And We Won't Go Down (Chicago, pt 1, 9/27)

9/27

The first night was good. Beth and I managed to stand in a great spot in the balcony behind a roped off set of reserved seats, that, luckily enough, nobody ever showed up to claim. We got in place just in time to really watch Meiko's last song, "You and Onions Make Me Cry." I stood around for a few minutes after the set was over, then decided it was a good time for a bathroom break. By some phenomenon I've never experienced, Hanson was on stage before I got back to my spot. I suppose I'm used to standing and waiting for what feels like (and often is) hours , so this was just completely weird to me. We had a good view and plenty of room to dance, though I suspect anyone that could see us thought we were nuts during "Thinking 'Bout Somethin'."

A definite highlight of the show was when Isaac announced that they were going to play a song they had never played live before and dedicated it to his wife. I spent the entirety of the song feeling a mixture of enjoyment and confusion because I had no idea what the song was and whether it was a new Hanson song or some cover I wasn't familiar with. It had a bit of a country vibe to it, so we suspected cover. After it was over, Isaac explained that it was from a band called "Unamerican," which still didn't ring any bells (we found out later the song was called "Tonight's the First Night"). He nailed it, of course. Maybe it's due to the fact that his anniversary was so soon and his wife was there (as Taylor let slip before the song), but Isaac was really in his element for these shows.

"In the City" was another highlight. I've never cared much for the album version of this song, but give me a reason to jump and I'm all yours. Speaking of jumping...this song provided the single most terrifying moment I've ever experienced in my life. A few songs prior, a man with a cane had pushed into the reserved area in front of us and sat down. We weren't exactly happy, but security told him he could stay and it was near the end, so we moved over a little so Beth could still see and focused back on the show. We paid him little attention, but it's hard to completely forget the person suddenly blocking your view. All that I noticed was that he didn't visibly react to the music at all, simply sat there without moving while Beth and I put all of our remaining energy into keeping up with Taylor's jumping. And just at the climax of the song, at the very end when we finally stopped to catch our breath, I watched the weirdest thing happen. This guy leans over the balcony in front of him (which was at least a foot wide, like sitting at a bar), puts both his hands and head over, struggles to lift his left leg over, and simply lets go.

Watching this happen was absolutely terrifying. That final second of seeing his feet go over was awful, and I had no doubt in my mind at the time that he was committing suicide. I'm sure this was an overreaction in a tense moment, but I still can't think of much else that would send someone head first out of a balcony willingly without regard to the people below. I won't waste your time with speculations of why, and I think anyone that claims to know why is wasting your time too--this is simply what I saw and how my mind reacted to the scene in front of me. I had a split-second thought of trying to grab his feet and save him, but thankfully my mind managed to register that I would probably go over with him if I tried, so I stayed put.

While all this is happening, I'm getting tackled by a security guard trying to stop him. Maybe "tackled" is too strong of a word since I somehow stayed on my feet, but I definitely took a sharp elbow to the head and ended up with hair all in my face and crooked glasses from the blow. The guard took out the short section of rope in front of us and missed grabbing his feet by seconds. Then we all stood there completely flabbergasted with hands clasped over our open mouths and vaguely registered that Hanson was talking about it from the stage.

It was an awkward ending, and Hanson didn't come back out. I was so upset that people were chanting for an encore, but I suppose most had no clue what had happened and just wanted another song. I know from talking to others that night and the next day that no one had any serious injuries, which is a miracle. But I swear, every time I say I've seen the most epic thing possible at a show, something trumps it. If I ever see anything crazier than this, I'm out. Game over. It was fun while it lasted.

Hanson in Friends Format: Seasons 1-6

I suppose the excitement of my impending Hanson overdose combined with insomnia lead to this particular brand of ridiculousness.

In an earlier blog post, I compared Hanson shows to Friends episodes and claimed that I could pinpoint a defining moment from each show. I know I can, but I’m kind of curious to see which moments make the cut. As a result, I bring you a follow-up post: Hanson in Friends format, seasons 1-6. This will be incredibly vague and/or boring unless you are 1) me, or 2) someone who was with me at some of these shows. This one’s more for me than you.

Pilot (MONA Recording)
-5/5/07 The one where it all started in the middle of nowhere

Season 1 (The Walk Tour fall ‘07)
-10/11 The first one where I was covered in beer
-10/16 The one where I almost got in a fight
-10/17 The one where Zac screamed in my face backstage and a drunk girl climbed on my back

Season 2 (The Walk Tour spring ’08)
-5/5 The one with the granny panties on stage
-5/6 The hometown show with the sinking bridges
-5/7 The one where tour ended on my birthday, the openers stripped, and I drove home with an expired license

Season 3 (The Walk Around the World Tour ’08)
-10/3 The one where Morgen was sent away by the police and the macarena and robot were born
-10/4 The one where I caught a guitar pick and fell asleep in the shower
-10/10 The one where they brought back “Thinking of You”
-10/28 The first one I didn’t mean to go to

Season 4 (The Use Your Sole Tour ’09)
-5/16 The (second) one with the surprise party
-10/11 The one where Cheap Trick played the encore
-10/12 The one where we walked 2 miles to get to the 1 mile walk
-10/18 The one with Devil's Nachos
-10/22 The one with the schizophrenic guy that wouldn't stop proposing
-10/23 The one with Holly sandwich pictures and cupcakes on Laura's face
-10/24 The one where the most memorable part was the exhaustion
-10/26 The one where I spilled pancake syrup in my sleeping bag

Season 5 (Shout it Out Tour ’10)
-3/10 The one where we danced (badly) in a music video
-5/22 The one where I got free tickets and food poisoning
-7/30 The one where I danced (badly) with Taylor and a Blues Brother
-7/31 The one with the cockroach the size of my hand
-10/31 The one that was covered in glitter
-11/5 The one that was perfect
-11/6 The one where we were first in line but went in last
-11/8 The one with free Disney passes
-11/9 The one where I accidentally called 911 on a rollercoaster
-11/10 The one with the sketchy walk in the dark
-11/12 The one where we had a dance party in the balcony
-11/13 The one where we accidentally got front row
-11/14 The one where we fell in love with Noodles & Co

Season 6 (2011)
-3/11 The one where I let a “that’s what she said" joke slip
-5/10 The one with church pews
-5/14 The one with the haunted mountain
-6/30 The one at the fancy hotel



A few outtakes in picture form...

The one where we (okay...Morgen and Beth) danced to "Falling for You" in McDonalds

The one with the impromptu ice cream party

The one where 50 people camped out

The one with the awesome costumes

The one where I accidentally looked like Isaac

Season 6 will resume production September 27th and continue through the month of October.

8 Reasons Why I Follow Hanson

If you’re reading this, you've either asked me this question yourself, or you've been asked it at least a dozen times. Here's a completely inadequate explanation of why.

1. Amazing music.

It’s the obvious answer, but it's the cornerstone of this obsession and can’t be left unsaid. The harmonies, the lyrics, the instruments, the energy, the passion…all of the variables they put into making music just work for me on some higher level, and I can’t get enough. If you find something that makes you happy, you hold onto it.

2. Every show is completely unique.

It’s amazing how you can technically do the same thing over and over again without it ever really being the same twice. I can easily pick out at least one memorable moment from every single show I’ve been to. Think of it like Friends episodes—there’s The one with the smashed birthday cake, the one where they played with Cheap Trick, the one where Zac screamed in my face, etc.  You’ve seen it before, you have an idea what’s going to happen, but you can’t help but watch it again and again.

3. Friends.

Because it’s impossible to do this and not end up with friends all over the country. Each show is more than a chance to reunite with Hanson, it's a reunion with friends. Whether it’s the fact that we’re all easily persuaded into going to shows (cookies, anyone?), or I don’t bother planning to go to shows without them anymore, I haven’t been to a show alone since 2007. It's about more than seeing three boys.

4. Escapism

es·cap·ism  noun 
habitual diversion of the mind to purely imaginative activity or entertainment as an escape from reality or routine

No  matter what else is going on in my life, for that hour or two I’m in a crowd, there’s nothing else. It's safer and more satisfying than drugs, kids.

5. Sightseeing.

You never just see Hanson; there's so much more on the way. Chicago, Disney World, a giant statue of Superman in Metropolis, Tulsa, Oklahoma of all places, Arkansas mountaintops, Noodles & Company. Next month I’ll visit 7 states I’ve never been to before and a handful of others I’ve already had the pleasure of seeing courtesy of these guys. They’re an excellent excuse to see the world and feel at home at the same time.

6. The joy of randomness and the unknown.

While you may end up in Chicago or Disney World at some other point in life with or without following a band, there are some experiences I never would have had otherwise. Sleeping on sidewalks, showering at truck stops, walking barefoot in countless cities, wearing goofy homemade group Halloween costumes, being extras in a music video, renting a Cadillac and driving it halfway across the country, accidentally dialing 911 on the corkscrew of a roller coaster. All ridiculous, and all things that never would have had a reason to happen otherwise.

Then there's the randomness and unknown factor of being at a show and knowing that virtually anything is possible. They sing a song you've wanted to hear for 10 years, they bring out a special guest you never expected, God forbid that special guest you never expected is YOU, they throw birthday cake, they cover "Oh Darling!" and leave you feeling like you've betrayed the Beatles by liking it more when Zac sings it. And anything could happen until you walk out of the door and leave wanting more.

7. The joy of familiarity.

Sometimes the parts you know are going to happen are just as good as the surprises. The 30th time you spin your hand around during "Where's the Love," the way you've sang Penny and Me so many times that the crowd carries on even when Taylor messes up, the way you respond to the cowbell in TBS like you're one of Pavlov's dogs. There's a reason you always order a number 6 at Wendy's, right? You're okay with the same experiences over and over again because they're the ones you enjoy most.

8. In an MMMBop they’re gone.

It’s cheesy, but I’m not going to be young and free enough to do this forever.  I know that one day maybe soon, I'll inevitably end up with more responsibilities and less free time, and I'll be able to do a show or two per tour if I'm lucky. I intend to milk this time for all it's worth and not look back and wish I had done something fun. Because in 50 years, I'd rather still be answering "why did you" than "why didn't you."

This post now has a sequel, located HERE.

Shameless Self Promotion: Help me win tickets!

Because a month on the road isn't cheap.

Help a fellow fan out and sign up through my link? By signing up, you can win free tickets and prizes yourself, and by signing up through my link, you're helping me win for NYC at the same time. Two birds, one stone. Pretty please? I have a feeling it's expensive just to breathe in NYC (wouldn't know, I've never been); I could definitely use some free tickets.

Click here and sign up if you're feeling generous today : 

http://pop.to/63ut

Please and thank you!



Update:

I guess this post is useless now that the contest is over, but it's worth keeping around for an update. Thanks to the lovely people that viewed and used my link, I won the tickets AND fourth place in the Musical Ride Tour Contest. I didn't expect to win either one. Big hugs to those who helped!

94.7 Fresh FM/Gaylord National DC Show

This show was one of those last minute accidents, the kind where I normally amuse myself by looking up flights, laugh at the ludicrous prices, and admit defeat, all while never really believing I might end up going.

The problem is we egg each other on. With my friends, if one person is considering going to a show, everyone will inevitably entertain the idea of going, even if only for the 5 minutes it takes to look up prices and mileage and count themselves out. One thing led to another, and Valerie and I somehow convinced each other to go. (The $44 round-trip flight I found from Myrtle Beach to DC sealed the deal.)

Let me throw out a literary term to sum up this trip: juxtaposition. The art of placing two things side by side for comparison, or in this case, a stark contrast. Before making it to our final destination, an upscale hotel stay complete with VIP entry to a private Hanson show on Night #2, we apparently had to survive night #1, maybe prove ourselves worthy? Who knows. What I know is that in order to make it to the main event, we had to stick out a painful half hour or so of being lost in a scary area of DC while in desperate need of a bathroom and endure a pretty creepy hotel stay.

We ended up staying at a mildly sketchy Comfort Inn, and I swear we missed some kind of crucial memo about what was really up at this hotel. The desk clerk with crimped hair, massive hoop earrings, and six pounds of makeup probably should have been a warning sign. There were several couples milling around, all dressed relatively nicely for it to be past midnight at a Comfort Inn, and we couldn't shake the feeling that we were getting strange looks and people would stop talking when we walked by. The highlight of the night had to be the moment we ran into a woman outside in the parking lot, who first asked us if the hotel had a pool, then upon finding out that it did, invited us to go skinny dipping with her. The fact that she looked completely normal and was really friendly about it somehow makes it even creepier than if it had been some random sketchy guy. THAT would make sense. Woman in a cute dress in the parking lot? Not so much. Needless to say, we declined, retreated to the room, and didn't come back out until daylight.

We ventured to downtown DC the next day for a little dose of normal after the strange night, and we treated ourselves to Noodles & Co. I blame Rachel for introducing us to this place last fall because it's awesome, and there's not one within a three state radius of home for me. When we were still in the deciding stages, I texted Valerie "Noodles & Co." Quite honestly, it may have been one of the deciding factors of the trip; that's how much we love it. I also had my first DSW experience where I found a belt to use in place of the one that got left on my bedroom floor in a packing frenzy (on sale for $9 down from $42! I think I'm in love).

We checked into Gaylord National around 3 and were instantly blown away by the size and decor of the hotel. We drove past limousines on the way to parking, passed multiple ballrooms on the way to check in. We kept thinking we found the front desk only to find ridiculous things like a Hertz car rental office instead. There was even a Swarovski crystal store with Faberge eggs.

The room itself was a little less intimidating and had all of the usual amenities of a double bed hotel room, only tastefully decorated and clean in a way that didn't leave me sleeping with a t-shirt over the pillow like I did the night before (a useful trick for anyone who can't stand to sleep on foreign pillows but doesn't have room to bring one...or in retrospect, I suppose I could have just packed a pillow case.) One wall was floor to ceiling windows overlooking the big main street and a bit of the Potomac River. This was hands-down the nicest hotel I've ever stayed in.

 The instructions we received for the VIP package stated that we could line up beginning at 4:30, so we ate our leftover Noodles & Co, then walked around the hotel and took pictures until it was time. There were maybe 30 people waiting when we got there. The radio host went down the line and took pictures with everyone, then disappeared and came back with a microphone and a guy holding a camera. I swear I must have "pick me" tattooed on my forehead because he came directly up to me and Valerie, asked us our names, then promptly started filming and asking us questions, nevermind asking us if we wanted to participate (this "pick me" talent? Not always a good thing, like when I was randomly selected at the airport for additional screening on the way in). He asked us a few questions about being excited to see Hanson and what our favorite part of getting to see the show was, then disappeared again only to come back a few minutes later and ask for a redo with a few different questions. When the camera was off, he commented that we didn't seem all that excited. We assured him that we were happy to be there and assumed that he was looking for that "OH MY GOSH I'M GOING TO MEET HANSON I'VE LOVED THEM FOR YEARS AND I WANTED TO HAVE THEIR BABIES!" excitement, and we were fresh out. Our suspicions were confirmed after the show when he elicited screams from several girls after offering up Zac's empty drink cup, a sweaty towel, and "lint straight from Zac's pocket."

There were 200 people total, 100 of which were VIP. We ended up behind a rope at the side of the stage on Isaac's side with a perfect view of all 3 brothers, which is a good accomplishment for two people under 5'3". I enjoyed opener Justin Trawick, who reminded me of a mix of Jason Mraz and Stephen Kellogg. There didn't seem to be a lot of dancing and the show was a little more laid back, but crowd participation was pretty good for singing parts. They had us sing "And we won't go down" during TTA, and it stayed strong. They told us that American Airlines destroyed yet another guitar on their way over, so we got to hear Strong Enough to Break with just Isaac on guitar while Taylor played a tambourine and a shaker instead. Nobody missed the irony in the fact that the broken guitar was needed for "Strong Enough to Break," so they kept changing up the lyrics to fit the situation ("We just play like broken guitars in a deaf man's charade"). Isaac gave the Give a Little speech, which is something I hadn't witnessed before. It was mostly what Taylor normally says, with the added bonus of a really awkward wording that made for a great that's what she said moment that had me doubled over in silent laughter. Ten songs later, the guys headed upstairs for the massive M&G.



Everyone with VIP passes was given an 8x10 cardstock photo to be autographed as we headed upstairs where the guys were set up behind a table. There were no posed photographs, but the radio station had someone taking candid photos the whole time of everyone shaking hands and talking with Hanson. When it was finally our turn, the guys were kind enough to sign both my wristband and the supplied photo. I intended to just get the wristband signed because I didn't know for sure that the photo would survive my strict no-carry on flight home, but Isaac grinned and reached for the picture after signing my wristband and told me he hoped it would make the flight home (side note--it did). We talked to Taylor a little about tour and were a bit rushed with Zac, and then it was over.

Afterwards, we got takeout from Baja Burrito, then sat on the grass behind the hotel and watched the fireworks show. It was a perfect way to end a good day, and the beds were fantastic. My only complaint is that my 6 AM flight meant we only got to spend about 3 hours in them. The flight home proved to be more like your average Hanson show than the show itself, complete with disagreements over the line and two people fighting over a seat that technically belonged to me and neither of them. For $44, I'll gladly put up with it.

MMMecca: The Annual Pilgrimage to Tulsa

Tulsa is where it all began for me four years ago. I still remember telling my best friend how absolutely nuts of me it would be to go, and then the look on her face the very next day when I told her I was going to call my parents and ask for a plane ticket for my 19th birthday. I remember the begging and the reasoning, the sincere claims that it would be my first and last trip to Hanson's hometown over 1,000 miles away from my own. The words "unique experience" come to mind. I meant every word of it.

I had no idea that it was just the beginning.

I just returned from my 5th trip to Tulsa in 4 years. I know well enough now that it won't be my last.

On the Road
I’ve developed some kind of sick enjoyment for insanely long roadtrips. True, the first 400 miles/7 hours alone is a bit of a downside, but the next 12 hours with friends is half of the fun and well worth the first lonely leg of the trip. I can honestly say that all money and time issues aside, I prefer to drive all 1100+ miles than to fly. I’ve flown twice and driven three times, and the hours in a car beat the infinitely less hours in a plane every time. I was honestly sad when I had to fly out for the TBS video shoot instead of riding with friends.

For this trip, the road fun began with us accidentally renting a Cadillac. Cue cheesy Hanson-related puns about Cadillac blues or not needing a Cadillac to carry us to Tulsa. Basically the rental company somehow sold out of the type of car we had reserved, so we were left with the option of a Cadillac or a minivan. I will forever be impressed with the trunk space of a Cadillac that housed four suitcases, four sleeping bags, and a random assortment of other stuff without difficulty. It was also much easier to drive than the Chargers we usually end up with. Perhaps Enterprise should make this mistake more often.

The trip began with seeing Hanson in Nashville and spending time with Holly in the city before we hit the road. She tried to introduce us to the wonders of cookie dough egg rolls, but sadly we went too late after the fryer was turned off. The waiter felt bad and actually gave us some of his own birthday cookies and ice cream on the house! It was good, but Nashville still owes me the experience of cookie dough egg rolls. The next day we had chicken at McDougal’s (yum!) and had a good time taking pictures at a random baby picnic table outside.
 

The initial drive to Tulsa was strangely uneventful this time, and I give major points to Laura for staying awake in the middle of the night as the rest of us passed out. We stopped at a Waffle House around 3:30 AM to try to wake ourselves up and left with stomachs full of greasy food and a side of frostbite.

In the City
I think I convinced myself that there wasn’t much left for me to see since I’ve played the part of a Tulsa tourist before, but I managed to eat lots of good food at restaurants I had never been to. We hit the Dilly Delly, the Blue Dome Diner, and the Brook, all of which had fantastic food, and all of which were politely accommodating to our small caravan of 12 people. My 2nd Joe Momma’s experience was even better than my first, and we all giggled like teenage girls as one of us left a number for our cute waiter and we constantly cracked him up with unintentional that’s what she said jokes. Before the event, we got to go to the Philbrook Museum (free admission!), and despite the fact that I’m normally fairly indifferent about art and museums, I thought it was gorgeous.
I had also convinced myself that I didn’t need to buy any souvenirs (I already had 2 Tulsa shirts from previous trips), but apparently Tulsa is aware of my weakness for limited edition stuff. I walked into Ida Red and Dwelling Spaces intent on only purchasing a Tulsa is My Graceland t-shirt. I walked out with a t-shirt, a tote bag, and a poster. In my defense, the owner of Ida Red told us that they only produced 25 tote bags period and would not be making any more, and it was reasonably priced. I figured I could always sell it on eBay and get my money back.
Dwelling Spaces got me with a cute, retro-pop looking screen print poster that depicted various landmarks around Tulsa as well as a headshot of Hanson and a shot from the TBS video. I almost got away without it, but then the owner had to tell us that they only made 30 screen prints, and they were numbered and autographed by the artist at the bottom. They later made slightly smaller regular poster prints, but the colors were a little different and they weren’t limited or autographed. Tulsa: 2 (3 if you count the 2009 canvas print still sitting in my closet), Holly: 0.

Facing the Blank Page
I should know better by now, but I’m still disappointed in all of the fans that line up early for these events. It’s a touchy subject for me because I’m well aware that there are multiple people that I actually know and like that do it too, but I still can’t do it or agree with anyone that does. I know tons of people line up early and no one ever gets in trouble over it; I’m well aware that I could get away with it too. But the way I see it, Hanson and the various venues they play put up with us camping out for days on end at every other show, so if they’re going to ask us not to line up early 1 in every 50 shows, I can respect that wish. When we showed up right at 5, the designated line-up time for the 8 PM session, none of us was surprised at the 100+ people already there.

Inside Cain’s, there were rows of chairs on the floor and two small sets of bleachers on either side in the back—we opted for the bleachers. The show was fantastic. It started with some sort of technical difficulty that prompted Zac to sing Happy Birthday at random to stall while Taylor tried to fix something on the drums.

I know my birthday was a full week before, but it was still kind of neat getting to hear it (I loved the climax—“Happy Birthday whoever you are, happy birthday to you”). When it still wasn’t fixed, they went into the Stevie Wonder version of Happy Birthday, and then Jimmy Crack Corn, “Hanson birthday style” (“Jimmy Crack Corn and I don’t care, ‘cause it’s your birthday!”).

They played all of the songs from this year’s membership kit, and I really loved the way they did “Sunny Day” with the stomp-claps and transitioned directly into Cecelia. I really hope to see that combination at regular concerts in the future, but somehow I doubt the chemistry of that moment will ever be exactly right again. There was something weirdly perfect in that moment of stomping in bleachers in heels, praying that I wouldn’t fall and barely catching glimpses of Taylor holding a guitar through raised arms and around tall heads.

I’m hesitant to say that was the best moment, though, because then Hanson did something I’ve been wanting them to do for years. They played Stories. Better yet, they let us sing the first verse, which was another one of those rarely unifying moments as we all stood there singing about having a special connection worth telling your grandkids about. Was the connection between us? Between us and Hanson? Does it matter? Read as much or as little into it as you want, the simple version is I loved it.And yet somehow my favorite moment of the whole show is one I’ve experienced multiple times in the past. Three words: “Thinking ‘Bout Somethin’.” I didn’t expect them to play it, and we definitely never had any kind of discussion or conscious agreement about what to do if they played it, which is what made the moment we all piled out of the bleachers that much more awesome. As soon as that cowbell started, we all jumped out of the bleachers and into the empty floor beside us without a second thought. There was no special look, no “Hey, let’s get down and dance!” just the same instinct in all of us. We were in the very back and I know no one could see us, and I think that’s part of why it was so fun. It was nothing more than a bunch of goofy girls living in their own little world for a moment and having a blast.

I enjoyed the Q&A session, but they didn’t remember to repeat most of the questions so we had a hard time hearing in the back. I was floored by their impromptu performance of the National Anthem at a fan’s request, and I had a brief thought of how crazy it is that Hanson could almost make the National Anthem be my favorite song. They’re that good. We were the first group picture, and I think we threw Leigh for a loop by requesting to have MORE people in our group than the allotted 10 when most people probably want less. We squeezed in a whopping 18 plus Hanson, and it was over.

Then we spent what seemed like our life savings on merchandise.

On the Road Again
Instead of driving the 12 hours back to return the rental in one day, we booked a tee pee in Arkansas for Sunday night. That’s right, a tee pee. In Arkansas. Like I said, the roadtrip is half of the fun. Unfortunately, Whitney’s allergies were getting really bad, and it was obvious within 15 minutes of looking around the campsite that we wouldn’t be able to stay if we wanted her alive. We did want her alive, so we explained the situation and the staff was polite and refunded our money under the circumstances. It was a little disappointing, but we stopped at a lookout on top of the mountain to take pictures so we would still get a little bit of the experience.The wind was stronger than anything I’ve ever felt in my life. We take jumping pictures just about everywhere we go, but I’m 100% serious when I say I refused to jump anywhere up there for fear of becoming airborne and falling down the mountain. The wind lifted all 2+ feet of my hair off of my head and even tried to remove my shirt a few times. Laura is a fantastic photographer, so we had a mini photo shoot and took some time to turn Valerie’s sweater into a makeshift cape and do superman poses.

Later, we stopped at a Sonic for dinner. As we waited for our food, I spotted a DVD logo beneath the built-in navigation system that none of us had noticed. I had just bought 5 of 5 at the event, and the idea was born. Sitting and eating hotdogs in the driver’s seat of a Cadillac while watching 5 of 5 is definitely one of my favorite road memories to date.

Back at our hotel for the night after Whit had gone to sleep, Laura, Valerie and I stayed up looking at pictures from the windy mountain. There was a lot of giggling and gasping at some of the horrible faces we made in the pictures. About halfway through, Laura and I noticed that there was a weird stain on Valerie’s shirt in one of the pictures. It hadn’t been in any of the previous pictures, and it was in the perfect shape of a J. Thinking it must have been weird lighting or something on the lens, we continued to look. The J was in other pictures, too—always on Valerie’s shirt, but never in the same place.

We were on a mountain in Petit Jean state park. Jean was the name of a traveler who had died and been buried at the top of the mountain. Make of it what you will, but I could have kissed Whitney and her allergies for the fact that we were making this discovery in a hotel room in Alabama rather than in a remote teepee on the top of that mountain. (sorry, no J pictures for now. They’re Laura’s.)

Well: Done Celebration Nashville 5/10

This show was one of those last-minute flukes that just sort of works. I was already planning a trip to Tulsa, and I was carpooling with friends in Tennessee, so when Hanson plans to be where I am already going to be at the same time I'm going to be there, who am I to say no?

It wasn't just a Hanson concert though, and I would have been disappointed if I had gone into it with that sort of expectation. Instead, it was a celebration of a vision, a passion, and an accomplishment after countless people joined together to contribute to the building of 1,000 wells. Hanson was just one of many guests including Jars of Clay, Derek Webb, Sandra McCracken, and Eric Wainaina to name a few. Each performed a short set and spoke a bit about the inspiration behind building the wells, encouraging audience members to get involved and thanking them for doing their part. I enjoyed all of the performances, but I was especially moved by Jars of Clay's performance. They were full of passion and had a bit of a spiritual theme going which I loved. One song in particular stood out to me at the time (I think it was called "Oh My God"?). I'll definitely have to check out more of their music

Eric Wainaina was last and definitely an interesting performer. He is from Kenya and brought a full band including a backup singer that doubled as a backup dancer, so it was a completely different style of music than I'm used to. I loved watching the dancing, and got a huge kick when he had the audience play imaginary violins (not so much when he pointed right at me and my friend for not doing it along with them, but we were two of about 4 people in our entire section, and it felt weirdly exposed).

Hanson went on before Jars of Clay and gave a brief explanation about their walks and how they contributed to building a well through takethewalk.net They played a short set of songs that related to the celebration at hand, and their voices blended together as well as ever.

1. Carry You There
2. Waiting For This
3. This Time Around
4. Great Divide

It was definitely more laid back than your average Hanson show, and everyone stayed seated with the exception of two girls I saw who were on their feet and jumping around the whole time. It didn't really seem like the right time and place for that, but to each his own. The guy that introduced them to the stage mentioned that their new single "Give it a Little" had reached number one on the VH1 countdown, and I couldn't help but giggle a little at the new title, especially after the mock GAL tee was misspelled just days before. Who knew those three words were so difficult?

At the end of the show, all of the artists came back out and sang along to Jars of Clay's "The Shelter." I've never seen a stage so packed full of performers in my life; everyone was shoulder to shoulder and there were a few behind others. Everyone on stage and the audience sang along repeating "In the shelter of each other, we will live, we will live," and it was a fantastic moment to be a part of. I felt like we were supposed to all link arms and sway or something, and I mean that in the most complimentary way possible. It was just a good, tangible moment of solidarity between everyone on stage and in the audience, and the whole thing was about so much more than just Hanson. It felt like a true celebration of unity and a job well done.

After the show, some of the girls I was with wanted to wait outside to try to meet Hanson. There wasn't really a designated area to do this, so it got chaotic fast with everyone crammed onto the sidewalk to stay out of the way of traffic in the parking lot. There were lots of people in a small space, so I tried to hang back and out of the way with no intention of pushing towards a Hanson. I watched from a distance as the guys came out and Taylor addressed the crowd as someone immediately asked for a picture. He politely said that they would only be doing autographs, and I watched as his polite smile revealed the briefest flicker of annoyance as the girl he had declined shoved her face next to his anyway and a flash went off. I was angry for him, but he simply smiled and continued to sign for the mass around him. At one point Isaac headed straight towards where I was standing away from the crowd and said "Sorry, guys!" as he made his escape. I stepped aside to let him pass and absentmindedly echoed back, "Sorry, Isaac!" as if the crowd was my fault.

I ended up holding a friend's camera to take pictures for her and got my program signed by Taylor and Zac along the way. I told Zac how much I loved the final group performance and that I would see him in Tulsa, and he promised that it would be a good show and worth the trip (side note: it was).

"I'll be right here waiting for something more"

I should know better by now than to post some kind of deep entry at 2:30 in the morning; that's how I end up saying more than I ever meant to say in a public place, but I'll say it anyway. After all, my intention with this blog has always been to document the phenomenon of becoming a Hanson fan--how it started, where it has taken me, and all of the little changes along the way. I suppose this is part of the process for me, and you're in no way obligated to read this late night rambling.

I love Hanson...that much goes without saying and is hardly necessary for me to reiterate at this point. I respect them and their seemingly infinite talents--those voices, all of the instruments in their small collective arsenal (seriously, is there anything they don't play?), their ability to compose a song and write good lyrics, etc. And yet somehow, I still feel silly being able to be boiled down to a few lyrics in a Hanson song. As much love and respect as I have for these guys and their talents, I hate that a single Hanson song can sum me up in a good bridge and a verse or two, and yet they've done it again.

Up until a few months ago, I had never felt that feeling before. I had read countless fan testimonies about how Hanson songs brought people through periods of depression, got them through everything from simple angsty teenage years to the death of a loved one. I've read about these experiences, and yet every time I read them, I always acknowledged in the back of my mind that I had never felt that way before. Yeah, I could connect on the surface level; I "got" the lyrics and the meaning, but the connection always ended there.

And then I went through a time where I had to make a tough decision about what direction my life should take. I got myself into a career that instantly felt wrong, and for the first time in my life, I wasn't sure about everything (no, this is not the point where I tell you I felt a deep connection to "Sure About It"). One night, I was trying to get through my work without giving myself enough time to stop and think about how miserable I was. I liked Hanson music, right? It made me happy. So I turned on my iTunes in the background as I worked and tried to block out all of the things building up inside of me. And then "Breaktown" came on and it was all over. That numb wall I had built? Gone. Every single lyric in the song seemed to fit my situation perfectly. Next came "Strong Enough to Break", and then "These Walls". So I sat there sobbing and feeling sheepish that a few Hanson songs I had already heard a hundred times each were somehow capable of turning me into a blubbery mess when I had done such a good job of locking out all of those feelings that Taylor was crooning back at me. I can't say the music "got me through" that hard time; in fact, I'm not sure it did anything at all other than depress me more and make me face the feelings I was trying to ignore. But for the first time, I felt something stronger than an aesthetic appreciation for the music. I didn't just "get" the lyrics; they "got" me.

Within days, I had my own strong enough to break moment. I won't credit Hanson for the decision, but that choice is a necessary part of this story.

Fast forward to now. I know I made the right decision; that career path wasn't the one for me. But now what? I have faith that everything will work out. I know I can't see the map that I'm following, but I trust that I am in fact headed somewhere worth going, even if I can't see the big picture yet. I can rest assured that the choices I've made so far are the right ones, but what comes next? I have no idea. And as I'm voicing all of this to my friends and one makes an analogy about looking into the future being like looking around a corner--something good is coming, we just can't see it yet--Blue Sky inexplicably enters my mind, and I'm having one of those moments again. It's not life-altering and I hardly expect Blue Sky to somehow solve all of my doubts and worries, but once again I feel like dear Taylor and Isaac are narrating my life with the help of a choir of African school children. I probably shouldn't be surprised since this isn't the first time now, but it's a little unsettling to have a song I never really thought twice about before suddenly sneak up and know what I'm feeling better than I know it myself. Now if only the next song I connect with could be a little more upbeat and happy. If anyone's taking requests, I could settle for "Give a Little" or "Musical Ride," please and thanks :)

Hanson in Charleston, SC at 98.9 Chick FM

This experience is in true If You Give a Mouse a Cookie form, only I'm not a mouse, and the cookie certainly wasn't given to me. Cue the less successful spin-off of If You Dangle a Cookie on a String in Front of a Mouse, and well, you'll get what the the first half of March looked like for me.

Hanson in Charleston is almost as good as Hanson in my backyard. I don't live there now, but I spent the last four years of my life attending college there and falling in love with the city, and I still make frequent trips back to visit friends. To add to this awesomeness, 98.9 Chick FM was my favorite station in the area when I lived there, too. My favorite people in my favorite city hosted by my favorite radio station? Yes, please! The only problem? The appearance was only open to 30 contest winners, and the only way to win was to listen to 98.9 and call in at the right time. Being the determined fan that I am, I immediately emailed Dominica, one of the radio hosts, and asked for details. Tickets could be won from 6-9 AM and 3-6 PM. Guess who listened to the radio at 3 hour increments every time tickets were given away. The fact that I had to listen every time should probably tell you that I didn't have that immediate luck I'm somehow used to having.

After being caller #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 multiple times (but never the necessary caller #9), I finally got lucky the day before the show. Moms in the Morning decided to do something a little different for tickets that day. Instead of waiting for caller #9, they decided to play the "Duh Uh" game, a game requiring the contestant to speak for 20 seconds on a random assigned topic without saying "duh" or "um" or making any really long pauses. As soon as I heard those directions, I knew I had it in the bag. As a senior in college, I took an introductory theatre class. One day as I sat dying along with the English language as a fellow classmate delivered a speech where approximately 50% of her vocabulary consisted of "like," our professor made up a new rule. Any time a student said the word "like," "um," or anything unimportant to the meaning during a presentation, we as a class were to clap once. So when this girl was, like, describing how the lighting was like, super bright and like how her set was like totally amazing, we all clapped and felt some severe secondhand embarrassment. This went on for every. single. person. and a very painful class period. Somehow, I managed to be the last to present. And somehow, I also managed to be the only person in the class who didn't throw in any extra words. This is how I knew the "duh uh" game was meant for me.

So when I called in at the prompt and heard "Hello! You're caller number two. Caller number one wasn't able to complete the challenge. Are you ready?" I really wasn't surprised. When I voiced that I like to eat ketchup on my "um, hamburgers and hot dogs," I was surprised and furious with myself (note to reader--I was told to speak about ketchup. I'm not THAT random). I hung up and tried again, only to be met with a busy signal until my embarrassing flub was aired on the radio, and I heard caller #3 win while rambling about license plates. It was the day before the show, I finally had my chance to win, and I blew it.

But like any determined Hanson fan, I try not to take no for an answer until it's the only answer left, and if you're determined enough, you can usually find that "yes" and "no" aren't the only viable options.

A little street team planning and a brief message to and from Zac assured me that it would be okay for a few of us to go and show our support, even if we didn't win tickets and ended up just standing outside. Either way, it would be a good opportunity to spend some time getting to know the girls on my street team, and the trip wouldn't be in vain.

Friday morning, I dragged myself out of bed at 6 AM for one last attempt to win the elusive tickets being dangled just out of my grasp. When I heard the cue to call around 7:30, I paused and took a breath before dialing for the final time, just ready for the anxiety to be over one way or another. It rang on the first try.

"You're caller number two, try again." I heard, not for the first time. I hung up and dialed again. Busy. Again. Busy. Again. It started ringing, and my heart was pounding hard.

"Hello, you're caller number nine! What is your name?" I gave the man my personal information before being transferred over to the Moms on air, hardly able to believe that I had somehow snagged the last pair of tickets after trying religiously for a over a week.

In Charleston, I picked up the tickets from the radio station, then proceeded to meet my friends at the Aloft hotel where Hanson would perform. Dominica, the afternoon radio host, was amazingly friendly and was kind enough to give my friends two extra pairs of tickets to get in. After a week of worry, it finally all came together.

The performance itself was short, but nevertheless exciting. After reading the boys' tweets about being stuck in an airport for 18 hours, then having the Charleston airport lose their luggage, I couldn't help but admire their drive to push through and do their best for us anyway when I knew they must be exhausted and frustrated.

As they sat down, Taylor made a jokingly suggestive comment about how we had all been invited to Hanson's hotel. Zac added "You know, you guys might be the first fans we've ever invited back to the hotel," he said in a flirty voice. "Publicly, that is," he added.

They began with "Thinking 'Bout Somethin'," then played "Make it Out Alive." For the third song, they gave the audience the option of "MMMBop" and "Where's the Love," and completely against all nature of Hanson fans, nobody voiced an opinion. There was light murmuring and some looking around, but no one shouted the name of either song back at the guys. I myself gave them an obvious shrug of indifference, not because I don't like the songs, but because I like them both and don't have a real preference between the two. They ended up choosing "Where's the Love" all on their own, making this one of the few times I've seen Hanson without hearing "MMMBop." They closed out the set with "Give a Little" as expected to promote the new single, and I couldn't have been happier.

After the performance, the guys made their way over to the side of the room, and a woman directed us to line up and form groups of six. No one actually followed this rule, and I joined a group of three of my friends when our turn came. A few quick autographs, a rushed picture, and an awkward that's what she said joke later, it was over.

Our picture turned out great, but I'm a little disappointed at how it went down. Four friends and three Hansons seemed like a good ratio to spread out and not crowd any one brother, right? Consider it a pet peeve of mine to see a Meet and Greet picture with seven girls and five of them are crowded around Zac, and the sole girl next to Isaac is leaning away from him. The formula of which brother is hoarded and which is neglected changes frequently, but you know exactly what I'm talking about. Unfortunately, I was too slow to put any thought into the picture at all. Apparently I was person #4 in the 4:3 ratio, meaning when I finally got to Taylor to get my ticket autographed, everyone else had already been to all three Hansons, and I missed the memo that it was time to take the picture. As I stepped up to Taylor and held my ticket out towards him, instead of reaching for my ticket, he reached for my shoulder, turned me to face the camera, and told me to stand there for the picture.

It's easy to get over the unbalanced picture, though, because for once every single person in it looks great, and I actually know and love all of the people with me. I can't say the same for any of the other group pictures I've been in from member events.

Afterwards, a few of us went out to dinner at Buffalo Wild Wing's and had a good time talking about the show and past tour memories. I'm glad I went, and even more glad that it worked out so nicely for everyone else that went, too. As good as it was, I already find myself missing them and wanting more; not just missing Hanson, but missing the hours in the car with friends, the ridiculous conversations held on sidewalks at 3 AM, and the exhaustion of jumping and dancing for two hours. This mouse already has her eyes on that next big cookie.

Give a Little Pro-o-mooo

Okay, so the title's cheesy, but I've watched the video enough in the last few days that the tune is permanently embedded in my brain. I swear I've been walking around with even the most random thoughts in my mind synchronized to that infections little "oh-oh-oh" bit.

It's March 1st--the video has officially been out for a week. This time a week ago, I was sitting on a friend's floor in Nashville watching the video for the first time with three fellow fans. We giggled at the random buffalo, the floor sweeper, Isaac doing a flip, and Zac stroking the stereo with his face like a cat. It's about as random as you can get as far as dancing goes too, with everything from a ballerina to break dancers to babies rolling around. That being said...it's awesome.

I've been in love with this song from the moment I first heard it on May 22nd at the Bamboozle Festival in Charlotte. It's light, it's in no way deep or philosophical, it doesn't make you think--it simply makes you dance. I wanted to contrast it with some of the mainstream popular music of the moment, but I'm suddenly realizing that there seems to be a trend of light, dance and party-themed songs going on right now; perhaps the timing is more than coincidental. Still, the energy and overall feeling of "Give a Little" is several steps above the average cluster of songs full of references to dynamite and glitter, and Enrique Iglesias's albeit similarly dance-infused "I Like It" is a little too adulterous for my taste (and let's face it--I'm not much of a fist-pumper). I definitely see this song going places in a more public way than Hanson's music has been in the past several years if people will give it a chance.

There's just something about the constant beat paired with that catchy guitar riff that makes you have to move, regardless of your skill level or reservations--and that's exactly the vibe the video gives. I decided early on that this song was meant to be danced to, and perhaps that's why I let go and danced like a fool in the crowd the first time I heard it at a full concert--the time I ended up on stage minutes later. The eclectic dancers in the video make me feel a bit more at home with my quirky dancing, and I think that's the point. It goes back to the old cliche: live like you're dying, dance like no one's watching, and all of that jazz. It's the same feeling I get when I travel to see Hanson, the reason I keep coming back over and over again, a sort of catharsis in letting go of responsibility and worry and just being for just three minutes and forty-four seconds. Maybe this is just the ramblings of someone who needs another Hanson fix to stifle the crazy, but this song rocks.