Watch: Jacob Tovar’s beautiful ballad ‘I Felt Love’ showcased in video directed by Sterlin Harjo

By | May 20, 2020

Oklahoman

Jacob Tovar has released his new single “I Felt Love.” [Cover art provided]

Tulsa country crooner Jacob Tovar assembled an all-star group of Oklahoma talent for his beautiful new ballad “I Felt Love.”

The first single from his upcoming album “Good Reasons” was penned by Tovar, John Fullbright and Roger Ray.

Musicians on it track include Tovar on vocals and acoustic guitar, Paul Wilkes on bass, Jake Lynn on drums, Ray on pedal steel and baritone, Fullbright on keyboards, high-strung guitar and harmony vocals and Isaac Hanson on harmony vocals.

Hanson – who is one-third of the pop-rock trio Hanson – produced and mixed the track and engineered it with Wes Sharon.

It is accompanied by a music video directed by respected Tulsa-based filmmaker Sterlin Harjo, who lensed it at Tulsa’s The Colony and gave it a lovely, warm sepia glow that will probably make you miss going to live shows even more than you do already.

Look for cameos by other Oklahoma musicians in the video, and check out Tovar’s fine two-stepping in the clip.

Follow Tovar at www.facebook.com/JacobTovarRootsCountry and www.jacobtovar.com for updates about his new project.

And check out the trailer for Harjo’s new documentary “Love and Fury,” set to play next month at Oklahoma City’s deadCenter Film Festival, by click here.

 

Hanson, Dawes and Alexander 23 to appear on streamed music festival Sessions to raise funds for coronavirus relief

By | May 20, 2020

Oklahoman

Hanson [Photo provided]

Oklahoma band Hanson will appear on this week’s The Truideation and Twitch collaborative streaming music festival Sessions.

So far, the show has seen more than 1.5 million unique views and a multitude of larger than life performances from artists as diverse as Lucinda Williams to JOJO to Allie X to CAM, according to a news release.

Now in its third week, Sessions has announced Hanson, Alexander 23, Dawes, Matthew Ramsey of Old Dominion, Sofi Tukker and Sam Nelson Harris of X Ambassadors as its lineup for it upcoming show at 3 p.m. Wednesday.

Hosted by Hannah Rad, the festival will feature performances and conversation live exclusively on Twitch – link HERE – and will benefit the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund, according to the news release.

Viewers can contribute to the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund via a “DONATE HERE” button or online at tiltify.com/@sessions/sessions.

MusiCares was established by the Recording Academy as a safety net in times of need for the music community. MusiCares offers confidential preventive, recovery, and emergency programs to address financial, medical, and personal health issues. Spotify will match all donations made as well, according to the news release.

Streaming gear partner Logitech is providing Blue Yeti X microphones and Logitech 4k Brio webcams to artists, while esports Streaming Partner Waveform Entertainment will ensure that the sound and visuals are optimal and broadcast standard.

Over their first 25 years as the band Hanson, brothers Isaac, Taylor and Zac Hanson have made a significant mark in music. Starting in 1992, they spent their first five years building a fan base as an independent band in their hometown of Tulsa, where the sibling trio is still based.

After signing a record deal, Hanson saw a meteoric rise with the 1997 international smash single “MMMBop,” from the band’s debut album “Middle Of Nowhere,” followed by consecutive top 40 singles. A long line of hits, five more studio albums, multiple Grammy nominations and more than 16 million album sales followed.

Over its second decade, the band charted its own course, running an independent label while maintaining a coveted connection with a global fan base.

In 2007, Hanson launched a grassroots campaign to support poverty and HIV/AIDS relief in Africa at TakeTheWalk.net. In 2013, they launched Hanson Brothers Beer, premiering their new venture with a signature Pale Ale, Mmmhops, and in 2014 they launched the successful hometown Hop Jam Beer and Music Festival, which boasts 40,000 attendees annually.

The 2020 Hop Jam was originally scheduled to take place Sunday but was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“The good news amidst all the chaos is we have the opportunity to plan and prepare for Hop Jam 2021, and use the time to cultivate the best gathering of craft beer and music we have ever assembled, so put it on your calendar – Hop Jam returns 23 May 2021,” the Hop Jam Team wrote a statement on the event’s website.

For more information, go to www.thehopjam.com.

To read my 2019 Hop Jam interview with Taylor Hanson, click here.

The 100 Greatest Debut Singles of All Time

By | May 19, 2020

Rolling Stone

56

Hanson, “MMMBop”

American pop band Hanson pose for a group portrait on a roof in London in 1997 L-R Taylor Hanson, Isaac Hanson and Zac Hanson. (Photo by Mike Prior/Getty Images)

Mike Prior/Getty Images

Some sad souls may have derided it as hokey cheese, but for the rest of us, there was simply no denying the magic of Zac, Isaac, and Taylor Hanson’s singalong masterpiece. A banger before the word even existed, “MMMBop” is bright Archies bubblegum pop held aloft by the optimism of the Nineties. It’s also made up of mostly nonsensical lyrics (“In an mmmbop they’re gone!”), proudly delivered by a group of Oklahoma siblings who harmonized like the Beatles. Need even more cred? Beck’s Odelay architects, the Dust Brothers, produced it. J.H. 

‘Stargirl’ Review: A Powerful Gymnastic Stick!

By | May 19, 2020

The Work Print

AMERICA TOWN

It is strange, but the setting to this story tries to resemble hometown America. Like Smallville, except like something straight out of the 90s, especially when that rendition of Hanson’s ‘MMMBop’ drops in the pilot.  There’s this all-American midwestern town vibe that’s reminiscent of depictions of high school in a lot of outdated TV pilots and comic books, though we’ll have to see how the series utilizes the town.

Missing BottleRock, Monterey Jazz? Here are 5 stay-at-home festival ideas

By | May 19, 2020

East Bay Times

Stern Grove Festival

The popular free outdoor festival, which was set to run on Sundays from June 14 to Aug. 16 at lovely Stern Grove in San Francisco, has been canceled for the first time in its 83-year history. The series was set to feature a diversely appealing lineup, including reggae legend Jimmy Cliff, East Bay funk stars Tower of Power, both the San Francisco Symphony and Ballet, Miley’s dad Billy Ray Cyrus, soul singer Macy Gray, pop-rockers Hanson, indie-pop favorites Animal Collective and others. Organizers hope to reschedule some of these acts for 2021. Visit sterngrove.org for more information.

What to watch: Check out Tower of Power’s “Look in My Eyes,” the legendary Oakland troupe’s first new music video in 30 years. Then go on a nostalgic run through some memorable videos of yesteryear, stopping at Billy Ray Cyrus’ “Achy Breaky Heart,” Hanson’s “MMMBop” and Macy Gray’s “I Try.” And if you didn’t watch Jimmy Cliff’s “The Harder They Come” when we recommended it in the earlier California Roots write-up, what are you waiting for?

What to listen to: Push play on the San Francisco Symphony’s memorable live collaboration with mighty Metallica from 1999 — “S&M” — before switching over to North Mississippi Allstars with “Boulderado: Live at the Fox” (2010) for a spell. Finish up with Tower of Power’s “Live and in Living Color” (1976).

What to eat: Pack a picnic, just like you’d do for an actual trip to Stern Grove.

What to wear: A sunhat plus a warm sweater, because you just never known what the weather will be like when its summertime in San Francisco.

Hanson Celebrates ‘This Time Around’ 20th Anniversary With Unplanned ‘Remix’ on Billboard Live At-Home

By | May 14, 2020

Billboard

Hanson

Jonathan Weiner

Hanson

Hanson honored the 20th anniversary of their sophomore album This Time Around for their Billboard Live At-Home performance Wednesday (May 13) that raised money for MusicCares.

The seminal boy band, comprised of the Hanson brothers Taylor, Zac and Isaac, first released This Time Around on May 9, 2000. To ring in the symbolic week, the trio brought back their beloved hits straight from their podcasting space to fans’ bedrooms that were still adorned with long-haired Hanson posters.

After kicking the set off with “If Only” with Taylor on the harmonica, Zac on the drums and Isaac on the acoustic guitar, Hanson performed the title track “This Time Around” — with an unexpected twist. Billboard‘s livestream experienced a glitch that amped up their voices and looped the lyrics “And we won’t go down” like a screamo breakbeat. Yet somehow, the dissonance resonated so much with online concertgoers that they requested the official “This Time Around” remix 20 years after the song’s debut.

“That was a sweet glitch,” one fan commented about the unintended special effect, which prematurely ended the show, while another wrote, “Now I want to hear this remixed version officially released. Won’t go down down down down down DOWN DOWN DOWN.”

Following the interruption, Hanson reappeared and blamed “big tech” for the difficulties. To officially close out the show, Zac introduced “Wish That I Was There” as “a song that is all about wishing you were with someone that you’re not able to be with,” a relatable sentiment in a time of social distancing.

The theme of the final This Time Around track paired perfectly with their encore rendition of “Lost Without Each Other” from their third album Underneath. “This is the way we feel when we can’t be with you,” Zac said after Taylor jumped right into the keyboard and silently guided his brothers into the final song.

Watch Hanson’s full Billboard Live At-Home performance below, and donate to MusiCares here.

HANSON: BACK TO THE ISLAND 2021 ON SALE NOW!

By | May 11, 2020

BACK TO THE ISLAND 2021 ON SALE NOW!

Fan Club Exclusive: Each time we put together a new Back To The Island, we are thrilled to host guests from around the world, while offering a musical escape unlike anything else we do throughout the year. Especially at a time of social distancing and limited access to in-person concerts and events, we are even more excited to look forward to our next great journey to Jamaica with YOU. We also know that many people are living in uncertainty, whether at home or at work, so we are happy to be able to offer an additional discount which will hopefully help to make it possible for you to join us in 2021.

Come take part in the ninth annual BTTI and escape to the tropics to celebrate HANSON’s 29th year together on the beaches of the Caribbean. We are looking forward to returning and we hope you’ll join us when we head Back To The Island!

On Sale Begins today!

For more details about Back To The Island 2021, CLICK HERE.

All those attending Back To The Island must be Fan Club members. JOIN NOW!

Noah Cyrus, Hanson & More Set For Billboard Live At-Home Concerts: See the Schedule

By | May 9, 2020

Billboard

Billboard’s Live At-Home series is continuing into May.

The performances for the week of May 11 will feature at-home sets from HansonNoah Cyrus and more via Billboard‘s Facebook page. Loud Luxury will kick things off on Monday (May 11) with a set at 1 p.m. EST. Other acts slated to perform during the week include: Natanael Cano & Junior H and Camilo.

The Billboard Live series launched on March 19 with the help of JoJoJosh Groban and Russell Dickerson, who selected nonprofits to support during their livestream to benfit those most affected by COVID-19. Billboard Live At-Home series thus far has helped charities such as Meals on Wheels AmericaDowntown Women’s CenterMy Friend’s Place and more.

Tune in to Loud Luxury’s set Monday, and check out the week’s full schedule below.

Monday (May 11)
1 p.m. ET — Loud Luxury

Tuesday (May 12)
1 p.m. ET — Natanael Cano & Junior H

Wednesday (May 13)
1 p.m. ET — Hanson

Thursday (May 14)
1 p.m. ET — Camilo

Friday (May 15)
1 p.m. ET —  Noah Cyrus