Live Review: Hanson

You would think HQ cut the air supply in the room with all the panting that was going on. Girls lined the walls waiting with bated breath for the trio of young males to grace the stage. Chanting waved in and out. Word on the street was that dedicated fanatics had camped outside the venue since 3am for an optimum standing position in the crowd. Plus, doors were pushed from 7pm to 8pm, only strengthening the anticipation of the 1000-plus crowd.

With a deafening shriek from the audience, the Hanson brothers ran on stage and jumped right into things with Fired Up from their sixth and latest album Anthem. Between playing the piano and beating a tambourine, Taylor Hanson enthusiastically snapped photos of his brothers and the crowd, successfully increasing the screeching an octave higher. Where’s The Love soon followed with every voice box in the house singing along, which then led into Waiting For This.

After the fifth song, Taylor addressed the crowd, revealing that brother Zac had unfortunately lost his voice. In spite of the bad news, Zac moved up front to add an acoustic percussion element – a nice touch that brought a grassroots feel to Weird. “In many ways that song is like this moment, because you never know what tomorrow might bring,” Isaac proclaimed as the group led into Tonight.

Taylor introduced With You In Your Dreams, asking the crowd, “Will you be our choir tonight?” It wasn’t much of an ask as every single fan was already strained from previously singing every word. Isaac then welcomed in his acoustic solo by stating, “Like Taylor Swift, we write break up songs too. Don’t date a musician.” A raw version of For Your Love was belted out and it became increasingly clear the brothers have talent down to their bones, paralleled only by their authentic enthusiasm. “It’s not about the songs, it’s about the connection,” Taylor explained once back on stage, dedicating a moment to acknowledge the passing of Robin Williams.

Every song suitably transformed into an anthem: This Time Around, Get Up & Go, and finally when you thought the Hanson fever couldn’t get any hotter, the brothers burst into MMMBop. A lacy brassiere was tossed on stage appropriately signifying the almost tangible atmosphere of fervent adoration for the brothers.