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Bravo Magazine Cologne Review
June 25, 1998

Typed, translated and submitted by Frenchie

HANSON LIVE IN GERMANY

Cologne, June 13, 8.05pm. Hanson start their first and only concert in Germany. The 2,500 fans are getting completely crazy as Taylor, Isaac and Zac launch into a swinging rock'n roll song. After 90 minutes it makes no doubt: Hanson have gone through their baptism of fire successfully.

"One, two, three, four!" In a cool voice, Zac is doing the countdown on his drums. Some milliseconds later the 18 meter large stage appears under the glowing white lights. Hanson start their first and so far only gig in Germany with the rock oldie - originally sung by Spencer Davis Group. Although with 2,500 fans the Cologne Sporthalle is only half filled, the girls are going crazy at the sight of Zac (12), Isaac (17) and Taylor (15). They scream, go wild and throw stuffed animals with love letters on the stage. They have been waiting for this moment for exactly 12 months. In June 1997 Hanson started their dazzling carrier with the Nr 1 hit Mmmbop. But except from a few TV appearances, the three brothers from Tulsa were not to be seen in Germany. As they said themselves, Hanson want to be seen as a real rockband - accompanied here by three extra musicians - who renounces doing show gags and poses and counts only on its groovy sound. Taylor, Isaac and Zac, who almost disappears behind his huge drumset, concentrate totally on playing their instruments and singing. The impressing and emotion-filled lightshow, which lightens the stage in a multicolor harmony, fitting with each song, is amazing.

After the second song, "Thinking of you" from the album Middle of Nowhere, Taylor greets the fans behind his keyboards: "Hey guys! We are totally thrilled to be able to play in Germany eventually. Are you ready to rock?" Soon Isaac starts playing the first chords of the second single "Where's the love" on his guitar. Hanson plays this song in a special heavy rock version.

After 20 minutes the boys slow down the tempo. In an orange and red lighting, they play their current single "Weird". The fans wave with lighters in the air and sing along every single word. After that, Zac, Isaac and Taylor sit in a semi circle at the front of the stage and offer a great accoustic set with "With you in your dreams", "Soldiers" and "Stories". A highlight: Isaac changes to the piano and sing all alone the goosebumps-ballad "More than anything". Then the boys speed up again. With "Speechless" they roar like a real hardrock band. Isaac lets his guitar yell, lift it up while playing and stands out with a two minutes solo. After 80 minutes comes the song everyone has been waiting for: Hanson announce their summer hit "Mmmbop" - the fans get wild! The 2,500 voices start singing the chorus in a giant choir and keep on singing long after the song has been over. After a furious heavy version of "Man from Milwaukee" and two encores, Hanson say good bye to their German fans.

After their lightning Europa tour, which also included gigs in Paris and London, Hanson flied back to the USA, where they will tour until the middle of August. In September they will start recording their new album, which should be released at the beginning of 1999. Isaac told Bravo: "Then we will come back to Germany and start a proper tour." (translator's note: yipee!!!!)

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