By Hillary Lipko
Contributing Writer
ATLANTA
November 7, 2003

No, they're not dead; yes, they're still making music; and no, they're not little kids anymore. Just like everyone else in the past six years, the boys of Hanson have grown up, and they're no longer just your little sister's band.

The men of Hanson sat onstage at Earthlink Live last Wednesday night with little more than a few acoustic guitars, a grand piano, a small drum kit and some percussion doodads. They wowed the sold-out crowd with an hour and a half acoustic set that had been three years in the making.

After splitting with their record label late last year, citing creative differences, Hanson's music has taken a new direction. As evidenced by Wednesday's show, even the songs that were once pure pop have taken on a folksy, blues rock style comparable to that of The Band or the Eagles.

Veteran fans wondered if the rock show put on by Hanson on previous tours was possible with acoustic instruments. New fans and curious listeners wondered if a Hanson rock show was possible at all. As the evening wore on, both groups discovered that the answer to both questions was yes.

After the audience enthusiastically welcomed Hanson back to Atlanta, the band opened the show with a song called "Down," which had never before been played in concert. The group continued with a set that consisted mainly of new songs, several of which are to be included on Hanson's forthcoming album, Underneath.

Also included in the set were some old favorites and a few covers, the most notable of which was the band's rendition of Crosby, Stills and Nash's "Teach Your Children."

Since the show was two days before Halloween, Hanson decided to keep with the spirit by walking onstage for an encore wearing masks and playing a rather humorous cover of Christina Aguilera's song "Dirrty."

From the more mature versions of their older music to the song that Taylor dedicated to his wife, the set that the brothers played showed that they have finally reached a place where they are comfortable artistically, musically and personally.

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