The longevity of teenage bands on the whole is not promising. Often they are famous for being a one or two-hit-wonder, marketed by some conglomerate mega-company like Disney. They tour for a couple of years if that and then just fade away. This is not the case with Hanson, who after ten years still has it together now even more than ever and has not succumbed to the transient pop boy band.

This is the first time I saw Hanson. I took my daughter who is a huge Jonas Brothers fan and really was not familiar with these pop icons of the late 1990’s but wanted to go and check it out. We got to the venue called Showcase Live located next to Gillette Stadium and did not realize what a great show this would be. Two opening acts preceded Hanson: Everybody Else, a pop trio from LA who had made me envious of their endless energy on stage. Lead singer Garrick Moore Gerety along with drummer Mickey McCormack and bass player Austin James Williams took a fresh and honest approach to their music, incorporating some of their numerous musical influences like Nirvana, the Clash, and a Boston favorite, the Cars and gelled it all together in one unique style. Their new song Meat Market (I’ve been playing it constantly while writing this review-check it out on YouTube) is very catchy, addicting, and a feel good danceable number with amazing vocals. Trust me, this song will be huge. The next performer, Dave Barnes, with his band, stepped up and played some great Rhythm and Blues, getting the crowd going and laughing too. Barnes has a great sense of humor and actually has done stand up comedy in the past and after his set was meeting and greeting his new and old fans and signing his new CD.

After a short break, Hanson appeared, all grown up. But although the band was older, they are certainly wiser and never lost their sense of individuality. In terms of musical advancements they have matured and seemed to be at ease on stage as their dedicated fans cheered, chanted, smiled, and seemed to have given them the euphoric rock star high that they are so deserving of. Isaac on guitar, Zac on drums, and Taylor on keyboards along with two additional musicians took us on a musical history of what this band came from, where it is now and where it is going. Having experienced bad luck with major record labels for a number of years, they finally turned things around by starting their own indie label 3CG Records, allowing them to have the creative freedom they were starving for which was imminent in their newly released album The Walk. In the 20 plus song set, they managed a well-distributed variety of their music from past and present that included songs from Middle of Nowhere, their first commercial album, as well as including cuts from This Time Around and Underneath. Also included in the set was a great cover version of Hole in my Life, by The Police and I Want to Take You Higher, the 1969 funky, blues song by Sly and the Family Stone. I have always been leery of bands doing covers but these songs were executed perfectly. In addition to being great musicians, these brothers have an incredible range of vocals that compliments each other to a tee.

Continue reading →

Gapers Block has a great piece on Hanson, the band.

Hanson is a great case study for the music business and the business business. They’re a group of guys — brothers, no less — who love what they do and don’t care what you think. They’ve built a deeply loyal fan base, they’ve built a great business, and they’ve been able to mobilize their fans to support causes that the band — and their fans — believe in.

And they’ve done all this after being written off and largely ignored.

What I found most impressive about the story is how dedicated they are to their community. They are part of the community, not just facilitators of the community. For example, to promote charity, and their “Walk Around the World” tour, they are walking a mile with their fans before each show. For each mile walked, the band donates one dollar on the walker’s behalf to one of five causes the walker can choose from. That’s just cool.

I think the whole Hanson story is simple one of dedication, product, and patience. They’re dedicated to their music, they put out a solid product, and their patience has allowed them to sustain long-term success. They’ve made it on their own terms on their own schedule.

Sidenote: In a strange set of circumstances involving Ryan Singer and his former employer, I happened to go see a Hanson show at the House of Blues in Chicago a few years ago. I was impressed and thoroughly entertained. I also got a chance to meet the guys and was impressed by their down to earth nature and genuine love for what they get to do every night. They love their music, they love their fans, their fans love them, and their fans love their music. It’s the perfect loop.

Source