Journal Sentinel

The Wisconsin State Fair has something for headbangers, Hanson fans and everyone in between at the Associated Bank Amphitheater for 2018.

The largest “free” stage — with all shows included with fair admission — features “MMMBop” brothers Hanson; Slaughter with Autograph; and Venezuelan band Los Amigos Invisibles — playing different shows of course.

There’ll be a strong Wisconsin showing on the stage, with Milwaukee music scene stars Abby Jeanne and Tigernite headlining opening night; Goran and Morgan from breakout local band the Gufs; and the annual Kids from Wisconsin showcase, tied to the organization’s 50th anniversary.

The lineup includes:

Aug. 2: Abby Jeanne and Tigernite (8 p.m.)

Aug. 3 and 4: Here Come the Mummies (8:30 p.m.)

Aug. 5: Kids from Wisconsin (8 p.m.)

Aug. 6: Goran and Morgan of the Gufs (8 p.m.)

Aug. 7 and 8: Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone (8 p.m.)

Aug. 9: Los Amigos Invisibles (8 p.m.)

Aug. 10: Hair at the Fair featuring Slaughter with Autograph (7 p.m.)

Aug. 11: Hanson (8:30 p.m.)

Aug. 12: Physique Championships (6 p.m.)

Nearly all of the individually ticketed concerts at the Wisconsin State Fair’s Main Stage have been previously announced, including Reba McEntire, Cole Swindell, TLC with En Vogue, Alice Cooper and Why Don’t We.

Billboard

If there’s one thing we’ve learned about pop music over the last half-century, it’s that while the boy band might not always be at pop’s center, it’s somewhere orbiting around it — and will be back soon enough.

From the early ’70s to the mid ’80s to the late ’90s to the early ’10s to now, boy bands have seemingly always arrived in American pop culture in waves, crashing onto our shores suddenly and dramatically. Sometimes they come from elsewhere — the U.K., Korea, even nearby Latin America — and sometimes they spring up locally, from unexpected hotspots like Gary, Indiana; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Orlando, Florida. But each time they come, pop music is never the same afterwards — nor are the lives of tens of millions of screaming young’ns whose early adolescences will come to be defined by their songs.

The Guardian

‘Taylor’s voice was breaking as we were recording. We got a vocal coach in and tried to catch him on a good day. But in the end, we cheated and slowed the tape down’

  Infuriating Jon Bon Jovi … Taylor, Isaac and Zac Hanson in 1997. Photograph: Mike Prior/Redferns

Isaac Hanson, songwriter

We were home-schooled and spent a lot of time reading poetry and listening to rock’n’roll. Although our dad was an accountant, he’d studied ballet at college and had wanted to be a poet. Both our parents were really supportive. They tolerated the drum-set in the living room of our house in Oklahoma – despite people in church circles saying things like: “Why would you form a band? It’s awfully dangerous.”

I was 14, and my brothers Taylor and Zac were 12 and 10 respectively. We listened to a lot of doo-wop, which influenced the chorus of MMMBop. We were trying to write a part for another song and came up with this catchy hook, but it didn’t really fit. Much, much later, I said to the guys: “Remember that hook? It really sticks in your head. We need to find a way to use it.” Then, as we were getting ready for bed, we all sang it together in the bathroom.

A few days later, Taylor was sitting at the keyboard with an intense look on his face. “I have an idea,” he said. “We can make this song about life – and all the rejection we’re feeling.” And he played what became the first verse and a half of MMMBop: “You have so many relationships in this life / Only one or two will last / You go through all the pain and strife / Then you turn your back and they’re gone so fast.”

The chorus might be effusive – “Mmmbop, ba duba dop / Ba du bop, ba duba dop” – but the song is about how in an instant you will be old and grey, so you have to make decisions you feel good about before it is too late.

We recorded it in a one-car garage, put it on an independent album and sold several thousand copies at local gigs. The original version was slower and more brooding, but it was rejected by all the record companies until it fell into the hands of Mercury, who felt they could turn it into a hit.

I’m in my 30s now. I still relate to the song and I’m very proud of it. It’s given us a long career doing what we love doing. We get to stay kids for life.

Steve Greenberg, executive producer

When I heard the original recording, I thought: “No one is doing anything like that.” I went to see them at a county fair in Coffeyville, Kansas, in the middle of nowhere – and signed them straight away.

I had an advance copy of Beck’s album Odelay. The production, by the Dust Brothers, was amazing. I wanted them to produce a new version of MMMBop, but then Odelay came out and the Dust Brothers were suddenly hot. They lost interest in the project after two days in the studio, but it was enough time to get the drums and bass down and maybe some guitars.

I asked Steve Lironi, who had produced Black Grape, to finish it, but Steve didn’t do the vocals, which had to be painstakingly pieced together by another producer, Mark Hudson. As we were recording, Taylor’s voice was breaking. He could barely sing MMMBop in the original key, which I really wanted to keep because it had sounded so exciting.

We tried everything. We got a vocal coach in and would try to catch Taylor on a good day, recording a single line, then trying another on a different day. There was one really high note in the second verse that he was obviously never going to reach again. So for that one note we cheated, slowing the tape down so he could sing it and then speeding it back up. The band never sang it live in that original key again.

MMMBop is catchy and fun, but it is also a profound song about what’s important in life – written by children. I can’t imagine being involved in making a better single. At the time, I was also working with Jon Bon Jovi, who’s really competitive. I was in a car with him in London when the charts came on the radio. His Midnight in Chelsea came in at No 4, making it his highest-charting solo single. Everyone was high-fiving. Then the DJ said Hanson had gone straight in at No 1. The whole car fell silent.

• Middle of Everywhere: The Greatest Hits is out now. The band’s Hop Jam festival in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is on 20 May. Details: hanson.net.

Disney Parks Blog

Regular readers of the blog know that music is an integral part of the Epcot “festival” experience.

And, we’re excited to give you an update on the “Eat to the Beat” concert series for this year’s Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, coming this fall.

New to this year’s concert series will be percussionist extraordinaire and singer Sheila E and ‘80s Canadian rockers Glass Tiger. 98 Degrees – featuring brothers and “Dancing With the Stars” alums Nick and Drew Lachey – also bring their smooth harmonies to the festival. Maybe they’ll sing “True To Your Heart” from Disney’s “Mulan”? And, if that weren’t enough, entertainer Jim Belushi brings his rhythm-and-blues band The Sacred Hearts to the festival this year.

This year’s lineup also will include two Contemporary Christian music artists: MercyMe, who successfully branched out from music this year with the hit film based on lead singer Bart Mallard’s life called “I Can Only Imagine”; and former “Royal Tailor” front man Tauren Wells, who has found mainstream success this year, touring with Mariah Carey and Lionel Richie.

Returning favorites include ‘80s pop stars Tiffany and Billy Ocean, ’90s hit makers like Hanson and Everclear; and swing-meisters Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, who close out the festival as they have for the last couple of years.

The lineup so far is:

• 8/30-31 – Blue October – “Into the Ocean”
• 9/1-3 – Tiffany – “I Think We’re Alone Now”
• 9/4-5 – MercyMe – “I Can Only Imagine” NEW
• 9/6-7 – Glass Tiger – “Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone) NEW
• 9/8-9 – Tauren Wells – “Hills and Valleys” NEW
• 9/10-11 – Postmodern Jukebox
• 9/12-13 – TBD
• 9/14-16 – Baha Men – “Who Let The Dogs Out”
• 9/17-19 – TBD
• 9/20-21 – Living Color – “Cult of Personality”
• 9/22-23 – Sheila E – “The Glamorous Life” NEW
• 9/24-26 – Sugar Ray – “Every Morning”
• 9/27-28 – David Cook – “Light On”
• 9/29-30 – Jeffrey Osbourne – “On The Wings of Love”
• 10/1-2 – Jim Belushi & The Sacred Hearts – Various Hits
• 10/3-4 – Everclear – “Santa Monica”
• 10/5-7 – Mark Wills – “19 Somethin’”
• 10/8-10 – Air Supply – “All Out Of Love”
• 10/11-12 – TBD
• 10/13-14 – TBD
• 10/15-16 – 98 Degrees – “Give Me Just One Night (Una Noche)” NEW
• 10/17-18 – 38 Special – “Hold On Loosely”
• 10/19-21 – Devon Allman Project – “Ragged and Dirty”
• 10/22-23 – TBD
• 10/24-25 – Billy Ocean – “Get Outta My Dreams”
• 10/26-28 – Starship featuring Mickey Thomas – “We Built This City”
• 10/29-31 – Hanson – “MMMBop”
• 11/1-2 – TBD
• 11/3-4 – Taylor Dayne – “Prove Your Love”
• 11/5-7 – Boyz II Men – “End Of The Road”
• 11/8-9 – The Hooters – “And We Danced”
• 11/10-12 – Big Bad Voodoo Daddy – “Go Daddy-O

The festival’s 23rd year runs from August 30 to November 12, 2018.

For more information on the Festival, check out TasteEpcot.com and stay tuned to the Disney Parks Blog for updates on this year’s celebrity chef events, “Eat to the Beat” dining packages, special events and other fun.

– SATURDAY, MAY 19TH, 2018 – 8:30 PM TO 10:30 PM (CDT) –

UPMatters

Escanaba, Michigan — The brothers who make up pop-rock trio, HANSON, will be playing music together on Thursday, August 16 at the U.P. State Fair.

HANSON was founded in 1992 when Issac, Taylor and Zac were just 11, 9, and 6. By 1997 they were considered the ’90s era version of the Jackson 5 when they came storming out of Tulsa, Oklahoma blowing up with the smash hit, “MMMBop.”

Since then, the brothers continue to make music together, with an increasingly mature sound.

“MMMBop” earned three Grammy nominations and reached No. 1 in 27 countries. 2013’s “Anthem” hit No. 22 on the Billboard 200, making it their 8th album to chart on the Top 40. The album’s, “Get the Girl Back,” charted at No. 39 on the Adult Pop Songs chart – their first single in over 9 years to chart on the Billboard Chart.

They have also founded the Hanson Brothers Beer Company and established The Hot Jam Beer and Music Festival, which draws 40,000 attendees. In 2017 they celebrated the band’s 25th anniversary with a worldwide tour. This trio of brother, although never driven by trends or fame have sold over 16 million records worldwide.

Grandstand Entertainment at the U.P. State Fair is free with paid admission. A limited number of Gold Circle tickets for up close seating are available by contacting the presenting sponsor, Island Resort and Casino at 877-475-7469 or online at islandresortandcasino.com.