Monday, March 17, 2008

Unless you're a girl about 13 years old or live with one, the Jonas Brothers are probably the biggest band you've never heard of.

All thanks to Disney, which has apparently tired of being a farm league for pop talent (Christina, Britney, Justin, etc.), and is now launching stars on its own. Last summer, the JoBros -- Nick, Joe and Kevin -- quietly performed at Six Flags parks. Now, with televised ties to Miley Cyrus and a push from the Mickey Mouse folks, they're filling arenas with young shriekers.

For Friday's sold-out Patriot Center date, scalpers wanted hundreds of dollars for a ticket to hear "S.O.S" and "Hold On." To older ears, too much of the material sounds like "The Banana Splits" theme to command that price. But those whose parents paid it behaved as Beatlemaniacs once did.

To compare the Jonases to a non-musical family trio, the Corleones, Nick, 15, would be Michael, the youngest and most able brother. He took a fine drum solo, told a touching story about pressing on after being diagnosed with juvenile diabetes, and his tune, "A Little Bit Longer," delivered the 90-minute show's rockingest-and-rollingest moments.

Joe, 18 and an occasional lead vocalist, would be Sonny, the middle brother who works hardest and clearly feels underappreciated: When Nick, sitting behind a grand piano, instructed his older brother to lead the crowd in a round of hand-waving and clapping, Joe complied, but halfheartedly and with blatant surliness.

As for Kevin, 20: He's Fredo, the oldest, allowed to take part in the family business only because of blood ties. During a faithful cover of A-Ha's schlocky gem, "Take On Me," Kevin was down-stroking his Les Paul as furiously as Dee Dee Ramone would, yet no corresponding sound was coming out; it was as if the crew had unplugged his instrument.

Alas, there was no offer this crowd would refuse: Arena management said after the show that the Jonas Brothers broke all house records for merchandise sales.

-- Dave McKenna