Oregonian review: 10/25/99 Portland, OR

Back - Index - Submissions - - What is RSS? Date: Oct 29, 2099 Source: The Oregonian Submitted By: Suzanne Caldwell Nice Boys Finish First by Byron Beck Flu and cold season made way for a new epidemic Monday night: Backstreet Boys Fever. The epicenter for this contagious condition was the Rose Garden arena, but signs of the fever were everywhere. All around where the Backstreet Boys played to a sold-out house (tickets disappeared in one hour), young girls - mostly - showed symptoms: widespread panic, high-decibel shrieking and an undying devotion to a group of young musicians named A.J., Kevin, Howie, Nick and Brian. One group of girls - seven dance teammates from Thurston High School in Springfield - had much more than the show on their minds. They wanted to meet the men of their dreams. "I am Brian Littrell's biggest fan!" the incredibly excited Emily Payne, 17, said on the way to the concert. But I had every reason to think that when I was dropped off at the show, I would be immune from its musical power. Little did I know I would be the next victim of Backstreet Boys Fever. There were no early warning signs. The two opening acts consisted of Britney Spears wannabe Mandy Moore and the bodybaring EYC, who had 16-year-old Kelly Wells saying: "I didn't pay for a strip show." But all that changed when the Backstreet Boys flew onto the stage on hovercrafts right out of "Back to the Future." Marching the circumference of a high-tech, yet simple and spare, circular stage, the boys made sure that everyone got a good peek at what they paid for before slamming right into their latest pop ditty, "Larger Than Life." Right out of the gate these larger-than-life fellows, dressed in sci-fi sportswear, looked and sounded much better than one would expect from a prefabricated Orlando, Fla.-based pop group (read: 'N Sync). Following that surprising performace, the boys pulled another surprise. They slowed the night way down and talked to the audience with shouts out to family friends and others. This break in the action was also game time, as in: "Who is the favorite BSB in Portland?" Hands down the biggest screams were saved for Brian Littrell, then A.J. McLean (aka "the Bone"), Kevin Richardson, Nick Carter and then high-pitched Howie Dorough - in that order. Acting a bit more grown-up than when they came through town last year, it seems as if the boys have finally come to a new realization: BSB is a family show. (One of the best audience signs of the night: "Will you marry my Mom, A.J.?") Dropping much of the sexually tinged gyrations they've become infamous for, the boys have filled their show with solid harmonies, tight choreography and strong musicianship. One of the brightest moments of the show came during "The Perfect Fan." Several lucky mother-and-daughter pairings were brought to the stage in a sort of love letter to mothers everywhere. The boys walked the daughters around the stage while moms snapped what had to be the pictures of their girls' lifetime. The boys - backed by a six-member band and 10 dancers - filled the show with pyrotechnics, flights over the audience and more costume changes than a Vegas showgirl. The musical army let it all loose on "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)." Dressed in torn T-shirts, they tore up the house and whipped the already frenzied audience to near hysteria before ripping into "We've Got It Goin' On." And by every account, the Backstreet Boys had it going Monday night, proving that once in a while, nice guys do finish first. Comment on this item. Recent Comments Submitted by: awesome seo aul2gh This is really interesting, You're a very skilled blogger. I've joined your rss feed and look forward to seeking more of your excellent post. Also, I've shared your web site in my social networks! Comment on this item. Next Item: Valley Times Review: 10/21/99 San Jose, CA Prev Item: Seattle Times Review: 10/26/99 Tacoma, WA