Mmmbop, Ba Duba Dop Ba

I was an NSYNC, 98 Degrees, and Spice Girls kind of girl when I was growing up. Although my pop phase didn’t last long, and I quickly became obsessed with bands like Slipknot and System of a Down, I definitely went through a phase. For some reason, that phase didn’t really include Hanson. I couldn’t tell you why Hanson was never quite my thing other than the fact that, by the time they really exploded (back in 1997), I had already moved on to heavier things. Regardless, when I saw that Hanson was coming to take over Minneapolis for two nights- one acoustic and one full band night- I couldn’t resist. Sadly, I was already booked for the night that the brothers would be playing their full band show, but I was excited to see if this band had what it took to do a full night of acoustic-based songs and see if they were more than just the flash in the pan that I had written them off to be.

I felt that Matthew Sweet was a very interesting opener choice for this show. It’s absolutely nothing against Matthew, but at fifty-nine years old, he definitely didn’t hit the pop icon vibe that Hanson would be hitting later in the night. That being said, as Matthew quickly addressed the confusion after just a couple of songs. It ends up that Matthew helped Hanson write “Underneath.” Although not their blockbuster track (we all know what song that is), “Underneath” was definitely a hit, and I think the amount of charm I felt knowing that Hanson had offered this opening slot to a man from back in the day really warmed my heart. The way that Matthew spoke about the three brothers of Hanson made my heart flutter. Although Matthew definitely used his short time on stage to give the audience his signature blend of acoustic alt-pop 90s vibes, he also spent some time telling stories about all of those years ago when he was in the studio with the band. He told the audience which brother was the shy one, which was the mischievous one, and things like that, all with a charming and honest smile on his face.

Matthew didn’t only speak about Hanson and his time with the band, he also spoke about himself and in a very candid way. I loved hearing him talk about how his manager (or some figure of the like) had heard one of his songs and said it would be on the radio one day, making Matthew laugh. He didn’t believe it, but soon enough, that song did hit the airwaves and gave Matthew Sweet a name. I also loved the few moments Matthew spent saying how one of his songs was written about this girl he was madly in love with back in the day. That girl is now his wife of thirty-two years. Moments like that added this very tender touch to this talented musician’s already very vulnerable set.

I may have been loving Matthew Sweet, but it was clear who the audience was there to see on Thursday night, and Matthew knew it. Although he ignored the constant roar of chatter from the audience, he did, on multiple times, acknowledge how excited he was to see Hanson and how he knew the audience was waiting for Hanson. Again, the amount of charm that radiated from Matthew and his two bandmates throughout their short time on stage was adorable and honest, just making for the perfect start to the night.

Hanson is brothers Isaac, Taylor, and Zac. This trio, as mentioned, took the world by storm in the mid-1990s. Although I was there for it, I didn’t get hooked like many of my friends did, so going into this show on Thursday night, I didn’t expect much. I surely didn’t expect the hoards of women in old-school Hanson shirts to be there, three drinks in, and ready for the time of their lives, but, hey, that’s part of the fun doing this night after night– you never know what you’re going to get. The brothers took the stage to a roar of applause, all sat down at their respective spots, and instantly jumped into their acoustic set that included a little bit of everything from new to old, classic bops to sensitive love songs.

Although not typically one for acoustic, I feel like this stripped-down version of the band showcased the fact that, although known for their one big song, this band is so much more than that and that the members of the group are actually really, really talented. The way the three brothers’ vocals came together to create this lush and beautiful soundscape left my jaw on the floor. It was just so much more talent than I would have ever expected from a band that, again, I have always referred to as a flash in the pan. I couldn’t tell you all of the songs I heard from the trio (who was later joined by two additional musicians to beef up the sound), but I can tell you that this group had me hanging on to their every word. The nakedness of their sound echoed throughout the venue in an oddly and explosive way. Again, as I mentioned, I wasn’t expecting much but, at the same time, didn’t know what to expect, yet within just a couple of songs, I was more than impressed and sold on this band (even though I acknowledge that I am decades too late).

Beyond the songs that the band played, I thoroughly enjoyed the stories they told. With so many years of performing and writing under their belt, there was no shortage of quips and anecdotes to go with each of the songs that they gave the audience. This highlighted the naked and almost vulnerable theme of the night in such a great and intimate way. I know that Hanson is nowhere near in the same bracket of fame that they were in back in the 1990s but Thursday night proved that there are still people who feel that they are worthy of that bracket, and those people were given a true treat throughout the group’s time on stage on Thursday night.