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Holiday Shipping Guarantee

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 22:19:00 +0000

NYC Walk Postponed

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 21:04:00 +0000

Gift Wrapping - Available

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 01:54:00 +0000

Gift Wrapping Delay

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:02:00 +0000

Tulsa World: Stars brighten Painted Pony Ball

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 17:03:00 +0000

It's going to be Hanson and that means it is going to be big.

The third running of the Painted Pony Ball on Nov. 21 at Expo Center Park Hall has it all.

Star power — the Tulsa brothers Isaac, Taylor and Zac; Red Steagall, a multitalented show business personality who has won the Wrangler Award for original music five times; and Dean Fearing, the father of Southwestern cuisine and owner of Fearing's at the Ritz Carlton in Dallas.

Together, that rates five stars for great entertainment and fabulous food.

And the cause is remarkable — The Children's Hospital at St. Francis, a state-of-the-art facility and hospital-within-a-hospital.

Cathey and Mike Barkley, who is also chairman of the board at St. Francis, are event chairmen. Suzanne Warren is honorary chairwoman.

Other committee members include Jake Henry, St. Francis Health System president and CEO; Tom Neff; Donna Swaffar; Leigh Farrar; Annabelle Miller; Arin Zinke Robinson; Ken Selby; Todd Bingham; DeDe Siegfried; Rocci Chandler; Robin Hinch; Jane Weber; Diana Benien; Julie Mundt and Martha Dickman.

A huge draw for the evening is the live auction, which will feature can't-buy-this-anywhere items such as two 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab Trucks — one with OU Sooners detailing and the other with OSU Cowboys detailing.

Also up for grabs are:

A dinner for 16 with OU head football coach Bob Stoops and former coach Barry Switzer, with dinner prepared by Chef Devin Levine.

A dinner for 16 with OSU head football coach Mike Gundy and assistant Joe DeForest, with dinner also prepared by Levine

A TU dinner for 24 with football coach Todd Graham and athletic director Bubba Cunningham at Chapman Stadium, with dinner prepared by the Polo Grill.

Also up for bid will be a Penny Preville necklace with enhancer, an 18-karat white gold vintage clip with emerald cut center diamond and an 18-inch double strand eyeglass set diamond chain, as well as a Cartier men's stainless steel watch courtesy of Bruce G. Weber

A trip to New York City with a two night stay at the Michelangelo, tickets to "South Pacific" with backstage pass to meet Kelli O'Hara and tickets to see David Letterman.

And artwork includes "Three Kisses," oil on board by Otto Duecker; "Animals on Purple," acrylic on canvas by Wendy Matson; and "Mango Scented Note," mixed media by Jeanie Gooden.

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Win A FREE cabin on the Rock Boat!

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 22:37:00 +0000

Here's how it works:

Rules and Instructions:

Go to takethewalk.net to host your own walk.
You must register your walk on takethewalk.net no later than 11:59PM ET on Dec 1, 2008.
All walks are subject to approval by Take The Walk.
Your hosted walk must be completed no later than 11:59PM ET on Dec 15, 2008.
The day after your walk, you will need to email takethewalk@hanson.net with the total number of walkers you had participate.
You must send the walker's forms in immediately to TakeTheWalk.net, PO Box 703136, Tulsa, OK 74170

Prize:
One winner will win accomodations for the Rock Boat IX (sailing Jan 17 - 22, 2009) from Sixthman. Accomodations include one 2-person cabin, all concerts, all meals, non-carbonated beverages (i.e. tea, juices, coffee), free entrance to hot spots like the ship's disco, casino and piano bar, use of the ship's beautiful pools and giant waterslide, use of the ship's health and fitness center and Camp Carnival facilities.
Airfare, hotel, rental cars or other transportaion NOT included in prize and will be the sole responsibility of the winner. Prize is non-transferable.

The winner will be announced Dec 19, 2008 by 11:59 PM ET provided all requirements are met and forms received at that time.

Any additional contest questions should be directed to takethewalk@hanson.net.

For information on the Rock Boat and age restrictions, please visit their website.

Hanson brothers lead students on charity walk for Africa across campus

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 04:09:00 +0000

Last Wednesday, the band Hanson visited Drake University's campus. Their message, however, went beyond just their music.

Hanson became famous in 1997 for their popular hit single "MMMBop." After more than 10 years of success in the music world, these brothers are doing more than just changing American music. They are fighting to make an impact on the world.

Zac, 23, Taylor, 25, and Isaac Hanson, 27, traveled to Africa before releasing their fourth album "The Walk" in the summer of 2007. What they witnessed on their trip inspired them to take action against AIDS and poverty in Africa.

"When we took that trip to Africa, we were blown away," Taylor said. "There are so many solutions that are available. It comes down to a pair of shoes or a $.33 drug that a mother who has HIV needs to not pass on AIDS to her child."

The numbers alone made it clear to Hanson that something needed to be done. Thirty-five million people die from AIDS every year. There are 14 million children orphaned because of AIDS, and this number is expected to increase to 25 million by 2010. Hanson knew they needed to make a difference and fight the disease.

"We want to be a generation of action, not a generation of awareness," said Isaac, the oldest of the brothers. "Awareness is great, but it does not evoke the necessary change that needs to happen on the issue that we're talking about."

And Hanson is talking action in a big way. The brothers began "The Walk Around the World Tour" in September of this year. In every city that Hanson performs a concert, they also walk a mile barefoot. Fans are encouraged to join Zac, Taylor and Isaac as they walk in each city. Walking barefoot, though not required, encourages walkers to connect with the children in Africa who don't have shoes.

"It's Drake University's campus - we're not gonna die," Isaac said. "It's not that big of a deal, but at the same time, it is a big deal. Psychologically, we're comfortable. We're used to shoes, and so when you remove that everyday comfort and you recognize the needs that exist in the world, all of a sudden you go, 'Oh, wait a second, well if something like a pair of shoes is that simple, maybe there's a lot of simple things I can be a part of.' So that action breeds more action."

For every person who joins the band on a walk, Hanson donates $1 to one of five goals that the walker may choose. The brothers determined five main goals at the beginning of their campaign, two of which have already been achieved.

One goal already met was to raise enough money to build a clean-water well in Kenya. The second task already accomplished by the Take a Walk Campaign was providing cell phone technology to AIDS patients so that they could contact their doctors when necessary. Three goals remain: to provide medicine for people infected with HIV, to build a new school in Kenya and to provide shoes for people around the world.

The walk on Drake's campus was the 104th one Hanson and their fans have taken across the country. It was raining and windy, but more than a hundred students joined Hanson for their walk around campus.

Taylor stressed to walkers and Drake students how significant their actions were.

"We've walked through rain, we've walked through snow and we've walked through blistering heat," he said. "The idea of these walks is that you guys need to understand that no matter what you do today, you will be making a difference for issues in Africa through your one mile."

Since the start of the tour, Hanson has announced another goal: they want to walk around the world. There are 24,902 miles around the world and Hanson hopes that many people will take the walk. To date 11,589 people have participated, which means only 13,313 miles and people are left to go.

If you want to take action but missed the walk at Drake, there are many ways you can still help. Hanson released a charity single on iTunes called "The Great Divide." All of the proceeds from purchasing this song go directly toward providing medicine for people infected with HIV.

Hanson has also teamed up with a company called Tom's Shoes. For every pair of shoes purchased from Tom's Shoes, the company donates a pair to someone in need. The initial goal of 50,000 shoes was met in November of 2007, and shoes are continuing to be delivered across the world.

Finally, anyone across the world can host a walk of their own. If you register your walk at takethewalk.net, Hanson will still donate a dollar for everyone who walks a mile for the cause.

"The whole mission of the Take the Walk Campaign is to turn walkers into leaders and to give them the tools to ultimately impact the world around them just by proving their willingness to act," said Isaac. "To quote Martin Luther King, Jr., 'Anyone can be great because anyone can serve.'"

After their walk, Hanson also performed at People's Court in downtown Des Moines Wednesday night.

The band Everybody Else opened the concert at 8:30 p.m., followed by singer Matt Wertz. Hanson took the stage at about 10:30 p.m. to the screaming chants of dedicated fans. The brothers started with their most popular rock songs, switched to an acoustic set halfway through the show and ended with a bang.

They played an excellent variety of music from their latest album "The Walk" and their classic hits that brought them to fame. The crowd especially went crazy, though, over "MMMBop" and "The Great Divide," the band's recent charity single.

"This was my third Hanson concert," Melissa Rodgers (B4) said, "and they just keep getting better."

The Hanson brothers are continuing to impact the world through their music and their actions. They ended their concert by thanking students and fans for taking the walk at Drake and stating that anyone can make a difference.

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Hanson Stops in Des Moines

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 18:06:00 +0000

Wichita Eagle - Hanson still on the move

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 18:08:00 +0000

Every year at the South by Southwest music festival in Austin, fledgling artists pop up on street corners to display their talents and, hopefully, attract attention. It was no different in 1995.

That year, a trio of blond boys was among those performing on street corners. The band of brothers called themselves Hanson, and they proved they didn't just have the pipes, but also passion and determination.

"I remember singing for anyone who would give us a minute at SXSW," drummer Zac Hanson said in a recent phone interview. "We did anything we could do to move our career forward. We sang at Pizza Huts and, well, anyplace, to further our career."

Two years after singing for whoever would listen at SXSW, Hanson hit the top of the pop charts with the infectious single "MMMBop," which led to worldwide commercial success. Hanson was nominated for three Grammy awards in 1998.

"It was unbelievable how well things went," Hanson said. "It was beyond our wildest dreams."

But as the group was working on the follow-up to its platinum debut disc in 1999, its label, Mercury Records, got absorbed into Island/Def Jam.

"Ninety-eight percent of the staff left," Hanson said. "It was the worst promotional experience we've ever had. We needed to call our own shots."

The brothers -- including Zac, now 23, vocalist-keyboardist Taylor, 25, and guitarist Isaac, 27 -- began recording under their own label. The group is touring behind "The Walk," its second indie disc.

Not much has changed sonically for Hanson, which will perform tonight at the Cotillion. The group has matured. The songs are clever and well-produced. But what makes the disc noteworthy is that the Hanson songs are as catchy as ever. "Running Man," "I've Been Down" and "Tearing It Down" are anthemic gems.

Thanks to their soaring harmonies and memorable choruses, Hanson sounds more like a retro pop act.

"We come off like a throwback," Hanson said. "We sound more like a contemporary country act than a rock act. You can't find harmony in rock or pop anymore. It's too bad, but that's the way it is today."

Hanson also is active in efforts to provide shoes to needy African people, a mission sparked by a 2006 trip to South Africa. The brothers have a partnership with American footwear retailer TOMS Shoes to donate a pair of shoes for every pair sold. So far, 50,000 pairs have been donated.

The campaign has attracted more attention, however, for sparking the Walk Around the World Tour. Before every show, including the one in Wichita, Hanson invites fans to stroll a mile with them barefoot, so they have an idea what African children go through each day.

"It takes 24,902 miles to walk around the world," Zac Hanson said. "That's our goal and we're going to make it. We're trying to raise money and very importantly, raise awareness for the cause. Sure, what we do is about music, but it's also about something much more important."

The band is back at full speed, he said, after coping last year with brother Isaac's lifesaving surgery for a pulmonary embolism.

"All is good with him these days," Zac said. "My brother bounced back and we're all fine."

If you go

HANSON
Where: Cotillion, 11120 W. Kellogg
When: 8 p.m. Friday
How much: Tickets $25 at Select-A-Seat outlets, the Cotillion and plant employee clubs, unless otherwise noted. Charge by phone and information, 316-722-4201.

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Hanson: More Than MMMBop

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 18:07:00 +0000

If you haven't been following Hanson since the "MMMBop" days, you'll be happy to know the adorable tween blonde threesome from Tulsa grew up to be profitable, passionate and extremely savvy business men and musicians. They've released numerous albums and DVDs, toured all across the globe, and somehow fit in enough time to all get married and spawn a few Hanson kids of their own.

Isaac, Taylor and Zac Hanson are currently on The Walk Around The World Tour, a cross-country expedition that landed in Chicago at the House of Blues November 3rd and 4th, 2008. They're promoting a new book and EP Take The Walk, the second of which tells stories of individuals taking action to fight poverty and AIDS in Africa. The unique thing about this tour is that before each show, Hanson walks a mile with fans, and for each mile a dollar is donated on each walker's behalf-by the band-to one of five causes the walker can choose from. The causes range from building a school in Africa to a partnership with TOMS shoes to provide 500 pairs of shoes to African children, all on behalf of Hanson and their fans. They also have a site where you can donate, learn more about each cause, and also register to host your own walk to help raise funds.

While many of the fans showing up at the House of Blues were active in helping Hanson with their amazing social efforts, they were first and foremost there for the music. Openers Everybody Else served up catchy west coast style pop music similar in sound to Rooney or early Phantom Planet, while second act Dave Barnes delivered a more soulful performance (like a cleaner cut John Mayer with an affinity for funk music). It was Barnes last night on the Hanson's tour, so at the end of the set Hanson came out for good old fashion pranks with Barnes and his band. It was all in good fun, and the audience could feel the camaraderie between Hanson and the artist they take on tour, giving a feeling of a family affair.

And then it was time for Hanson. Talking to the fans you could sense the excitement and joy of seeing this band, even though they may have seen Hanson 20+ times live before. When the band took the stage and opened with a cover of Sly & the Family Stone's classic "I Want to Take You Higher." The entire room bounced in unison with their hands in the air, and the floor of the House of Blues quaked under my feet. They launched directly into a song off their album Underneath called "Dancin' In The Wind" and their trademark harmonies shined. While their voices may have changed and evolved since their days in the spotlight, Hanson still has some of the best vocal harmonization in the music industry today.

Hanson went on to cover a broad range of their work, including an acoustic set with the song that introduced them to the world. Love it or hate it, that song was a bonafide pop hit, and it still elicits rapturous joy from their fans every time it's played. The set was a bit heavy on covers, but it's a forgivable offense since Hanson does a great deal of justice to the original. And the vocal talents of each brother really is exposed when they play songs that are not their own repertoire and style.

The show ended with an encore cover of AC/DC's hit "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)." Everyone sang along, Taylor Hanson couldn't stop jumping up and down despite looking like he ran a marathon from the looks of the sweat he was producing, and there wasn't a fan or a band member without a huge grin on their face.

Hanson is a band that like others I found interesting in their prime, but started to fade into my memory as the years went by. But after my night spent at the House of Blues I was not only impressed with their new spin on their old materials but also intrigued by their solid mix of soul, rock, and pop music that they are putting out these days. Hanson is a band that regardless if you enjoy their music or not, you have to respect for their longevity, their talent, their commitment to their fans, and their overall drive and passion for their music and the causes they champion in their careers and lives.

You can truly tell that Hanson loves what they do, and are gracious to the main people that give them the opportunity to still be thriving in a rough and failing industry. I'm talking about the Hanson fans. There are fans that still camp out for 12+ hours at a show and groups of girls that follow the band from city to city on tour. There is a bond between all of these people packed within the House of Blues, and it goes deeper than music. As Hanson graciously thanks all their fans at the end of the night, Isaac exclaims "It's been 15 years guys, here's to 15 more," and the crowd responds with a resounding roar of approval. Many musical acts will come to life, bear fruits of their labor, and fall to the wayside. But will Hanson still be standing 15 years from now? There is no doubt in my mind they will. They will still be releasing music, still be selling out shows, and the same fans will come together on tour, this time probably with their own children (and a new generation of Hanson fans) in tow. The Hanson community will continue to feverishly support a group of artist they dearly care about. It's the success and fandom of artist like Hanson that really make the music industry shine in a dark hour, and shows the world that music will always matter.

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