NOLA
The Hanson brothers, Isaac, Taylor, and Zac, have been performing for a quarter century. On Friday (Sept. 15) their 25th anniversary tour stopped in New Orleans where they treated a packed house at the Joy Theater to their brand of intoxicating pop.
The three musicians have grown from talented tweens to svelte, beyond-hansom thirty somethings. And their fans, many of whom were mere kids in the 1990s have grown up with them.
The devotion among fans in the front row approached that of bygone Grateful Dead followers. Some Hanson admirers had driven hours to catch the show, several stood in line since the afternoon, one said it would be her 43rd concert, at least two wore Hanson tattoos.
“They (Hanson) saved my life. Their music got me through everything, my parents’ death, high school bullying, and everything” – Nicole Kelly, 32, of Baton Rouge, who sported a Hanson wrist tattoo.
“The seven-year-old me is dying inside (of excitement)” — Morgan Ball, 27, New Orleans.
“Taylor doesn’t know it yet, but he’s going to be my second husband” – Jasmin Orgeron, 26.
“I’m going to see them in Jamaica in January. This is the 43rd concert for me” – Michelle Gaeta, 29.
“I was three when MMMBop (Hanson’s 1997 mega hit) came out. They still put on a good show after 25 years” – Emma Allday, 23, who wore an elaborate Hanson tattoo on her forearm.
“It’s kind of a cult following. I just met all these people today, but we’re sharing our similar experiences. We’ve all basically loved them since we first heard them” – Whitney Zumwalt, 31, Laurel Mississippi.
“I’m going to see them in Jamaica in January. This is the 43rd concert for me” – Michelle Gaeta, 29.
“Zac is best; sexy” – anonymous admirer.
“My six-year-old son loves them. He can listen to them in the car. He cried; he said ‘I want to go (to the concert) mama. But he couldn’t go” – Jana Harrison, 31, Ocean Springs, Mississippi.
“I grew up listening to the Beatles and the Beach Boys. When they (Hanson) came out, I was looking for something different, a different sound, like a pop 60s groove. For me, the joy in the music celebrated life in its simplest form” – Timothy Johnson, 33, Mississippi.
After the show, the crowd filed outside, but many immediately joined a new line that led to a by-admission Hanson post-concert party. Such is the magnetism of the three brothers from Tulsa.