Hanson does Antone’s – 9/22/11

All of my musical adoration can be traced back to a Hanson concert put on at Sea World San Antonio. This blog, my current musical obsessions, even my musically borne relationship with my boyfriend — none of these things would have existed if it hadn’t been for a trio from Tulsa, Oklahoma.

I fell in love with Hanson when I was in middle school. They had just come out with their seventh (yes — seventh) album, This Time Around, which, in terms of new material, was the follow-up to their breakout hit, Middle of Nowhere. The brothers were headed to San Antonio, Texas, touring in support of This Time Around, and I was an overall-and-Doc-Marten-wearing, hair-braiding, brace-faced kid ready for my first concert experience ever.

I remember starting out sitting at the back of the venue, up on a grassy field with my mom, munching on a very expensive slice of pizza and very concerned there would be some kind of stage rush. Although the venue filled up, we ended up wandering down close to the stage, dancing quietly off to the left, and the live concert experience and the brothers’ musicianship hooked me then and there.

Now, the guys are releasing immaculate pop records on their own independent label. They’ve got their own families, but after all these years, their brotherly love has held strong enough to keep on keepin’ on. I think one of my favorite things about Hanson is that they love and perform for their fans, above all. They still play their hit single “Mmmbop” at shows, and they don’t sound tired when they do it — their voices are richer, but they sing it with as much heart as they used to. Now, they also get to fill their set lists with eight albums’ worth of material, the latest being the fun and peppy Shout It Out.

I think one of the most amazing things about Hanson is that they have survived coming-of-age in front of all of us. A number of years ago, when I told friends and family I still loved Hanson, they would roll their eyes at me and ask if that was a guilty pleasure. But I assured them there was never any guilt I felt enjoying the group’s lovely pop songs, and now, people seem to have come full circle, respecting Hanson’s career and allowing themselves to embrace the band’s positive attitudes and upbeat sounds.

The last time I saw Hanson was when they came through Austin on their The Walk Tour, during which they’d gather groups of people before their show to raise awareness about poverty and AIDS in Africa. The experience was a far cry from Sea World San Antonio — I was a young adult hanging out in a venue with a bar by myself. Hanson, however, was just as enthusiastic and wonderful as always. I expect nothing less when they play Antone’s.