 "We
are somewhere in another dimension . . . you will see how it
is to be backstage . . . "
--Zac Hanson, Road to Albertane
Note: I normally
find reading other people's accounts of meeting Hanson to be
slightly painful, so this is an attempt to be as real and truthful
about it as possible.
I've always loved
this brief clip on "Road to Albertane" as Zac invites
us into a world composed of huge trash dumpsters and cinder
block walls--all the time fully aware that the word "backstage"
has, for most people, a meaning synonymous with "once in
a lifetime." His words were the ones that rang in my ears
as I was lead down the dark, narrow steps to the basement of
the Murat Theatre on Saturday--October 7, 2000. The actual
traipse down was vaguely familiar--like descending the steps
into an old church basement somewhere in the Midwest.
But then we were met by someone wearing an "All Access"
pass, standing at the bottom of the stairs, who gave out quick,
warm smiles as she pointed us to our left.
Then began the
sensation of entering a long hallway, straight out of the Narnia
series. You wondered what and who were behind the doors
and where and how your wandering would end. If you've
ever had the sensation of being fully conscious that your waking
hours have merged almost completely with your dreams . . . that
is what it is like to be backstage, in the moments before you
actually meet Hanson.
The juxtaposition
of the unreal and real continued in the waiting room.
We convened in an old dimly lit, low-ceilinged dressing room,
lined with mirrors and theatrical bulbs. When I turned,
I noticed recently washed cooking utensils drying on the counter
behind me and the church basement feeling returned. How odd,
and yet somehow comforting!! That was the LAST sensation I would
have predicted to have as I awaited a meet and greet handshake.
In groups of roughly
ten, we were lead into a room where suddenly there was a brighter
source of light. Waiting, were three musicians who appear on
the covers of CDs in my car and in magazines filed neatly away
in my room and also on the bright green sticker affixed discreetly
to my jeans. I've always held back slightly from mocking
fans who gasp, moan, cry or faint upon meeting the band in fear
that if ever given the same opportunity to meet Hanson, I would
have to eat my words. I'm relieved to report that although,
believe me, I've been overcome by emotion in the past at funerals
and weddings of close friends and family, my disposition was
almost an effortless composure.
In fact, the atmosphere
was not unlike the receiving line at a wedding. My initial
surprise was that Isaac was the most relaxed of the three. He
looked genuinely happy we had come. His handshake was
friendly and cheerful. Shaking Taylor's hand was like meeting
a flesh and blood wax figure. I know that sounds contradictory,
but his presence itself seemed like an "Elvis sighting"
while ironically, his handshake transformed him into "a
real boy" for just that instance. Zac's face held curiosity
and restrained amusement, as if he wondered, "Why, in God's
green earth, was meeting him and his family a bigger deal than
say, simply listening to the music." AND, intentional or
no, his grip was exactly what you thought it would be --ROCK
solid! His rough, drummer hands engulfed mine in a moment that
I will remember fondly on my deathbed.
A team of about
4-5 people had kindly taken our cameras as we entered and got
ready to snap shots with every single one. I was not prepared
to have Isaac Hanson direct my shoulder into place as we faced
the poised cameras. I wasn't prepared to hear Taylor remind
someone holding, what I think was my camera, "Someone's
lens cap is still on." How thoughtful for him to notice
and then to care. He is the detail man, we all know and love
him to be. And then, a voice from behind (Zac?) encouraged us
to "Keep those cheesy smiles."
There were a couple
more handshakes and then a moment that defined the evening for
me, and it didn't even involve a member of the band, technically.
Like the big dork that I am, I brought each band member a book.
They were books that I definitely count among my Top
Ten and ones that I've found to be companions on long road trips.
As I went to retrieve my camera, Mr. Hanson, caught my eye as
he thanked me for the books. My jaw dropped before I managed
to compose myself and thank him for inviting us to meet the
band. Incredible! Could he be any nicer? I think definitely
not!
The whole experience
was SURreal and yet the word that comes up again and again for
me was how "pleasant" it was. The band truly
embodies the warmth that is so evident in their music. Thank
you to all who made this meeting a reality.
The weirdest thing
about looking back, was that I couldn't remember one thing that
anyone was wearing or even exact details of what any other person
in the room was doing. When my photo was developed, I
was pleasantly surprised to see that Zac had on the same Led
Zepplin t-shirt backstage that he wore during the concert. The
best photo revelations? Zac's carabiner attached to his beltloop,
ostensibly so he wouldn't lose his cap. Taylor's Rolling Stones
t-shirt . . . which should have predicated their cover. And,
Isaac's jeans and shoes were as normal as mine.
More details of
the backstage experience began to get pieced together in conversations
with my sister, Janell and my friends, Kim and Laura. If you
ever get a chance to go backstage, bringing along friends and
family helps to ground you. I was most touched that Laura
of Bright
and Beautiful, flew out from Boston for literally only 24
hours to go to this concert with us. Laura, you rock!!
Like the Biblical
Mary, but with no disrespect intended, I feel like I will treasure
these things in my heart . .. and think back on them over and
over again.
So Zac, that is
how it is, to be backstage. (c;
Group
picture
~ * ~
Reflections
on this experience: Save Me or not?
| home
| tour | Murat Theatre
|
|