Concert – Page 51 – Concert Katie

Hanson Musical Ride Tour NYC

Katie October 20, 2011 0 Comments

In New York City, Hanson did something a little bit different with their musical ride tour. Before the show, they did an event called “The Story” for members of their fanclub. During “The Story” they told the making of one of their albums. This was done at 3 stops previously so the album that we got to hear the story of was 2007’s The Walk.

For about 45 minutes the band discussed the process of writing songs, how several of them had existed for quite some time before finally “fitting” on an album with the other songs. (Although they started with talking about Coldplay, Fiona Apple and and Alanis Morissette and album and song titles being long and made up)

Most interesting was the band discussing their trip to Africa and the song Been there Before. There’s a line “does it move you, does it sooth you, fill your heart and soul with the roots of rock and roll” and they had an African choir singing “rock and roll, rock and roll” in the background. Isaac explained how the kids just really wanted to sing the rock and roll part over and over, and how it was moving because the roots of rock and roll are in Africa since it can be traced back to gospel sung by the slaves in the south who had come from Africa. And how realizing that was really inspiring.

After the discussion they took a few questions and answered them and then it was time for doors to open at 7pm.

Charlie Mars took the stage at 8:30! And did a few different songs than he had done the previously 2 times I saw him. (And I realized that my name is in not one, but TWO of his songs!)

We were worried with Charlie starting so late that Hanson would in turn start late as well, but they came out at about 9:30. The opening of the show was the same as the past few – starting with Musical Ride, going in to Waiting For This, Where’s The Love, Thinking Bout Somethin… etc. Then it was time to go in to the album for the night – The Walk. They missed playing “Your Illusion” but did all the others in almost the same order as the CD which was interesting.

For the acoustic set they did Go, Carry You There and then Zac did his solo song, The Walk – which had actually debuted on their tours in 2003 (we fans called it “Tightrope” originally) and it ended up being the title track from the next album they released.

During If Only they did a bit of “Let’s Get It On”, which of course I could not enjoy because Taylor made his “if you can stand you can jump” comment again, which just put me in a rotten mood because I can’t. (And I’m thinking I am going to send Zac a message about it because I go to these shows to not worry about anything and then I am getting upset that I’m disabled and that should not be how it goes!)

They also jumped off the drumset at the end and I got an awesome shot since we were right in the center of the seats in the back! Looks like I’m going to be busy making a new layout for my Hanson blog very soon. (Or not so very soon as my weekends are getting more and more booked as the days go by – and weeknights too!)

Setlist under the cut!

Concert Hanson Media Photos

Hanson in Boston MA

Katie October 13, 2011 0 Comments

Sunday night it was time for the second show of Hanson’s Musical Ride tour that I’d be attending. The winning album for this show was the band’s 2nd album – This Time Around. Siobhan Magnus from American Idol was also in attendance. I was hoping maybe the guys would pull her on stage for a song, but they didn’t.

We opted to take the T in to Boston rather than driving in and parking near the venue. This meant that we had to catch a train before the last train at 12:35 so “I’m a pumpkin!” was often mentioned throughout the evening.

When we arrived, we asked about ADA seating and were told just to let them know when we got through the line. Since that made me a bit nervous, my friend Maribeth called and got us on an “ADA List” and we were told we needed to be back at 6:45 for doors. We were some of the first people in to the venue and we quickly realized that the ADA section they had roped off had a really bad view – mainly because there were HUGE speakers hanging down that would completely block everything. We were told that we couldn’t move a chair outside the roped section and I was kind of panicking, but then we were moved up to the balcony. All by ourselves! By the time the show started we had 6 others up there with us, but it was really cool to be in an area and not need to worry about balancing (we had seats), people’s heads or hands being in the way of photos or anything like that!

Charlie Mars was once again the opener. I will give him credit for not playing his set in the same order as the previous night, but his stories were all pretty much the same as the night before.

Then finally Hanson took the stage. They did all the songs of This Time Around (which you’d think would be expected since they said theyd be playing each of the winning albums in their entirety, but they have been skipping a song or two here and there) as well as their singles and some other album songs. When it came time for the encore, I wasn’t sure what they would be doing since they had played all of the album in the regular set. However, I was pleasantly surprised when they came out and did a cover of Weezer’s “Troublemaker”! I love getting to hear new songs live from Hanson and with 5 of 5 last year I am pretty much at a standstill with album songs – but covers are always welcome!

Boston was marked as my 50th time hearing “MMMBop” live (they play it at every tour stop but they don’t do it at every radio performance which is why there is the 13 shows I have not heard it at) and Troublemaker became my 150th different Hanson song I had heard live. (I think I’ve heard over 1,000 songs from them total – but obviously that is many repeats!)

Boston’s limited poster featured a picture of all 3 guys, so I opted to buy another one. Then I left in in the restroom. As I realized it and went back to the stall, a girl was coming out with it and gave it to me. Thank goodness she was honest and didn’t try to pass it off as her own! (Although I would have known it was mine by the hairband I used as the rubberband) Nice to know that there are still nice people out there 🙂

Concert Hanson Photos

Hanson Toad’s Place

Katie October 11, 2011 0 Comments

On Saturday, Hanson brought their Musical Ride tour to New Haven, CT to Toad’s Place. Each date was posted up on the band’s official website, hanson.net, along with a poll. Each poll included 3 albums and the winner of the vote would be played in its entirety at the show. For New Haven, the band’s debut album, Middle of Nowhere won (by a narrow margin). This show ended up being my 250th concert (overall) and 62nd Hanson show.

Before the show, we went to get something to eat and as we walked by we heard Zac soundchecking “Lucy” which is his lead vocal song from Middle of Nowhere and I completely freaked out. Turned 12 years old again freakout, I don’t know what came over me!

Each night, the band also has 25 limited edition posters available. I had been looking through images of some of the past shows and the only one I didn’t particularly like was the one with a Buffalo on it from Phoenix. Wouldn’t you know that New Haven’s was a Buffalo? But I had to get it since this was my “hometown show”

Doors were relatively early, at 6pm, because after the show Toad’s would be having a dance party! Hanson would need to be off stage by about 9:45. We got inside and went straight to merch for the buffalo poster. Then we snagged a spot near the soundboard for the evening and waited some more.

Charlie Mars was on first, at 7pm. I really had a hard time getting in to him. He played everything acoustic and I think that was why. It really didn’t get my pumped and he even commented that Hanson shows might have been better if he brought his whole band to back him.

Hanson took the stage at 8pm and started with the tour namesake song, Musical Ride. 6 songs in they started with Middle of Nowhere and the songs were mixed in, they didn’t do the album in order or anything like that. (But in between songs I kept counting out what songs they did and what were still to come because 14 years later I still have that tracklisting memorized!)

During the acoustic set, Taylor forgot the second verse to Kiss me When You Come Home and Isaac and Zac were teasing him and asked us to sing it but then Taylor said “I just remembered it!” But we helped him out a bit. It always amazes me when a band forgets the words to their own song… but I guess they do have a lot of songs to remember!

They ended the night with an encore of With You In Your Dreams which was bit of a downer, but what are you gonna do.

After the show, I wanted to find a seat but as we walked by one of the doors, Zac walked out! A few minutes later Taylor and Isaac walked out with a gang of security.

We hung around hoping one of the guys would come out to sign, but one of the venue guys walked by and said the guys wouldn’t be coming out. This is when I announced “They said that before I got my first picture with Zac. He came out!” Turns out, history repeated itself and Zac was out by the buses. There was no barricade and I don’t do well in pushing crowds so I sent my friends up with my poster. They met him but weren’t able to get it signed. So we waited a bit and Maribeth and I ventured into the now crowd which had thinned out a bit. I was able to get my Buffalo signed and we each got a photo with Zac. By the time I got back to my car I couldn’t feel my feet, but it was worth it!

American Idol Concert Media Photos

Josh Gracin Wolf’s Den 9/25/11

Katie September 27, 2011 0 Comments

Sunday night Josh Gracin played the Wolf’s Den at Mohegan Sun. The Wolf’s Den is a 21+ venue and the shows are free, but seating is limited. The first time I went to see Josh I wasn’t able to get in, the second time I was in the outer area of the Den and Sunday night I made it to the floor! (Only because I went alone and they had 1 spot to fill at a table down there!)

The show was supposed to start at 7, but it got started a little bit late. Josh has released 2 albums as well as an EP, but his new release will be coming out November 1. He did a mixture of all the songs, though the majority were newer songs that will be on the new album and he mixed in a decent amount of covers as well.

One of the covers he did was of John Mayer’s “Edge of Desire”, he mentioned that he had been really into John’s stuff lately and that he liked to remake a song on each of his albums and he asked John if he could put Edge of Desire on his next one, and John agreed!

For the encore, Josh’s band introduced each other while Josh was nowhere to be found. Then they started Don’t Stop Believing and Josh came in through the back of the venue (where we all entered) and walked all around snapping photos, giving hugs, high fives, etc as he made his way through the crowd and back up to the stage.

Once his set was over, a decent amount of people were hanging around hoping he would sign. He had thrown out drumsticks which I guess meant he had intended to come out and sign them all after? The staff kept saying he would not be coming out and while in my experience I have seen the staff “lie” (or be greatly misinformed) in the past… but I decided to call it a night and try to get home relatively early instead, so I don’t know if he did end up coming out or not. I do still want to get a photo with him… but hopefully he’ll come back after the album is released and do a proper signing somewhere so I’ll have another chance!
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Concert Kicking Daisies

Kicking Daisies Ridgefield Playhouse 9/23/11

Katie September 25, 2011 0 Comments

Friday night, Kicking Daisies played a hometown show of sorts at the Ridgefield Playhouse in Ridgefield, CT. Shortly before the show started the band had posted on facebook that the show was officially SOLD OUT!

The first band opening up the night was a local band from Ridgefield, The Distractions. They were made up of 3 young guys – all dressed up in a t-shirt and a tie. After a couple of songs they called everyone up to the front and at one point tried to get people to come up on stage, but that was shot down pretty quickly by the staff. I thought that their music was decent, but I wasn’t sure the singers voices were able to hold up throughout their entire set. Maybe that will come in time.

The second band was Carly & Eliza, another local band. They did 7 songs and mentioned that their soccer team was in attendance and in the front row. While the director of the theater tried to get everyone to go back to their seats for the start of this set, everyone made their way back up to the front as soon as they could. Their voices went really well together and I really enjoyed their set. I tried to keep track of most of their songs – Fighting Fate, Wonderwall (Oasis Cover), Broken Glass, Never Felt So Free, Forever, Livestrong, Rollercoaster. I may have gotten some of the titles wrong, but I think they mentioned most of them.

Next up was Kicking Daisies. They are from my hometown and I first saw them opening up for Hanson in PA and was hooked. While they may be young they are also super talented beyond their years and most of all – FUN!

You can tell that they are having a great time up on stage – running around and always smiling during all the songs. The beginning of their set was basically just them jamming for a few minutes while the crowd screamed for them.

It had been a while since I have gone to a show with such a young audience – and it was amusing to see parents taking out their small children before the show was over because it was past their bed time and they just couldn’t stay awake any more. (For that reason I was thinking it was odd to have 2 openers, but the teens obviously were able to hang in there the whole night) It was also funny to see all the extra cars in the parking lot when the show ended – all the parents picking up the kids they had dropped off for the night! (And fortunately when they saw that I needed to get out of my parking spot they were ready and willing to move for me)

The band hung around after the show to meet with fans, but considering there were a few hundred people waiting I opted to leave and head home. I’m not a fan of driving in the rain and in the dark and I didn’t want to be doing that too late at night. (I guess I’m getting old)

Kicking Daisies shows are always so high energy… I am now planning when I will get to see them again. (They are playing with Action Item in New Jersey in November so I am thinking that may be the winner, especially since the show starts so early…)
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American Idol Concert Photos

Elliott Yamin Infinity Music Hall 9/17/11

Katie September 21, 2011 0 Comments

Saturday night I made the trek to Norfolk, CT to Infinity Music Hall to check out Elliott Yamin and Mikey Wax. The last time I had seen Elliott was in 2007 and I had kind of lost track of his career a bit, but I knew that even if I didn’t know the songs, they’d be sung really, really well and I’d enjoy myself either way.

Opening up the night was Mikey Wax (http://www.mikeywax.com) from New York. His new album comes out on Tuesday, but Saturday night was the first night that he had CDs available for purchase. He did 5 or 6 songs, approximately a 30 minute set. His last song was the most impressive, he stood at the front of the stage with no mic and had his guitar unplugged and just sang. (From looking at his site I think the last song he did was “Wait by the Door” I really need to start keeping track of opening act setlists too, I think!)

After Mikey’s set there was a short intermission before it was time for Elliott! He came on stage about 8:45 and played until a little before 10. He mentioned that he is working on a new album that will be coming out between November and 2012. But hopefully soon and then he would come back. He also kept saying how much he loved the Infinity Music Hall venue. It is really neat, although the lighting made it difficult for my picture taking. But I guess that just gave me another reason to actually learn how to use my camera and not try to figure things out on the fly 😉

As I had previously mentioned, I kind of lost track of Elliott after his self titled release, but fortunately he did only 2 songs (by my count, anyway) from his 2nd CD and 5 from the self titled (yay! I know those!) with the rest of the set made up of songs coming off the new album. (Which I believe he said was going to be called “Lets Get To Whats Real”)

The show was great and after the show I hung around to meet him. We chatted a bit about how every year on Idol during Hollywood week someone in my family always brings up how he missed practice w/ his group to sleep his season. He assured me he WASN’T sleeping and that the magic of TV made it seem that way because they wanted to make drama. I told him it didn’t matter what he was doing because he sang better than everyone! He mentioned how Sway was in his group and usually he is part of his band (which I did remember after he said that in 2007 he was there) but they had to scale down a bit for this tour. He also mentioned another contestant as well, but I didn’t remember her. Then he told me to have a safe trip home. He’s a really nice guy 🙂

My merchandise purchase was a lanyard that had the tour dates on it (which he signed for me) but it is also a USB Flash Drive with some songs and photos on it! Which I thought was really, really neat. There are some new songs on it and a live show from Osaka! I can’t wait to listen to it! That cost $15, but if you wanted a shirt as well, it was only an additional $5, so I bought a shirt with some mics on it and Elliott’s name. Definitely a great deal and I think a lot of people went for it.

I had no idea how I was going to keep up with a setlist for his set only knowing one album’s worth of songs (and even then, I don’t know that I remembered all the song titles) but fortunately I was able to get a setlist off the stage at the end of the show 🙂 Note that Moody’s Mood For Love he just kind of started singing when someone yelled it out for him during the encore and his band just kind of stood there while he just saaang. So that song wasn’t on the official setlist, but of course I am including it.

Concert Photos

Crazy life fueled by crazy dreams… Ingram Hill 9/8/11

Katie September 10, 2011 0 Comments

Ingram Hill FINALLY returned to Connecticut on Thursday night. The last time we saw them in CT was 2005, so it was definitely a LONG overdue visit! The show was at the Fairfield Theater, who sent out an email saying there was no opening act and that Ingram Hill would be going on at 7:30. We were pleasantly surprised once we arrived that not only was there going to be an opening act – there was actually going to be TWO. Tickets were general admission, but the seats were all still there so it was just like any other show I’ve seen there (although perhaps a bit cheaper!)

First up was Sarah Jane Wilson (http://www.facebook.com/sarahjanewilsonmusic) who did about 5 songs, one of which being a Taylor Swift cover. She just recently released an EP titled “Middle of Nowhere” (now where have I heard that name before…)

Next up was Kat McGivern (http://www.facebook.com/KatMcGivernMusic) who also did a handful of songs and a decent amount of the crowd seemed to be there for her! (There were only about 25 people there and I would say about 1/5 left once her set was over!) During her set I definitely thought she reminded me of the lead singer from the Cranberries, so it is really no surprise that now reading her bio that they are listed as an influence. You can definitely tell that in several of her songs. She is currently working on a dance pop album – tentatively titled “candy pop” (at least, I think that is what she said)

Then it was time for Ingram Hill! I haven’t exactly kept up with them over the past few years when they haven’t been touring around here so I definitely need to work on that now and figure out which albums I don’t have (I am thinking I am something like three behind… though one may just be an acoustic ep. I’ll figure it out eventually) Of the setlist, there were maybe 6 songs I had recognized from the albums I did have. Also, since I had seen them last 2 of the band members had changed! Although I had read about that so it was not a total surprise.

Justin was also quite chatty and was cracking us up. After a couple of songs he asked how we were doing and the response was a little bit blah. He told us that he would ask us again later, but would warn us that he was going to ask us so that we’d know what was going on and have time to respond. When he asked again much later how we were doing, there was a lot more yelling and clapping. Then he said how he realized that if the answer is “yes” or “good” it can easily be replaced with “woooooo!” but if the answer is “no”, then “no” is still acceptable. For instance – if someone asked “Do you like brussel sprouts?” you’d yell “NO!” and then if someone asked “Do you like Ice Cream?” you could say “WOOOOOOO!” and it would get the point across. He also mentioned how at a recent show a group of guys just said “yep” when he asked if everyone was doing all right.

Another point during the show he was talking about the merch that they had and that they also had free matches and how you could never have enough matches around, especially if you had kids. He also was talking about how the shirts were cotton and they would feel good against your body but they would also make you look good so if you liked to look good and feel good at the same time you should buy one… And when a fan in the front requested Almost Perfect, he said that they didn’t know that song and that she must have had them confused with someone else – but they did end up singing it. I’m not sure if he was trying to be stealth and make her think they weren’t going to end up singing it, or what! haha.

I wasn’t able to hang out after the show because I am old and had to get back home to get some sleep in so I wouldn’t be a total zombie at work, but other than that it was a great night and it was great to see the old crew who used to go to Ingram Hill shows all the time back together again 🙂

Concert Photos

Stevie Nicks Jiffy Lube Live 9/3

Katie September 8, 2011 2 Comments

Over Labor Day weekend I went down to the Washington, DC area to hang out with a friend and go see the Mets. Before I got down there, she emailed me to let me know that her fiance managed to score us 3 free tickets to see Stevie Nicks on Saturday night. Not one to turn down a free show, I figured it would be fun. When I looked up Jiffy Lube Live, it reminded me of the Comcast Theater we have in Hartford, just on a bigger scale. I thought that we probably had lawn seats since they were given free to the USO. I was pleasantly surprised when I was told that we did in fact have seats. And neither my friend or her fiance even knew that places with lawn existed. It had been quite a while since I had gone to a concert with such newbies!

Our seats were in the last section of the pavilion, but dead center so they were not too bad at all! The opening act was Michael Grimm who won America’s Got Talent. I had heard that he was great, but I really could not get in to his performance. He also seemed to be promoting a new album that he had just released, but did multiple covers during his set. His chatting while he was on stage wasn’t all that engaging either, though he did have a good voice. Maybe with some more practice he will be more interesting and grab peoples attention.

A cool thing that Jiffy Lube Live had was a text number that you could send a message to if someone nearby was ruining your concert experience. I thought that was pretty cool, although I suppose if you actually used it, it would be pretty obvious who “tattled”. I had a minor issue with the couple in front of me who were either recording or just taking a really long time to decide to snap a photo (and before Stevie came on they announced she had requested no video, etc) and the camera was blocking pretty much my entire view of Stevie. Fortunately, this was easily solved by us all moving over a seat – we had several on either side of us that was empty so it was not a big deal.

Stevie came on about 5 minutes to 9 and several times mentioned that there was a curfew so she was going to talk quickly so that they would not end up pulling the plug in the middle of her set. I had found a setlist from an earlier show and typed it in my phone to follow along with, and panicked a bit when she said that the show would be unlike any other on the tour, but for the most part it was the same just in a different order. But it is nice that she uses her “sequencer” to randomize the order of the songs and switch things out each night so there is a balance of new and old. (I think there was 1 addition and 2 omissions, probably due to the curfew but she did almost all the songs that we had expected to hear!)

Before she sang Soldiers Angel she talked about her time at Walter Reed hospital and encouraged us all to donate to the hospital or to the USO. It was nice that she mentioned that, since we got our tickets through the USO. She also read a URL that was “.org” and said that she was not a computer person and did not know what .org meant. A lot in our section yelled “organization” and I’m assuming some people up front did too so hopefully that was Stevie’s new thing to learn for the day! She also talked about how she was not the governor or the mayor so she had no control over the curfew – but that SHE COULD BE! haha. For Leather and Lace she talked a bit about how she couldn’t figure out how to do a duet as one person and she never knew who to sing the song with. Then she realized that her vocal coach was on tour and he had a wonderful voice so she had him join her for the song.

Another thing we found fascinating is that after Edge of Seventeen (the last song in the main set) she made a conscious effort to shake EVERYONE in the front row’s hand. She went from one extreme end to the other, not missing a person, collecting gifts as she went along. My friend turned to me and asked if that was typical of concerts, that the artist shake everyone’s hand like that, and I said not in my experience! I thought that was a really touching aspect of her set that she cared so much about her fans and audience to do that!

Stand Back
Secret Love
Dreams
Moonlight
Gold Dust Woman
Soldiers angel
Annabel Lee
For What Its Worth
Rhiannon
Landslide
Ghosts are Gone
Leather and Lace
Edge of Seventeen

Love Is

American Idol Concert Paul McDonald Photos

American Idols Live – Bridgeport, CT

Katie August 29, 2011 0 Comments

After our M&G were over, we were free to go to our seats for the show. As we started walked forward, I realized that Row D was actually front row in front of the small catwalk! And the seat that I had was DEAD CENTER on the catwalk! (I had gone back and forth being unsure if I had 1st row of 4th row – I was convinced it was first until the Nassau Coliseum show made me think otherwise)

The show was pretty much exactly the same as 2 nights before, the setlist did not change but of course the interaction that the Idols did with the crowd did a bit. During Stefano’s set he announced that he liked one side better than the other and he did not take his shirt off as early as he did in Long Island either. In fact, he didn’t until the lights were just about off so I wasn’t able to get any photos… but he was right in front of me when he did it!

James gave his bandana to a cute little boy up front… Lauren was very interactive waving and trying to shake hands with various people in the front. (There was a good few feet from the barricade to the stage, but if someone reached as far as they could and Lauren reached as far as she could they’d reach each other)

The 2 people next to me had told me how they asked to talk to Aaron Spears, the drummer on the tour and spoke with him for 10 minutes, but then it cut in to their time with the Idols. At intermission, the drum tech came up and said “These are from the drummer” and handed them some sticks! When the tech found out they both played drums, he went back and got them a couple more sets. I thought that was so cool of the drummer, and when he came back on stage after intermission they waved to him and he gave them a salute.

I’m really not sure what else to write about this show… so I’ll just leave you with some more photos under the cut 🙂 (Plus as I write this we are anticipating Hurricane Irene so it is probably best I move on to something else before we lose power!)

American Idol Concert Meet and Greet

American Idol VIP Ticket Experience

Katie August 28, 2011 0 Comments

Thursday night it was time for my American Idol VIP Experience. I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect because I had not been able to find too many reviews of how other peoples M&Gs went. All I knew was that first there were group photos and then you had time to get solo photos with the Idols. I basically only wanted a photo with Stefano and anything beyond that would be a bonus.

When I arrived at the venue it was raining and quite a crowd had already formed. Some had other M&G passes which would allow them the “sign and slide” where they get a photo signed and don’t have much time to talk to the idols. We were let in and put in groups of 10-15 for the group photo with 10 of the Idols (Thia was not there. Not sure why) and then we moved off to the side until everyone got their group photos.

For the group picture, we were near Lauren who warned us her hair might look bad in the back. I told her our hair probably wasn’t much better since we were out in the rain! Then she went on about how she woke up at 3:30 because she had overslept and had a M&G at 4 and still had to go to hair and makeup!

I met up with a facebook friend, Miriam, and we had our game plan down. She wanted photos with Pia, Lauren and Haley. I wanted photos with Stefano (and Haley). We decided we would get those done first and then whoever was still around if we still had time we’d hit up next. We went to Haley first, she had a crowd, so we waited our turn… for a little bit Stefano had no one with him while we were waiting for Haley 🙁 He wasn’t talking much because he was sick and I knew if I went to talk to him it probably wouldn’t have ended well haha. So we got our photos with Haley, then went to Stefano. Somehow my camera went on video mode so I was standing next to him for the longest time while Miriam was trying to figure out why the camera wasn’t working. Finally I fixed it and got my photo with him. We bounced all around trying to see who had the shorter lines. We went to Pia next and then waited for Lauren (I think she and James had the longest lines) I can’t exactly remember the order but after we hit up our “priority list” we got pics with Paul (and I talked w/ him a bit about Hanson since his fiance is a fan – he said he knew them and they were good guys) and we decided we’d try for Scotty – except we didn’t know where he was! Someone overheard me say I had no idea where Scotty was and directed us down the hall where Scotty’s mom took our photo with him! He’s so adorable in person. We hit up Jacob.. and looked for Naima but it seemed like she had left! (Earlier Pia, Jacob and Naima were all near each other) Stefano also looked like he was gone at this point… Casey had a short line so we went by him and were told he had to leave, but then someone yelled “TWO MINUTE WARNING”, so we were able to get a photo with him. After that we hopped in line for James since he was the only one left. We got to the front of his table but as soon as we got up to the front time was up and he had to leave! Argh! So close.

Overall, we did really well with getting photos! There was no way we could have gotten Thia, Naima left or we probably could have gotten her when we went back over to get Jacob… and James was just a bit too popular for us. Apparently some people did manage to get photos with everyone and I have to commend them for that because it was not easy!

We also got a photo that everyone had previously signed for us with instructions on how to get our group photo.

Personally I probably would have removed the group photo aspect of it and allowed us more time to just mingle with the idols – without the group photo (which was hard to get near whoever you like anyway since there were 11 idols and 10-15 fans) we would have absolutely had the time to get photos with everyone individually – and probably then some.

But I would have to say that the $250 for the VIP Package was certainly worth it.