Merry Christmas, Baby!

I hope you've got presents waiting for you under the tree, extra sprinkles on your cookies, extra marshmallows for your hot chocolate, a fresh snow waiting to help launch you and your sled down that hill, and Snowed In cued up in the CD player!

This year, I'm re-gifting.  Hanson gave us the gift of a Christmas Live Stream last year.  But that doesn't mean we can't re-live it this year!  Here are a couple highlights.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

[Flashback] Hanson Christmas Special... 1997 Style!

Remember the '90s?  Remember TGIF?  Remember when Hanson had their very own Christmas special in support of their MONSTERLY AMAZING Christmas album Snowed In on ABC as part of TGIF?  (I know.  I just blew your mind.  Take a breath.  It'll be okay.)

Well, thanks to the advent of the Internet and the endless web of videos (both original AND copywrited material) on YouTube, I give you:

Hanson's ABC Christmas special from 1997!!!!!!

Merry Christmas Eve, my fellow Fansons.  Tomorrow's blog post?  Fast forward to Hanson's 2010 Christmas special.  Which was, like, infinitely better if that's even possible.  (You did notice Zac's plaid pants, right?  Pretty tough to beat.)

Operation "Hanson at My Wedding" in FULL FORCE!

This week, I'm breaking from the traditional "HEY! Face" format to shine light on the "Hanson at my Wedding" boys.  If you're unfamiliar, GET FAMILIAR.

Here's the deal: 

Next July, James Bishop is getting married.  His dream wedding gift?  For Hanson to play at his wedding.  So every single day up until he ties the knot, he and his friend Douch are posting videos asking Hanson to do just that.  And recently, the blokes encountered Hanson while on tour in the U.K.  

Watch part one of their tour diary below!

Did You Get Your Ugly Christmas Sweaters On Sale During Black Friday??

Photos from Hanson.net

I don't even think I need to say anything.  These pictures say it all.

...However, Hanson did just release a Christmas mug/card/song bundle on their website...

Better Hold On, Don't Lose Your Grip

Hanson rocks The Rave in Milwaukee on The Walk Tour 2008 (image courtesy of The Hey Maker)

Isaac isn't the only Hanson brother who wears his RAWK on his sleeve-- or face.  His younger brothers Taylor and Zac must've picked up a few things from their older, wiser sibling.  Only their RAWK can't be contained in just a facial expression.  With Taylor, it's an aerobic exercise, and with Zac... well, let's just say I wouldn't want to be that drum set.

Musical Hey-Ride

Hanson rocks night 2 of 2 in Chicago on The Musical Ride Tour 2011 (Image courtesy of The Hey Maker)

We're a couple months into this blog, and I've come to one conclusion:  it's IMPOSSIBLE not to be super enthusiastic when singing 'Hey.'  I mean, can Ike's mouth be any more open?  I don't think so.

This is a Beat... You Can't Touch

Hanson is currently overseas promoting their latest studio album Shout It Out (GO GET IT if you haven't already-- so good), but before they headed across the pond, they took their American fans on a Musical Ride-- literally.  It was called The Musical Ride Tour and it was a blast!  Partly because the band let their fans decide most of the setlist, partly because they held five intimate fan club events discussing the "story" of each of their albums, and partly (mostly?) because Isaac Hanson finally put the rumors to rest:  He raps.  And it will make your life complete.

We Hanson fans know our boys like to pay homage to some of their musical heroes in the form of a cover while on tour.  We've heard everything from Sly & the Family Stone, Steppenwolf, AC *lightning bolt* DC, and U2 to, yes, you guessed it, Rick James AND M.C. Hammer.  (The rapping begins around 4:00, but you should just watch the whole thing.  Taylor shakes it a little.)

And on that note, happy birthday, Isaac Hanson!  Keep those beats comin'!

And I Ran... I Ran So Far Away...

Photo from Hanson's Twitter

Okay, so it's not a HEY! Face.  But it's still incredible.  Isaac, we just have one question: how much product did you have to use for this sweeeet Flock of Seagulls 'do??

The Theory of Evolution

My inspiration for IkesHeyFace.blogspot.com (image courtesy of hansonish.com)

The evolution of man.  It's a question we've been asking ourselves for centuries:  Did we come from apes?  Or DINOSAURS?  I think this hilarious photo from hansonish.com settles the debate pretty matter-of-factly.

Happy HEY-loween!

Halloween 2007 (Image: West Hollywood's Flickr)

I think Hanson would be a pretty good Halloween costume.  Especially Hanson circa the late '90s.  But Hanson can't go as Hanson for Halloween.  That would be cheating.

The good news is that they've come up with some pretty fan-TAS-tic Halloween costumes over the years.  Martha over at Hansonish has come up with a pretty great Hanson Halloween timeline.  (My personal fave is the matching Three Amigos costumes!  Muy guapos, no?)

Anybody have a particularly amazing costume this year?

And YOU Say... HEY!

As fun as it is to permanently seal Ike's HEY! face with a snapshot, sometimes ya just need to see it in action. This video is from one of Hanson's visits to South by Southwest.  The band gets into it.  The crowd gets into it.  You should get into it.

He Says They'll Come Get Him, Come Get Him Someday

Zac makin' some noise in Joliet on The Walk Tour 2007 (image courtesy of The HEY Maker)

Today is definitely a day to rock our HEY! faces in celebration of Zac Hanson's birthday!  What better way is there to enjoy another year of life than to hallucinate, hyperventilate, and headbang?

That's what I thought.  There isn't.

Happy birthday, Zac!

A Sunset Drive Cruise, Baby

Hanson rocks Milwaukee on The Walk Tour in 2007 (image courtesy of The HEY Maker)

Isaac Hanson doesn't just make a great HEY! face (see previous posts), he also does a pretty good... angry pirate?  Whatever he's going for here, he is CLEARLY channeling the Rock Gods for this one.

Enjoy, and happy Monday!

Red Pumps & Cadillac Blues

Ike's HEY! Face rocks a Joliet crowd in '07 on The Walk Tour (image courtesy of The HEY Maker)

This week, we're jumping in the time machine and traveling back a few years to 2007 when Hanson was on The Walk Tour.  At this point, fans expected Ike's HEY! face to make an appearance seeing as the tune had been around for a few years at that point.  Sure, the band was ridding the world of AIDS that year.  But they were also curing everyone ailing from the ever-growing epidemic known as Cadillac Blues.

Welcome to Ike's HEY Face!

Ike's HEY! Face makes an appearance in Chicago on The Musical Ride Tour (image courtesy of The HEY Maker)

Hanson rocks.  The oldest Hanson brother Isaac PROVES this EVERY time the guys play their Underneath hit Hey live.  This blog is dedicated to Ike's HEY! face (and other Hanson-y things).  Hanson fans, you know what I'm talking about.

I'm hoping to post every Monday so your weeks can kick off with a nice strong shot of HEY!  So keep checking back on a regular basis for more photos, videos, and who-knows-what-else?  

If anyone would like to contribute to Ike's HEY! Face, drop me a note in the comments section.