So, let's get it out of the way...



Due to less-than-stellar first week sales of This Time Around, mega tour promoter SFX withdraws sponsorship of the Hanson summer tour, according to the New York Times. Christopher Sabec issues a statement saying that the tour is not cancelled, and nothing further. Hanson, in typical form, has no idea what's going on.



The New York Times, in an attempt at writing a small blurb on the past week's album sales, calls Island/DefJam for a comment and stumbles on a bigger story than they bargained for. Island/DefJam, panicked by low sales, tosses out the fact that SFX has withdrawn sponsorship of Hanson's tour, when in reality, nothing has been set in stone with SFX. They do it in an attempt to a) draw media attention to the album, b) rile up the fans so they request the song and push it higher on radio airplay charts and c) prod SFX into finalizing tour info. Christopher Sabec issues a statement without having any clue what the record company told the Times. SFX, after reading the Times article, issues statements saying they never withdrew from the tour because plans were never finalized in the first place.



The New York Times never mentioned where they got the information that SFX had pulled out, which leads us to believe that the information was given on the condition that it was not for attribution. Shady? You bet. Something a record company would pull? Right again.

• Inflatable Shamus. It shouldn't be long before Zac starts hiding pins in the pockets of his cargos.
• Translucent white tank tops give way to... backless lace-up tank tops. Different time. Same ole song.
• Signs and banners of an increasingly sexual nature. ('Mmmbop Me Taylor' is starting to look pretty tame all of a sudden.) The fans are growing up. They're old enough to stay up past 11 now, and you know what that means.
• Signs and banners that support the Hanson Cause, ie "I bought This Time Around. What's your excuse?" and "Billboard Who?"
• Men. Hanson's new sound has probably attracted some more testosterone to the fan base. Maybe.
• The Ex-teenie. Don't be surprised if you see more than a few fans standing quietly, applauding in between songs, out of reverence and respect for Hanson and utter disgust with what's happening around them. My advice? Don't deny your past girls! It'll catch up with you someday!
• The newschool fan. Middle of Nowhere? What's that?
• The casual fan. Yeah, I guess I'll buy This Time Around someday.
• Water guns of the small portable variety. We learn from the best, don't we?
• Flashing the stage. Limp Bizkit and Kid Rock are both touring this summer, and given the current structure of the music industry, there's undoubtedly going to be a few crossover fans who forget which show they're at.
• The Holer-than-Thous. Ew! You went to see 'Nsync?! How could you?
• Isaac love. Sure, you jump on the bandwagon now that he's all hot. Chump.

• "Oh yeah? Well your John Popper is so fat, when he sits around the house..."
• "Shut off the camera, Dad! Shut it off! Right now!"
• "Hey um... Jon... do you wanna like... come to the show tonight? You could maybe even come up on stage and play. If you want to. Which you probably don't. I'm sorry Mr. Lang. I know. I'll never call you again. I promise."
• "Zac, get back in your cage! Don't make me get a switch!"

Bottom line: Those boys better release some dates, because If I'm plannin' me some road trips, I gotta start soon.