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Angie's Qtopia Review
June 1, 2000

I left my house at 5:30, to go to the Fox Theater for Qtopia. The show started at 7, but it took me 30 mins to get there. The doors opened at 6. I went with my parents, 2 sisters, and niece(I thought her first concert experience should be HANSON). I was wearing short navy shorts by "Tilt" that I got from Pacific Sunwear, Skecher sandals, and a white Hanson shirt....I had the shirt made. It had the cover of the Aussie TTA CD on it. I had my hair in a pony tail, and my Hanson Symbol necklace on. I brought a sign that said "Hanson Rocks My Socks Off" and "If Only I had backstage passes...please Q95.5?!?!"

We got there around 6ish, and parked in section 2. We then walked across the street to the Fox. We went in, and everyone hadn't been let inside yet. They were all standing around. The Fox is very old, majestic, and is engraved. There are also many levels. BBMak was walking around the upper levels, and everyone was screaming for them! I got complents on my shirt from about 4 people there. It appeared that most people were there for Hanson. I also saw Deanna, her sis, and dad. Then, we got let inside.

On my way down to find our seats, I saw my friends in the MOE aprons who we had met at the radio station earlier. I also saw the Uncle Sam girl from the radio station too.We found our seats in the orchestra pit. The center was an isle, and we were the first four closest to that center isle. To show that we were in the pit, they made us wear orange wrist bands.

I saw Nikki in the pit too, and ran over to her and Christine. She was on the left side(Ike's side). I also saw Deanna there, and she showed us her seats. I then talked to a man who worked for 95-5 and he told us the line-up....the show would go BBMak-Mandy Moore-Vertical Horizon-Jessica Simpson-Hanson-Macy Grey. He said Hanson and Macy Grey had one hour a piece on stage, and the other bands were gonna sing for a shorter period of time.

So, I went back to my seats and talked to a man in a suit who worked there.....the seats infront of us were not being used yet; so I asked if it would be ok if I sat in them until they came. He told me sure, he had no problem with it. So, I got excited when they didn't show up when the show time got closer.

Then, spotlights were being shown down upon the crowd, lighting up peoples signs. The light was on my sign a few times. I then heard a "Angie!" and it was my friend Melanie. So, I went over to her and her mom. She had on an awesome Moe shirt! She had good seats too.....I was so happy that most of my friends were close! NEWAYS....she said that she say the light on me a few times.

Then, someone told me to go back to my seat coz the show was gonna start. So, I did. When I got down to my seat, I moved up to the front coz show time was only a minute away.....but a new MEAN, fat, and gross security gaurd was there and told me no. He said whoever those seats belonged to; wanted them not to be sit on. "They are paying costomers like everyone else. I don't care if they have better seats than you. They're not yours." What a mean guy! So, in the 2nd row sat me, Jenny, my mom, and my dad. Sheri and Clarissa sat at our other seats in row MM. A girl who I knew from 95-5 was sitting behind us. She was with 2 other girls, and we chatted until the concert started.

Then, BBMak came on stage. As soon as they sat down(it went Christian, Steven, and then the other guy...I don't remember his name) I thought Steven was sooo hot. Chritian had on a tight green shirt, and the other guy had on a black shirt. He had on a black shirt, and played acoustic guitar. He smiled at me, and I smiled back. Then they began there songs. I only knew "Back Here" but loved all the others. Steven and I kept looking at each other, and smiling. "Back Here" was the last song....and then Christian and the other dude went backstage....but Steven wasn't as fast. He came up to me, and reached for my hand. So, I went up to touch it, and he took it and slipped inside the guitar pick he used. Golly is he a hottie. He then left.

Then came Mandy Moore....she was bad. She sang four songs. He dancer ripped the front of his pants wide open and didn't even realize it. They kept sweating and would move fast...and sweat would squirt into us! YUCK! She had pre-recorded back up vocals and music. She had on a Mandy shirt...well what a surprise! LOL....I think we all knew she thought highly of herself.

Then came Vertical Horizon. They really rocked the place. They were the hardest group music wise there. But gosh was that guy with the bald head UGLY! The guy to his right wasn't bad though. His pants were glittery and Ralynn(my bud behind us) and I both started talking about the pants and how kewl Tay would look with glittery pants...coz ya know, he loves glitter! Then, she started waving towards to side of the stage and tapped me on my shoulder to show me......Hanson was peaking outside to watch Vertical Horizon! So I waved, and Zac waved back to me. Then after about 3 minutes others caught on and that was the last we saw of Hanson until the show. When Vertical Horizon ended, the bald headed guy gave me his guitar pick(another to ad to the collection....lol).

Then came Jessica Simpson. She had a sore throat, so only sang 3 songs. Her sis is one of her dancers and looks a lot like Christina Agrulera. She's 15; but looks older. When she left, I got her water Bottle(Naya). I didn't get the cap though, but I put the water under my seat. I didn't take it with me.

Then Hanson came! The two seats infront fo us were now taken my some people who were in the balcony, but were upgraded by the dj's. The 2 seats next to them became occupied during the middle of Vertical Horizon's preformance. The two women who took the 3rd and 4th seats in wern't huge Hanson fans and the one in the 3rd seat switched me seats. I was just to the right of an amp, and left of Taylor's keyboards. The sang(in order)
You Never Know
Where's the Love
Runaway Run
This TIme Around
Thinking of You
If Only
MMMBop
In the City

Ike had on green glittery pants and brown shoes, Zac had on blue jeans and a tight white shrit with writning on it, and Tay had on crushed velvet rust colored pants and that red shirt that buttons down that he keeps at his elbow. He wore it to a recent concert....I don't remember which one though. When they got to sing the first song, I could tell Tay's eyes were searching the 2nd row for me. I don't think he realized that I was me at first, coz I now had my hair up, and a different outfit on. I think that in about the 2nd song he realized that I was the girl from the station he had to look for. He kept his promise=) He waved to me and smiled like he did when I met him. He also started paying attention to me, and a bunch of the people in the front row......reaching out whenever he could. Getting close to the edge of the stage.....and runing around places. I had the best seat in my section of the pit because I was just to the right of Tay and just to the left of Zac. Ike came over a few times too. But it was mostly Taylor. I shook Taylors hand 3 times, and touched it another time there.

They also had us all sing "Happy Birthday to dad....". Mr. Hanson that is. June 1st was his birthday. We all sang "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear dad. happy birthday to you". Tay was like "Just call him dad". LOL

But slowly about the time of "If Only" I could feel lots of heat on my back and looked behind me and girls were in the whole isle way trying to get closer. When Tay started playing that song on the harmonica.....was it not the kewlest when he started in the middle of the stage and ran around? I loved it!

After that, MMMBop came. Then, In the City. OMG! During the beginning of In The City, a girl from outside the orch pit came in(she didn't have a orange bracelet). She stood inbetween my chair, and me. I told her to go away but she didn't. So, Tay came over to me and shook my sisters hand. But I thought at first he was coming for me at first, so I put my hand up to shake his, and I ended up shaking the space between his elbow and wrist instead! I don't think he had ever had a shake like that before! I was embaressed, so I let go ASAP. My sis got a nice hand shake though! LOL.......I don't think I even have ever shaken anybodys arm but Taylors. Today in 1st hour I was thinking about it.

Then, Tay started his part "....I'm gonna ask you once again..." and then started jumping up and down and told us to. I jumped up and down...then jumped up but didn't come down! The girl had squished my ribs against the side of the amp, and over the stage and wouldn't move to let me go! So i wiggled my way down(Tay is still infront of me). I turned around and the girl slapped me with her hand in my face. Then my sis punched her in her stomach and she fell down crying into my chair. Then, ran to the back of the orcestra pit....she was such a teenie bopper and was like freaking out. They're just normal people.....I don't understand.

At this point, Tay was still jumping infront of me. I then felt a pound on my head and went to feel it quick coz it was like "OWWW". I grabbed this glowstick outta that teenie boppers hand. She had hit me with it! I still have it too. The top loop is broken in half....probably because it hit me so hard! She asked for it back and i was like "NOOOOOOOOOooooo". Tay started that "Oh yeah's" and "OOoooo's".

Then, the show came to a rockin' close. Zac and I slapped hands, and I shook Tay's again. Ike came over quickly. Tay didn't give his water bottles away(he had 2). I don't think Zac gave away his drumsticks either though.....I didn't see one way or another. Ike did give away guitar pick(Nikki....Christine....you're so lucky!). I then got Tay's list of song to sing that he would look off to know what was going on next. But, another girl from the radio station he I thought was my friend grabbed it outta my hand. She ripped it coz I had my grip on it so tight. I had the most part of it though, so I was happy. I then loosened my grip a little and she came back and grabbed it! The corners got ripped off and I have them....but she got the big chunck. I said "That's awfully rude, that's mine" and she said "Well, you don't deserve it. Those arn't even your seats". AHHH! She was the one to get me Tay's jellybeans.

Then, people came to clean up Hanson's stuff. A man got me Zac's song list...he took it off his drums. But he gave the person next to me Tay's water bottle! I am happy with what I got but I think both would have been nice=)

Then Macy Grey was up next. I went up to my sister's seats.....and heard and "ANGIE!" and it was another one of my Hanson buddies. When Macy Grey came, I was second row again, with Clarissa, Sheri, and Jenny. She invited everyone on stage, and people were standing on their chairs. It was weird and scary for Clarissa so we left.

I got home at midnight, took a shower, and went to sleep at 12:45. That was the best day of my life. Hanson twice! Qtopia was my favorite concert ever and I will never forget how I met them. Now I have seen Hanson 5 times. I can't wait til they come back!

I heard on the radio this moring, that Hanson said that Qtopia was their best concert ever, anywhere. The dj said that Hanson said that the Fox was so extremely kewl and the wanted to look at all of it for hours(itz engraved, paintings on the ceiling, etc). They said the fans were really into it, they played their best ever, and the Fox is their new favorite Theatre.

The dj also was giving away sweaty Hanson towels and autographs this morning. I also now have the radio interview on tape, coz they re-aired it this morning.

The dj said that he overheard their dad talking to them. Mr. Hanson mentioned that the venue was kewl, and the fans still loved them more than ever. The dj said Mr. Hanson told Hanson that "These are the times that make me so proud of you boys" as the dj waited. They made me proud to be a fan...well, I always was=)

I took 2 rolls of film at the concert

~Angie NorthernStarlet@aol.com

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