Appearing under the alias Sacred Fools, powerpop family band Hanson played a special ‘secret’ semi-acoustic concert last night (Friday, June 29) at Hollywood’s cozy, 200-capacity Hotel Cafe.
Of course, it wasn't that well-kept a secret, judging by the gaggle of excited, camera-toting female fans at the gig, some of whom had to be told repeatedly by the Hotel Cafe staff to refrain from taking flash photos of their flaxen-haired idols.
Hanson's concert was a decidedly intimate and low-key affair, with youngest brother Zac hauling and setting up his own drum kit before the show. And on a couple occasions during the hour-long set, two of the brothers even jumped offstage and sat on the floor with the rest of audience (and their beaming wives) while a third brother played a solo number.
The former teen-poppers avoided playing their obvious past hits–including their decade-old signature song "Mmmbop"–instead favoring new songs off their upcoming fourth studio album The Walk (out July 24) and classic-rock covers like Crosby, Stills & Nash's "Teach Your Children," Joe Cocker's "Feelin' Alright," the Doobie Brothers' "Long Train Runnin'," and a suprisingly soulful, scorching version of Bill Withers' "Ain't No Sunshine."
The Hansons were also joined onstage by their co-songwriting partner Jason Nesmith (formerly of Gilby Clarke's Kill For Thrills and Donovan Leitch's Nancy Boy, and the son of the Monkees' Michael Nesmith) for some rambling, rough-edged attempts at several new tunes.
"This is a prety random gig for us, but we're having fun doing it," said eldest Hanson sibling Isaac, later good-humoredly calling the show "our pig-in-sh*t gig."
Suffice it to say, their was nothing "sh*tty" about this special one-off event.
