Hanson -live in Green Bay, WI
by: Jennifer Mielke

What do you get when you mix the words "Hanson", "free concert", and "meet 'n' greet"? Chaos. And that's exactly what June 19th, 2000 was -completely chaotic!

The newspapers predicted 500 fans... the result? 10,000-15,000 dedicated Hanson lovers from all corners of Wisconsin, as well as surrounding states. "This is definitely a warm welcome," Taylor said, while onstage during their 20-minute promotional concert. A warm welcome indeed. Though the concert wasn't scheduled to start until noon, fans started showing up by 9 o'clock the night before, (I was one of those crazy fans!) sleeping in their cars, parking at 24 hour gas stations, and circling the park area -since police patroling the area were evicting any person found in the park before 6am.

Officers were not allowing fans to start a line of any kind, due to curfew and loitering laws. A line did form, however, at 5am Monday morning -a full 7 hours before the concert. Finally, fearing an uncontrolable mob, police informed those in line that they may "walk calmly into the park" threatening that any individual who ran would be immediately evicted. Despite the warning, thousands of fans dashed across the lawn, sprinting through the park toward the meet 'n' greet site, each fan hoping to be one of the blessed 101 who would be able to meet the band. Needless to say, no one was evicted. How can you tell about 3,000 screaming fans that they need to go back and walk? Not possible.

The devoted fansons then proceeded to stand in line for another seven hours. "This is the craziest thing I've ever done," admits Rachel Holbrook, a fan from Rosholt, WI, "but I'd do it again." Though the heat took it's toll on several girls, most were able to stick it out for this oh-so-worthy cause. At 7:30am, Hanson arrived at the WIXX studio (the station sponsoring the event) for a quick interview and live rendition of "If Only". By noon, Ike, Tay, and Zac were at Bay Beach park, greeted by thousands of fans eagerly awaiting the guys. As promised, those who were the first 101 in line received autographed t-shirts and handshakes. And, to the delight of many, Hanson agreed to sign autographs for as long as they could, meeting hundreds of fans who had waited anxiously for hours.

At approx. 1:00pm, the band sang a four-song-set, lasting only 20 minutes, to a lawn packed with loyal fans. The set consisted of "Sure About It", "I Wish That I Was There", the ever popular "MMMBop", and their latest single "If Only". Hanson stated many times how flattered they were by the turn-out, and expressed their wish to return to Wisconsin sometime in the near future. Ike, Tay, and Zac... we hope you come back soon!