AllPop Review: 11/11/99, Toronto, ON

Back - Index - Submissions - - What is RSS? Date: Nov 12, 2099 Source: AllPop Submitted By: Honeyhazel15@aol.com Thursday, November 11, 1999 Toronto Welcomes Backstreet Back By Stephanie McGrath -- AllPop Skydome, Toronto Thursday, November 11, 1999 TORONTO- Toronto, are you ready to party? The answer from the sold-out crowd at the Skydome, to Backstreet Boy member Kevin's question, was an enthusiastic YES!! The Millennium concert was a dazzling event. Every light, dance move, smoke machine and special effect was put to use during the two hour performance. As soon as the opening acts finished (Mandy Moore and EYC), the crowd started to roar. The lights dimmed, the smoke started spewing and suddenly, the five beloved band members, Howie, A.J., Nick, Kevin and Brian, soared above the crowd to the tune of Star Wars. The boys were suspended with cables and air-surfed on boogie-boards onto the stage. The extravagant opening of "Larger Than Life" set the already electrified audience into hysterics. The boys were full of energy. A.J. was doing ballet moves to "The Perfect Fan", Kevin was looking suave, Brian was singing his heart out, Howie was being cute and Nick was giving all the ladies a loving look. Everyone seemed more than satisfied with the performance. Brian and Nick were the crowd's favourite. Every time their faces appeared on the large video screens, the screaming was almost unbearable. A.J. and Brian gave impressive performances. The two had the strongest voices and magnetic personalities. They also seemed to be the two most comfortable with performing in front of such a large crowd. All the old favourites were sung. The biggest crowd pleasers of the night were "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" and the encore, "I Want It That Way". Brian's song "The Perfect Fan," brought down the house and was made extra-special for five female fans and their mothers who got to join the boys on-stage for the song. The Backstreet Boys didn't let their fans get bored for one minute. As soon as they'd slow things down, they'd pump it right back up again with a new costume change and another hit. Speaking of costumes, the boys looked best in regular clothes, (the mauve three-pieced suites they wore to sing the ballads looked just a little funny.) The only downside to the concert was Nick's failing health. The blondest Backstreet Boy sounded horse throughout the show and by the end couldn't even speak well enough to introduce the band members. The concert dragged a bit towards the end. Introducing the boys' back-up band and dancers took about fifteen minutes and the crowd started to get restless. Young children were laying their heads down on their parents shoulders and looking sleepy. But the band revived their audience with their encore "I Want It That Way". After the concert, thousands of fans milled outside the Skydome and screamed "I love them soooo much!" At the beginning of the concert Nick had asked "Everybody, Backstreet's Back, is that ok?" The answer is, of course, yes! Comment on this item. Next Item: Montreal Gazette Review: 11/10/99 Montreal, PQ Prev Item: Toronto Sun Review: 11/11/99, Toronto, ON