Hanson fans live their dream

By Manuela Garay-Giraldo

BELLEVILLE, Ont. (02/09/2012) – Hanson’s drummer, Zac, performs at Belleville’s Empire Theatre on Thursday, Feb. 9. The band came to Belleville as part of the band’s Canadian leg of their Shout It Out Tour. Amy Tanzola, a fan who has followed the band and has gone to every show in the tour said this was the best show yet. “They just keep getting better and better,” said Tanzola. Photo by Manuela Garay-Giraldo.

To sisters Susie, Amy and Jeanie Tanzola, along with their childhood friend Meaghan Huras, Hanson is not just a band from their childhood, Hanson is a life experience.

For the past 15 years, the girls have followed the band around North America, attended hundreds of shows, spent thousands of dollars on Hanson paraphernalia and met the band members several times.

“One time we got into the hotel elevator and there was Zac (the drummer),” recalled Susie. “It turns out we were staying in the room next to him!”

This year luck favoured the four Canadian friends. Hanson decided to do a more extensive Canadian tour, which suited the sisters and their friend just fine. The four ladies embarked on a road trip to Thunder Bay, Ottawa, Belleville and Toronto and had front row spots for all the shows.

“We always get there first, so we always have front row seats,” said Susie.

“One time we camped out for 43 hours at the end of November,” said Jeanie. “It was freezing, but totally worth it. When they thank ‘the girls who camped out’ they’re talking about us.”

The admiration for Hanson runs so deep, Jeanie has a tattoo of the band’s logo on her neck.

“I was debating between the Hanson logo or a music note. Then the day I was gonna get the tattoo, Meaghan texted me ‘OMG, it’s our 10^th anniversary since we first met Hanson!’ That’s when I made up my mind. It was a sign,” said Jeanie. “I just thought, I’ll never stop liking them, and even if I do, they still hold 15 years of my life. They represent my childhood at this point.”

One of the major differences following the band this time around is that the girls have their own cars and are driving.

“It feels so weird. This is the first time I’ve driven to a Hanson concert,” said Meaghan. “I remember I used to have to beg my parents to let me go, and then we’d be traveling on a bus with a ton of blankets.”

The fans have met the band countless times, and during their latest appearance in Ottawa, the girls managed to be the only fans at a Hanson appearance on CTV.

The girls gushed about how lead singer Taylor Hanson told them he was glad they were finally brought in from the cold to warm up. They also recalled how drummer Zac Hanson gave Meaghan his drumsticks at the end of the show, and how lead guitarist Isaac is so stylish as of late.

“When you come and see a Hanson show, it’s a unique experience every night,” guitarist Isaac said in a phone interview. “For us, it is most important we represent the music in the most exciting and motivated way. One of those ways is to make sure that, whether you’ve been to 20 shows or this is your first one, that it is interesting and different.”

It looks like they are doing something right, because according to Amy, Thursday’s show in Belleville at the Empire Theatre was the best so far.

“They just keep getting better and better,” said Amy. “I think the crowds are also getting better, but I honestly think this one’s the best one so far. I can’t wait for the Toronto show tomorrow!”

At the end of the Belleville show, the girls waited out in the cold in front of the band’s tour bus for over an hour to get autographs. Eventually Zac and Isaac came out for a bit.

Susie even managed to get the setlist and found out the band was making an appearance on Breakfast Television in Toronto. You better believe the girls were there and that somehow they got front row spots at the concert later that night at Toronto’s Phoenix Concert Hall.