The Venue: Canton Palace Theatre is a *terrific* venue! It's an old style theatre & reminds me of the places Hanson played during the TTA tour. :) Sooo nice to be in an inside venue with SEATS for a change! LOL.

I didn't think my own seat would be all that terrific, but I was pleasantly surprised! I was roughly the same distance back as TLS & I were at Ribfest, but it *seemed* closer because of how the floor was slanted. That is great when it's like that - no fear of super tall folks blocking the way! I had an aisle seat.. AND.. was directly in front of Taylor.

NO cameras (drat!!) - they thoroughly violated my handbag a la Bogarts in Cinci & there were signs posted everywhere. Some folks managed to smuggle cameras in, but the gestapo was snatching them away from those that did. :(

The Opening Band: 'Love Drug' - they were a local band & okay. I was actually hoping to miss most of their set, but got there right when they started. Oh, well. LOL. ;) But they really weren't bad at all.

HANSON: Were late, of course! By about half an hour. But I quickly forgave them as they took the stage. There was an actual GRAND PIANO, too! When Taylor walked onstage, he was holding a handicam & filming the audience. :) He handed it over to someone in the wings.. and I could SWEAR that it was Walker.. but I could be wrong about that!

TAYLOR was looking unbelievably yummy in a big, bold black & white striped shirt! Taylor should wear stripes more often. I LOVE Taylor in stripes. :)

ISAAC: Isaac was spiffy in an earth-toned retro shirt. He also started with a suit jacket, but removed it later on. ;) And he & Taylor were wearing what looked like the 'same' pairs of jeans again. ::swoons::

ZAC: Zac's attire consisted of that ratty CBGB shirt that he's worn at tons of other shows. Is it just me, or does anyone else find it cool when you can 'recognize' the guys' attire?

ANYHOW - the show was great! The crowd was an enthusiastic bunch - but not obnoxious in the slightest! I remember during TTA how people would push & shove & crowd the aisles. Well, there was none of that tonight. :)

They played just about the same songs from Ribfest (minus Rip It Up) & each did a solo. Zac sang 'Tightrope' & played piano. Isaac did 'Hand In Hand'! And WOW - did he play that just amazing. There was a lot of Isaac love all over the place during that!!

Taylor did 'Crazy Beautiful' & it was so cute. The others had left the stage, and Taylor turned to his piano, fiddling with his mic, and said he was going to play something. One gal shouted out some song (which I didn't hear the name of). Taylor stopped & looked out at the crowd, in his adorable 'spacy' way, and said.. 'Hmm.. you know, that WOULD be a good song..' ::pauses as if seriously considering:: 'But I'm gonna play this one, 'cuz I like to play it.' LOLOLOL.

During Crazy Beautiful, the crowd sang along to every word - Taylor beamed & removed his little ear thing. I think, to hear everyone better!

After that song was over and the others came back out, he started playing it again - not singing.. but playing it. Over & over & over - and faster & faster & faster - for quite some time!! It was the most amazing thing I've seen - his fingers just FLEW OVER the keys like some prodigy. Isaac & Zac just looked at him & laughed. When Taylor was done showing off, Isaac asked, 'What was THAT??' ::hums the tune very fast:: 'THAT sounded like a cartoon or something!!' ::hums it again:: So Taylor begins playing it at that speed - again! Zac then LEPT from behind his drums from center stage to dance a jig. LOLOLOLOLOL

You could definitely tell they were having a ton of fun. Isaac made a mini speech thanking 'Q102' which Taylor laughingly interrupted him & said it was 'Q92'. Haha. Isaac laughed & made up for his faux pas, but Taylor said, 'Great - we are gonna get beat up backstage now!' ;)

Taylor had both the floor & balcony cheer at one point & it was funny, because the balcony had a much higher pitched yell. 'I see,' he said, 'The pitch goes up, as the crowd goes up!'

TWO of the greatest things of the evening though, were:

During 'Where's The Love' - towards the end - the music stops.. Taylor & Isaac are directing the crowd to clap & sing - and not once, but TWICE they both put a hand to their ears as if to hear us.. at precisely the same times! Ohh, but if I'd been allowed to have my camera inside, that would have been a terrific photo! :)

At the end: The lights came up - they were shaking hands with the folks in front.. then they huddled round a mic & sang .. WEIRD! WOW! I totally wasn't expecting that. :) Very, very cool! Then they bowed & that was that. :D

I didn't stick around afterwards, because I was by myself & would have felt a bit dorky. LOL. Which is TOO bad, because my car was parked right across the street from the backstage exit & their vans!! I contemplated just sitting in my car & waiting (LOL), but decided just to come on home. AND - most amazing - I didn't get lost going to or coming from the show!!

Is there any better feeling than a Hanson High after a show? I don't think there is! Roll on, Cincinnati! :)