Hanson
+ Zinc
Thebarton Theatre, Sat 4 June

One thing that has to be said about this gig is that the audience (predominately young and female) would have to be the screamiest crowd I've ever been amongst. Even for the support act Zinc, the venue was alive with the shrill sound of excited shrieks and squeals as these three young lads from Sydney took to the stage to deliver a loose, but nonetheless well-received set. Other than being very talented songwriters that know how to piece together a catchy tune; brothers Mark (acoustic guitar) and John (guitar/keyboards) O'Shea, and their mate Adam Ray (tambourine) also had good looks and all the right moves on their side as they alternated vocal duties on songs from their recent debut album, 'Makingsenseofmadness', ending their show with the lead single, Inside.

After a quick step outside to the foyer, we returned to see the still tightly packed front of the floor space all harmoniously joining in to the sounds of Powderfinger's My Happiness as it was being played over the PA. This good cheered gesture of unison from the crowd perfectly demonstrated the overall vibe of the night, and Hanson were yet to appear. To tell you the truth, one would not have known the opening number if one couldn't see the setlist upon the mixing desk from one's seat.

The reception was deafening, as first Isaac and Zack took to their positions, but it was the calculated belated entry of middle-child, and obvious heartthrob, Taylor that really got the girls keyed up. "Hanson Rox My Sox" read one banner, with the reverse side stating that, "Hanson Can MMMBop Me Anytime". It was also amusing to watch the sound guy work hard to raise the stage levels above the crowd's boisterousness as the trio, joined by a second guitarist and bass player, began the show modestly with Dancing In The Wind, Minute Without You and Strong Enough To Break, with the first of their better known songs, Where's The Love, really opening up the house.

A couple more picks before Isaac and Taylor stepped off stage to allow Zack a turn at the grand piano for Broken Angel, soon after giving the seat up for Taylor as he sang Elvis Presley's Love Me. All back on board for Underneath, early single Crazy Beautiful and their latest Penny And Me, with MMMBop appearing somewhere near the end of the main set with the expected response. Their one song enore of Danny Flower's Tulsa Time saw a few lines of boot-scooters form amongst the crowd.

What surprised me most about Hanson live was how much of their presence was dedicated to the music. There was no onstage smoke and mirrors; just serious musicians who, without the use of a fancy light rig or other cheap triggers to mask any shortcomings, gave an honest show that relied on genuine talent. And I was there.

Steve Jones