August 27, 2003. Hanson rocked Slims. Slims is a little venue in San Francisco. I was there. I was SO there.
I was going to go with my mom, she was really excited to go, but then some work stuff came up so I went with my dad instead, who was also excited to go. My dad LOVES Hanson now. :)
As I was leaving to go to class this morning, my mom said "Lauren!! You're going to need a sweatshirt in the city!", and I thought oh yeah, I will... I'll remember to get one before I leave. But I didn't remember. And I went to my classes today, then down to my dad's. From there, we headed into San Fransisco, listening to Hanson on the way!
The "This Time Around" album ended just as we were arriving at the parking garage we parked at.
Oh, and I took a couple pictires of the outside of Slims as we drove by.
"You've stolen my soul..."
As soon as we got out of the car, I realized what a mistake it was to wear a spaghetti strap tank top and capri pants. I was freezing within the first 5 seconds of stepping out of the car. And we had two hours to wait in line until we were let inside. I wasn't very talkative because I was freezing my ass off in foggy San Francisco, and just leaning on my dad attempting to not get hypothermia. There were two Hanson fans in front of us that seemed nice, and one of them was wearing an outfot with a little skirt and a tank top and strappy shoes. She was freezing too. Then there was a group the two people were talking to who weren't too annoying when there had just been two of them there, but once all 6 had arrived, I had a very hard time restraining myself from punching them in the face. It was just constant dirty pointless unfunny vulgar sex talk... and other annoying random shit that should have never been said on Earth. Luckily, it didn't last forever, and we were finally let inside!
People had told me how small Slims was, but I was still surprised when I got inside and it was really small... I got as close as I could to the stage right away upon entering. I was on Zac's side of the stage, and close to the merchandise. Hanson's sisters were selling it. I got really tempted by the posters, so I bought one from Avery while waiting for Hanson to get on stage. I didn't say much to her though, other than "Can I get..." and "thank you!". I wanted to be like "HI AVREY!!! I'M LAUREN!!!!!! I LOVE YOUR BROTHERS CAN IMARRY THEMALL HEHehEHEhe!!", but I knew that would be annoying and scary, so I didn't. I always hated when people I didn't know used to call me by my name when I worked at a movie theater, I could never figure out if I knew them or what was going on. I imagine it would be even worse if you're not wearing a nametag, and random scary weirdos are calling you by your name.
I was maybe... 14 people-rows back from the stage. Fairly close, I could see them all clearly... I think it helped that I was wearing three inch high shoes. I felt kind of bad for anyone behind me though.
I wrote down everything that was played during the cocnert, so this review is actually IN ORDER this time!
Opening song: "Strong Enough To Break". The harmony is gorgeous in it. One of my favorite songs as well. Though I STILL think it's kind of a weird opening song.
Isaac said "I don't usually make this announcement this early in the show," and made the fans in the middle scoot back.
"It's no fun being squashed" -Taylor.
Song Two: "River". Lots of happy screams. Several of them from me. Lovelovelove that song.
Three- "Where's The Love"! I didn't expect them to do it, it was fun. When the song was over, there was lots of screaming, Isaac was removing his jacket. "Did someone just say 'take it off??'" -Zac
More screams... I think Taylor said "We will when if you do" or some such similar statement, and there were plenty of screams, but I didn't see any articles of clothing removed.
Four. "Runaway Run". Another one of my favorite songs... oh no, not this problem again. I say everything is one of my favorite songs in my interviews. Because they all are... but Runaway Run is actually a little higher rated than the others to me. I feel like it's my song, even though it's Hanson's song...
Zac was looking over in the direction I was in and smiling kind of a lot for the first part of the show. I kept fantasizing that it was him looking over and me and thinking I was hot stuff. He then walked over to Isaac and whispered in his ear between songs, and I was like man, it would be great if he was whispering 'there's this really cute girl in the crowd!'.... But that's just silly and he was probably talking about something musical with Isaac and if not just generally smiling at the crowd, smiling at some other girl.
Five. "Rock n Roll Razorblade" rocked hard. Intense, passion, piano pounding by Taylor.
Six. Zac was left all alone on stage with the piano. Okay, okay, my recollection isn't completely perfect. This is the only song that I wasn't sure what it was. "Lula Belle"?? I've seen that name thrown around a couple of times online... I was hoping Zac would do the Angel one he did in Boston, I thouht that was one of the most amazing songs I'd ever heard and I've wanted to hear it again since and I've had no way to. The song Zac did was good... but, as soon as I saw him behind the piano, I wrote down that it was the angel one on my list of songs they played, then had to cross it out and replace it with a "?". :x
Seven. "When You're Gone". It's on Underneath Acoustic, and I love it. I liked the way Taylor was whispering some parts for dramatic effect. He was either whispering, or the microphone was having technical difficulties. I wasn't sure which one, but it sounded cool regardless.
Eight. ARGH, I lied, I forgot there was another song I didn't have a name for. Hanson said it wasn't on any albums, and called it some of "the new new stuff". I wrote down a part of it, and maybe later we will all know the title. "'Cause I need you now/Nothing ever goes the right way/Got to live life day by day/Hearts will bind you/They're to remind you where (blurry indestingishible handwriting on notecard)". Whoops.
Things got real mellow here. "With You In Your Dreams", and the audience sang the "whoooa oooh whoaa"s. Taylor told us to practice, and after we did our first one, he said it was the best one he'd heard on the tour so far! I wrote something else on my little notecard, but I can't read it. I had to use my hand as a writing pad to write on, and it was sweaty, because it was really hot and stuffy in there.
Song nine. "Underneath". Love.
Song ten. Isaac couldn't decide what to do at first. Isaac alone. There was a lot of yelling while he was sitting on stage thinking. He ended up doing "Hand In Hand", which is quite possibly the greatest thing ever. He has so much emotion and intensity when he sings and plays that song... it's unbelievable. Wowowowow!!
Taylor by himself, who said "I don't think I can follow that up...", since Isaac is amazing and needs to marry me. But Taylor did a good job of an Elvis cover. He covered the song "Love Me".
At some point in the show, but I don't remember exactly when, someone shouted "You're beautiful!" at Taylor.
He said "You are too.", aw
Everyone got back out on stage, and things picked up and were upbeat once again. "Penny and Me", which is too cute.
Song 13- "Wish That I Was There", which is also too cute.
Song 14 - "Hey", which is fun and a lot of the fans were singing along to, even though it was just released not very long ago... crazy. I didn't realize everyone had gotten ther Underneath Acoustic CDs in the mail yet...
Song 15 - "You Never Know", funky, and it was irresistable dancing to it, so I looked stupid while I was dancing, which was fun.
16. "MMMBop", traditional. Also irresistible to clao and dance to.
17. Hanson's Cover of Little Richard's "Rip it Up", which is GREAT. They rock so hard it's insane. And I love when they make everyone snap and clap. Taylor said we were so good, we were like a machine... he also said "You guys are a kickass crowd!!"
To which Isaac followed it up with "You can kick our asses anytime.", which I found cute and endearing. Kicking people's asses I don't usually find endearing though.
Then Hanson said it was the last song, to which I started yelling "NOOOO" over and over. They played "This Time Around." Then they were gone.
Then there was the traditional chanting of "HANSON! HANSON! HANSON!" by the crowd, so Hanson came back out and did their encore. "A Song To Sing", which is, uh again, one of my very favorites. Then they all got up and stood next to each other behind one microphone, and said they'd forgotten to do this song earlier, and did their cover of Crosby Sill and Nash's "Teach Your Children Well". I love that song so much now... the other day I was driving around, and it came on the radio, and I couldn't stop smiling. I also couldn't stop picturing Hanson performing it, but you know.
We left after, and now I'm home and sleepy.
Oh, and here's a crooked shot I took as we drove by the tour bus:
