Hanson Proves They're Still the Same Band

By Connect Mason Multimedia Director Grace Kendall.
Photographs by Broadside Photography Editor Courtney Erland.

MMMbop. It’s a nonsense lyric many college students remember from their middle-school days, and in 1997 the song shot the band Hanson into radio-wave stardom. Now over a decade later, the trio of brothers is playing the same kind of music to the same group of fans, including the hundreds of people who showed up on Thursday, May 1 at the State Theatre.

Devoted fans came early to participate in a mile walk with the band, an effort the brothers have created to help raise money and purchase shoes for the underprivileged in Africa. The crowd only grew from there, with a line wrapped around the building by late afternoon. Twenty-something females were decked out in their Hanson gear and sporting hand-decorated tote bags featuring song lyrics. One fan had an MMMBOP license plate tied around her waist.

It was clear from the crowd that nobody had come to see the opening acts. MySpace and MTV golden child Kate Voegele opened the night, but only a handful of girls and one mom seemed to appreciate the deep-voiced acoustic rocker. That was fair because Voegele really relied on the backing band to carry the show, and her lack of stage presence and awkward commentary (“This freaking rocks!”) made her performance fairly forgettable.

Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers was the second band of the night, and they were successful in bringing the crowd together and truly kicking off the night. Though the storytelling lyrics were elementary-school simple, the strong repetition and honest delivery made the songs personally connect with the audience. The four band members swapped instruments throughout their set, throwing in banjo, mandolin and tuba to keep the sound distinctive. The band was at their best during their final song “Milwaukee,” an acoustic number with frank lyrics and delightful interplay between the guitar and keyboard.

But as great as Kellogg was, the crowd was really there to see Hanson and no other band could make them forget that. When the three brothers took to the stage to open their set with “Great Divide,” the crowd exploded in noise and movement. Hands waved in the air or clapped furiously while hundreds of voices joined together. Girls all screamed for their favorite brother: Zac on drums, Isaac on guitar or Taylor on keys (and two backing band members joined them for the night).

The performance lasted for an unbelievable two hours; the band sang every hit they’ve ever had and then some. Acoustic breakdowns found the brothers at their best; when the mediocre rock noise was stripped away from their numbers. Even songs like “MMMBop” had a unique charm and appeal.

“This Time Around” was one of Hanson’s final songs of the night and the performance was their best of the evening. It was the perfect combination of instruments and vocals, highlighting the piano and building to an indie-rock chorus that didn’t overpower.

The most amazing part of Hanson’s performance was how little they seem to have changed in the past ten years. Sure, their voices are a bit deeper now, but the keys to their charm are still the three part harmonies and catchy pop lyrics. Taylor and Zach still sport long hair, too. Being at the show was like stepping into a time capsule; both the audience and the band were pulled straight from the nineties, especially when the brothers launched into old hits like “Where Is the Love.”

All in all, it was a show tailored to old fans of the band. The harmonies are just as sweet now as they were in 1997, and though the boys are all grown up and married with children now, the fangirls adore them just the same.

• Need more Hanson in your life? See Connect Mason reporter Rachael Dickson's pre-show interview with Hanson and coverage of their Walk. And check out this Monday's issue of Broadside for more coverage of the concert!