Hanson brothers Isaac, Taylor and Zachary will be among the youngest guests present at the 31st Annual Songwriter's Hall of Fame Induction Awards at the Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers on Thursday, but they don't mind. "We're kind of like freaks for a lot of that old stuff," middle sibling Taylor said.

Scheduled to appear at the event to perform a medley of Beach Boys songs to honor inductee Brian Wilson, Hanson barely could contain, let alone articulate, their enthusiasm about getting to meet their pop music idol. "So they're like, 'Do you want to do [this]?' and we're like, 'You don't even need to ask,'" youngest brother Zachary said. "It's like, we're doing it."

"Pet Sounds [the Beach Boys' 1966 album] is such a landmark in music," said Taylor. "The things he began with on that album are so amazing -- as a musician, his vocal arrangements. That inspired the Beatles to do Sgt. Peppers. It's such an honor."

The Beach Boys-Beatles connection was partly on the Hanson boys' collective mind since they were told Paul McCartney would be the slated surprise guest to present the award to Wilson. "He's going to introduce us, supposedly," eldest brother Isaac said. A publicist for the event, however, could not confirm McCartney's appearance. "I don't know where that [rumor] came from," the spokesperson said. "We would know if that was the case."

The prospect of meeting McCartney aside, Hanson were obviously delighted to share in Wilson's moment of glory. "To be on stage and do his songs in front of a lot of musical elders, who wouldn't be looking forward to it?" Isaac asked. "I'm going to get him to sign my Pet Sounds CD."

Tickets for the event, previously priced at $700, have been reduced to $300 a pop, and are available at (212) 794-2773.

JENNIFER VINEYARD
(June 15, 2000)