Hanson tries to win back fame at Emory
DUC show attracts herd of more than 500

By Supriya Kotagal
Staff writer
March 04, 2005

It has been years since former teenybopper group Hanson has had a reign on popular music. Jokes about their “girly” appearance and excessive play in magazines like Teen Beat escorted them swiftly out of the spotlight.

But in front of more than 500 people at the Dobbs University Center on Monday, they took a step toward their goal to trace back to their past success.

Now taking on a more indie image and sound, the three brothers are traversing college campuses to garner support from students.

As part of their visit to the University, Hanson held an impromptu concert at one of campus’s most high-traffic student buildings.

Taylor Hanson stood on the steps facing the Coke Commons with his brothers Isaac and Zac.

“You guys like music, right?” he asked, guitar in hand.

From the DUC’s bottom floor and the balcony that hovered above came a resounding, “Yeah!”

Students watched with cameras and camcorders poised as Taylor engaged the crowd, asking people what type of music they listened to.

“Well, we’re here because we really feel that you have the responsibility to support the music you love,” Taylor said.

Hanson played three songs and a snippet of their 1997 hit single, “MmmBop.”

The brothers then signed autographs and posed for pictures with students for about 20 minutes.

The band’s publicist, Jason Spies, distributed free copies of the band’s new album, Underneath, and pictures of the band during the performance.

College freshman Dean Yazback said he thinks Hanson might have a chance at reinventing themselves in the public sphere.

“I think they have gone through a transition from their ‘MmmBop’ days, but I can respect their new sound — they’re pretty fresh,” Yazback said.

This concert — one of many they will play at college campuses across the country — was only part of the reason that Hanson came to Emory.

They said they are on a mission to get college students to take an active role in changing today’s music industry.

During a two-hour interview with WMRE, the band talked about everything from their transition from the record label Island Def Jam to their own independent label, their musical influences and what they think is wrong with the recording industry today.

Between answering questions, Hanson provided WMRE listeners with music from some of their favorite independent groups.

Spies first approached WMRE General Manager Spencer Koch, a College senior, and Programming Director Trish Harris, a College junior, with the prospect of a radio interview in late January.

College senior Erica Davis, WMRE’s personnel director, and College junior Melissa Roy volunteered later to conduct the interview.

“Their publicist kept talking about how he thought Emory was a really cool, chill school,” Harris said.

Harris said she thinks Hanson also came with the intention of promoting other independent artists and introducing their new sound to an age group they consider to be promising supporters.

“They’re aiming at their primary audience and working on getting out their new image in any latitude,” Harris said.

Harris said she was pleased with the amount of people who attended the performance.

“We’ll definitely consider doing something like this in the future,” she said. “It’s a good opportunity to get WMRE out there.”