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Hannah's Nashville Review
August 6, 1998

The Albertane Tour
(Behind the Scenes... V.I.P.)

Artist: Hanson
Place: Nashville, TN
Venue: Starwood Ampitheatre
Date: Aug, 6th, 1998
Time: 7:30pm

My next stop to see the beloved boys in action was in Nashville, TN, at the Starwood Amphitheatre on August 6, 1998. The doors were to open at 5 o'clock, so we arrived around 4:10 pm. We had to wait patiently for 50 minutes (which was hard to do when you hear Hanson's sound check in the background.) At 5 o'clock the gates open and ALL the bags were checked, unlike Atlanta. The guard asked mom if she had a camera in her purse and she said yes. Ignoring the guard's comment to take it to the car, we kept walking! Just inside the big gates that we were let through..there were littler ones that were still locked. We took are place right in front of the gate, having to wait again for about 30 minutes. The guard at that gate said, " This is Beatle mania all over again." I don't know how many times I've heard those words. When those gates were opened mobs of Hanson fans rushed in! When I looked back up at the lawn section being let in..all you could see was this big mass of fans running in. I held my yellow "I'm in the Moe" poster..high, hoping for Ashley Greyson to spot me and give me a backstage pass. I asked several security guards if they knew Ashley and they said no. So, we decided to see what our seats looked like, and I decided that I'd hold up my poster there. Our seats..Section 102; row J (6th row) seats 27-29. The seats were so awesome!! They were right in front of Taylor's keyboards!!! Around 6:15 dad asked me if I wanted to go to the bathroom before the concert started, so I said "sure." As we were getting up two girls in front of me said, "Look, there's Ashley!" So I grabbed my poster and took off for Ashley. He didn't look familiar because he had cut all his hair off. I was practically standing on top of him showing my MOE card. He was talking to some women, and I said, "Hey, Ash." He turned around and said, " Oh, do you need one too?" I said yeah, and thanked him. Oh my..I had then just received my ticket backstage to see my idols, and my crush. The backstage pass was a white and orange sticker that said Hanson the Albertane tour..VIP. I had to go back to our seats to tell mom. Never in my life, have I seen my hands shake so badly. All I could say was, " I'm going backstage!!" I couldn't believe it... I had already given up on my quest to go backstage until I saw Ashley. My dream was soon to come true!

I then went to the backstage gate, and waited for the people in Moe's turn to go back. I had no idea what to expect. Many things were going through my head..what was I going to say to them? I hope I don't make a fool of my self!...What will they think? Also while waiting, I took my softball picture out of my dad's wallet and wrote my email on the back. Mom told me to give it to Ike, because everybody gives things to Taylor and Zac. Moe members had to go backstage last..supposively we were the VIP's of Hanson's meet and greet. At 7:30, Admiral Twin took the stage and I was still standing in line to meet Hanson. About five minutes later Hanson's bodyguard came out and said that it was time for all the Moe people to go back. He said not to run but to walk fast, if we didn't we would get trampled!! They then checked my tag, and I was in!! Mom also snuck in... she said that she was my parent and they let her in! I first spotted Taylor. He was so tall! What amazed me was that he came up to me first and shook my hand!!! I said nothing to him... I was just in major disbelief. If only he knew how much I cared for him and what they all mean to me. I then went to Isaac and shook his hand. I handed him my picture and said that my email address was on the back. He said, " ok, cool, thanks!" and stuck it in his back pocket!!!! Mom said that he was smiling real big!! All the while Taylor was watching me give Ike the picture, and I was looking at him through the corner of my eye. As I was standing there waiting to talk to Zac. Taylor came and stood right in front of me and said," Man, you guys are all tall." I said, " Not as tall as you. You're taller than I expected." He just smiled! Then he suddenly put his arm around my shoulders and said, " Come here!" I don't think I'll ever forget hearing those words. The cutest guy in the whole world, my crush and inspiration... had come to me and put his arm around me. He guided me to the middle where all the Moe members were going to take a picture. Isaac ran in front of the camera and said, "Wait, let me see what this looks like." He was really funny and made us all laugh. Note Taylor still has his arm around me!! I just stared at my mom with wide eyes. (She didn't think that I would be able to stand by Tay, none the less, him have his arm around me!) After the picture... this guard tried to usher me out, and I was like, uh no, I still haven't talked to Zac. So, I went back. I shook his hand and said, "You rock man!" and told him that I was in the 6th row. He had a firm handshake and was very shy. Which I totally didn't expect. I then left…and the tears came rushing out! No holding them back….I had just had the moment of a lifetime! I had just met the 3 people that I truly care about. Words can't really describe how they make me feel or what I was feeling while backstage. Their genuine people, 3 of a kind.

Admiral Twin was still playing when I came from backstage, and we took our seats. At 8:30 Hanson took the stage. "Gimme Some Lovin, was the first song... followed by "Thinking of You", "Where's The Love", "Weird", and "Speechless". Taylor asked us all how we were doing and said that the crowd really rocked. My mom and I both noticed that Isaac had spotted me!! He looked over at me during the whole concert!! I just jumped up and down and waved! They then left the stage while it was being set up for their acoustic set. When they came out they played "With you in your Dreams", "Stories", "Soldier", (during this time I noticed Ike squinting his eyes, and he was looking straight at me again!!!)(he also took off his red leathery jacket and revealed his tight black shirt)(While they were backstage Taylor had taken off his shiny purple shirt and now had on that tight white shirt!!!!!) It was then time for Ike's solo , "More than Anything." It was so beautiful! I hollered, "Go Isaac!!" They left the stage for the stage crew to change the setting again... and when they came out they were loaded with super soakers! Zac got me wet! They then introduced the back-up musicians..Zac gave his drumsticks away... and Taylor took over the drums for awhile. "I Will Come to You" was sung next. Taylor then said enough with the slow stuff..it was over. He got us all to jump and clap (which I had been doing the whole concert.) During "Minute Without You" Taylor looked at me and shook his head.. and started clapping and jumping with me! During some part of the show I had smiled real big at him and he smiled back!! They then sang "Money (that's all I want)", followed by "Good Lovin" To introduce that song Taylor said, " All we need is some good lovin!!" (which really got me goin!!) Isaac had also came over and shared the mic with Tay!! I waved at them both. Also during the concert they talked about Moe and how they met some people backstage before the show. They asked us if we knew what Moe was, and I held up my "I'm in the Moe" poster. Ike then pointed at it and said, "look at that poster"..Zac also had a flashlight shining on it! They then said that the next song was going to be their last..and from it is where they came up with the tour name. "Man from Milwaukee" was played. They waved and said goodbye. I knew it wasn't the end..After about 2 minutes..one of them said, " Do you want us back?" " Here we come"! They then sprayed the crowed with water again, and Zac kicked out a beach ball. This time, I managed to get wet by Taylor! They sung "Look at You", and "Summertime Blues" (which was the last song.) Isaac took over the keyboards and Taylor had us all sing, " Well there ain't no cure for the summertime blues." They waved and said goodbye... exiting the stage.

I have to say that the security for this show was tight!! If the guard spotted a purse..they checked it. If they saw a camera... you were escorted out. So I wasn't able to take any pictures. L I had also seen Walker and Ashley on stage filming the boys. My seats were the best!! I had the best view of Taylor. Getting to go backstage was great! I was so thrilled... and Taylor was sooooo gorgeous!!!!! The stage and lighting looked spectacular! This was a day sure to remember. Maybe I'll get backstage next year.. I hope! I clapped, jumped, screamed, and had the time of my life! I left exhausted, and thinking it was all a dream... well, a dream come true, that is!!! Hanson had the crowd pumped the whole time, even my parents. Another sell-out crowd for Hanson... and another concert of a lifetime having been played (with a little something extra) added to my memories.

*While backstage Taylor had on a white button up shirt and tight blue jeans and those boots with the flames on them. On stage: Tight black jeans and a shiny purple shirt, and blue doc martins. *

*Ike, backstage, had on a green sweater and baggy blue jeans..air walk shoes maybe??
On stage... He had on a red leather jacket over top the tight black shirt..and silver pants on. He was wearing some type of black boot.*

Zac, backstage, had on a red jersey shirt with black stripes..

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