  Don't confuse tween heartthrobs Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas to '90s boy band, Hanson. The Jonas Brothers say their music 'is pretty different.' |
Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas still can't legally drink in any U.S. watering hole and Nick has a few months to prep for his driver's test.
Hell, Charlie Watts still has 14 years on their collective ages.
But over the past 12 months the pop trio known as Jonas Brothers has achieved a measure of commercial and financial success that would even make the Stones a bit jealous.
With a platinum-selling self-titled second album, an upcoming album (A Little Bit Longer) set for release Aug. 12, a reality show Living the Dream, a made-for-TV Disney movie Camp Rock, which aired on the Family Channel, and a book and 3-D movie set for next year, things are definitely heating up.
Hence, it seems appropriate the Jonas Brothers dubbed their upcoming North American trek -- which starts Friday in Toronto (their only Canadian stop) -- the Burning Up Tour.
Despite the demands on their time, Kevin Jonas, 20, says he wouldn't change a thing.
"It's really crazy," he says from Paris alongside his brothers while supporting Avril Lavigne on tour. "But it's a lot of fun and we're enjoying every minute of what we do. The schedule we keep is demanding, but it's definitely an amazing experience.
"If I wasn't doing this, I'd probably be working at Starbucks. We know that we're living so many people's dreams every single day."
After poor sales of the debut album It's About Time, Columbia dropped the band from its roster in early 2007 when label president Steve Greenberg (who signed them) departed. Hollywood Records signed the band and are definitely reaping the benefits by letting the Jonas Brothers have creative freedom.
Joe Jonas, 18, says that freedom makes A Little Bit Longer a natural progression from the previous self-titled affair.
"We are thrilled with this record," he says. "It's definitely not a completely different change in any means, but this record was definitely inspired by some of the artists we look up to like Prince and Elvis Costello. And there's a little piece of funk in some songs."
The brothers are still finalizing the track list for A Little Bit Longer, but Nick Jonas, 15, is particularly proud of the title track, which deals with him being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in November 2005.
"My blood sugar (blood glucose level) was over 700," he says.
"Normal was 70 to 120, so it was quite bad but I've been able to come through it. I made a commitment to myself that night that I wouldn't let it slow me down. It hasn't yet. I'm not planning on letting it."
Another thing they don't worry about too much is the constant comparisons to '90s boy band Hanson, another trio of brothers who took their eternally irritating hit MmmBop to unbelievable commercial heights.
"We really start to wonder, like, where they come from with the Hanson thing and I think it's only because we're brothers," Joe says.
"I think, otherwise, our music is pretty different. I think we have a different style of music."
As for the upcoming tour, the Jonas Brothers say they have a few surprises planned in terms of staging and cover songs (A-ha's Take On Me being one), but guarantee the sold-out Toronto crowd at the Molson Amphitheatre some Independence Day celebrations.
"I think we're going to have the biggest July 4th party that Canada has ever seen," Joe says.
"We already planned that after the show, I think, we're going to have our own fireworks show."
While the short-term outlook is golden, the Jonas Brothers are already thinking about their career in the long-term.
They co-produced and co-wrote six songs on Camp Rock star Demi Lovato's upcoming album and see producing more artists as a huge part of their future.
In the meantime, they feel the sibling synergy is an attraction not only to teenage fans but to parents as well.
"I think families can definitely relate to us and people, you know, that are just coming to share a good time together," Kevin says.
"It's pretty exciting for us to be able to just get up there and enjoy every single minute of it.
"I don't think we can do it without each other. We love being able to get up on that stage and have a blast and have the support of your brothers next to you.
"And, I think for us, since we're there from the beginning with the writing of the songs through the production, it just becomes a different experience. This music really is us. We're not, like, a manufactured version."
Fast facts
Band: Jonas Brothers
Names: Nick Jonas, 15; Joe Jonas, 18; Kevin Jonas, 20
Hometown: Originally Wyckoff, N.J., now Los Angeles.
Albums: It's About Time (2006), Jonas Brothers (2007), A Little Bit Longer (2008)
Singles: SOS, Year 3000, Hold On, When You Look Me In The Eyes
Hobbies: All three are avid golfers.
Charities: Change For The Children (special charity where fans have a choice of five charities to donate including underprivileged children and kids with diabetes).
Most Embarrassing Moments: Joe: Tripping and falling while performing at the 2007 American Music Awards;
Kevin: Making jokes at inappropriate times;
Nick: None so far.
Music Inspirations: Elvis Costello, Johnny Cash, Prince, The Zutons.
Previous Ringtones: Abracadabra (Steve Miller Band) and iPhone Miramba ring.
Yes, Grasshopper? New video Burnin' Up features cameo by actor David Carradine teaching Kevin Jonas kung fu.
A thing for Lavigne
Touring with Avril is 'amazing'
While touring with Avril Lavigne in Europe, all three of the Jonas Brothers say they're quite impressed with the Canadian pop star.
"Avril is amazing and the tour is going incredible so far," Nick Jonas says. "We're having so much fun meeting new fans out here in Europe. And, so far, it has been incredible and it's amazing to watch her set and just see how many hits she has. As you listen to her song at the beginning it's like, 'Wait a minute, I know that song too.' It's incredible."
Joe Jonas also says he knew most of her material, but also sees another side to Lavigne.
"As a person, she is really nice and she watched our show and she really enjoyed, it," he says. "So, we're looking forward to continue touring with her."
The trio
also says that the hectic touring and side projects during the last few years have definitely had an influence on their songwriting. Nick Jonas says he's especially pleased with how the tune Sorry turned out.
"It's a song about being on the road and having to apologize to somebody for not being there," he says. "I think it'll give people an idea of what it's like on the road and not being able to be there for someone..."
And, unlike the Backstreet Boys, the trio says they might never have to stage a reunion tour for a very simple reason.
"I think for us, we're different because we're brothers and we might not ever break up, but I think we'd love to continue to tour for many years to come."
