The Wilkinsons
Winstock Country Music Festival
Winsted, MN (6/8/02)

Okay here ya guys are my review! Got up at 7, got ready and left at 8. Got there around 9:30 including two quick stops, one for orange juice, and then one in Winsted to ask directions to the grounds. Went to see if my interview passes were there, nope so we walked around and got the interview questions ready (people were looking at me probably wondering what I was doing lol). I noticed the Wilkinsons bus was there around noon so I went back to check for the passes. Nope, not there yet. So I stood around with some girl talking hoping the Wilkinsons would walk out of the bus and over *they never did oh well* Around one we went and checked yet again and this time my passes were there! They were just those purple meet and greet guest stickers, but oh well still cool :0)

The Wilkinsons were supposed to hit the stage at 2:30. Well around 2 my mom and I walked over by the fence *the first 24 rows in front of the stage were VIP but there was a fence along VIP so you could stand on the side and not be that far away*. So mom and I stood by the fence, I was right in front of it on Tyler's side maybe about 50 feet away I dunno it was pretty close considering I didn't have VIP. 2:30 came and some dudes were still doing a soundcheck, testing all the mike's. I think there was a problem, because they kept doing it over and over. Around 3 they finally came onstage. Amanda was wearing black pants, and a black tank top. Tyler blue jeans and a black long sleeve dress shirt *is he nuts it was HOTT out* w/ a funky tan design on it. Steve black pants and a long sleeve plain dress shirt *is he nuts?* and a yellow hat. They did 11 songs total, including if you'll believe this "Never Hold a Candle" (in which I waved at Tyler and he waved back) and "I Gotta Get Outta Here" I got sooo excited ppl around me were looking at me and laughing lol. Well excuse me but they NEVER sing those songs and so this was the first time I'd hear them live. They also sang "Paper Doll" and a new one called "Fade". When they sang 26 cents Amanda asked ppl to sing the chorus and first you couldn't hear anyone then she tried again and you could hear a few ppl, it was sad. They ended with the Doobie Brothers songs and Amanda had to tell ppl to get up twice, cuz first time they sat right back down *shakes head* If I woulda been let up into vip I woulda been up front clapping and singing and everything.

Then came the meet and greet (there were like 12 of us i dunno not many). When we were next in line Amanda turns to me and says "Hi!" and smiles and I say Hi. Then when it was my turn they all turned to me and Tyler goes "Hey!" and waves and smiles (why he waved I have no clue lol i mean i was right there). So me being the dork I am I said "Hey, did you see me in the audience?" and he replied yeah and told me exactly where I was. I had gotten a new shirt so I had them sign it and asked Tyler to personalize it and he did, without asking my name or how to spell it so woohoo! So then we got a group pic and I got one with Tyler. Then they had to quick go take a picture with someone so I got my stuff out.

They came back and Steve tested the audio recorder out for me and got it working. We were right in front of the tour bus and I was standing like 6 inches from them the whole time right in front of Tyler *no I didn't plan that it just happened ok lol* I kinda messed up on a few during the beginning, cuz I was a bit nervous with them all watching me and the audio recorder lol but after that I was fine! Like 5 minutes into it not even Blackhawk started up and it was LOUD so we were all leaning close to yell answers into the thing it was funny. I don't want to tell you guys ALL the answers because I will post a transcript if you guys want to read the interview. When I asked them to describe each other in 3 words they were all making fun of each other and Tyler and Amanda were giving each other looks like *you better watch what i'm saying hey i'm NOT like that* LOL it was cute. All 3 of them were talking A LOT giving me stories and joking around with each other. Tyler was a bit shy the first maybe 3 questions but then he wouldn't shut up lol. And a few times I looked back at my mom and asked how many minutes I had left *LOL don't worry I did it quietly u can't hear on the tape* cuz I wanted to be sure ya know? I got through 17 questions! It was fun! Steve acted more serious during it, but Tyler acted like he does to me at Meet and Greets, just chattering away and Amanda was somewhere in between. After that I gave Amanda and Tyler their presents (Amanda's was a green VW bug keychain with Mall of America written on it and it lights up if you bush a button, Tyler's was postcards from the Word members PLUS I made him a Star Wars scrapbook...took me hours but he seemed to like it so it was worth it). Amanda said I was sweet and hugged me. Steve shook my hand. Tyler started thumbing through it, thanked me and hugged me saying it was good to see me again. Amanda and Steve said that too earlier. I said I'd see them in September and left. I only got a roll of pictures cuz I wasn't super close ya know. One guy took my camera up to front row and took a few for me *GRINS* they turned out great *thanks whoever you were*! Oh gosh was that ever fun! I wanna go back now, I miss them already. Keshena here I come!