Make It Out Alive – Members Only Event 2010

Katie November 2, 2010 0 Comments

AKA… “I spent $350 to fly to Tulsa for ‘Thriller’ and all I got was Ghostbusters”

jkjk.  Although, I did really want them to play Thriller!

This years Halloween was probably one of my more eventful ones.  I left the house at 4:30am thinking I was running a bit late.  Got to the parking lot at 5:30 and was shuttled to the airport. I was through security in no time and ended up with an hour to kill.  My first flight was from Hartford to Atlanta.  Then I took their underground train over a concourse and waited to board to OKC. I pretty much slept the entire flight both times.

Keena picked me up and we met up with Becky for lunch at the Cheesecake Factory and then made our way to Tulsa.  We got there around 5:30 and were going to go to Hanson’s office (across the street) for pictures but after Keena and Becky parked the car the line had kind of formed around me so we stayed in it. 

At 6pm we had our photos taken for the costume contest and were checked in for the event – but we couldn’t go inside until 8!  Once we were let in, Keena and Becky went ahead and saved me a spot while I slowly made my way inside.  I was in the front row by a speaker in front of Taylor so I could lean on the speaker.  I actually ended up sitting on the stage for quite a bit while we waited for something to happen!

Then finally, Zac came on stage to emcee the costume contest. He told us he wasn’t yet in costume and that he wasn’t Joe Jonas… because the costumes they were wearing were going to match, so he didn’t want to give anything away coming out in costume before the other 2 would be on the stage.  He also said he felt like a standup comedian but it was ok because we laugh at anything he says.  The finalists for the costume content came on stage and we were told how we could vote for the winners.  Via their website via cellphone but of course my phone died before we got inside so no voting for me!

Then it took forever to set up for the show.  I saw them bring out a huge lyric sheet and was able to make out that it said “Ghostbusters” and ruined the surprise for everyone around me!  Then setlists were put down and I was so bummed – no THRILLER!!!! But at least I did get 1 new cover song added to my list – and probably not one they’ll be doing again on tour. (EDIT: just got word after I had written this that they played it at the Dallas show. There goes my theory lol)

Isaac and Taylor came on stage as 2 of the 3 musketeers and then Zac came on stage – as a 3 musketeers candy bar (with a sword).  They said there was probably a short list of drummers who had drummed dressed as a candy bar.  Zac mentioned something about the Rock N Roll hall of fame and they said there would be a special place for him in the Mars Bars Hall of Fame.  (It was kind of hard to hear them when they talked)  There was also a lot of inappropriate talk about “swords”

After the short set, it was time for a Q&A; where nothing new was asked! (Although the girls dressed as Ghostbusters did ask if someone called them which was cute)  Listen to the reporter interviews on HNet people! Everything that was asked was pretty much answered in the reporter interviews.

Then we were told there was no time for group pics, but we did get a signed photo on the way out.  I picked up a glow in the dark event tshirt and passed on the poster and the 5 of 5 shirts. (I wanted all 5 and couldn’t justify buying 5 Vneck shirts that are black (which i therefore never end up wearing) that said Hanson on them – so since I couldn’t decide on 1 I was getting none)

Then we had an exciting trip to QuikTrip and it was back to OKC to sleep – Keena tells me I fell asleep really fast.  It was about 4am my time at that point – so it made sense I was out haha

This morning we got Taco Bueno for lunch so I could try their tacos (they were good – but I still prefer Taco Bell – which is good considering that is all we have up here!) and then I was off to the airport.

Had another layover in Atlanta, this time had to go 2 concourses over and then finally got back to Hartford.  When I got in my car the tire pressure light was on but I managed to make it home without any problems and now I have that to take care of!

I may or may not post photos later… I’m not sure what I have.

Make It Out Alive
And I Waited
You Never Know
Speechless
This Time Around
Dancing In The Wind
Hand in Hand
Voice In The Chorus
Something Going Round
Ugly Truth
Thinking Bout Somethin
Can’t Stop
In The City
Ghostbusters!

Hanson 92.9FM Appearance + Performance

Katie August 21, 2010 0 Comments

Thursday morning at 7am I got a call from my friend Maribeth exclaiming ‘I WON!’  We had been trying to tickets to a special event that Q92.9 in Pittsburgh would be doing with Hanson and she managed to get through. (I was not up early enough to even attempt to win)  The only downside was that we’d have to get to the “secret location” at 6am and Maribeth’s house is about ohhh 3 hours away.  So we were faced with the decision to get up at 2am and drive there, or get a hotel for the night and drive there Thursday night after I arrived in PA.  We opted for the latter.

Due to construction we got to the hotel about 1am and set our alarms for sometime in the 4am hour. (Ew!) We left at about 5 and headed to the “Secret Location” which was the Carnegie Science Center. We waited around and we saw people were being let in so we went in.  It was a little like ‘night at the museum’ since the place wasn’t going to open until around 10am.

We went up a ramp and saw that the Q92 morning show had their stuff set up to broadcast live from the location.  Then we were told that they were filming a music video doing Hanson’s Thinking Bout Somethin dance and that 2 shots (out of millions) would be with the band.

I opted out of dancing as I didn’t want to break my leg… and was sitting off to the side watching stuff being shot and then ended up being told to go downstairs to be on the air.  I was asked if I would rather lose 10 pounds or “get busy”.  Funny that I get a would you rather question… haha. Also glad I was so far away from home that no one would hear me!

Then we hung around downstairs and were playing with a fountain for a little bit and at 8 Hanson came.  The radio interviewed them and Zac got in a couple of zings at Taylor – he seemed to be in a playful mood.  Then Hanson got set up to perform and did a soundcheck of Thinking Bout Somethin.  Then they did it for real on the air.  While there was some downtime, they played around singing Shake A Tailfeather and then they went back on the air to sing Waiting For This.

They ended up going into another rendition of Shake A Tailfeather, but Taylor accidentally hit the drum button on the keyboard which turned into a crazy song about Science and the fountain that we had been playing with earlier! (Isaac tried to play with it, but it was already turned off so it didnt really work lol)

Then they played Thinking Bout Somethin 2 times for us for the video with the dancers. Kind of sick of that song… hahaha

After they did group photos and I got near Zac for ours. Maribeth got the photos on her camera so I am waiting for her to get them uploaded 🙂 (I dont have a memory card reader with me so I won’t have any of my own photos up until Monday at the earliest!)

Then they were wandering around and signing and we got Zac and then Taylor to sign our stuff, but Isaac had already gotten dragged away. Kind of bummed we couldn’t get all 3 when we weren’t sure when we’d have the chance to get Isaac’s signature, but they had to go do a TV interview.

The performance became my 50th Hanson concert (By (my) definition if they do at least 1 song it would count – but I was debating calling it 49 and a half if they only did Thinking Bout Somethin.  The science song was so ridiculous that I decided to go ahead and call it #50, and they did other songs as well so i didn’t want to ‘cheat’ on my count haha)

Hanson Sayreville, NJ 7/27/10

Katie July 29, 2010 0 Comments

Hanson took their tour to Sayreville, NJ once again, this time on their Shout It Out tour. This show was considered a “Shout It Out Tour” show while the two in MA were not.  I’m really not sure why, except for the fact that they did not have a local opener contest because the MA venues had a 10:30pm curfew and the show would have gone too long otherwise.

It took me about 3 hours to get to NJ when it should have taken two.  As usual, massive amounts of traffic at the George Washington Bridge. (One time it took me *7* hours to get to Sayreville, so, yeah. I was expecting traffic lol)  As I arrived it was just about time for doors and I saw my friend Lisa so we all went to find security to be let in early and get a seat.

We were let in a side door and it was SO DARK inside! I was tripping down stairs because I couldn’t see them on my way to the seat.  It would have made sense to let those with disabilities able to SEE their way to the seats.. but oh well.  We grabbed seats near Taylors piano and began to wait for show time.

The ourstage contest winner (who I was hoping would win) Brightside Drive, took the stage a little after 7 and played about 5 songs.  They were young, but their songs were good and I enjoyed them.  I was a bit worried at first that after all my hoping they would win they wouldn’t deliver, but they did 🙂

Next up was A Rocket To The Moon.  I wasn’t familiar with any of their stuff, but a few of my friends like them and I liked their set. I managed to get the names of almost all the songs they sang, with the exception of the last song so I have that listed under the cut if anyone is interested.  I think it was about their last song that the girl next to me started getting on my nerves.  We were in a row of chairs and somehow a space opened up between me and the girl who was next to me.  Then, this other girl made her way into the space even though there wasn’t really room for her… and well it really angered me and made it hard for me to get into the show.

Hanson came out really late. Like, really late, even for them.  I think they started at quarter to 10.  Doors opened at 6:30. So.. yeah.  It seemed to take forever and a day for the setlists to come out as well.  Once again they started with the medley – I thought this was just special for the curfew shows in MA, but it looks like it is something that has stuck for the tour.

I really wasn’t enjoying myself because of the girl next to me.  She was all up in my space which I know should be expected for a GA show – but we were in the section where they put those who were disabled. A little breathing room is usually expected in that section. (Not to mention I was very wiggly because the chair was high so my feet kept falling asleep – and couldn’t really wiggle because this girl was practically on my lap)  Eventually I decided that it wasn’t right to let this girl ruin my fun and I was just going to have to suck it up. (Plus, Taylor was giving me dirty looks for not clapping and enjoying myself!)

The setlist seemed pretty similar to the weekend shows until we hit the acoustic breakdown of the show.  They started with Georgia.  Which is not one of my favorites but I think it was karma because I have been talking so much crap about Georgia and the Braves lately!  Then they went back to 1997 and played I Will Come To You.  Then Zac did a solo of Use Me Up, which he hadn’t done in MA but had done on the fall tour so it really wasn’t all that out of place for him.  He had taken his shirt off while drumming (he had a button down on over a tshirt) and then put it back on before the acoustic set.  Before starting Use Me Up, he took it off and put it on again – commenting that it had been on inside out!

Zac then called for Taylor to come out on stage – Taylor sat at the piano, which again is not all that rare for him but then he started playing NEVER LET GO which is an incredibly rare and essentially unreleased track (I think it was on a fan club membership kit) that I had been lucky enough to have heard live 2 other times, but this song is hardly ever played.

Once Taylor was done he called Isaac out and Isaac ALSO went to the piano!  Isaac then went all the way back to before they were famous and did a song off of their first indie release from like 1995, which had previously only been done in 1998 and I really can not recall him ever doing it aside from on the Albertane Tour.  He sang “more than anything” and then we were all just like – WOW.  never let go and more than anything back to back?  How did we get to be so lucky!?

Then they went back to electric and played a cover – and not only was it a cover it was something I had never heard them do live before (hooray!) in “Hold On, I’m Coming”  I spazzed out so much I think I momentarily broke my phone and ended up trying to fix it during the next 2 songs Wheres The Love and Penny & Me.  The rest of the regular show didn’t have too many more surprises, but they did do Get Up And Go which they don’t play that often.  (I think doing 5 of 5 made them realize the songs they don’t play all that often because a lot of them are getting added into the set)

For the encore – we got Zac’s rendition of Oh Darlin (yay!) as well as Its A Long Way To The Top If You Want To Rock N Roll.  This one they did a lot a few years back, but not so much recently, so it was a nice way to end the show!

I ended up leaving the venue around midnight, stopping at a rest stop to get some food and water so I could stay awake and then proceeded to sit ON the GWB for about an hour bouncing around because of construction.  I finally made it home at 3:30 AM which was CRAZY. Luckily I was able to sleep relatively late!  A couple of times I was wondering why I was going to the show (even about to get off the exit to go to Queens and go to the Mets game instead) but I am glad I did end up going because it was what could end up being the best setlist – EVER.  It was definitely more of a show #50 setlist than a #49… and no way is #50 going to live up to it (since as of right now it is going to be a radio show), but that’s ok!

A Rocket To The Moon setlist:
Give a Damn
American Girl (cover)
If Only They Knew
On Your Side
Shes Killing Me
Baby Blue Eyes
Dakota
Mr Right
?

Hanson setlist:

Drake&Hanson @ South Street Seaport

Katie June 16, 2010 0 Comments

Last night I headed into the city, met up with my friend Jaime and we were headed to the South Street Seaport to check out Paper Magazines “Sounds Like Paper” concert with Hanson and Drake.  We ended up taking a wrong turn out of the subway and took the looooooong way to the Seaport.  When the Seaport was off in the distance, we took a seat on a bench and were wondering why we didn’t hear any music, since it was after 6pm (the scheduled start time). Then I got a text from a friend asking where I was saying that the place was absolutely packed with Drake fans.

We got to the Pier 17 area and it was CRAZY how many people were there. Every inch of the stairs was full of people, and the whole pier area was covered with people and overflow was across the street.  We wandered around a bit and decided staying in the back was our best bet, but since there was still no music and SO many people, I didn’t think anything was going to actually end up happening.  Jaime and I decided that if by 7:30 nothing started happening, we’d leave.  Although about 5 minutes after we made that pact, we ended up going across the street anyway, because it seemed like a lot more people were leaving at once so  we knew something had to have been going on and we didn’t want to be in the middle of it.

Turns out that people on the stairs started throwing things at people down below and vice versa – and even CHAIRS were being thrown down.  I mean, cmon, how stupid can you be?  Apparently the Drake fans were getting pissed that nothing was happening yet – whereas the Hanson fans are used to nothing ever happening on time!

I tried to get in touch with my friends who were there, but due to the massive amounts of people it was nearly impossible to text, make a phone call, or even check twitter to see if anyone had said it was canceled.

We sat on some steps near the Seaport shops and my friend was able to get through to me and said that Hanson had tweeted it was canceled, but Drake said he was still coming. (and I’m pretty sure he did end up showing up and sticking his head out of his bus)  We waited for my friends to get out from the restaurant where they were, and while we were waiting a bunch of people came running down the street and we didn’t know what to do.  But then they all turned around and went back.  Apparently about that time the cops were using mace to get people to leave.

We hung around til about 9pm, when there was still a HUGE crowd of people around (when the concert had been called off about an hour and a half before)  We decided to head back to Grand Central and go home (since it didn’t appear that Hanson was going to play a secret show anywhere)  While walking to the subway, a fight broke out so we ran off to the side so as not to get stampeded by people running to see the fight. (At least, we think it was a fight) and a couple of guys blocked us saying “Protect the white girls!” We were definitely out numbered lol

When we finally got to Grand Central, I had missed the 9:37 by like 2 minutes.  Decided I would take my trusty 10:22 which was at track 18… except no train ever showed up even once 10pm hit. (And usually I am on the train sitting for a bit before it leaves)  I went over to the screen that shows the track and the 10:22s track was now BLANK.  With about 5 minutes to spare, they announced we’d be on track 16 instead and a TON of people rushed to the track.  Then once we got down to the train, the doors weren’t even open! I walked down as far as I could handle and was able to get myself a window seat.   Then halfway through the ride the PA system in the train went out and the AC went out (or turned down) too because they said we were in the hottest car and could move back if we wanted.

Also, at our first stop the doors never opened, we were told that the police had to get on the train to deal with something… luckily it was not in my car!

Then when I finally got home I got stuck waiting for ambulances and fire trucks to go by! It was a crazy night.

Hanson – 4/30 – Shout It Out

Katie May 1, 2010 0 Comments

Tonight Hanson played their not yet released studio album, Shout It Out (June 8). Our goal for the night was to be front row behind the sound board and we did it – went from last row monday night to first row Friday 🙂
There was a horns section for the show which pretty much was the best idea ever and I hope they tour with the guys as well because it made it absolutely fantastic!!
A few of the songs I had never heard before, live or otherwise but they were all amazing and I think this album is going to be the best one yet by FAR.
They are so catchy and pop and make you want to dance, they are great! (If only I had a thesaurus)
(Now if only the Yankee fans on the train would stop being so obnoxious so I could concentrate on what went down tonight…)
A cool thing about being near the sound board was that I was right behind the guy who made the decision on redoing songs. I’m not sure how he decided but after they finished give a little and these walls I saw ‘redo’ written on his paper. They also redid me myself and I, probably because Taylor was talking about how it was the longest song he ever played piano for and that there was still another verse lol
Before the encore, we all sang Happy Birthday to ‘mom’ as today is the guys mom’s birthday!
(Apparently there is so much yankee drama the cops will be waiting for the train in New Haven)
Also being near the sound board we saw last night had a potential encore of Never Been To Spain and tonight Gimme Some Lovin. We hoped tonight they’d actually do GSL and they not only played it,but NBTS and shake your tail feather!!
Then as expected they came out to do the re-do songs.
I missed the 1022 train I wanted to catch and now I’m on the 1122 almost home and praying we get le off at the right track (where a moron was waiting to pick someone up blocking all the open handicapped spots. Uh hello? The world doesn’t revolve around you)
Now I’m just hoping this train drama (which I completely missed apparently) is not a huuuge issue with me getting to my stop and leaving… Though I kind of wish I was a witness hahaha
Tomorrow is Jordin Sparks and I won all access seats and a m&g; so that should be fun – and we don’t need to be there until 615 so I can get some sleeep!!
Waiting for this
Thinking bout something
Kiss me when you come home
Carry you there
Give a little
Make it out alive
And I waited
Use me up
These walls
Musical ride
Voice in the chorus
Me myself and I
Never been to spain
Shake a tailfeather
Gimme some lovin
Me myself and I
These Walls
And I waited
Give a little
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