Tacoma News Tribune Review: 10/26/99 Tacoma, WA

Back - Index - Submissions - - What is RSS? Date: Oct 29, 2099 Source: The Tacoma News Tribune Submitted By: Y Music Review: Backstreet Boys thrill fans with Tacoma Dome show Special effects help cute boy band entertain crowd of mostly young females Stephanie Simons; The News Tribune The Backstreet Boys could have probably sat on their cute behinds and pouted for two hours and still driven the sold-out Tacoma Dome crowd bonkers Tuesday night. But they left nothing to chance, thrilling the mostly young, mostly female, mostly white crowd with everything from fireworks, faux thunder and lightning, confetti, costume changes, energetic dance moves and well-done harmonies on hits such as "As Long as You Love Me." The guys made a grand entrance, "flying" over the crowd on wires, with futuristic-looking surfboard-like things on their feet and funky satin belted vests covering their chests. They landed on a silver stage in the middle of the dome, and made the most of the in-the-round setup. First they marched militarily, displaying themselves to each side of the dome. Then came the music. The two opening acts - Mandy Moore and EYC - kicked it Memorex style (no band, just tape) but the Backstreet Boys had real instruments backing them up. Of course, they didn't play the instruments - they were busy singing and dancing and mugging for the camera in a performance that seemed made as much for the video screens as anything else. Which makes sense: For much of the crowd of more than 22,000, the screens offered the best view of the show. Oh, wait - one Boy did play: Kevin Richardson, the cute, dark-haired one who doesn't sing many leads. He stepped up to a grand piano, playing a long introduction and duet with a saxophone on "Back to Your Heart." Of course, he had two other keyboard players backing him up for most of the song, but he did well, tickling the ivories as his center stage riser lifted toward the roof. The ingenious stage had rotating minirisers for each musician and a middle section that rose up, with and without walkways. It also sunk down, allowing the Boys to jump on and ride up whenever they ducked under the stage for costume changes. They went from the blue satin vests to long, black coats to plastic, BMX-style chest and back protectors to pink suits with gray ties and gray satin vests. Each member of the band took turns sucking up to the crowd, and while the girls seemed to love it, it felt insincere to those who know they probably say the same thing no matter where they are. "There are so many beautiful ladies in Tacoma," A.J. McLean said. "Just look at you guys. I spent all my life in Florida, but I just might move here." The beautiful ladies expressed their devotion with screams, with tears, with body paint and with signs. "I love you A.J.," one read. "I gave up my car for A.J." another wrote. And then there was, "We're legal." Yikes. Give the Boys credit for not milking their sexuality in the presence of fans that are mostly not legal. Anything more than the few pelvic thrusts they worked into their dance moves would have been icky. - - - * Staff writer Stephanie Simons covers popular culture. Reach her at 253-597-8698 or stephanie.simons@mail.tribnet.com. Comment on this item. Recent Comments Submitted by: cheap seo services uMS44Q Heya i'm for the first time here. I found this board and I find It truly helpful & it helped me out a lot. I'm hoping to present one thing back and help others like you aided me. Comment on this item. Next Item: Seattle Pi Review: 10/26/99 Tacoma, WA Prev Item: Salt Lake Tribune Review: 10/28/99 Salt Lake City, UT