When they released “MMMBop” in 1997, Hanson became an instant pop phenomenon, and Isaac, Taylor and Zac Hanson still are delivering smartly crafted pop on their latest disc, “The Walk.” See Hanson at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 19 on the Toyota Stage at the Oklahoma State Fair. For more information, go online to www.okstatefair.com.

Source

3.Hanson, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 19. Tulsa’s Taylor, Isaac and Zac Hanson kicked off the ’90s teen-pop trend with their inescapable 1997 summer hit, “MMMBop,” and its follow-ups, “Where’s the Love” and “Weird.” The brothers have since grown up, and their music has evolved, but Hanson still generates excitement with their effervescent stage show.

Source

When they emerged with the 1997 hit album, Middle of Nowhere, it wasn’t unfair to lump Hanson into the same category as other boy bands.

They had all the gooey harmonies of bands such as N’Sync, they were undeniably in the realm of harmless school girl-friendly pop and, unlike some of their peers, they were actually boys.

Never mind being old enough to vote or even drive a car. At age 11, singer/drummer Zac Hanson would have just barely finished passing under the, “you must be this tall to go on this ride” cut-outs at the local fair.

A DIFFERENT WORLD

Today, it’s a different world and boy bands don’t command the charts the way they once did.

Playing the Edmonton Event Centre tomorrow night, Hanson seems poised to outlive them all, with more than a decade and a lot of lessons learned.

“If we have any longevity at this point, I think it’s because we followed our own gut and never catered inappropriately to other people,” says Isaac Hanson. For Isaac, writing their own songs and playing their own instruments has allowed the band to form a more honest connection to their music.

“That doesn’t mean that there aren’t incredible artists who take others’ songs and make them their own,” says Isaac. “Look at Aretha Franklin, for example.”

LEARNING THE HARD WAY

It also doesn’t mean there aren’t potential pitfalls to sticking to your own material, too. Hanson learned this the hard way when the band’s label, Island/Def Jam, began rejecting dozens of songs meant for the group’s sophomore major-label effort, This Time Around.

“We had a very negative situation,” says Isaac. “It was the whole hip-hop label, pop rock band thing and it didn’t work out too well.”

Or did it?

The experience forced the brothers to start an independent label, 3CG, home to Hanson’s latest record The Walk. Today they are in a good place.

Sure, the band’s playing the EEC in West Edmonton Mall instead of Rexall Place, but Isaac says they’d rather have a fulfilling career than launch hit-or-miss attempts at platinum record status every time they exit the studio.

And if The Walk is any indicator, the benefits of that kind of freedom may reach beyond Hanson’s own bank accounts.

Not requiring an iota of buy-in from anyone else to do so, Hanson returned from a trip from Africa with the sudden urge to create Great Divide, an aid-generating song – in the smooth pop style you’d expect – that utilized a recording of African school children.

From there, they just ran with it.

Source

From Portland Life:

On Sunday, Sept. 7, 250 people gathered outside the Aladdin Theater singing, chanting and holding signs as they walked one mile. But this wasn’t a picket line, it was a celebration — the band Hanson was in town.

“Everyone say, ‘I took the walk,’” lead singer Taylor Hanson yelled into a megaphone while walking down Southeast Milwaukie Avenue.

Portland marked the trio’s 69th mile walked alongside fans to raise money for clean water, education, shoes, AIDS treatment and healthcare in South Africa. The band, currently touring in support of their newest album, “The Walk,” has embraced the concept of using their fans and influence to stage one-mile walks before each show. The brothers — singer/keyboardist Taylor, 25; guitarist Isaac Hanson, 27 and drummer Zac Hanson, 22 — donate one dollar on behalf of each fan that walks this mile with them. And Hanson walks without shoes.

“You build up a tolerance,” Taylor said. “It’s not too bad. The reason we walk barefoot is to feel the needs of someone else.”

Hanson has teamed up with TOMS Shoes — a company that donates one pair of shoes for every pair that is purchased. With Hanson’s help they have already donated 50,000 pairs of shoes in South Africa.

“You see that one dollar is making a difference, or one pair of shoes. We want to encourage you guys,” Taylor said into his megaphone on the Portland walk. “We’re going to walk around the world.”

The band hopes to have fans walk a total of 24,902 miles — the distance around the world — for which they will donate money.

For the rest of the article, please visit the Source

Here is an excerpt from a Calgary Sun article. Both Hanson and Elton John are playing Calgary tonight, so the Sun is weighing the pros and cons of each show.

ELTON VS HANSON

Still haven’t made up your mind yet about what to do on this fine Friday night?

You might be interested in tracking down tickets to one of two big names playing in town tonight.

Page Six would like to simplify your decision between the two major musical acts by weighing the pros and cons in what is a world first as far as we know…

– Elton John is at the Dome for a pretty penny, between $79 and $149, Hanson is at MacEwan Hall for $34.50. Both still have seats available. Point Hanson for affordability.

– Sir Elton Hercules John, born Reginald Kenneth Dwight, doesn’t go by his real name. Neither do the oldest two Hanson boys Clarke Isaac and Jordan Taylor Hanson. Seems the only real dude here is littlest MmmBopper Zachary Walker. Point Hanson for authenticity.

– While Elton was lucky enough to secure a dot-com behind his name, the Hanson boys were not so fortunate. They had to settle with .net instead. Point Elton.org.

– Elton’s voice has changed over the years as a result of his bout with throat cancer. The Hansons’ voices also changed as a result of them not being 11 any more. While Elton’s name has remained the same for decades, The Hanson Brothers shortened their name to simply Hanson to reflect their mature new sound. Point Elton.

– While Elton has had more than 50 Top 40 hits, Hanson really hit it out of the park with one single solitary chart-topper. It was a catchy little tune with lots of layers, plenty of deep thoughts and a clever name called MMMBop. Point Hanson.

– Hanson is back on tour following their temporary 2007 touring hiatus due to eldest brother Isaac’s repetitive motion MMMBopping injury and subsequent pulmonary embolism. Elton is fresh on tour following his 60th birthday in 2007, celebrated by the release of his entire back catalogue — almost 500 songs from 32 albums — becoming available for legal download. Point Elton.

– While Elton Week was informally celebrated back in 1970s England, it doesn’t hold a candle in the wind to Hanson Day — officially declared by the governor of Oklahoma to be May 6, 1997. Point Hanson.

– Elton has been heavily involved in the fight against AIDS since the late 1980s, and was knighted in 1998. Hanson successfully launched MOE, a fan club magazine that ran for 12 issues. Point Elton.

– Elton sings about Daniel, his hypothetical brother, while the Hanson boys really are brothers. Point Hanson.

– At the height of his flamboyancy, Elton released the album Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy. Hanson attempted to be slightly more subtle with their private lives and preferences, opting instead to quietly grow their hair out and disguise themselves as females with high voices who loved to harmonize. Point Elton.

– John’s career took a hit after 1976, and in November 1977 he announced he was retiring from performing. Hanson became an overnight sensation with the worldwide success of MMMBop, only to be begged to retire weeks later after legions of fans discovered that not only were there no actual words in MMMBop, but that they might actually have been The Hanson Sisters the entire time. Point Elton.

– John has inspired many musicians over the years, particularly Rufus Wainwright, Thom Yorke (Radiohead), Billie-Joe Armstrong (Green Day), Dave Mustaine (Megadeth), and Axl Rose (Guns N’ Roses). Hanson has also inspired many, notably their four other siblings and dozens of Oklahomans from Tulsa. Point Elton.

Looks like it ends up Elton – 7, Hanson – 5, but it seems like this writer was unaware that Hanson is also involved in the fight against AIDs. And does it really count that they called themselves “The Hanson Brothers” waaaaaaaaaay back when? Long before they were signed and had their hit with MMMBop? I guess so! 😉

Source has the full article.

The Backstreet Boys perform Tuesday at the Saddledome. Hanson performs Sept. 12 at MacEwan Hall. New Kids on the Block perform at the Saddledome on Nov. 19.

Just over a year ago, being part of a boy band was considered to be the dorkiest gig in pop.

Unless your name was Justin Timberlake, the mid-2000s was a cruel time for those who rode the boy-band boom of the late ’90s.

The Backstreet Boys and Hanson struggled to launch comebacks and found it hard to buck the lame-o stigma of having been a part of the dreaded pre-teen pop trend.

For the rest of the article, head to the Source