Hanson
August 25, House of Blues Courtyard (3stars)
By Josh Bell

Photo by keith shimada

"You're going to see Hanson?"

Yes.

"You're going to a Hanson concert?"

Yes. Yes, I am.

"Really?"

Yes, really.

"Why?"

OK. Maybe that's a more valid question. Why am I going to see Hanson, trio of blond-haired, mop-topped brothers from Oklahoma, singers of relentlessly catchy nonsense hit "MMMBop," widely credited with (or blamed for) the rise of teen pop?

You ready?

Because they're good. Not fall-out-of-your-seat-and-spit-up-your-drink good, but far, far better than most people give them credit for, and, most importantly, not in any way deserving of the blame for the success of Britney Spears or 'N Sync.

In the House of Blues Courtyard, the trio (brothers Isaac, Taylor and Zac) treated a tiny and very appreciative audience to a solid, rootsy set of songs from their forthcoming album, Underneath, as well as a smattering of old favorites (including, yes, "MMMBop"). The stripped-down acoustic set featured no backing musicians and saw the boys (now 22, 20 and 17) showing off their versatility (especially Zac, who sang and played drums, percussion, guitar, harmonica and keyboards).

And although the specter of teen pop loomed over the evening, Hanson couldn't have better risen above it had they decided to tour with Marilyn Manson. Instead of abandoning their past and forging a fake, trendy new image, the brothers have matured in varying degrees, as normal people do, and stuck to exactly what made them successful in the first place: Their strong songwriting, top-notch musicianship and impeccable three-part harmonies. New songs like "Strong Enough to Break" and infectious single "Penny & Me" proved that the band would be right at home on adult contemporary radio, if only a brave music director were willing to give them a chance.

The three were relaxed and tight as a band, switching instruments often and cracking a steady stream of jokes. Although the acoustic sound was occasionally thin, especially without a bass player (the White Stripes these guys are not), it proved that the songs didn't need augmentation to sound good. The trio showed their love for old-school R&B on a cover of Little Richard's "Let It Rip," and, hell, even "MMMBop" sounded soulful.

With the small room packed and the older, wiser screaming girls a bit subdued, it was almost enough to forget about the band's origins; with the music, it was more than enough not to care.

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