Hanson Concert in Dallas, Texas 6-9-00
I met a girl named Heather in Tulsa on Hanson day this year. We became friends, and one day when we were talking on IM, she said Hanson was coming to do a radio station concert in Dallas, and she had an extra ticket! I of course said I'd go, so I made plans to fly down to Dallas. I arrived on the night of the 7th. The day of the concert we went to the Starplex where the concert was. We found our seats, which were in the center section, but behind another section of seats. We went to the backstage area entrance, and we saw a large group of people gathered there waiting. Then the door to the backstage area opened, and this dark haired guy came out, and let all the people in. We followed, and when we got to the door, the guy says, "This is all that's with me." We didn't get in. So we went around to the other side of the backstage area a little later on. We saw that same dark haired guy. We went up to him and asked if he knew how we could get backstage. He said, "No. I can't even get backstage. I gave my pass to one of my friends, and now they won't let me back." He was scratching on his shirt where there was a small stain. Then his cell phone wrang, and he said, "I'm outside by the backstage area entrance and I can't get back in...." I forget what else he said, but I remember his saying something like, "I'm talking to two girls (or he might have said fans)." So then he hangs up, and we talk to him more. Then suddenly an idea hits me, and I ask, "What's your name?" He says, "Ashley." Then I know exactly who this dark-haired guy is. I smile and say, "Ashley Greyson?" He smiles, and says, "Yeah." So I stick out my hand and say, "Nice to meet you." And he says the same and shakes my hand very firmly, then shakes Heather's hand. So then suddenly the backstage entrance door swings open, and guess who are standing there? Yup! Zac is fully visible, but Ike is kinda half hidden by some shrubs or some kind of plants. Taylor might have been behind Ike, but I couldn't see because of the plants. Ashley takes off and basically runs to Hanson. lol! So I wave at Zac and Ike and say, "Hi!" Zac is smiling at us, and he waves and I think he said "Hi". I don't remember if Ike waved or not. It happened very quickly. So then they are gone. :( It was only for a few seconds, but I got to see them in the flesh. They take Ashley back into the backstage area with them. So we figure out later on that Ahsley had been talking to Hanson on his cell phone! Heather and I are now happy that we got to see them.
We then go watch Hanson perform, because they were going on stage right then. We don't sit in our seats, but instead we run all over the aisles trying to get good, close pictures. I take over 3 rolls of pictures! They sang around 7 or 8 songs. They were awesome live! The last time I had seen them live was at a short promo show in a parking lot on Nov. 18th, 97. Tay did his usual wild stuff during In The City. If you've seen Hanson live recently, you know what I mean. =)
After the show, we run around to the backstage area to see if we can get in to see Hanson. The guy there says Hanson has left, but we know they haven't. So we run around to the back parking lot and see all these Hanson fans waiting for them to leave. Everyone there says Hanson hasn't left yet. I don't know what we were thinking, but we left the parking lot. Don't ask me why! We go to the bathroom, then buy water. It was raining and hot, and that combination made everyone sweaty and sticky. So then we go back around to the back parking lot, and no one is there! Hanson had already left, and we missed them. Oh, well! The policeman there told us that they drove out and rolled down the window and waved, and then left. So we really didn't miss that much. So then we hang out back for a long time just sitting there talking to the police people, and this one guy who had seen Hanson leave. He was waiting for Mandy Moore to come out. It's only me, Heather, the guy, and the policeman. So after a while this guy comes out, and we talk to him. He was the sound technician and manager for Hanson's show that night at the concert. He tells us a lot of info, and we get his e-mail address. He was really nice. He told us about how Diana was with him in the sound booth the whole time, and how if she wanted to, Diana could have done his job because she knows so much about it. He has worked with Hanson before. So after talking with him for a long time, we finally leave. We found out later that one of Heather's friends had found out what hotel Hanson had stayed in, and she had rented a room there. She met Hanson there in the hotel. I will have pictures up from the concert soon! I didn't get any pictures of Ike and Zac at the backstage area because it happened very fast and was totally unexpected. If we had had more time, we would have taken a picture with Ahsley if he would have let us.
That is my concert experience! To get back to These Moonlit Skies, click here.
