We were to leave the next week for six locations on the West Coast of America, Key Arena Seattle, Hollywood Bowl Los Angeles, JFK Memorial Arena Washington DC, Golden Gate Garden San Francisco, Delta House Sacramento and Arizona’s Hyatt Park in Phoenix.
Everything was settled, school was on vacation, so that was good, and “Secrets and Lies” was on standby for a month anyway.
I was on my way to back up Hanson.
‘Hey Zac.’
‘Thinking of You? Are you sure? Don’t you want something zappy in there instead? What about “Speechless?” It’s fast.’
As the opening bars of “Gimme me some lovin’/Shake a tail-feather” blasted through the auditorium, the curtain covering the set slid down to reveal Hanson to the audience in grand splendor, the crowd screamed.
song credit Hanson, "Gimme me some lovin'/Shake a tail feather"
‘Hey.’
He slumped down on the sofa next to where I was sitting watching Dawson’s Creek while Tay and Ike played Nintendo in the other room.
‘Why aren’t you giving Ike and Tay a hard time on Zelda?’
He shrugged.
‘Don’t feel like it.’
‘Zac, what’s wrong? Is it about before? I’m really sorry I laughed. We all are.’
He shrugged again.
‘Look Zac, you know you can talk to me. If you want.’
He nodded.
‘I know that. It’s just....I don’t know.’
‘Ok....well, if you need to talk....’ I turned back to The Creek.
‘Ok, here’s the thing. I dressed up before like, well you know, because I....it’s just that everyone treats me like I’m a little kid you know? Mom, dad, especially Ike and Tay. And even the press and the fans. They write all this stuff about crazy little Zac. And I’m not that. Well, all the time anyway. I just wanted people to think I was grown up.’
‘Zac! You don’t need to wear a suit for me or anyone one else to think you are grown up! We know you are, in fact, that’s probably why we treat you like you’re still little because you’ve grown up so fast! Even since I got here you have a lot. And don’t worry about the press and the fans, they don’t know anything. Just say some really smart and profound thing in your next interview and the next headline will read “Zac Hanson, ready for college”!’
He smiled.
‘The drum is the main part of the whole set. It’s keeps the whole thing together. The beat. You lose it and we’re all stuffed.’
‘Dur! I know!’
‘I think “More than Anything” should go nearer the end, with “I will come to you.” Two ballads to end it.’
‘Two ballads? I don’t know....’
‘It’s sweet and the fans will be swooning. They’ll think you’re sending them off with love or whatever.’
‘Peta, that’s a load of crap.’
‘Hey! Fine! You don’t want my opinion!’
‘Hey, I didn’t mean that! I just....look....I’m sorry ok? Come sit down?’
‘Promise you will listen to me and not make fun?’
‘Promise.’
This was the goings on in the Grand Hyatt Hotel of Baldwin Hills CA about an hour before Hanson’s second concert in LA.
We had to come up with a last minute song schedule for the concert as the preliminary one had been lost in the mess.
And it was hell.
‘Ok, sure. Front row seats? Ok......uh, I’ll see what I can do.’
‘Who was that?’
‘Oh, nobody important.’
‘Nobody important who wants front row seats?’
‘I can’t say.’
‘You little shit!’
‘Get on stage Peta.’
Bopping away to the music, I was getting right into it, as were the guys.
‘ C’mon!.......say wooo-oohh ohhh! Well my temperature’s rising..... ’ into the microphone I gave my best go, singing my guts out and just hoping the fans didn’t think I sucked too much.
We breezed through “Where’s the love”, “Good lovin’” and “Ever Lonely”, soulfully captured the right notes for “Stories”, then I rested while they tearfully performed “With you in your dreams.”
After a quick drink, I was raring to go for the second half of the set, including my two ballads at the end.
During interval, and for me a dress change, Ike came up to me excitedly.
‘You’ll never guess what!’
‘What?’
‘Guess who’s here?”
‘Who?’
‘You’re really pathetic at these guessing games aren’t you?’
‘Just tell me Ike already!’
‘Well......actually I can’t. Until after the show. But you’ll love me for it, believe me.’
My mouth dropped open in protest but before I could respond, he grabbed my arm and we strutted back out on stage for the last songs.
The last two songs went beautifully and the crowd was swooning something terrible as the guys bowed a million times and left the stage.
Rushing off stage, I almost collided with a tall guy in a suit, grinning from ear to ear.
‘Oh, I’m so sorry!’
‘It’s ok! I’m actually glad we bumped into each other. I’m Steven Holland from EMI music, and you’re Peta right?’ he stuck out his hand and I shook it hesitantly.
‘Ah yeah.....Walker is over there if you need to speak to him.’
‘No actually, I’m not interested in the boys. It’s you I was after. After listening to you, I am pleased to say I liked what I heard and would like to offer you the chance to come and work with us on a demo. Only if you want to of course.’ He grinned.
It took a while to sink in, but suddenly the realization of the situation hit me like a ton of bricks.
Simple as that.
I was being signed.
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