How well do you know Hanson, the pop group that’s coming over for its first Manila concert on Nov. 30 at the Aliw Theater?


Did you know that when Hanson first stormed the charts with their monster hit ‘Mmmbop’ in the summer of ‘97, Zac, the youngest among the three brothers, was just 11 years old. But over the years, the trio has gotten tighter with time – with Zac having grown into a muscular, agile pounder. "His backbeat over the years has only gotten deeper," says Isaac. "His pockets have gotten so deep, he can taste the lint." Back then, it was easy to chalk up the brothers Hanson as a one-shot novelty – a quick, quirky phenomenon offering light relief among the Pearl Jams, Puff Daddys and other heavy hitters.

In 1997, a teenage cameo on the pop charts was curious and cute. What few realized then, as the peppy ‘Mmmbop’ lit up America’s radios, is that Hanson was opening the floodgates to a phenomenon that would dominate popular music into the new millennium.

It was an onslaught of teen music now so familiar we take it for granted: Featherweight pop made for young people, by young people. Seven years ago, it was a novelty. Today, it’s the way of the pop world.

Sure, Mmmbop was chirpier than an Archie’s song. But it was rock. Guitars, drums, bass. The kids loved it, and Hanson’s mammoth success seemed to presage a promising next chapter for rock ‘n’ roll. The Beatles, after all, began as bubblegum, and look what they launched.

But it didn’t happen. The same adolescent audience that swooned over Hanson soon tore down its posters and drifted to a decidedly un-rock ‘n’ roll world – the realm of Britney, Backstreet and ‘N Sync, dominated by slick stage moves and faux-soul vocals digitaled to death by studio wizards.

Guitarist Isaac Hanson is now 23. His band has just released ‘Underneath,’ a serving of power pop featuring collaborations with such underground rock savants as Matthew Sweet and Gregg Alexander. The album’s organic vibe showcases their growth, both in songwriting and performance. But will people listen?

"When we were young guys," Isaac says, "people were thinking, ‘Oh, this is a novelty.’ But what’s really important is that all we ever were was a band. And all we ever wanted to be was a band."

Presented by Globe Gentxt in cooperation with Skechers and Discovery Suites, the Hanson Manila Tour 2004 is produced by ALV Events International. Media partners are ABS-CBN, Studio 23, MYX: Your Choice, Your Music, WRR 101.9, Jam 88.3, Wave 89.1, Magic 89.9, 99.5 RT, 103.5 K-Lite, and 97.1 WLS-FM.

Tickets are available at all TicketNet outlets and ALV Events International.