Concert – Page 36 – Concert Katie

Throwback Thursday: Hanson in Ottawa

Katie August 21, 2014 0 Comments

Third stop was Ottawa. I slept for what I was told was “like 400 exits” on the ride from Toronto. When we arrived at the venue – which was also a bit of a fair – we bought wristbands that would allow us to be on the floor. The venue was actually a hockey arena and the stage was in the middle so there was floor where the ice would be and then seats available behind it. We weren’t sure if that would get us a better spot or not – but somehow ended up front row right on the barricade near Isaac. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

Erin had gone off for her M&G and we tried to come up with a plan of where to meet her and once she had gotten back, Hanson was over by the buses doing an interview. So we were able to snap some photos of them being interviewed and leaving. I don’t think the un-edited version of Hanson walking down the tunnel with Machine has ever been posted before – but we had edited Machine out and it was the header of Hanson Secrets (which Erin and I had started, well, Erin moreso than me) for quite some time.

So yes, we were front row for the show and I was keeping track of the setlist as usual and in the middle of the show, one of the roadies walked over and handed me a copy of the setlist. SCORE! Since we knew what they were going to sing, we ended up leaving just before the encore and heading over to the buses to get a spot on the barricade. Success. We got photos with Zac without a problem. Isaac argued with me for like 5 minutes about how he wasn’t taking photos that night – and didn’t he just take one with me a few days ago? (Well, yes, but that was a group photo and I wanted one of just me and him?) Then he went like 4 people down and started taking photos with girls! So he came back and said “I owe you a picture” and I got one with him. It was around this time that I was convinced something I did/said while I was interviewing them made Isaac hate me. We’re totally cool now though. Best buds, even. (in my head.)

We spent the night in jail – the ottawa jail hostel – which was creepy as anything. Erin ended up with a tour at midnight and came back freaked out. I don’t think I slept at all and we were up and ready to go at 8am!

Optimistic
Rock ‘N’ Roll Razorblade
Dancin’ In The Wind
Minute Without You
Strong Enough To Break
Look At You
Lost Without Each Other
Need You Now – Zac solo
Call Me – Isaac solo
Underneath
Where’s The Love
Gimme Some Lovin’
Cried
Penny & Me
MMMBop
If Only
Long Way To The Top

Encore:
In The City

Concert

KC101’s Summer Fling 2014

Katie August 20, 2014 0 Comments

Sunday was KC101’s Summer Fling at the Dome at Oakdale. So yes, I did spend my weekend there. Although I didn’t stay for the whole show. There was a contest for a local band to play the fling and in the final 3 was local band Beach Avenue who has taken CT by storm since they auditioned for AGT (but didn’t make it), another band I had never heard of and The Go To which is my “little brother”s band. I won tickets in hopes of maybe seeing Jesse McCartney and then we got word that The Go To won!! (With something like 15k votes. Very impressive!)

We ended up only staying for The Go To and part of The Heydaze but Jesse McCartney walked by and I had a chance to fangirl (he was walking outside and I was inside and saw him go by the glass doors lol) So I will consider it a success 😉 It was also 10 years to the day from when I was at Oakdale to see / interview Hanson so that was pretty wild. Two very exciting nights in my concert history on the same date and place!

The Go To hit the stage at 7pm and they pretty much immediately had command of the crowd (you could tell by how many hands were up in the air when they asked them to clap!) They did a 20 minute set of original tunes and when lead singer Mat was yelled at to take off his shirt he said – “Do you think my Mom would like that? NO!” but took off his shirt anyway and tossed it in the crowd. Drummer Austin followed suit and then they pretty much peer pressured bassist Alex into taking his shirt off as well. 😉 Even after the set when the guys were walking across the stage to get the last of the equipment out of the way, the girls were still screaming!

Be sure to check out The Go To at http://thegotomusic.com/ (and if you sign up for their email list you’ll get a free download of one of their songs – and who doesn’t love free music?)

And Jesse McCartney – I hear your new album is great – I’ll buy it if you promise to come back to CT and do a seated show where I don’t have to stand around through 3 bands I’ve never heard up (but I’m sure were great) to see you?

Concert Gavin DeGraw Photos

Gavin DeGraw & Matt Nathanson

Katie August 20, 2014 1 Comments

Before I get in to this review, I think I need to let you know what “co headlining” means because this was a co-headlining tour between Matt and Gavin and a lot of people didn’t seem to “get” that, based on the comments I was seeing and hearing. Co-headlining is when 2 bands or musicians go out on the road together and they were perhaps both of equal weight when it comes to headlining. (Usually you have your big main headliner and a less popular opener or two) Typically what is done is each night they alternate who closes the show. Some nights it is Matt, other nights it is Gavin. For Saturday night’s show, Gavin went first followed by Matt. They play about 70 minutes EACH and each have an encore as if it was their main headlining set, just in an alternating order. A LOT of people actually left after Gavin’s set and I thought that was pretty dumb of them because Matt had an awesome set – but more on that later.

Andrew McMahon opened and I think that a lot of the Gavin VIP people were waiting to meet Gavin because all the seats around me were vacant. (I had seen the seat I ended up buying as a VIP ticket on Gavin’s site, but ended up buying it once it got released back to the venue) Andrew started his set with “I Woke Up In A Car” and he was like the pied piper. People, dancing like monkeys (thats the best way I can describe it) came running down from who knows where and filled in all around me. I was kind of surprised that security let them get away with it because typically the aisles need to be clear. Andrew did a pretty solid 20 minute or so set. I don’t have the setlist and the whole time kind of felt like I was in some weird twilight zone. But he said that he was going to warm us up and I think his mission was accomplished.

Gavin came out at 8 and played until about 9:15. He always puts on such a great show and is all over the stage (when not behind his piano, of course) He had a couple of covers in his set – Where the Streets Have No Name – which he went into after talking about how he grew up in upstate New York and told one of his coworkers at the time he was going to move to New York to be a musician and his coworker said “You’ll never make it” and he said maybe he wouldn’t, but that he had to try and pursue his dream. He encouraged us all to pursue our dreams and do what we love to do, even if it wasn’t our actual job. He left the stage and came back for a 3 song encore (which apparently a few people missed out on as the Facebook event page had a nasty comment about how there was “no encore!?”) which consisted of Make a Move and Not Over You as well as his newest song, Fire, which I had not yet heard though he claimed that TIC was playing it. I guess I’ll have to listen to TIC more 😉

Then it was time for Matt. He came out in the beginning and was just talking to the crowd and singling out people asking if they were doing ok. I was a bit concerned because I didn’t intend to stand for his whole set – but was sitting on the edge of the seat folded up so that I could see. He called out a couple of people for sitting during a rock and roll show but fortunately didn’t seem bothered by my half sitting. He basically just wanted us to clap if he asked us to clap and sing when he asked us to sing which really wasn’t a problem for me. I really liked the interaction that he had with the crowd throughout the whole show. And he was funny! Rubbing his butt on his bandmates and dancing for most of the set. He noticed there was a 5 year old girl in the 3rd row and then said he had to be careful about what he was saying to intro the songs and even “edited” one of his songs while singing – just covered his mouth. After a few songs he took off his shirt and gave it to the little girl. At first I had decided I was going to leave a few songs before his set ended (I found a setlist on setlist.fm that I was working off of and both Gavin’s and Matt’s list seemed to be pretty accurate to what they were performing Saturday night) but since Matt was so funny and entertaining I figured I’d stick it out. Good thing I did because the first song of his encore was called “Headphones” which he wrote as a new song just for the tour. (If rappers can drop mix tapes whenever they want, the singer songwriter has to step up their game and do the same was essentially what he had said before it) It was about how music makes you not feel alone and how you are invincible with your headphones on. I just absolutely loved it and it just struck a chord with me. He finished his set with Come On Get Higher and a sing along of “You’re The One That I Want” from Grease.

Last time I saw Matt he was in the Wolf’s Den and I couldn’t get inside and I didn’t get the same feeling from his show that I got from this one. I’m hoping he comes back again soon because I’ll definitely be checking him out again!

Gavin
Leading Man
Chariot
Sweeter
Heartbreak
Follow Through
We Belong Together
Best I Ever Had
Where The Streets Have No Name
Everything Will Change
Radiation
Rich Girl
Soldier
In Love With a Girl
Finest Hour
I Don’t Want To Be

Make a Move
Fire
Not Over You

Matt

Kill The Lights
Annie’s Always Waiting (For The Next On To Leave)
Car Crash / Fancy
Run
Mission Bells
Room At The End Of The World / I Want To Dance With Somebody
Kinks Shirt
Laid
Wedding Dress
Suspended
Faster / Faith
Headphones
Come On Get Higher / You’re The One That I Want

Concert Hanson Throwback Thursday

Throwback Thursday: Hanson in Toronto

Katie August 14, 2014 0 Comments

Second stop on our tour was to Toronto – but not without our “off day” being in Niagara Falls. We stopped at the World’s Largest Kaleidoscope on the way up and spent the night in Niagara. When we showed up at the falls they ended up changing color like 2 minutes after we got there. What timing! I remember going to shower and the hotel water being YELLOW so I had to let it run a while. You can also see the picture of our super old-school room key. Also on this trip we visited every Hard Rock Cafe that was in the country of Canada!

The venue on Toronto was called “The Docks” and it was beautiful right on the water. Of course – since no cameras were allowed for the show mine was left in the car and therefore I have no photos of the beautiful view! I think Erin had taken a couple on her disposable camera – but that got taken from her before the last show of our trip so yeah. No pretty picture 🙁

The highlight of the Toronto show was – Zac’s solo. At the Oakdale show I had mentioned to them that for it being “The Underneath Tour” they sure weren’t singing all that many songs off the new album… before Zac played Broken Angel (probably my favorite song on the album) he mentioned that “someone” had told them that they weren’t playing enough songs off of the new album – so here you go – and played a song off the new album! Yes, I am pretty sure that someone was ME.

After the show we picked up another fan because Erin thought it would be a good idea to make some money by transporting a fan from Toronto to Ottawa with us and also splitting the hotel cost. We “snuck” her into our room because we had only said 2 people were staying.

We had intended to stay out by the buses for Toronto and then roll up to Ottawa late, but Erin ended up getting a meet and greet so we couldn’t stay too late as we had to get an early start to go to Ottawa.

Funny fact about the first picture posted – we named our road trip “Are You Listening” – this was the original title for the album Underneath and a line in one of the songs on the album and so we wrote it out on the back of the car. (This was also mascot Zac’s FIRST ever trip w/ me as mascot) When we stopped to get gas along the way – I think it was in Vermont – so later in the trip – we found like 2 or 3 people standing around the back of the car wondering why it wasn’t talking because they were indeed listening…

Optimistic
Rock ‘N’ Roll Razorblade
Dancin’ In The Wind
Minute Without You
Strong Enough To Break
Every Word I Say
Look At You
Broken Angel – Zac solo
Being Me – Isaac solo
Underneath
This Time Around
Get Up and Go
Where’s The Love
Gimme Some Lovin’
Cried
Crazy Beautiful
Penny And Me
MMMBop
If Only
In The City
Lost Without Each Other

Encore:
Long Way To The Top
Hey

Concert Hanson Throwback Thursday

Throwback Thursday: Hanson at Oakdale

Katie August 7, 2014 0 Comments

For August I’m going to take a break from my regular throwback concert posts and do a throwback to the time I followed Hanson around on tour for a week – with shows in the US and Canada. It was 10 years ago starting on August 17th, so I figured it would be appropriate to make myself feel super old and see how much of the trip I could remember. (Honestly, the amount of memories that came back looking at the photos was amazing!)

Show #1 started our tour in Connecticut. It was by pure coincidence that it started in my home state – we had decided we’d do the Canada shows and “whatever came before it” but all the dates didn’t come out at once (I guess?) so we were pretty excited that it started in CT. (Although the friend I went with, Erin, was living in VA at the time.)

For this show I was chosen as Hanson.net reporter – which means unfortunately I have no photos of the show I can share as they were all taken for Hanson’s website. I do have my M&G picture with the band after I got the chance to interview them though!

This tour Hanson was VERY strict about cameras so I don’t have any actual concert shots to share from any of the shows – but I hope that some of the sightseeing, etc that I will post will be just as fun to look at 🙂

I spent before the show backstage, where I got to take the M&G photos for the Hanson.net winners and then Zac instructed me to follow him where I went into another room just me and the 3 guys for our interview. I was told to prepare 3-7 questions, so I prepared 7 and wrote them in order from what I most wanted answered to least, just incase we couldn’t get to all 7. I started off with a silly one to try and break the ice. This was probably one of the coolest experiences of my life. We made it through all 7 questions but my note taking was in horrible handwriting. (The notebook I used is still floating around – I wish I knew where it was exactly to scan a couple of pages! I’d never be able to read it now!) When I made it back in to the venue to meet up with my friends I immediately started writing everything over again while it was fresh in my mind! Of course now they record the interviews and post them on their website. Ah the advances of technology in the last 10 years 😉

For the first 3 songs I got to go up front with my photo pass and take photos. After that I was afraid to take more, even though my pass said “all night” because the security was being SUPER strict and I didn’t want to get kicked out even though it probably would have been ok once they saw my pass.

I really don’t remember much else from this show specifically as standing out. (For fun – this was Hanson show # 15 – I am now at #99!)

Optimistic
Long Way to the Top
Dancing In the Wind
A Minute without You
Strong Enough to Break
Every Word I Say
Look At You
The Walk – Zac Solo
Being Me – Isaac Solo
Underneath
This Time Around
Gimme Some Lovin’
Get Up & Go
Where’s the Love
Crazy Beautiful
Speechless
Penny & Me
MMMBop
If Only
In The City

Encore:
Hey
Lost Without Each Other

Concert Photos

Justin Timberlake 20/20 Experience

Katie July 23, 2014 0 Comments

Friday night Justin Timberlake came to the Mohegan Sun Arena for the summer leg of his tour. This show was particularly exciting for me because it was my 400th concert and it was also the day before my 30th birthday! When I arrived my friend informed me that Chris Kirkpatrick has been on the tour and that we should keep an eye out for him. We ended up going in as soon as doors opened so she could grab a nice spot in VIP (and she did!) and I could get settled in to my seat. Then I got a text that she overheard that Joey Fatone was in attendance too!

A little before 7 (the show was listed at 7:30 on the tickets) Freestyle Steve the DJ came out to “entertain” us. I don’t get the point of having a DJ before the show and I don’t get the point of the DJ playing a bunch of Justin songs before Justin is going to sing them all for us in that same room. (Granted, the ones he played weren’t in the setlist – but STILL!) Then I got a text from my friend that she spotted Joey in VIP in front of her. I missed him walking over there, but he ended up leaving after being spotted and I was able to see him leave and then come back later before the show started. There was still no sign of Chris though.

Justin took the stage at about 8:30. The beginning of his set was very dark (as in, no lighting to get a picture) and while it did get better at some points the overall lighting situation wasn’t all that great. Oh well. I did get a couple of funny faced pictures so I guess that’s good enough. The show was really high energy and I thought it was a good mix of songs – especially since the only ones I really know are his singles and even moreso his earlier solo stuff. There weren’t too many songs that I was having trouble singing along to. And he tossed in a few covers too.

About an hour in, there was an intermission… and then the show continued! A few songs in, the stage ended up rising up and he started moving all over our heads. So awesome. The stage actually ended where it was directly over my head and I was able to get a picture of his feet over top of me. Then some stairs lifted from the middle of the VIP section and he came down to the B stage. Although I found it odd that he had his back to the VIP area for the whole set (aside from when he walked around a bit when he “landed”) and didn’t face the back of the crowd instead. *shrugs*

It was around this point when I spotted Chris in the back with his wife and I *may* have taken more creepy stalker photos of Chris than I did of Justin even though he was right in front of me practically. (Have I mentioned Justin is my least fave NSYNC member? lol Plus, I knew I’d be seeing Justin again in December but didn’t know for sure I’d ever be in the same room as Chris again – or 3/5 of NSYNC for that matter!) I also spent a lot of time staring at the stage and trying to figure out how it worked. I also thought Justin was pretty brave because there were no rails on the stage and him and some of the band were on it as it moved. I’d be terrified.

As the stage moved back to the front, Justin was miming something to Chris, but I couldn’t quite make out what he was implying. Chris seemed to know though, because he was laughing at him. The show ended at just about 11. (Or at least that’s about what time it was when we made it outside)

I had heard a rumor that if you put your card in the machine on your birthday, it pops up and says “Happy Birthday” so I wanted to see for sure. At first I debated waiting the hour for it to hit midnight, but then ultimately decided to stay (after having to get a new card since mine seemed to have fallen out of my pocket during the show)

While we were killing time, we went to look for the Michael Jackson machine and who should we find? JOEY! We were able to get pics with him and I told him it was my birthday tomorrow so he said Happy Birthday 🙂 I felt bad interrupting him when he was with family, but he was super nice!

And it turns out that the slot machines DO tell you Happy Birthday if you visit on your birthday! (Too bad there weren’t any of the birthday perks I wanted to use at midnight lol)

Overall a great way to celebrate my 30th and 400th show!

Jennifer Lopez at Foxwoods 6/21/14

Katie June 25, 2014 0 Comments

After this year of Idol, I found it amusing I had seen both Keith and Harry in concert for free, but hadn’t yet seen JLo. So of course when I saw one of the local radio stations was giving away tickets I had to throw my hat in the ring. Then I got an email that I had won. I didn’t realize that the cheapest tickets were $200! Crazy. I didn’t get the tickets in advance, we had to pick them up at Will Call that night so I had no idea where the seats would be – but for free I’ll sit pretty much anywhere. First, they couldn’t find my name on the list and I was panicking a bit – I had driven 1.5 hours and was not about to buy a ticket if they didn’t have mine – but eventually she found me and I got 2 seats in the very last row of the lower level – which were listed as $275 a pop on their website. (whoa)

Doors were supposed to be at 7, but opened up more like 7:15. The show was supposed to start at 8:00, but started after 8:30… (I just remember my friend Liz asking if it was 8:30 and I said after 8:30 and the show still hadn’t started.)

But once the show did start – it was pretty much non-stop. There was no opener, and a few interludes so that Jennifer could change her outfits. I was surprised that there was really only 1 song I didn’t know – other than the one that she said was from her new album and we probably didn’t know. I guess that just shows how many singles she has had over the years! Wow! (I did pick up A.K.A after I got home and will hopefully be reviewing it for a Music Monday one of these days!)

I think there were a final count of 6 or 7 outfits? Maybe more than that if you count when she added or took off pieces! There were a lot of dance breaks and I couldn’t believe how much moving and running around she did throughout the show. I was exhausted just watching her! Pia Toscano from American Idol was also one of her backup singers which was pretty cool.

One thing I found interesting was how few people around me stood. I guess a lot got the tickets comped because they didn’t seem like the typical demographic I had expected for a JLO show. It seemed like most of the orchestra was up and dancing, but throughout the majority of the show I could count on one hand how many were standing near me. And one poor kid was dancing and got yelled at to sit down by the people behind him! Look, if he was standing like a statue and no one in front of him was blocking his view – then mayyybeee I could see you asking him to sit. But he obviously was enjoying himself and dancing around – so don’t make him chair dance! There was also a sign when we came in that said they wouldn’t yell at anyone who was standing or dancing at their seats – and rightfully so! I wonder if the venue gets a lot of complaints from people about others standing up and enjoying themselves? There must be some reason they posted the sign?

I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from the show – but I definitely enjoyed myself and wouldn’t mind seeing her again! (As long as I don’t have to pay $200-$300!) She talked a bit about how she liked the East Coast in the summer too. And did a lot of “Will you sing along? I can’t hear you!” in between / during songs. If you’re on the fence about seeing her live – definitely go!

First Love / Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
Love Don’t Cost a Thing
Ain’t It Funny / I’m Real
I Luh Ya Papi
Get Right
Big Booty
Girls / If You Had My Love
I’m Into You
Waiting For Tonight
Never Satisfied
Dance Again
On The Floor
Let’s Get Loud

Jenny from the Block

Concert Photos

Summer Kickoff Concert 2014

Katie June 11, 2014 0 Comments

Sunday night Kiss 95.7 had their Summer Kick Off Concert at Mohegan Sun Arena. This event is usually completely GA and held at Six Flags – so I was happy that they changed things up a bit although I am willing to bet that they aren’t too happy. My friend Jess ended up winning tickets from KC101 and asked me to attend with her. Considering I have a not so secret crush on one of the performers, I of course agreed. The tickets she won were in the upper level, section 116. They weren’t great, but they were free. When we got inside we noticed that there were barricades in front of all the upper sections that said “CLOSED”. We asked one of the ushers and he said they would give us reassigned tickets to a lower level section because they decided to close off the whole top. We ended up getting the back row of the whole entire place. (We’d have been a little bit closer on the side if we stayed up top but I think the guy purposely gave us last row because he saw my cane and figured then I’d not have to do any stairs)

Originally, Cher Lloyd was in the lineup and I had really wanted to see her (again) but she canceled apparently because she went to film a video for Really Don’t Care with Demi Lovato. (And Demi loses points with me again!) Cher was replaced with MKTO who actually were a lot of fun so I guess I can’t be too upset, but still.

Hoe Chelle Rae took the stage first and played for half an hour. They called some girls up on stage from the crowd to sing with them for one of the songs. I did start out keeping a setlist but then got bored with it about halfway through – so I did keep track of Hot Chelle Rae’s set and it’s below!

Then it was time for Cash Cash who I had no idea who he/they was. He was a DJ and had a girl come out to sing a song. Next please! (I just don’t understand why they replaced on DJ playing in between sets with another DJ?

MKTO was up next and they had the whole place shaking. (Or maybe it was just their bass) Malcolm took his shirt off at the end so of course the girls went crazy there. Up until that point, they were the best of the night.

We had thought that b.o.b would be up next but to our surprise, R5 took the stage. Ross asked for “2 seconds so he could tie his shoe” and then they mentioned that their set time kept getting extended. I figured that meant something was up and either b.o.b was not coming (which would have been fine with me) or he was running late. So R5 added at least 2 or 3 songs to their set. They were really good and I hadn’t really heard much of their stuff other than Forget About You, so I was surprised that they are more rock. I guess I was expecting something different with Ross being on the cheesy Disney show.

Then DJ Skillz continued playing, but it became kind of obvious that he was trying really, really hard to stall. I don’t think that the younger girls minded or even realized it – but when 10 came and went, I knew something was up. But if they swapped Austin and b.o.b’s set times, I think 99% of the place would have left. Finally b.o.b took the stage and did like 15 minutes and that was that. He had also mentioned that he had “just landed and went 120 mph to get here” so I don’t know where he was beforehand but something had definitely been up! His advice at the end of the show, which I found to be ridiculously inappropriate considering all the young people (girls) in the audience was “Don’t drink and drive, smoke and fly!” Um well, the first part of that was pretty good! So still… could have gone without seeing him. (Although he did run up into one of the sections and was “in” the crowd a lot which was brave. Or maybe he knew he wouldn’t get attacked too bad because he wasn’t Austin Mahone)

There was barely any time between b.o.b leaving the stage and Austin taking it. I didn’t keep track of his setlist but from looking at other sets – I am pretty sure he did Banga Banga, Say You’re Just a Friend, Shadow, a cover of John Legend’s All Of Me, MMM Yeah, What About Love and that may have been all of it or close to it. The girls went crazy for him. I had seen him before and still wasn’t really impressed. He’s basically the new Justin Bieber (even though he hates behind compared to him – but I thought he had read he started doing Justin covers so I mean… what can you expect?)

The show was over at just about 11. We made our way out (the wall of parents wasn’t too bad, but still – don’t stand right outside the doors. Pick a store front or something to meet your kid outside of!) and as we were getting back on to the highway a tour bus decided that they needed to get in the lane I was in so obviously I let them go. We thought it may have been R5 because it had a hitch (we weren’t sure Austin would need one since he didn’t have any band set up) and then when I passed it (because it was going slow and because we wanted to know who was in it) Jessa thought she saw the blond girl from R5 up front. All I saw was a guy with a beard and he was not one of the band members. Then we lost them because they were going pretty slow. I thought they might catch back up to me when I got off the highway to drop Jessa off at her car, but no such luck. Oh well!

Tulsa Recap – Part 2

Katie May 28, 2014 0 Comments

Saturday we woke up and decided we would check out Center of the Universe which is just a cool spot in Tulsa, you stand on a circle on an overpass and talk and you hear it echo but no one else does. It’s just a fun trick. Then we went to the Hanson gallery to see some paintings Zac did (that unfortunately were all sold out before we even got to Tulsa) and some photos Taylor had taken. There was a group photo for sale that we did like – but it was $60 and we just couldn’t justify it. There were several paintings I would have wanted had they still been available though. Oh well! (Moral of the story is, get to Tulsa the day before the check in starts so you can be first in line for everything)

We went to Mexicali’s for lunch and then headed back down to Cain’s for Taylor’s lecture that was bumped from the day before. He “taught” us a bit about photography and then brought fans on stage to take their photos and then he took a picture with them. He kept saying things needed to get sped up but then kept having more and more people come on stage for photos. The only catch was they had to wear headphones because the photos are going into an “Are You Listening” Gallery which will be added to the website. He had things rigged so the photo went to his laptop and then to a projector so we could see the photos as they were taken.

After Taylor’s lecture was done, all 3 brothers took to the stage to deliver the “State of the Band” where they talked a bit about what their plans were for the rest of the year. They did get boo’ed when they said it wouldn’t include a tour! A new fanclub website is coming next month and they are working with other artists. I’m still hoping a couple of one -off shows turn up (preferably close by!) because I am now at 99 shows so the next show is going to be #100!

Then it was time to head back outside from Cain’s and wait for the Members Only Event concert to begin! Despite things seeming to be a bit behind, the show did seem to start about when it was supposed to. The set started out with 5 new songs from the Members Only EP – this is always a treat because for the most part the only way you are going to hear these songs is to go to the event in Tulsa. Every now and then a couple of the songs do make it into other setlists but this is the only guarantee to hear them. The rest of the set was a mixture of some other members only songs, some rarer songs they don’t play much and then some typical songs as well. Overall I thought it was a really solid mixture of a setlist! The only bummer was Taylor and Isaac both did solos and Zac didn’t, but the rumor going around is that he was not feeling well.

On The Road
Show Me The Way
What’s Your Name
Panic in the Streets
White Collar Crime
Sunny Day / Cecelia
Down
Stories
Penny and Me
Never Let Go (Taylor Solo)
Deeper (Isaac Solo)
Roller Coaster Love
Scream and Be Free
Thinking Of You
Runaway Run
And I Waited
Get Up And Go
Already Home
Sound of Light
Best of Times
Man From Milwaukee
Waiting For This
In The City

After the show it was the after party! This is the 3rd time we have seen Taylor do an afterparty. The party in Hershey, PA sucked. The party in Jamaica was awesome. So we weren’t sure where this one was going to fall on the spectrum. Turns out, just about in the middle. The songs weren’t as good as Jamaica but were better than PA. It wasn’t as high energy and I could barely even look at him on the stage because the stage lights were flashing and making me tear up to look at them. He played songs from Haim, Amy Winehouse, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Peter Gabriel, Lorde – to name a few. It was a mixture of older and newer songs.

Sunday we decided to sleep in a bit since it was a late night the night before. When we woke up, the Hop Jam stage was set up right outside our hotel (though unfortunately our room was in the back of the hotel and not the front!) and we walked around to see what was going on and if we would spot any Hanson’s. When I stopped to take a photo of the stage we got yelled at to get back inside. And at that point – no one was even ON the stage so I’m not sure why I couldn’t stop to take a photo for a second! Sheesh.

We went back to our room but I heard soundcheck starting so we went to the lobby where we had a pretty clear view of Hanson (and of the guard who yelled at us – so we stuck our tongues out at him assuming the windows were tinted and they weren’t! haha oops) so we hung out there and watched them do a few songs and then walk down the street.

At 3pm the doors to the festival opened, we went and got in line for merch (and got everything we wanted and then some! yay!) and grabbed some food from the food trucks. Then we went in the hotel to eat and then decided to venture through the craft beer area. A lot of the stuff was already gone and they weren’t even really selling sample tickets anymore because too many people were coming back and saying things were sold out! I guess that was a good thing for those who were selling beer but not so much for anyone who wanted to try anything!

At 5pm the music started – with opening act winner Capitol Cars (woo hoo I voted for them!) but it was so hot out and no real shade, I ended up heading to the hotel after their set and never returning outside. There was no ADA section and we figured that in the hotel lobby was the safest place for me to enjoy my 99th Hanson show! Also performing at Hop Jam were Taddy Porter, Butch Walker (who I had been told was amazing and did not disappoint!), Robert Randolph and the Family band – and of course, Hanson.

After the show we walked around a bit (since I had been sitting in basically the same spot for hours and needed to stretch!) and ended up spotting all 3 Hanson’s briefly, but did not get a chance to chat with them. Isaac was at a local bar that we did pass and considered going in to, but ultimately opted against it and went back to the hotel for snacks instead.

Fired Up
Ive Got Soul
Wheres The Love
Waiting For This
Minute Without You
Been There Before
Penny and Me
This Time Around
Crazy Beautiful
Happy Together
Watch Over Me
Thinking Bout Somethin
Give a Little
Get The Girl Back
MMMBop
Never Been to Spain

Livin on Tulsa Time (w/ Butch and Robert)

Concert

Lana Del Rey at Oakdale Theater

Katie May 10, 2014 0 Comments

Thursday night, Lana Del Rey came to The Oakdale. My cousin Britt wanted to go because Lana is her favorite person ever, so I told her I would go with her. We got tickets in the orchestra, last row before the sound booth. I thought we’d be about 10 rows back from the pit in front, but it turned out we were only 4 rows back and the pit was much larger than I was anticipating. The plus side to being by the soundboard is that the setlist was laying out just before Lana took the stage so we were able to copy it down. (A lot of times the sound guys will try and hide it – I’m not sure why – but this guy just kind of laughed that we were so interested in it and didn’t care at all.) She did switch a few songs around from the order that was posted on the setlist though.

I had listened to Lana on Spotify about a week ago just to see what she was all about. She certainly has an interesting voice but it works. She’s not someone I’d probably have gone seen on my own, but I was glad to have checked her out. I thought that the set was solid and I liked that she took time in between songs to either go down to the pit (in between the stage and a barricade – of course!) and interact with fans. I was joking that the show was going to end up being 2x as long as it should have been because she was spending so much time with fans. Don’t get me wrong- this is an awesome thing!

The end of the show was weird. So here’s my tip on it if you’re going to see her so you don’t make the same mistake we did!

TIP! If you are going to the show and are not in the first couple rows of the pit and want to get a head start on parking lot traffic – at the end of the last song (National Anthem) Lana went off in to the pit (well, there was a barricade) and signed autographs and took selfies with the people up front. This was about 20 minutes of “uhhh what’s going on?” but we didn’t know if she’d get back on stage and sing more of the song or if she’d do an encore. She got back up on stage, picked up various items that were handed to her from fans and walked off. And the house lights came on. Let our mistake be your gain!

After the show we almost got stampeded no less than 3 different times while trying to make it to the car. 2 youtubers were in attendance – Jack and Anthony. Had no idea who they were (this is how I know I’m old) but they were having girls chase them around all night for photos. I ended up doing a twitter search to figure out who they were (after hearing screams of “ANTHONY! ANTHONY!” constantly). There were also crazy screams when they made it on the screen on stage near the end of the show.