Article: Soundcheck with Hanson: Live at the Variety Playhouse

By | October 7, 2008

When the Paste multimedia brigade arrived to catch Hanson’s soundcheck at the Variety Playhouse yesterday afternoon, a crowd of twenty or thirty young women were already gathered on the sidewalk in front of the venue. Some were reclining in folding lawn chairs; others were leaning against the building, soaking up the late-afternoon sunlight, settling in for the long haul and shooting us pointed glances as we slipped through the doors that wouldn’t technically open for another four hours.

Inside the empty venue, the house lights were all up, band gear was strewn across the floor where hundreds of fans would later gather in fervent droves, and some non-fraternal bandmates were jamming to a thick, funky bassline and intermittent bursts of jokey synth-sax on stage. The brothers emerged (more friendly and less blonde than expected), hands were shaken (one tiny victory for my twelve-year-old self!) and the strange fiddly, tweaky process of sound-check began. There was some issue with a keyboard (it was turned off) but once that was fixed (solution: turn it on), we caught the guys playing a new track, “Follow Your Lead,” plus “Great Divide,” from 2006’s The Walk.

As we were wrapping up, a slew of women (plus two guys– we counted) were being escorted into the middle rows for a photograph of all the participants in a one-mile barefoot walk the band had sponsored that afternoon in Atlanta. Turns out, they host one at almost every tour stop to raise awareness for global poverty, education and AIDS initiatives. Whatever you once thought of “MMMBop,” you’ve got to applaud a band for using its clout for such serious good.

Outside, the line was longer than I’d ever seen for any other Variety show, spooling well down the block with three hours to go. We couldn’t make it out to the show, but we’ll be sharing our sound-check footage with you this week. Our footage of their second take of “Follow Your Lead” is live for your enjoyment today, with “The Great Divide” coming soon.

Head to the source for a video!

Article: Lavendar Menace: Hanson is still alive and kicking (ass)

By | October 7, 2008

Taylor Hanson is one reason why I had a hard time coming out as a lesbian.

Like many other pre-teen girls in 1997, I was sucked into Hanson’s infectious hit “Mmmbop.” Shortly after I acquired a cassette tape of that first album, full-blown obsession ensued. I plastered my bedroom walls with tear-out posters from magazines like Bop and TigerBeat. I had an entire box of floppy disks full of pictures of Taylor-my favorite-that I had downloaded from the newfangled Internet. My friends and I would gush about which brother we would marry in between bites of PB&J in the school cafeteria. Eventually I had to save up my precious allowance to buy their album on CD because my cassette copy was burnt out from nonstop play. Sadly though, I never did get to see them perform live. That is, until this Friday.

That’s right-after eleven years of undying devotion, I’m finally getting to see Hanson in concert.

Most people laugh when they hear me talk about it because they’re surprised Hanson is still around (and because of the deviance from my normal taste in music). So let me just say once and for all: yes, they’re still around. In fact, they’re fiercely talented musicians and song stylists who released three more studio albums since that fateful first. They are also making a name for themselves in the world of philanthropy with their work toward ending AIDS and poverty in Africa.

Of course I’m stoked for the concert, but I can’t say the same for my girlfriend. This will be the second concert that I have had to drag her to within the past year (the first was Smashing Pumpkins last November). This time, it isn’t because she doesn’t like the music-it’s because she knows I’ll be swooning over Taylor Hanson the whole time.

I’m not sure why Taylor transcends sexuality lines for me, but I have never gotten over my schoolgirl crush on him. He’s just so beautiful. And that voice; I could go on about that forever. I guess there are some things that just can’t be explained-like a couple of dykes at a Hanson concert.

Read all about the concert at Brook’s blog: brook-taylor.blogspot.com

For more information on Hanson, visit www.hanson.net

Source

Article: Hanson resonates with a new crowd

By | October 7, 2008

By any standard, it was a formidable line of fans waiting for a show at the mammoth South By Southwest Music Conference this past March in Austin, Texas.

The object of their devotion was not some new indie-minded trend-setter, but Hanson.

Yes, the trio of Oklahoma-bred brothers who gave us “MMMBop” are cool again, basking in critical praise for their latest independently released album, The Walk, and courting a mix of old and new fans on the road. (Hanson performs Thursday at House of Blues at Downtown Disney.)

Always a magnet for screaming girls, brothers Isaac, Taylor and Zac — now ages 27, 25 and 22, respectively — are looking out at a different niche in concert crowds: guys about their age, with their own bands.

Continue reading

Atlanta 10/6/08

By | October 7, 2008

1. Something Going Round
2. Higher (cover)
3. Been There Before
4. Where’s the Love
5. Follow Your Lead
6. Deeper
7. Great Divide
8. Penny & Me (acoustic)
9. Georgia (acoustic)
10. Go (acoustic)
11. Being Me (Isaac solo)
12. Where Did it Start (Zac Solo)
13. Soulshine (cover)
14. Blue Sky
15. A Minute Without You
16. Hope it Comes Soon
17. Running Man
18. Oh Darlin (cover)
19. MMMBop
20. Can’t Stop
21. If Only
22. Hey

Encore
23. Coming Back for More

Article: The Five Is Back!

By | October 6, 2008

It’s been so long, too long, but I’m back with your daily pop culture dose, starting right now.
Deepest apologies to any Five readers out there for being away for an entire month. I had this mega-huge project about lung cancer I had to devote practically all of my time too (check out my special series by clicking here).

Then, as soon as that was over, my computer crashed, delaying my blog postings for another week.

But we’re up and running now. Presenting the first post since August.

MUSIC MONDAY – HANSON. MORE THAN JUST “MMMBop.”

Hanson? Really? They’re still around?

Continue reading

Week at a glance…

By | October 6, 2008

Monday October 6 – Atlanta, GA
Walk: 2pm Rialto Theater

Tuesday October 7 – Birmingham, AL
Walk: 3pm Workplay Theater

Wednesday October 8 – Members Only Event Orlando, FL
Walk: No official Hanson walk, but there will be a fan walk at Downtown Disney

Thursday October 9 – Orlando, FL
Walk: 3pm House of Blues

Friday October 10 – Charlotte, NC
Walk: 4pm House of Blues

Saturday October 11 – travel

Sunday October 12 – State College, PA
Walk: 3pm State Theater

It’s the walk bus week! It will be interesting to see how that all works out.

Louisville Setlist 10/4/08

By | October 4, 2008

1. Something Going Round
2. Higher (cover)
3. Been There Before
4. Wheres The Love
5. Follow Your Lead
6. Deeper
7. Great Divide
8. Penny and Me
9. Go
10. I Will Come To You
11. Where Did It Start (Zac Solo)
12. Soul Shine (cover)
13. Blue Sky
14. Hope It Comes Soon
15. A Minute Without You
16. Running Man
17. Oh Darlin’ (cover)
18. MMMBop
19. Watch Over Me

Encore
20. Rock N Roll Razorblade

Calling all L.A. fans!

By | October 4, 2008

Want to see a special live performance by the band Hanson on Talkshow with Spike Feresten!

TALKSHOW WITH SPIKE FERESTEN boldly goes where other talk shows have gone before, only faster. Late-ni
When: Thu Nov 13, 2008
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Arrival Time: 6:00 PM

Click for Tickets!

Nashville 10/3/08

By | October 4, 2008

1.  Something Goin Round
2.  Higher (cover)
3.  Been there before
4.  If only
5.  You never know
6.  Follow your lead
7.  Great Divide
8.  Stong enough to break (acoustic)
9.  Underneath (acoustic)
10.  Change in my life (acoustic)
11.  Fire on the mountain (Zac solo – acoustic)
12.  Hope it comes soon
13.  Blue sky
14.  Minute w/o you
15.  Get up and go
16.  Where did it start (taylor on drums)
17.  Soul Shine (Allman Bros cover)
18.  Hey
19.  MMMBop
20.  Can’t stop
21. Watch Over Me

Encore:
22. Coming Back for More
23. Lost Without Each Other

This Week At HNET

By | October 4, 2008

Hanson.net has sent out their weekly newsletter. Some highlights:

  • 19,306 more miles to go on the Walk Around The World
  • The EP will continue to have free shipping for US orders, however in order to not loose out on money for the cause, International orders will need to pay shipping.  (All orders before 9/30 will have the free shipping honored)
  • Card scanning is still going on at the upcoming shows.  Get your card scanned at the merch booth and be entered for the chance for FREE MERCH!
  • A new Fire On The Mountain shirt is slated to be released at the Orlando members only event.  Other new merch will make its debut at this event as well!
  • More exciting things should be happening at HNet this month – including a new video and new live music!