To mark my last day at E-Dubs, I'd like to take a moment of MMMBopping to celebrate my true entry into the world of freelance (unemployment!!) This week, as a really kick ass "goodbye" from my frenemies at Time Inc. I got to interview Hanson. Oh, sure, to you that may not be awesome, but let me try to explain it to you so that you'll understand: please think up your ultimate number one DREAM career goal ever in the world, then think of your childhood dream, then think of the thing that would mean the most to you personally, then imagine it involving your first real crush and/or your favorite band, then combine all of those ingredients and wait 11 years (or half of your life). Okay? NOW? LIVE.THAT.DREAM. Then try to make a joke about my meeting with Hanson. I dare you.
Anyways, Hanson was playing a concert at Nokia Theater in Times Square. This I knew and had already gotten tickets for. Then their publicist contacted Entertainment Weekly to get some roving reporters on the scene and of course I was like yeahokaysureyouwantmetointerviewHansonsurelikeyeahthatwouldbefineIguessIcouldfitthatintomyscheduleorsomethingandlikemakethatworksureyeahicandothat.
And, because Hanson is awesome like that and were so totally on the same page in life, their cause is more than appropriate to write about here as it involves both Africa and vegan footwear, two things I lurve. I knew Hanson was doing the Africa thang when I was also in Africa (I drop that a lot, my love of Ghana as well as my love of Hawai'i - two of the very few places I've traveled in my life besides Wildwood, NJ and the Cooperstown Baseball Hall of Fame). Since their initial journey to the Motherland in 2006, they have been working to get fans and friends to donate and be aware of HIV and poverty in Africa, first through teaming up with TOMS and donating a pair of shoes for each pair bought, then with their single "The Great Divide" where the proceeds for each download go towards AIDS treatment and research, and NOW they're doing "The Walk." In each city, before their concert they go for a barefoot walk and donate $1 for each fan and bystander that follows along. You can read more about it on their site, TaketheWalk.net and find a walk (and a Hanson fan) near you!! Or you can just donate anonymously online so you don't embarass yourself in front of all of your lame indie friends with your deep-rooted but closeted love for the brothers Hanson.
In a nutshell, because I could write a novel about my hour(ish) with Hanson, here are the top ten highlights in no particular order:
1. I got to interview them in their dressing room.
2. They made funny jokes-
3. -and I was actually able to contain my giggles and maintained some level of professionalism.
4. They loved that I went to Africa.
5. Hanson took off their shoes in front of me.
6. There was a camera crew there filming the interview for an upcoming documentary AND Isaac was also filming the interview personally.
7. They took me seriously as a journalist AND humored me as a fan. They even asked me to come back after the walk through Times Square so that I could ask more questions including some that I promised were from my 11-year-old self.
8. They were ridiculously passionate about The Walk and about spreading awareness and such about the issues, which made me fall in love with them all over again for all new reasons.
9. When they offered me a picture (see below) with them, Zac moved out of the way so that I could stand in between him and Taylor.
10. Then me and my H-loving BFFle got to sit VIP at the concert that night, NO BIG DEAL.
Read the article and join me in saying goodbye to the world of journalism "internships." For now ever
Lisa why are you by far the coolest person ever?! Hanson finally!!! So awesome for you!
Posted by: Chantal | November 19, 2008 at 12:12 PM
laughed the whole time i reaad this one. so jealous.
Posted by: nathan | November 21, 2008 at 02:39 PM
OMFG, Lisa! If that were me, I literally would have peed my pants while that picture was being taken. Hanson was the only band I went all nutty for back in my tweeny days. *sigh*
Posted by: Blair T. | December 05, 2008 at 02:01 PM
YOU'RE REFERENCING ME.
BECAUSE IT WAS THE GREATEST CONCERT EVER.
WITH THE GREATEST PERSON EVER.
SITTING IN THE BALCONY.
SINGING.
BUT ZAC, YOUR ARMS.
GLOWING.
YOU DID IT.
YOU WON.
SUCCESS.
CONGRATULATIONS.
(.... it must have been cold there in my shadow.. to never have sunlight on your face.. ... ... ... DID YOU EVER KNOW THAT YOU'RE MY HERO)
I would have choco-frosted my pants had I held a conversation/interviewed/got within 2 feet of them. Scott Speedman x 25,000,000,000,000.
Eco-vegan-balls-of-blond-steel
Posted by: Adawgz | December 10, 2008 at 10:19 PM