, and who also loved writing about it. To be completely honest, I think I was a little bit afraid that if you cut out the sordid affairs and some of the pages of star-studded objectification, I might be left holding some warped mirror in my hands. Maybe deep down my hesitancy to read this book comes from a strange jealousy, because I know that if I ever chose to write a book about traveling for a band, there are only so many people that would care to read about my clean, goody-two-shoes idea of a good time on the road. I didn't want to find myself in those pages, but I kind of had to know if there would be some kinship between a girl that follows the music and a girl that follows the musician.

I was a little bit relieved to realize that I didn't find myself going "OMG, me too!" at any point during the book, which falls right in line with my feelings on the fictional Penny Lane. (Like my fellow bloggers Miranda and Danielle have said, I'd choose to be William > Penny Lane any day).

In Penny Lane fashion, she explains early on: "I tried not to think of myself as being cheap or easy or any of those other terms that were used to describe loose, free, peace-loving girls; I just wanted to show my appreciation for their music." (p. 57)

It's not a fear I'll ever have to worry about, but the second half of that sentence is something we can all relate to. The first half is practically a blank waiting to be filled in with whatever crazy behavior you're willing to carry out in the name of music.

"[Insert crazy thing you did here, followed by this excuse]; I just wanted to show my appreciation for their music."

Maybe it's just a matter of your own personal circumstances and values to find out what you might put in that scary little blank. I'm sure I could fill it several times over with my own version of crazy.

"I camped out on a sidewalk all night; I just wanted to show my appreciation for the music."
"I drove for 20 hours without stopping to sleep to get to the show; I just wanted to show my appreciation for the music."

The list could go on for all of us.

By the end of the book, I found that I had grown to respect Miss Pamela more than I expected. Not because of her list of rockstar conquests or for her own growing claim to fame, but for showing no remorse or regret for any of it. If there's one message in this book that I can agree with, it's this: don't ever apologize for doing what you love. As she ends in her prelude: "I'm honored to have spent time with some of the finest and brightest that rock 'n' roll had to offer. I'd do it all again in a heartbeat."

As for other similarities, well...we chose the same blog title font?

Luggage Tag Giveaway

Confession: I call myself a traveling fan, yet I've somehow never owned a luggage tag. I guess it's not much of a necessity when you're a strict carry-on traveler who rarely checks a bag, but my new suitcase is just begging for an identifiable accessory. What better way to personalize my bag than with a Hanson lyric about travel? I had a hard time choosing the perfect lyric, but I love the end result:

I liked the idea so much that I decided I wanted one of you guys to have one, too! I opened a poll for readers to vote for their favorite travel lyric, but when there wasn't a unanimous decision, I decided to go a different route. The winner will get to choose their own lyric as well as having the back engraved with their personal contact information. The tag is handmade leather from Bramble & Beene on Etsy and will be custom-designed based on your preferences.

I thought about all of the actions I could request to get entries--like my page, share this post, answer this question, but in the end I decided I just want this to be a thank you for reading and for encouraging me to continue writing about the things I'm passionate about.

So how can you win this fabulous piece of leather craftsmanship?

There are two ways. Using the widget below, simply choose the "click here to enter" option for a free entry. You can earn a second bonus entry by selecting the tweet option to let others know about the giveaway. Entries will be accepted for one week and will close at midnight EST on Friday, March 11th (Thursday night). Everyone is welcome to enter, and the winner will be selected at random by rafflecopter.com. The winner will be notified by email within 24 hours of the drawing and will have 48 hours to respond.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And if you don't win? You can still head over to the Bramble & Beene shop on Etsy and order your own custom tag, passport cover, and plenty of other great gifting items. I'd love to see a picture of your creation if you do.

May the odds be ever in your favor!

Update: Now that the winner has been notified and given her prize, I thought you might like to see the great lyric she picked:

Five Setlist Themes for BTTI 2017

We know that Back to the Island 2017 attendees will be given the opportunity to vote on setlist themes, but so far, we have no idea what the theme options are.  Once again, minimal details plus maximum excitement means it's time for a healthy dose of speculation. Here are a few I'd like to see.

1. I'll Borrow Your Lead
A lead-swap set. Ever wondered what it would sound like for Zac to sing lead on Save Me, or Isaac to sing lead on Broken Angel? Now you have.

2. Fan club/B-sides/Rare songs set.
Self-explanatory. Doesn't everybody want this?

3. An Island-inspired covers set. 
I've already expressed my feelings on this one. I think it made more sense to do this in 2016 combined with their other R'n'R tour covers, but maybe there's still a way to combine it with another theme or mix in Hanson songs to create a full setlist.

4. A "Voice in the Chorus" set.
Songs with crowd participation parts.

5. Never Played Live/Unreleased
Not just "rare" songs, but songs that have never been played live anywhere. It's not gonna happen, but a girl can dream.

And an honorable mention for a few things that I think would draw very mixed reactions: A pre-1997 set. A Digital Pants set. And let's file a Fool's Banquet set under the "never gonna happen" heading, too. I'd also love the acoustic set that we were shorted at this BTTI to make a reappearance in the form of a chaotic and overcrowded campfire sing-a-long after a show.

Truthfully, I can't think of many themes that make sense as a full set, and I'm super curious what Hanson will come up with as our real options. I wonder if they're as stuck on this as I was, or if they're going about it in a completely different way. Here are a few failed ideas that came to mind when I was brainstorming for this post:

1. Songs with the most frequently forgotten lyrics.
Featuring Penny & Me, Best of Times, and Give Me Your Best Shot, for starters. We'll bring the cue cards.

2. A "No Cameras Allowed" set.
Please?? Also known as the #unpopularopinion set.

3. Tragic Symphony set
aka all the tearjerkers, Just no.

4. Love Song(s)
Don't hate me here. I feel like there is a chance some variation of this could be a real option. But as a (happily) forever single person, I just don't think I want a whole set of this.

5. Songs that are shorter than Isaac's introductions to them.
I say this with love...and amusement.

I'd love to hear some ideas from other fans, and we already have a conversation going about it over in the hanson.net forums. Feel free to join in! So far, my favorite suggestion came from Kelly, who pitched the idea of a "BTTI mixtape contest" where fans submit their own ideal setlist and have Hanson choose one to play. What potential theme excites you the most?

Happy Camper

I’ve been really fascinated lately by the concept of cruises and adult sleepaway camps, though I’ve never been to either. Let me explain.

We’ve been joking since year one that Hanson’s Back to the Island event is basically Hanson Camp for adults. You make friends with strangers, do crafts, and go swimming and kayaking. You stay up all night talking and share a late-night snack around a bonfire. In the end, you hug everyone goodbye, tell them to keep in touch, and hope to see them next year. And with the announcement of a fifth installment for 2017, it feels like now more than ever it is becoming every bit as much of a reunion between friends as it was a nuanced event with Hanson in the beginning. Is it possible that one day soon, the term “camp” in Hanson context will stop drawing to mind sleeping bags and line drama and shift to thoughts of friendship bracelets, postcards, and bittersweet goodbyes? I don’t think we’re there yet, but it’s kind of a nice thought.

I recently saw a link to an adult summer camp called Soul Camp and was so fascinated to find out that adult sleepaway camps exist. I had no idea! The more I read about it, the more I thought “This is basically Back to the Island, but without Hanson.” These people return year after year solely for the fellowship and the fun with no common band to rally around, and it feels like solid evidence that maybe Back to the Island—or following a band in general—is about something bigger than a band. That maybe choosing to spend your hard-earned money to repeat an experience you’ve had multiple times doesn’t necessarily land you in the crazy fangirl groupie category after all, but in some bigger human connection category. People can say what they want (and they will), but choosing to pay a lot for the same experience over and over doesn’t have to be symptomatic of a crazy obsessed fangirl; it’s symptomatic of being a person that enjoys adventure and meaningful experiences and friends. It’s symptomatic of finding something worthwhile and being wise enough not to let it go, despite what anyone else thinks you should do.

I was already a little more aware of the concept of cruises with repeat attendees than adult camps. The Rock Boat would be my prime example, but even regular cruises without a music connection draw repeaters that have built life-long friendships aboard a ship of strangers. I came across an article on Buzzfeed called “I Tried to Become the Most Popular Person on a Cruise,” and while I think a more accurate title might be “I Tried to Become the Most Popular Person on a Cruise So I Could Write a Buzzfeed Article About It,” it struck me yet again that there is this entire subculture of people that return year after year to a specific event, and a large part of the reason is the opportunity to connect with other people. Sure, it’s a multi-faceted experience and a bit dismissive to say the only reason people return to these events is for the friendships, but I think it’s safe to say that there’s more to these experiences than the beautiful beaches, ships, tents, and convention halls that they’re held in.

I’m not sure what my end goal is with this post. I’ve been aware for years that Hanson shows and long-distance friendships go hand-in-hand, and I know I’m not the only one. I’m not trying to argue that any given audience member at a Hanson show is there more for the girl next to her than for Isaac (though is that really such a bad thing?), but I love that you can look at entire groups of people with no connection to Hanson or any band for that matter that exhibit the same behaviors as Hanson fans. We’re definitely part of a subculture of something, and I’m not so sure it always fits neatly in the “music fan” category. The best part is I think it has always been this way; nothing has changed except maybe my perspective. Maybe the thing I've described is adult fangirlism, or simply the result of growing up. I don't know exactly what we are, but the one label I'll claim is "happy."

Hansonstage.com: Your Source for Show Stats

I knew before I ever set foot into my first Hanson show that I was going to return home and document the setlist the first chance I got. One perk to being a relatively "newer" fan is the opportunity to learn from the mistakes of those that came before you. So by the time I saw Hanson live for the first time in 2007, I was already familiar with the complaints of plenty of more seasoned fans who had gone to so many shows that they "lost count" or had no clue what they had heard live. I didn't know how many shows I would go to or if I would ever care about those statistics, but I knew if I didn't start early, I'd never keep track. Nine years later, I have a 63-page semi-color-coded, somewhat chronological mess of a Word Document saved to my computer. And in the event that someone wants to know "Hey, what's the 50th Hanson song you ever heard live?" I could truthfully answer "Fire on the Mountain--nine times total. Six as a Zac solo and three with the full band." Right, because that's a question that comes up often.

So maybe nobody will ever quiz you on it or care how many times you've heard "MMMBop," but there is something a little fascinating about seeing all of those numbers lined up, and plenty of little surprises you'd never expect, like the fact that I've heard "Never Let Go" live more times than "For Your Love," or "Oh Darling!" more times than every song on Anthem except for "I've Got Soul."

The good news is you don't have to have a nine-year-old Word document to see your stats--there's a website for that! I have mentioned hansonstage.com in my blog on several occasions, but have never gone into any details about what all you can do with it and how it works. If you don't already use it yourself, it's time to learn!

If you're like me, you can use it to find the latest setlists and add them to you own ever-growing list in whatever format you like. But if you don't already have one of your own, hansonstage will create one and keep track of it for you. You can get started by creating an account HERE. Just check the boxes for all of the shows you have gone to, and hansonstage will generate the list. It gives you a breakdown of:

-How many shows you've been to
-Every song you've heard live and the number of times,
-How many songs you've heard from each album/category
-How many unique songs you've heard
-How many songs period with all repeats included (this number is where I start questioning my sanity a little, and one I had no idea of without the help of hansonstage).

As long as you create your list while logged in, it will stay saved to the website every time you come back.

As for the rest of hansonstage.com, you'll find it filled with news articles, lyrics, tour dates, blog posts, and plenty more. Katie has compiled an impressive database of setlists and ticket stubs, but she is always looking to add to it with the help of fans. If you see a show you attended that isn't listed or is missing a ticket stub or setlist, don't hesitate to contact her and help add to the archive.

Now go create and share your findings! There's even a link at the bottom of the list that allows you to share your stats with friends. What surprised you about your list?

You can follow Hansonstage on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Back to the Island 2016

Intro(spection)
With each new Back to the Island event, there is some instinct in me that can't help but compare things to past BTTI events. Throughout the trip, I find myself thinking things like "They made X way better this year" or "X seemed more prepared the first time" (have fun filling in those blanks). If you've been more than once, it's inevitable that you're going to judge things based on your own past experiences, for better or for worse. You can see it in my other Back to the Island reviews, and it's probably strongest in my 2015 BTTI post.

It's a habit I'd like to break because ranking things will always identify a "best." And in that way of thinking, everything else begins to feel like it pales in comparison, even when it doesn't. The fourth Back to the Island is the one that made me realize that each event has had its own unique and unrepeatable vibe, and that none of those will ever be recreated exactly the way we experienced them no matter how hard we try. Each one has been special and amazing in its own right. We can return, but we can never really go "back."

Back to the Island 2016 is going to leave me in a special state of nostalgia all its own. I'm not talking specifically about the band or the shows or the events, as amazing as any of those were. I'm talking about the overall atmosphere of calm and bittersweet contentment that felt so strong to me while I was there. Maybe it was just exactly what I needed after the hardest year of my life, but I felt like I was surrounded by great people the entire time. Everyone I encountered was wonderful, and I'm so happy to have spent time growing some friendships and meeting plenty of potential new friends along the way. If you were there, thank you for being awesome. I'm going to stop myself short of quoting the Golden Girls theme song.

Show One
The first night was special to me on principle because it marked my 100th Hanson show. I got to hear my (current) favorite Hanson song live for the second (?) time ever and got to do it from the front row. It all felt right. The set finished out with a stream of some of my favorite upbeat songs all in a row--"Tearing It Down," "If Only," "Lost Without Each Other," "Sound of Light," and a "White Collar Crimes" encore. My knees were begging me to quit jumping on the sand by the end of the night, and the only thing missing was an exhausting round of "In the City." It was a great show to kickoff the week.

Show Two
You all saw my last post before I left, so let's not pretend the announcement of a covers show sent me into excited hysterics. After the show, I heard someone refer to it as the "Cliff's Notes version of the RNR tour" and it felt like time to start a slow clap. Despite the predictable nature of that show, it easily had more energy than the four covers sets I saw during the RNR tour. And if we're going to label it as a Cliff's Notes version, I might as well continue the analogy and admit that it would definitely get you an A on the test and might have been better than the actual book. Bottom line, yeah, it was predictable, but it was full of undeniably good performances. "Kate" was a standout, and Zac was as obnoxiously on point for "Chain of Fools" as he was all tour. I can't even comprehend his level of talent. I'm happy that so many foreign fans that couldn't make the tour were able to have this experience, too, I just wish they had done something to tailor it a little more to this special event. And I'm still holding out for that "Holiday From Real" cover one day.

This show actually got canceled due to a lot of rain and lightning, and I was super thankful that they chose to change the date rather than move it somewhere indoors.

Show Three
The final show put me in kind of a weird place. I was already a bit of an emotional wreck thanks to Isaac's solo set (can we call it a slow-lo set? no?), so "Watch Over Me," "Call Out My Name," "Never Let Go," and "A Song to Sing" all in a row were exactly the wrong combination to lift my spirits on the six-month anniversary of losing my dad. I pretty much wanted to throw rocks at the acoustic set and demand "Scream and Be Free" in its place (which thankfully did come later). They played a lot of singles but I really didn't mind because most of them are upbeat and happy and were very welcome at the time. Tragic Symphony was a great opener, and I can't wait for "Fired Up" and "In the City" to hit a rough patch in their year-long relationship and call it quits. I love them both individually and miss their full potential on their own.

Zac's Solo Show
In my opinion, Zac gave his best solo performance yet this year. His voice sounded amazing, and he chose a good combination of songs. It was neat getting to hear "Lucy" as a solo because Zac usually plays the drums on this song, and "Up all Night" was a fun and appropriate ending. He had us all laughing when he forgot a line from "Give Me Your Best Shot" and wouldn't move on until he got it right. At first, he stopped playing to restart the verse since he forgot the lyrics. He played a few more notes, then went "Nope, still don't know it" and stopped again. Next, he went for the ask the audience lifeline and asked the crowd "Does anyone know it?" He shot down a few shouted answers as incorrect before finally whipping out his phone and going "I'm Googling this." So yeah, that happened. Zac Googled his own song lyrics in the middle of a song, found the right line, and kept going like that was a normal thing to do. It was a about half a step away from Isaac playing Smile without knowing it last year.

Taylor's Solo Show
Taylor's solo show was actually my favorite this year, and I had a moment to tell him as much. The conversation went exactly as I anticipated, meaning it began with me complimenting his set, led to him questioning what I liked about it, and ended with me completely failing to convey exactly what made it my favorite. (I didn't fist bump or hug him though, so win?) What I managed to tell him is that he won me over with "Crazy Beautiful" because I love that song as a solo. It's true enough, but the full truth is that his set was my favorite simply because I loved his voice and he consistently gave a great performance of every song he chose. I haven't played the piano in years, but I still have an ear for it and am always drawn to good piano music. I've heard "Weird" as a solo a few times now and it is definitely one of my favorites. "Dying to Be Alive" was a great choice, too. And yes, I do love "Crazy Beautiful," and one day I hope to hear the Underneath Acoustic Live version in person.

Isaac's Solo Show
Isaac's show turned into Isaac request hour, meaning he showed up about 45 minutes late with no real game plan or setlist as far as I could tell. He had to switch guitars and tune between almost every song, and everything was so off-the-cuff that I feel sure his set has the most polarized opinions with people either loving it or being done with it about halfway through. It was unique, I'll give him that, and it was certainly endearing at times. I didn't personally love the request format though because I was too far away to make a request, and I'd rather be a little letdown by a Hanson-chosen set than feel annoyed hearing the same people shouting the same song six times because he hasn't played it yet.

The best part about Isaac's show was getting to hear a really old unreleased song that none of us knew existed called "A Life Without You." It made me cry and it was all a little downhill from there in the emotion department, but he definitely wins points for surprising us all with such an obscure song, and on the piano at that. You can actually hear some of the piano part in TT&MON. I've wondered for years what song that came from, and now we know.

The Events
 I don't have a lot to say about the events, but I enjoyed them. I was happy to see Taylor tackle something a bit more interactive with tie dye this year and I hope he'll continue to do his own event outside of the after party going forward. Unpopular opinion, but I kind of hope everyone got selfie mode out of their system for Taylor's next event. That, or let's just go ahead and skip the formalities and call it "Selfies with Taylor" instead. Zac's bracelet making was enjoyable and I actually like the bracelet I made and how everyone was seated and calm during his event. It's the first time I didn't see people following him from group to group. Isaac's trivia was all focused on lyrics, so it was right up my alley and I'm pretty sure I got all but one of the questions right. It was fun to watch a friend get to go up on stage with Isaac and answer a question, too. I feel like 2017 is Isaac's year to try his hand at tie dying and Zac's year to oversee a team-based sandcastle competition. It could happen.

The after party was something else. The stage was super low and had stairs on either side. About 30 minutes in, I was literally standing there being impressed and thinking how respectful everyone up front was being by not taking advantage of such easy access, when I turned and saw a girl on stage with Taylor. And then another. And then a third (I think). Not all at once, but in pretty quick succession. The Free Willy wrap-up song came pretty quickly after that, and then it was over and there was nothing left to do but avoid going to bed because then it's really the end.

The Outtakes 
My airport experiences were nothing short of interesting this trip. When I made it to the customs counter in Jamaica and handed over my passport, I got all the typical questions. "How long will you be staying?" "Why are you visiting?" "Is this your first time in Jamaica?" It was this last question that yielded a weird response. I told the customs officer that it was actually my third time visiting Jamaica, and as I said this, he flipped through my passport to find the previous stamps. When he found the page, he stopped and stared at it for a little too long, in my opinion. "Have you visited Jamaica two days in a row?" he asked. I told him I had been once in 2013, once in 2014, and then again now. He nodded and called over another employee. They huddled over my passport together, whispered some things I couldn't hear, and then laughed. One pulled out a cell phone and took pictures of it. The two guys actually started craning their necks as though they were looking to bring over more of their coworkers to gawk at what looked like a normal passport page to me, but they couldn't get anyone else's attention and they eventually parted ways and handed my passport back over. I asked if everything was okay and received a quick "Oh no, it's not your fault" and was sent on my way with no further explanation. When I finally got away from the counter, I looked and saw that whoever stamped my passport in 2014 stamped it with a 2013 stamp, so I had two stamps side by side that said Jan. 10, 2013 and Jan. 11, 2013. Customs fail.

On the trip home I managed to be the idiot with a 20 oz. bottle of water in my carry on bag that I forgot I put in there for the bus ride. Security removed it and started opening packing cubes while they were at it. She pulled out my black drawstring bag that had all of my electronics in it, pointed at a light shining through the bottom, and gave me the most unamused look (portable phone charger w/built in flashlight ftw). Next came the little unlabeled baggie of rock candy that Jewel Paradise Cove left on our pillows the night before, and I guess I can see how that might look suspicious. I made it through with everything but the water, but had to do a little repacking and felt like the new kid to the airport after that. 2/3 of Hanson ended up being on my flight home, so I treated myself to the weird inception that is listening to your favorite band on your iPod while riding on a plane with them. It was a short-lived experience because I passed out about five minutes in.

We did discover a new way to delay post-concert depression this time:

Climb a waterfall when it's over. (Shoutout to the man climbing with a selfie stick in a speedo in the background. I didn't have the heart to crop him out.)

Five Island-Themed Covers Perfect for BTTI

I'm about 90 miles down the speculation railroad if anyone needs to find me, btw. Please don't take this post too seriously or as any sort of fact. Minimum details + maximum excitement = mucho speculation. It's fan science.

The last two years of Hanson's Back to the Island events have included themed shows. There was Anthem night, Fan Club night, Setlist Voting night, and Christmas/Covers night, to name a few. We haven't been told any themes yet if there are any for 2016, which means it's time to speculate away. Will there be themes? Setlist voting? Will they just surprise us when we get there? (My personal vote goes to the element of surprise). One theory I've seen a few times already is the possibility of a Roots & Rock 'n' Roll themed night, which makes sense considering they just finished a very limited tour of the same concept. I could see this being an accurate assumption; it works from a rehearsal perspective and given the fact that there aren't any plans to take this tour beyond those 10 U.S. cities as far as we know. It does make sense, but with such a hefty price tag, I always want BTTI to be an experience that I couldn't get on tour. That being said, there is a way to refresh the Roots & Rock 'n' Roll theme to give it a new edge that would make me super happy, and it's something I've hoped they would do since the first event was announced back in 2012.

Five Island/Beach-themed Cover Songs
(That Would Make Me Forgive Hanson For Another Roots & Rock 'n' Roll Show)

1. "Island in the Sun" by Weezer

2. "Holiday from Real" by Jack's Mannequin (Andrew McMahon)

3. "Kokomo" by The Beach Boys



4. "Here Comes the Sun" by The Beatles



5. "Under the Sea" from the Little Mermaid



Hey, it happened once. It can happen again.

6. My Heart Will Go On
(No, I'm actually super kidding about that one.)

Jokes aside, I'm sure whatever they choose to do will be fun, and I can't wait to find out!

Anti-Bucket List 2015

Photo: Joshua Tree, California

What is an Anti-Bucket List?
My Anti-Bucket List 2013
My Anti-Bucket List 2014

Try making your own at www.canva.com.

Hanson Day vs. Back to the Island

In the last few years, Hanson has created two annual events for fan club members: Hanson Day and Back to the Island. These are arguably the holy grail of Hanson events. Whether you’re someone who is lucky enough to go to both, someone that has to choose one or the other, or someone that dreams of being able to make one happen one day, you have to stand somewhere on the Hanson Day vs. BTTI debate. Which one is better? If you can only attend one, which one do you pick? Which is the best fit for your situation and your preferences? Here’s a Venn Diagram, because, you know, ex-English teacher and all.

I’m not going to tell you that one is better than the other because I think it all comes down to personal preference, and both offer great experiences that you simply can’t get anywhere else or from any other band. We're pretty spoiled and lucky that way.

Where do you stand on the Hanson Day vs. BTTI debate? Did I miss any great selling points that make these events special to you?