Hanson will be performing at the Bijou Theatre on Monday, promoting the release of its fourth studio album, “The Walk.”

Made up of brothers Isaac, Taylor and Zac, Hanson began as a garage band in Tulsa, Okla. When the group first formed in 1992, Isaac was 16, Taylor was 13 and Zac was 11.

“The way we started is a little indefinable,” Zac Hanson said. “Harmonizing seemed natural to us and then we picked up instruments. We tried to copy original rock ‘n’ roll.”

In fact, Zac cites artists like Chuck Berry, Aretha Franklin and the Beach Boys as the band’s musical influences.

“We listened to mostly late ‘50s and early ‘60s music. It was music a generation before our parents,” Zac said.

Zac said they played about 100 shows a year and released three independent albums before making their big break.

“We were a band for five years before we were big,” Zac said. “It was definitely not an instant success for us. It was a work in progress.”

That big break came in 1997 when the band gained worldwide popularity with the hit single “MMMBop” off its debut studio album “Middle of Nowhere.”

“Success for us was something that caught us off guard,” Zac said.

Hanson’s latest album, the second to be released on its own independent label, moves toward an indie direction, extending from the usual pop-rock sound.

“I think our music has definitely evolved,” Zac said. “We never tried to stay the same but rather push ourselves to be inspired, to find the next new thing. You don’t want to let people put you in a box of a certain style. It’s possible to change perceptions.”

On “The Walk” tour, the band has teamed with the charity organization Tom’s Shoes in an effort to promote aid to Africa. Before every concert, Hanson will take a one-mile barefoot walk with fans. The band will be doing the walk in Knoxville as well. “The idea is to get people moving away from just being aware and to take simple actions right now,” Zac said.

“Every city seems to think their city is too dirty to walk barefoot, but it’s about walking regardless,” Zac said. “It’s walking a mile in someone else’s shoes, or in this case lack of shoes.”

All proceeds from the sale of the single, “Great Divide,” on iTunes will be donated to an African AIDS relief organization.

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