What happens when you take the three brothers responsible for one of the 90s’ biggest earworms, a rising hip-hop supergroup, the rock veteran who famously made the flute a legitimate instrument for his genre, and combine them all together? You would get a really weird Spotify playlist, but you also get the line-up for the second night of Ottawa Bluesfest.
The night after Bryan Adams and Passenger delivered brilliant sets to their respective crowds, Bluesfest took a turn for the obscure, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Out of obscurity came a series of distinctly enjoyable performances.
Have you ever wondered what happened to the kids who made that “MMMBop” song? Well, they’re still together, making music and touring, and they kicked things off on the City Stage. Pop-rock band Hanson originally started playing music together in 1992 when brothers Isaac, Taylor and Zac Hanson were all under the age of 12. In 1997, lead singer Taylor was 14 when “MMMBop” became a global success and kickstarted their careers.
Two decades later, the group has shown incredible growth in talent and maturity. Being in their 30s, the songs they recorded as teenagers now have a more contemporary adult sound, but they still bring a youthful and energetic vibe to their live shows.
Lots of longtime fans crowded the front of the stage to take in the performance. They sang along to classics, and were genuinely pleased by Hanson’s newer material. Although a handful of people noticeably left after “MMMBop,” most stayed until the end, and a few lucky fans were able to grab a quick selfie with Taylor when he held an impromptu meet-and-greet at the side of the stage.