Montreal Gazette Review: 11/10/99 Montreal, PQ

Back - Index - Submissions - - What is RSS? Date: Nov 11, 2099 Source: The Montreal Gazette Submitted By: Thursday 11 November 1999 Boys oh boys Backstreet Boys can sing and dance. Who knew? T'CHA DUNLEVY The Gazette If Zavie Levine were a young teenage girl, he probably would have been far more excited. Instead, it was just another round of golf for the Montreal lawyer as he took up 18 holes with Backstreet Boy Brian Thomas Litrell yesterday morning. "I don't know much about the music, but his golf was good," Levine said. Tell that to the 100 young women who waited all day outside an Old Montreal hotel, hoping to catch a glimpse of the pop superstars. The Florida boy-band is touring in support of its third album, Millennium, and is making something of an institution of itself. The group has sold 1 million copies of the album in Canada - which makes three in a row as each of their albums have accomplished the feat. In the U.S., sales total 8 million copies. Levine reported that Brian likes the golf course - it's one of the only places persistent fans don't think to look. Not that the Backstreet Boys don't love their fans. They made all the right moves to proclaim their devotion in a two-hour performance before a sold-out Molson Centre last night; the attendance totalled a whopping 21,000. A circular stage in the centre of the arena made all seats good seats. Shrill Screams Aside from being a good golfer, Brian is also a Star Wars fan, according to the Backstreet Boys Web site. The show started with the grandiose theme to the film series. Brian, A.J., Nick and Howie D. descended from the ceiling as Kevin (impeded by a broken arm) waited at centre stage. Deafeningly shrill screams filled the air and remained the evening's musical constant. Larger Than Life, the first song on the new album, was also the first song of the night. A dozen dancers and a six-piece band backed the Boys as they sang and danced, bounced and crooned their way through an elaborate two-hour show. Amid the expected fanfare were a couple of noteworthy surprises. First, these guys can sing; second, they can dance. The combination makes for an actually palatable show - even to the non-manic, non-screaming, non-teenage, non-female, non-devotee. The only leak in an otherwise air-tight night came in the prolonged final half-hour. Too many slow songs in a row followed by an overly long introduction of each of the nearly 20 performers on stage meant a loss of momentum. An elaborate first encore (It's Gotta Be You) sent many parents and sleepy children to the exits before the actual show closer (I Want It That Way). Just how much fun can a kid have? Comment on this item. Recent Comments Submitted by: nice penalty removal DLPniF Great article and straight to the point. I don't know if this is actually the best place to ask but do you folks have any thoughts on where to employ some professional writers? Thanks in advance :) Submitted by: nikelir Submitted by: kipetok Submitted by: ppionerka Comment on this item. Next Item: Toledo Blade Review: 11/06/99 Detroit, MI Prev Item: AllPop Review: 11/11/99, Toronto, ON