If someone had told me at the dawn of the Mmmbop era in 1997 that I'd get to interview Taylor Hanson one day, I would have laughed. At 14 years old, times were different for both Hanson and me. I was just trying to get through middle school. When Mmmbop, Hanson's first big hit, ruled the airwaves at the end of my eighth grade year, it changed my life as I knew it. The song just made me happy.

And Taylor - he was just so adorable.

When Taylor and his two brothers, Isaac and Zac, entered the music scene, they were unfairly categorized into the eye of a raging boy band storm just because they were, well, boys. I don't even know why everyone called 'N Sync and the Backstreet Boys "bands" - they were "groups."

The Hansons wrote their own music and played instruments like pros, even though they were only 11, 14 and 16. There was something genuine about the guys, and you could tell they enjoyed sharing their passion for music.

Fast-forward seven years. I'm 21 and a senior at Indiana University. Hanson is still my favorite band.

Taylor is also 21, Isaac is 23 and Zac is 18. The band recently released its third studio album under its new independent record label (3CG Records) and is in the middle of an electric tour, which many fans think has been way too long coming.

Hanson's performance Saturday at Ruth Eckerd Hall will be my 10th time seeing the band live.

Hanson has been one of the few constants in my life as I've gone from fretting about junior high fashion trends to worrying about finding a full-time job after college. But as Taylor said in our recent conversation, he and his brothers have been growing up right along with their fans.

"That's the thing that keeps us going," Taylor said from a tour stop in Chicago. "I'm blown away by the opportunity to see fans on every tour that approach me and explain how our music has been a part of their lives for so long."

Taylor and I even share a few things in common (beyond taste in music, of course). The upcoming election will be the first time we can vote for president. "It's really exciting," Taylor said about voting. "It's important for people in our generation to take it seriously. There's often a lack of respect for young voters and their ability to examine the issues."

And Hanson knows a thing or two about lack of respect, being one of the most underrated bands around. Even though it was cornered into the bubble gum pop genre, some hard-core musicians recognized its talent from the start. Especially after the guys cut ties with their former record label and took a bold step on their own.

Motley Crue bassist Nikki Six, for instance, said in a recent VH1 Hanson special that the band "has the spirit not only to reinvent themselves but do it on their own terms, and they're taking control of their music." Good point. Listen to the songs on Hanson's new album, Underneath, and just try to slot them into a single genre.

One great thing about growing up with Hanson's music is being able to parallel the songs with my memories. The slow song Weird topped MTV's Total Request Live show in 1998, and I'd listen to the song while doing my ninth-grade biology homework at night. I yearned for the day when I could listen to Hanson's music while driving.

"When you think about great music, you think about moments in your life," Taylor told me. "That's what I want to do every time I go out and perform; I want people to make memories they won't forget."

During the past seven years, Hanson's live shows have only gotten better. These guys can really rock. Even on their acoustic tour last fall, they made the small, intimate venues shake. They don't need stage effects, fancy costumes or props - their myriad instruments and perfect harmonies do the job.

"With the electric tour, you can rock a little more. I've almost hurt myself a few times already by falling off the stage and swinging from a rafter," Taylor said.

"What you're trying to do is break people's shells - take away the protective coating. When fans see your enthusiasm when you're onstage, it allows them to feel the same way."

Not that I doubt him for a moment, but I'll be back in Clearwater this weekend to experience it for myself.

Maura Halpern, a recent news intern at the St. Petersburg Times, can be reached at mhalpern@indiana.edu

PREVIEW: Hanson, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater. For tickets, call 727 791-7400 or visit www.rutheckerdhall.com

Note: the Clearwater concert at Ruth Eckerd Hall has been postponed due to Hurricane Frances.