It's Hot! - TulsaTeens News - Clear Channel Riverfest - June 10, 2001
By Lindsey Neal reporting for TulsaTeens News

Taylor Hanson said it short and simple.
"Here's one to being hot and thirsty," was his introduction to the next song. Hanson was the biggest act performing at the Clear Channel Riverfest, and their devoted fans, to get as close as they could to those 3, snuggled up to the stage; some on shoulders, some painted with "I love Hanson," and some sporting "Marry Me Taylor" signs. The hot sun glared onto the stew of girls, but this certainly didn't ruin the fun. There were people that had traveled from Kansas, Arkansas, Arizona, Texas, even as far as California and Wisconsin, just to see Hanson sing for the short 20 minutes.

The Riverfest had 3 stages: the Cove Stage, where Hanson and many other bands (such as Admiral Twin) performed, the Lagoon Stage, a beautiful stage that floated on the river, and the Pirate stage, a small stage for the little kids. The Cove stage was definately the center of attention, despite it's lack of shade.

Before Hanson came on, Admiral Twin, a band who opened for Hanson's tour in 1998, stole the spotlight on the Cove Stage for 40 minutes right before the famous Tulsa trio were on; Admiral Twin had quite an audience due to Hanson fans staking out for the next act. They loved toying with the audience in ironic, clever ways, saying things like, "You guys might want to stick around for the next act, they are a really good band." At every slight suggestion of the boys, there was a roar of screams and hands in the air.

When you weren't standing up as tall as you could trying to see the Cove Stage, you were eating. There were many food vendors at the river, with food varieties from grilled chicken salad to fried pickles and snow cones. The prices of the food was like the temperatures: high. For that grilled chicken salad, they were asking people to pony up 6 bucks.

Back at the Cove Stage, 30 minutes after Admiral Twin had stepped off the stage, the fans awaited what they had been sitting in the hot sun for all day. Finally, a 92.1 DJ and the UPN girls came out to throw a few tee shirts to the audience and introduced Hanson. The guys came out all smiles and began their short "acoustic" set. Security guards had water hoses and were dousing the audience to try to prevent anyone from passing out.

"Thank you for water," Taylor Hanson was just as hot as the audience.
"Do it over here," Hanson said as the large men soaked Hanson, instruments and all. Later in the set, Isaac's guitar, for some reason, stopped working, but they continued the song easily by clapping with the audience and singing acapella. Hanson was probably re-thinking their request for water at that point.

Their set included songs from previous albums, as well as two new songs never before recorded or performed. Those songs are to be on their next album, and are called, "Wake up," and "Wastin' Time".

The Hanson set ended with the hit they must be sick of singing, MmmBop, and ironically said, "Enjoy the rest of the show!" As they left the stage, so did most of the audience.

The fest was definately a success, but probably could not have had the same outcome if it weren't for the Cove stage and the Acts on it.

The main official sponsors of the fest were: Clear Channel Communications, (Kiss 92.1, KMOD 97.5, KOOL 106.1) UPN Channel 41, and Pepsi.

   
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