Feature: Where Are They Now? Jade Hanson and Joel Hanson of PFR and Believable Picnic

For many fans of 1990s Christian alternative rock, the names Joel Hanson and Jade Hanson still bring back memories of honest songwriting, melodic guitars, and the unique sound that helped define an era. While both brothers stepped away from the mainstream spotlight years ago, neither has completely left music behind.

Joel Hanson Keeping the PFR Legacy Alive

Joel Hanson, best known as the lead vocalist and guitarist of PFR (originally Pray For Rain), has experienced a creative resurgence over the last few years. After decades of fans asking for more music and proper reissues of the band’s catalog, Joel helped launch a successful Kickstarter campaign in late 2024 to remaster and re-release the classic PFR album Disappear.

The renewed interest in the band did not stop there. Joel has also been working on brand-new PFR material, with a forthcoming project tentatively titled Target & The Arrow. Early studio updates and behind-the-scenes clips shared through his social media and Patreon community have shown that the creative spark is still very much alive.

Fans can follow Joel’s updates through Instagram at @pfrist.

Outside of PFR, Joel has continued performing solo and participating in worship-oriented and independent music projects. After serving for many years as Worship Pastor at Church of the Open Door in Minnesota, he shifted into a more independent creative season while continuing to record, collaborate, and occasionally perform live.

Over the years, Joel has also been connected with projects including Inside Out, Takehold, and various guest appearances and collaborations throughout the Christian alternative and worship music scene.

Recent appearances have included local concerts, intimate “Day in the Studio with PFR” style fan events, and livestream sessions where Joel has connected directly with longtime listeners who grew up with albums like Goldie’s Last Day and Them.

Jade Hanson and Life After Believable Picnic

While Joel remained more visible publicly, his older brother Jade Hanson has largely chosen a quieter path.

Jade first became known to many Christian rock fans through his involvement touring alongside PFR before launching the alternative pop-rock project Believable Picnic during the late 1990s. The band developed a loyal underground following thanks to catchy songwriting and emotionally driven lyrics that stood apart from much of the Christian music scene at the time.

An archived interview at Jesus Freak Hideout still gives fans a glimpse into the band’s mindset and creative direction during their active years.

After Believable Picnic dissolved, Jade teamed with keyboardist Nick Ayres to form the Nashville-based power pop group The Luxury Stars. The band intentionally distanced itself from Christian market labeling and explored a broader alternative and indie-pop sound. A feature from Nashville Scene documented that transition during the early 2000s.

Jade has also been associated with projects including Takehold and other collaborative recordings connected to the broader PFR musical circle.

Today, Jade keeps a much lower public profile than his brother. However, Joel has occasionally highlighted Jade on social media, affectionately referring to him as his “big brother” and acknowledging that he is still involved with music creatively. Fans who have followed the Hanson brothers over the decades continue to celebrate the influence both had on Christian alternative rock during its formative years.

The Lasting Impact

Though neither PFR nor Believable Picnic achieved massive mainstream fame, both bands helped shape a generation of Christian alternative and melodic rock fans who were searching for music that felt authentic, artistic, and emotionally honest.

In many ways, the Hanson brothers represent a chapter of Christian music history that still resonates today. Joel is actively bringing that legacy back into public view through remasters, vinyl releases, streaming projects, and new recordings, while Jade’s work continues to be rediscovered by longtime fans who never forgot albums that quietly became cult favorites.

For fans of 1990s Christian alternative rock, it is encouraging to see that the story of the Hanson brothers is still being written.

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