'...all of our good times.'

Ok all. I'm going to finally discuss my trip to New York. I have had the opportunity to go to New York twice in the past 6 months. Seriously, it truly is a blessing and a dream come true to get to go there once. Let alone twice! This is just the first two days Sunday and Monday. I figured if my posts started getting too long than nobody really would read them.

I went to New York with some friends of mine so that I could see Hanson perform their 5 of 5 Series. Which basically was Hanson did their anthology. Each night they would perform a different album and play them in chronological order. The official trip began on April 24th. Kira flew into Oklahoma City from Sacramento. We met up with some friends and went to one of my favorite places in the city, big truck tacos. (Seriously, their tacos are divine). After eating we went to Norman Music Festival. We left pretty early since we had an early flight out the next day. So we headed back to my house, made sure we had everything we needed and tried to sleep. We made it through security and everything in one piece and got on the flight out to Dallas. Getting to La Guardia was a little trickier... After being pulled off one flight/stepping off we made it 'on a flight to NYC.' We arrived to a wet and dreary New York. I suppose that was to be expected since it rains so much there. Anyway, after putting on our rain jackets and boots we figured our best bet would be to take a shuttle from the airport to our hotel. Boy were we wrong! The shuttle had a driver and a ticket taker that spoke almost no English. It was during the 2nd stop that we were informed that that was the last stop. So we got off the bus, took our bags and tried to figure out where we were-- we had no idea. After walking several blocks we decided to get some pizza. Yes, the delicious authentic New York kind that is the size of your head. After that we walked about 40ish blocks or so and made it to our hotel. After checking into the hotel we were off again to Port Authority to pick up Colleen. She took the bus from Boston. After eating the worst mac and cheese, maybe of my entire life, we attempted to figure out the subway system. Once we mastered that (ok, once we asked a million people) we made it back to the hotel. We attempted to go to a piercing parlor, but it was closed before we got there. We headed back to the hotel and went to bed.

Monday morning we were up bright and early so that we could go to the Today Show. I mean after all, hanson was going to be on the show. Caylen showed up at this time. She had taken a red eye from Seattle. Little did we know that they were going to be on in the 11 o'clock hour with Hoda and Kathy Lee, so we spent all morning at the Today Show. (Ok, it WAS pretty cool even if it was cold and raining.) After the Today Show Kira and I went to the Museum of Modern Art. It was so freaking cool! Seriously, thanks everyone that recommend to go there. Tim Burton had an exhibit going on along with Marina Abramovic. The Tim Burton part had early drawings of Edward Scissor hands, Nightmare Before Christmas, random sketches, the masks from batman, claymation, and so much more that I know I'm forgetting, but it was so cool. After seeing Tim's display we ventured all around MoMA starting at the 6th floor and working our way down. We did skip sculptures and paintings simply because we didn't have enough time. We did see Marina's exhibit which was 'The Artist is Present.' Her display was a little bit nutty to say the least, but it was modern art. She had these crazy videos going on... one of them was a lady screaming until she lost her voice, another was a naked lady dancing with a mask on her face until she passed out. Then there were the real naked women on display.... there was one sitting on this bicycle type seat on a wall, another was laying on a table with a skeleton on her, and then there were 2 standing in between a door way. Of course I had to walk between them. After MoMA we went back to the hotel and got ready for Middle of Nowhere night. We got our tickets first and then We ate at this DELICIOUS place called Pax. They had THE BEST yogurt parfait I've ever had in my entire life. Seriously, if I had to marry food, it would be a vanilla parfait from Pax. After we stuffed our faces we went down to the Gramercy and got in line. Once doors were opened we decided to sit right behind the soundboard/sound guys. Best seats in the house. For real. We could 1) See the set lists 2) See the stage 3) Hear perfect without tons of screaming 4) Knew when the boys were going to come on because the sound guys had walkie talkies and they'd be like 'have a great show' like a second before the boys stepped on stage. The show was incredible. Seriously. I wasn't sure how well they would do 'Weird, 'Lucy' and 'With You in Your Dreams' since they're more acoustic, but once again, they blew my mind. Especially 'With You in Your Dreams.' This is important to hear because people that weren't there feel rather blah about it. They broke the crowd up into helping being a chorus and gave different sections to the song and it was incredible. Seriously. I can't even describe how cool it was to be in the crowd as part of it. The video versions do not give it enough credit at all. It was one of my favorite hanson sing alongs ever, and I've been singing along for a long time. After the show we went back to the hotel and chilled/went to bed. And prepared for yet another long day in NYC.

part6

This is the last post in the 'What Lauren did During the Fall' saga. I apologize in advance because this is going to be the longest tour story post.

At the beginning of November I found myself out West in California. What started off in a group of 2 grew to a group of 5 plus some friends along the way.

I flew out to Sacramento and Kira picked me up from the airport. We stayed in Sacramento that night, and around 7 the next morning we, plus her mom, Terri,  (Who is a hanson fan btw, awesome; right?) drove to San Francisco for the show. We got there and we were some of the first people there. (One other person was there before us and she was with our group anyway). All hanson fans know that the first few people there start the number system. So we were 1-6. We even had a list of people's names so that everything would go smoothly and there wouldn't be any drama. We went to the campus where the walk was being held and Terri, held down the fort in front of the venue. I don't remember much about the walk, but I do remember it was a pretty decent sized one. We went back to the venue and somehow Kira and ended up managing the line and making sure everyone was in numerical order and security let us do our thing without trying to step in. Doors opened and I ended up front row on Taylor's side. The show was awesome. I felt like I was bffs with all the openers. (Well, I was pointed out a few times during hellogoodbye's set) Hanson's set was pretty awesome too they did a cover of 'twist and shout' and 'love me' by Elvis Presley. After the show I got lost from the people I was with, but I did make friends with the bass player in Steel Train. He thanked me for knowing the words to their songs. Ha. It made me feel special. After getting our bags and waiting in a restaurant for everyone in the group to come back from the bus we headed to Gen's. Basically as soon as we got there we crashed.

  Kira and I were obsessed with bananagram. Or whatever it was called.

He was crazy for dancing during 'twist and shout'




So the next morning Gen picked up the rental car and we just played this game. Then we finally left for LA! I was very excited. We finally got there after a very smooshed ride and checked into the hotel. Somehow we managed to have like 10 people in a room meant for 4. Oops. We managed to get to the front of the line yet again. We went to UCLA for the walk, and let me just say that was seriously the weirdest/craziest walk of all time. Officially. Ever. To get the walk approved we had to have 'groups' and we had to all wear name tags. But they didn't mean anything. Oh, and this was the first part of the 'aLive' session thing hanson did for their fan club members. Basically it just meant cameras would be following us all on the walk. After the walk and managing to get back to the venue lines were insane. Security stepped in and told us that we would be getting wrist bands as soon as we walked in and only like 100 people would be let into the pit first. I don't really know. It was a stressful hour before the doors opened. Once doors opened people took off in a mad frenzy to get to the wrist band line. I never run when doors open, and am often tempted to trip those who do. Anyway so the stage here was really big, and I started out by all my friends, but then realized there was more room on the other side, so I went over there and ended right up front. Awesome. The show was great, and there was an even better encore!!!!!


That's all the bands on tour plus in the red pants Carrick from Everybody Else, the maroon shirt is Weird Al Yankovic, and even though you can't see him all that well the guy behind Weird Al is Robert Schwartzman from Rooney. (or Michael from the Princess Diaries)

 Yeah, that's nothing but butter.

Tweet your feet.

At UCLA

Security bracing themselves for hanson fans.

 

Forrest was the birthday boy!



















So after LA we headed straight to San Diego. Some of the girls in our group camped and held numbers for us. The next day we held spots until it was walk time. We went to the walk and lost Kira on the way so Vanessa and I went and searched for her, and ran into (almost literally) hanson. I like to think they didn't start the walk without us because I told Taylor not to. We found Kira and went back to where the walk location was. We head back to the venue and I was left in line with a random girl further down. This is when all hell broke loose. Security came outside and asked us to form another line on the other side of the side walk. So me and that random girl did. The people that were in line with me, behind me and in front of me started to trickle in. Security didn't think it was fair that we held spots for them and tried to send them to the back of the line. One security man was refusing to allow people to go to the restroom or to put things in their cars. (We were clever and figured out ways to out maneuver them.) So it was FINALLY doors. This show was a pretty good/sad one because it was the last show for all 4 bands--it was hellogoodbye and steel train's last show. As far as last shows of tour go most bands pull pranks on each other during the last song of a band's set. Well that is definitely not the case during a hanson show. They pulled pranks during each band's whole set. From a pinata during sherwood's set to taping up the lead singer/guitarist of steel train to silly stringing hellogoodbye. It was highly entertaining. The other bands didn't really retaliate against hanson, which was kind of odd. Since it was our 3rd show in a row I sat on the curb while some of the other girls in my group went to the buses. In the mean time, Evan came over and talked to me quiet a bit, I talked to Will, the bassist for hanson and Vanessa got Muff, hanson's guitar tech, to smile and lighten up a bit about fans.

In between San Diego and Anaheim we had 2 days off. The first day we literally slept the day away and then went and saw 'This is it'. The next day we went to the San Diego zoo and rode on the double decker bus. Then we headed to Anaheim for the for real last show of the tour. We got there and there was line drama, and I'm not going to get into it because everything worked out in the end. We decided to get our faces painted. It was pretty freaking awesome. There isn't really much to say, sherwood came out without shirts on and had the hanson symbol drawn on their stomachs during mmmbop.

After Anaheim, Hanson did an event for members only. It was held at SIR Recording studios on Sunset Blvd in Hollywood. Since it was a members only event it was going to me a more intimate setting so we didn't wait in line. In fact, we got to see LA (kind of) and ate at Pink's hotdogs. (Mine was vegan) We went to the event and it was great. They did the 'aLive' thing again, which again I hated. They answered questions and then after the cameras were off they played those of us there a few more songs. Including part of 'Breaktown' (which is epic in Hanson fan world.) It was such a fun time. I felt like me, Kira and Vanessa were the only ones having a good time. We were joking around a lot with Zac and Leigh (part of hanson's staff) and laughing a lot. Almost everyone else was so so quiet. We had the best meet and greet picture of all time and I gave Taylor a list of demands (which they have actually listened to) and Vanessa talked to Zac about the legos she had to give to him. Long story short it was discussed that I would bring the legos back with me and I would take them to Hanson's office. Zac signed off on it, so that doesn't make it creepy. (I brought them and took my dad with me.) Afterwards a group of us went to Swingers Diner then we headed back to San Diego. With no sleep we each boarded our planes for home. Until next time.

 GENTLEMEN! TAYLOR TAYLOR! ZAC ZAC! HANSON! HANSON! GUYS! BOYS! MEN! LOOK AT ME!

 Amazing meet and greet. Taylor Sandwich.

All of us. (I have no idea who long red head girl is.)

part5

Since Halloween shows are a rarity with Hanson we decided to take the trek to Houston. It was 9 hours from my house. (9 very long  hours I might add.) Michelle drove down and we headed out. We arrived in Houston sometime around 9 and we went and found the line. This was around the same time that security (of the pavilion not the house of blues) told us we were not allowed to sit down. Yeah. You heard right. We were not allowed to sit down and we were told if we were caught sitting down we would be kicked out of line. Michelle and I were exhausted so we had people hold our spots in line and we went to the car and napped. We slept a few hours and when we came back we got wrist bands showing that we were some of the first people there. We did the walk with the boys, and just kind of hung out the rest of the day. Since it was a halloween show I decided to dress up. I was a cowgirl with boots and all. I was going to wear jeans, but it was so hot that I just wore shorts instead. We got inside and we were 2nd row. It was such a fun show. Sherwood dressed up like Robin Hood, King John, Merry Men, The Sheriff, Maid Marian (a girl, not a boy) and the Sherwood forest. Steel Train dressed up like Jersey Trash... basically they just had trash on them, hellogoodbye dressed up as the misfits and had an epic ending with hellogoodbye balloons. Hanson dressed up as the three amigos and they were in character all night. The show ended with Hanson's cover of 'Thriller' which included everyone on the tour doing the dance led by Taylor.After the show we went to the buses and talked to our favorites...Sherwood and hellogoodbye. We left and took the journey back to Tulsa.