HANSON INVADES DETROIT
in a nonviolent manner


September 28th, 2000

If you want to steal these pictures, fine. Just make sure the name stays on them.

I arrived at the venue (State Theater in Detroit) an about hour before doors were scheduled to be opened (which was 7:30), thinking there wouldn't be much of a line because the seating was all assigned and getting there early would not have many benefits....I couldn't have been more wrong....there was a line around the building and down the block! Sheesh. Anyway, about a half hour before doors opened, the people standing at the side of the building were treated to Zac and Taylor coming to the window about 3 floors up and taking pictures and shooting video, which of course caused half the people in line to rush out into the street to get a better look so they weren't craning their necks straight up. Fortunately the street is not used by cars too often, so it was no big deal.

The doors opened and people began moving in. The merchandise was moving like crazy, and by the time I got up there they had only one type of shirt left in XL (white with album cover on front). I really needed a XXL (I'm 6'7, 300 pounds), but they don't make those, and I'm not a fan of white shirts but I bought it anyway because I needed a Hanson shirt. I went into the bathroom and put the shirt on under my SKRAPS (http://www.skraps.com - plug, plug) shirt and walked down to my seat (3rd row) just as M2M was getting off the stage. The seating was a mess and they really shouldn't have bothered and just made the main floor general admission. The first three rows were all just crammed against the stage anyway once Hanson took the stage. Standard stage outfits for all three, with Zac looking resplendent in retro-ZZ top shirt. I was standing right in front of Taylor and because I was a lot taller than everyone there some amusing interaction between myself and Taylor and later, Zac....but that comes later. As Taylor took his spot behind the keyboard I gave him the "heavy metal prong" (fist in the air with pinky and pointing finger extended)....he did it back, ha ha! Too cool. Anyway, I was expecting "You Never Know" to open just like they had been doing according to bootlegged Napster traded shows and the radio promo shows they had been playing prior to this tour, but they went into "Look at You" instead, which was a cool surprise. From there it was into the standard "Where's the Love" and "Runaway Run," which is still probably the coolest Hanson song ever recorded (I held up my "THAT SOLO RULES" sign during the solo...because it does, you know).

After that it was "River" which was one of the best songs of the night, the crowd was really into it, singing along loudly. From there it gets a little fuzzy from there, I know that "Thinking of You" and "Love Song" and a slew of others were in there....after "Wish That I Was There" they left the stage for a moment while the crew set up an acoustic setting for them, which I had no idea was coming...another cool surprise. They came back out and hit "A Song to Sing" (with the extra verse) and then went into "Lucy." It's funny how they can take songs I wasn't too fond of in the past and make them unbelievable. With all three of them singing on it and, of course, it being a lot lower, it seemed really cool. "Sure About It" was up next and that was good as usual. They threw in their cover of "Money (That's What I Want)," and I even noticed people that weren't fans (ie security guards in front) were getting into that....a definite highlight of the evening. There may have been another one or two in there but I can't seem to recall. Bear with me here. If you want to know the actual set list, take a look at this pic, direct from hansonline.com. It's accurate, although it says they played "Man From Milwaukee, and they didn't. Anyway, at this point Taylor and Zac took off, while Ike remained and did a completely solo version of "More Than Anything" which was real good....After another brief break the guys came out and did "You Never Know" which is always good. Gets real fuzzy for me here...hey, it was hot down there and it was probably not healthy to be pushed against that many people for that long, but hey, all in the name of Hanson. "Hand in Hand," "Can't Stop," and "A Minute Without You" were in there, as well as "I Don't Know." Honestly, they pulled this song off absolutely perfectly and it was probably the best song of the night. It's too bad not everyone has been able to hear it. After that, "If Only" brought the house down and got a huge reaction...everyone in the building was into that one. This song is always cool because Taylor can get out from behind the keyboard and move around the stage. An extra-long version of "Speechless" followed where they introed the backup members of the band during a Spinal Tap-esque jazz oydssey section. As we approached the end they did "This Time Around" and it was no less than the 2nd best song of the evening...that song is powerful stuff, especially live. It's a shame that song got the shaft on MTV...Then of course came "MMMBop" (funny comment from Taylor as the drums he uses on that song were brought out: "Gee, does anyone know what song is next?"), followed by "Sunshine of Your Love" which just kicked so much ass....out the dozens of bands that have played that song, their version has to be in the top five. Right at the end I held up my "NEXT TOUR - QUEEN COVER" sign which Taylor read and then nodded to...so hopefully next year we'll hear Hanson playing "Keep Yourself Alive" or "I Want it All" or some other cool Queen song....They left the stage after a fake "goodnight" and came back after a few moments with Taylor taking his place behind drums as Zac sang "I Want You To Want Me," which was excellent (Zac showed some guts after the song finished, coming over to shake hands with me and ignoring everyone else). Ike threw picks out but no luck. Oh well.

A heck of a show....I was expecting it to be really cool and it was even better than I expected....this band doesn't nearly get the respect they deserve (how many bands can play each other's instruments at the drop of a hat and still make it sound good?) It's funny how the old guard of popular Hanson songs like "Where's the Love" and "MMMBop" sound kind of weak compared to the new stuff....not that those songs are bad at all, but the new stuff is just that much better. Only gripes: No "In the City!" That song just RULES live and as cool as "I Want You To Want Me" is, I would have rather they went out on an original. The acoustic part was, again, a great surprise, although I wish they would have done more of it ("Soldier" off of their last home video is my favorite Pre-TTA song). Absolutely no major complaints, though....I would have gladly paid double the price for a worse seat. I realize I'm lucky....due to my size and the fact I was the only guy for about the first 10 rows I got to somewhat interact with Taylor and Zac in a way that most of the other people in front didn't get to. after the show let out a gaggle of fans waited out by the tour bus...I was standing on the opposite side of the street. Ike and Zac were already on the bus....Taylor came out and greeted fans on the same side of the street as him for a moment, and right before he got on the bus he looked across the street, saw me, and gave that "metal salute" we exchanged at the beginning! An excellent end to an evening. One of the best concerts I've ever been to.

One request, ok? Start making XXL Hanson shirts. Big scary looking guys listen to Hanson too.