Catching Up Part 3: Charlotte & Falls Church 2008

Charlotte was originally supposed to be my last show of the tour, but you know how things go. Someone calls you less than a week away from a show, presents these really rational sounding reasons to go (like "Hey, let's go see Hanson in Falls Church!"), and BAM! You're accidentally driving 10 hours to see Hanson again. Oops.

Charlotte (Oct. 10, 2008)

I was really excited for this show because like I said, it was supposed to be my last of the tour, and it was also the show most of my friends would be at. Unfortunately, I had a Shakespeare midterm at 1:00 PM in Charleston the day of the show, and there was no way I could get out of that, so I had to miss the walk and be in line pretty late (same exact thing happened last year; that's what happens when they play the same place exactly a year apart).

We all found each other and got in line a bit later, with the goal of heading to the balcony since we were so far back. I actually had a friend up at the front of the line who had camped out and had somehow managed to save #9 for me and have everyone around her ok with it, but I felt bad taking that spot so I didn't. We all ended up at the very front of the balcony, which had a pretty obstructed view because of the weird placement of the speakers. I couldn't see Isaac at all, but I thought it was a fair trade since even having been front row several times, I've never had such a clear view of Zac. I'm SO glad we were in the balcony instead of the crowd. I got really hot, I was feeling sick, and the guys didn't even hit the stage until around 11 PM, plus it was nice having room to dance. I actually left during Zac's solo of "Where Did it Start?" and got something to drink; I felt that terrible. It was nice to be able to sit on the floor between acts.

The setlist and show were amazing (but still does't come close to Asheville! which, btw, is still the best concert I've been to so far). It's so weird, because I was listening to MON on the way to Charlotte, and I started thinking how cool it would be to get to hear Thinking of You live, but then sort of brushed it off thinking it would never happen. So when I heard those opening chords, I went a little crazy and forgot how sick I was feeling. I know it's been played a few times on this leg at this point, but this was the first time they pulled it back out, so I really had no clue it was coming. It was exciting hearing Lay Me Down and Use Me for the first time, too. They played Never Let Go, which sent most people over the top in excitement. I hate to poop the party, but I've never really understood the big deal about that song, other than the fact that hearing it live is fairly "rare." Isaac gave some longish introduction about a song about being on the road, and I don't think any of us knew what it was leading up to. It turned out to be Leave the Light On, which was kind of exciting, and it was just the 2nd time they've played it live (I was there for the first time back in ATL '07, too). It was a pretty good show/setlist, and I enjoyed being in the balcony way more than I expected.

Luckily, being directly next to an exit had the slight benefit of getting a good spot by the bus after the show. I had absolutely nothing to get autographed, not even a ticket stub since these were e-tickets, so I decided to try for a picture. Zac was really awesome that night and from what I've heard, stayed out making sure he signed things and took pictures with just about everyone who was interested. So I got a picture with Zac, which is the only picture I've ever had with just me and a single Hanson. After seeing the picture, I decided that I look like a 12 year old and that I've sworn off headbands because of it, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't wearing one right now.

I also got a picture with Austin, who was the only person from EBE I didn't snag a picture with in Louisville.

We had fun hanging out back in our hotel room knowing that it would be the last time we'd all be together for a while. Of course, we're all crazy, and I think the majority of us who had Charlotte as our "last show" ended up going to ast least one more. And just for the sake of randomness at its best, on our way back from Charlotte driving through rural parts of NC, we encountered a random Hanson sign which we had to stop and take a picture of, as well as an upside-down plastic cow with duct tape around its mouth.

Falls Church (Oct. 28, 2008)

Like I said, this was a spur of the moment trip. I always tell my parents everything, but part of me wanted to plot and try to go to either Chicago or the last few California shows, so I opted not to mention this random trip to Virginia because I knew it would hurt my chances to go anywhere else (side note--as it turned out, Chicago and Cali didn't work out). So I drove from Charleston to Myrtle Beach Monday afternoon, and we left for Falls Church as soon as I got there. We picked up another fan along the way and ended up in FC around 1 AM and were #s 28-30. Unfortunately, the low was in the 30's, and it was raining. We decided to brave it, and we pitched the only tent while everyone else stayed in their cramped (but dry) cars. It wasn't too bad in the tent, no worse than a car I'd say, with the added plus of being able to lay down. Unfortunately, Whitney's side of the tent started leaking at some point, and she had to go get in the car.

It was pretty cold the next day, and REALLY windy. We left the tent to go to starbucks at one point, and when we came back, the tent had moved a good 6 feet. I wore leggings under my pants, a long sleeve thermal shirt, a fleece pullover, a peacoat, a scarf, a hat, and gloves, and I was still cold. There were others in just sweatshirts. I'm a wimp when it comes to cold weather, I know. Whitney even took the walk wrapped in a blanket. The guys came out all bundled up for the walk, too, Isaac in a scarf and hat.

The walk was interesting, and at the last second I decided to remove my shoes and socks, which is an odd feeling when you're wearing a scarf and gloves. It was like walking on ice, and was more painful than I expected. The halfway speech was held in some random little grassy area with trees--not at all what I was expecting. As I was making my way into this area, I heard a familiar voice yell "Don't step in the poop!" and realized Zac was two people down from me, and we were indeed all headed for a surprise left by someone's puppy. The guys all stayed out, chatting with fans, taking pictures, and autographing things for a good bit after the walk, which is not something I've witnessed so far at any of my shows. I got really annoyed when I noticed Zac politely talking to one girl as she was completely ignoring what he was saying and posing next to him taking pictures while he was talking. We got through the walk registration line fairly fast, then moved on to clean our feet and find a bathroom. It felt weird leaving the crowd knowing the guys were still just wandering around, but I really didn't have anything to be signed or have anything specific to say (though I later kicked myself for not requesting Dancin in the Wind when I had the chance).

When we got inside, Whitney and I split up because she was set on being in the center (which meant 2nd row), and I was set on being in the front row, even if it meant being a bit blocked by the piano. I was extremely disappointed in the crowd around me during the opening acts, because no one around me seemed remotely intersted in them. One person near me even yelled "HANSON!" while Dave Barnes was talking, and I considered yelling "Dave Barnes!" back. I was happy to see the crowd liven up when Hanson came on stage, but I still feel like my part of the crowd was more dead than usual for being up front. I was really excited when they started playing "Take Our Chances," because I was behind Andi in line, and she told us she requested that song before we ever went inside. I knew wherever she was, she must be ecstatic. Fire on the Mountain electric was also really exciting for me, b/c it's probably my favorite Hanson song, and I've only ever heard it acoustic until this show.

After the show, we got in the car and took off because two of us had to be back in class the next day. So we drove all through the night, and I made it back to Charleston just in time to take a shower and a 30 min. nap in hopes of not passing out in class after having been awake for 2 days straight (if you think I can sleep in a tent, you're wrong). This was definitely one of the crazier things I've done for this band, but at the end of the day, I sleep way more often than I see Hanson, so I feel like it was worth the sacrifice.

Catching Up Part 2: Nashville & Louisville 2008

Since I'm out of old blogs to post, I'll have to write some new stuff about the shows I've been to recently. I did Nashville and Louisville back to back, and I roadtripped with some friends I made at the Asheville show back in May. I can see myself going on a lot of trips with these girls in the future, because they're awesome. So:

Nashville (10/3/08)

My friend Whitney met me in Charleston Thursday afternoon, and we headed for Knoxville, where several friends would be meeting us to make the rest of the trip. Six hours later, we arrived in Knoxville and made the spur-of-the-moment decision to camp out for Nashville. So 3ish hours after that, we laid down our sleeping bags in front of the Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville, and occupied #s 12-20 in line. I have a sleep disorder though, and really, I didn't sleep at all. There wasn't much line drama, accept for one couple who decided to just stand at the front of the line about 30 min. before doors, which is just unacceptable when we've all slept outside (thankfully they were persuaded to leave by some angry fans). We all ended up occupying a good chunk of rows 1-3 right in front of the piano during the show. I was really excited to hear Get up and Go live for the first time, because it's been one of the songs at the top of my "must hear live" list. We all went crazy and did the Macarena during Can't Stop (don't ask, I don't know whose idea it was, but it was genius), and I can only imagine the look on Taylor's face if he happened to see. It was an awesome show, especially being up front right there with all of my friends.

Louisville (10/4/08)

We all headed out of Nashville around 2 AM with the intention of driving until we couldn't drive any more. For 2 carloads of us, that meant stopping at a rest stop and sleeping. For me and my insomnia, it meant resting for 20 min. at a rest stop and then driving the rest of the way to Louisville. There was a point where I was getting exhausted and my eyes were shutting, and the two people in my car were passed out and not helping, so I prayed that I would find a rest stop because I knew it was getting dangerous to keep going. So God laughs by sending me a CLOSED rest stop about 2 seconds later. But then, all of a sudden I'm getting passed by Hanson's tour bus, which for whatever reason is driving with emergency flashers on. This woke me up a good bit, AND gave me a literal goal to follow until I could find a rest stop. We made it into Louisville a little before 6 AM, and the city was dead. There was no one in line (this was where they had "Camp Hanson" set up inside), and we couldn't even find the front doors to the venue. We decided to rent a cheap hotel room and just sleep until the other girls in our group arrived, but alas, 2/3 of us in the car weren't 21, and the one 21 year old had left her ID in one of the other cars. We must have driven around for about an hour looking for a cheap hotel that might accept someone under 21, and then drove around in search of parking. When we finally ended up inside, I passed out in a chair for a few minutes before we were all sent back outside at 9 AM. 

The show was the earliest I've ever seen. Doors were at 6, and just as we got into our spots in the venue, Everybody Else came on stage and started playing (which is absurd since I was #45 or something in line...most people were still outside). EBE actually got kicked off stage during their last song. They got a few chords in, then said "Just kidding! Apparently we're out of time." My friends and I were directly behind the handicap barricade (which was one of those pull-out elastic thingies--worst barricade ever!), which put us about 4-5 rows back in the crowd, but with no one in front of us. It got kind of crazy, though, being next to that flimsy elastic barricade, and we slowly ended up inching further into the handicap space because of the pushing of the crowd (the handicap area took up about 1/6 of the floor space, and there were only TWO people in it. I have no idea what the venue people were thinking). Some girl behind me was practically laying on me, so I looked around and noticed no one was pushing her and she even had some space behind her. I pointedly asked her if someone was pushing her into me since she was so close. She looked confused and said no, so I said "Then can you please get off of me?" and she left me alone for the rest of the night.

I spent the first few songs and most of the opening acts being really stressed out about the crowd and the barricade, but I finally got over it and enjoyed myself. I was excited to hear "Deeper" for the first time, and I somehow ended up with my first guitar pick when Isaac threw one out during "Great Divide." At one point, a girl I had met in line came past me looking sick and heading for the handicap section which would give her room to breathe. I gladly moved aside so she could get out, but unfortunately she ended up putting a stool directly in front of me and staying, completely blocking my view. I felt kind of rude, especially since it was a nice girl I had met in line earlier, but I felt that it was very rude of her to take advantage of the handicap area and then block my view entirely. I did get her to inch over a bit, but that was all. Before they played Soulshine, Isaac mentined a girl they had met last year and how she had been going through some rough times. It was one of the girls in the handicap section, and he ended up dedicating the song to her and personally handing her a guitar pick. It was so sweet! I don't know the girl's story, but I felt so happy for her with what Isaac did. Overall, it was a good show, but this one is probably lower down on the list. I guess the crowd killed it for me a bit.

P.S. I'd been wandering all day what the top of Taylor's hat said, and I finally saw it clearly at the bus after the show:

Kudos to you if you know what "Ba La La" means. I don't.