Hanson and Meiko at House of Blues Anaheim

Written by Brittany Woolsey

Monday, 12 September 2011 04:18

An eclectic mix of acoustic, indie and pop, along with nostalgia, entertained a sold-out crowd at the House of Blues Anaheim on Saturday night as ’90s boy band Hanson and up-and-comer Meiko performed. Appearing meek and timid in a bright yellow dress, Meiko sang personal songs of love, heartbreak and hot dogs. “Wow,” she said as she approached the stage. “This is a lot of people.” The songstress opened up her set with “This Side of Me,” introducing her bluntness and seemingly careless attitude, though she did seem a bit nervous on stage at times. “This is like my worst nightmare,” Meiko shyly said as she took off her grey wool cardigan in front of the jam-packed crowd. “But it’s happening.” Throughout her set, Meiko shared personal stories with the crowd, discussing everything from ex-boyfriends to past jobs, including being a waitress at the Hotel Café in Los Angeles. When working at the quaint venue in LA, Meiko gave her demo to someone from Grey’s Anatomy. Her song “Five Reasons to Love You” eventually made it onto the hospital drama television show. “No more waiting tables!” she happily chanted before playing the song that gave her a chance to leave her job for good. Meiko’s charm pleased the crowd, though after a while her nerves didn’t seem to ease. It’s not to say that she’s a bad performer at all; she is somewhat reminiscent of ’90s charmer Lisa Loeb, too cute to pass up. Her acoustic music seemed more fit for a smaller, more intimate venue like a coffee shop or open mic night, either because of the sound of the music or her seeming shyness Still, Meiko seemed like a perfect representation for young women who suffer from heartbreak. Through her songs, Meiko shows a courage that is admirable. “He told me to play him a song,” she said, referring to her recent ex-boyfriend. Relentless, Meiko began playing “Good Looking Loser,” in which she called her past flame a “puppet, a fool and a thief.” Through her sheer honesty and humor, Meiko is also comparable to Liz Allen, showing off some true girl power. However, Meiko also showed off her uniqueness, as she ended her set with a song from the perspective of a hot dog. When Hanson hit the stage, shrieks and shrills could be heard from every area of the venue. Girls in Hanson shirts — probably from their youth — pushed and shoved toward the front of the stage to get as close to the three brothers as possible. Isaac, Taylor and Zac Hanson — from oldest to youngest — performed new songs, as well as older songs. “You guys got a lot of energy tonight,” Taylor said to the crowd. The fans responded appropriately, dancing and singing along. One fan even cried in the front row, showing her dedication — and possible obsession — with the band. But most surprising, a sign language interpreter danced in the front row throughout the set, signing toward a deaf fan. “We’ve been a band for 20 years,” said Taylor, promptly followed by Zac, who commented, “Since I was a fetus.” When the group played “Mmmbop,” an infectious pop hit from their youth, everyone in attendance was singing along. Throughout their set, Hanson was vivacious on stage, showing that even though they’ve grown up, they still have not lost the playfulness of their youth.