Birmingham News Review: 11/23/99 Birmingham, AL

Back - Index - Submissions - - What is RSS? Date: Nov 27, 2099 Source: The Birmingham News Submitted By: Tabitha Larger Than Life Fans get 'pumped up' over U.S.'s most famous dance-pop quintet (by Mary COLURSO News Staff Writer) Memphis Large white garbage cans stood just inside the Memphis Pyramid, a 20,000-seat areana jammed with giggling, screaming girls Sunday night. The bins were equally packed with the remains of homemade signs -- pieces of cardboard carefully colored, lettered and glittered by fans of the most famous dance-pop quintet in America, the Backstreet Boys. Although messages for the group had be crafted with care ("Nick is the bomb!", "Brian, wave to me please!") the Pyramid's policies forbade concertgoers from bringing signs or banners into the venue. Adrenaline-charged ticketholders, wailing, were forced to surrender their love notes at the door. "It took us three days to do this!," exclaimed Jennifer Beachy and Stepanie Campbel, both 17, of Memphis, holding up a garage door-sized collage of the Boys, which ended up in the Pyramid trash. But that seemed to be the only disappointment the evening held for the wildly cheering crowd, one of about 50 audiences lucky enough to secure tickets to a stop on the Backstreet Boys' sold out 'Millennium' tour. Excitement reached a fever pitch about two hours before the 8 p.m. show, and stayed that way until the concert ended at 11 p.m. Enthusiasm is expected to be equally high in Birmingham tonight, as the Backstreeters headline a 7:30 p.m. extravaganza at the BJCC Arena. The elaborate 'Millennium' show features sparkling fireworks, overhead acrobatics, shooting flares, a dance procession with torches and a spectacular entrance by the Boys on neon-lit, flying surfboards. Also on the Boys' agenda are 19 Backstreet songs, including the hits "I Want It That Way", "As Long As You Love Me", and "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)". Approximately 18,000 tickets sold out here in 18 minutes when they became available in August, an arena record. It took about an hour for them to disappear in Memphis, but they ended up in the hands of Backstreet devotees who happily traveled to Tennessee from Arkansas, Kentucky, Georgia, and even as far as Texas. "I wouldn't sell my tickets for a bazillion dollars," insisted Mayra Sanjaun, 14, who hopped a plance from Houston to see her fave raves, along with friend Philys Johnson, 15. The teens said they spent the day before the show trying to track down Backstreet members Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, A.J. McLean and Kevin Richardson at the Memphis airport and in area hotels. Their efforts were rewarded late Sunday afternoon when, staking out the Pyramid's backstage gate, they spied Dorough emerging from a tour bus. "We're positive it was him; he had a ponytail blue Adidas on," said Johnston, who clutched a sovenier bag containing various Backsteet goodies. "We had to trespass a little to get over there, but we snapped his photo. He waved and smiled, which was way cool. Not everyone was willing to leap over barricades or climb chain-link fences, yet eager clusters of ticketholders began congregating at the downtown arena around 3 p.m. so they could make the experience last as long as possible. T-shirt vendor Paul Martinez said his company expected to seel about $300,000 worth of official Backstreet merchandise before the night was over -- to say nothing of rouge salesman who hawked heaps of bootleg souveniers on nearby streets. "The kids are definately pumped up," said Martinez, who pointed out his most popular shirt, a white-and-green, two-sided T bearing pictures of the Boys and a futuristic type-face that spelled out "Millennium Tour". Gadsden native Savannah Stewart, 12, who was eyeing Martinez's wares, admitted that attending the concert would force her to play hooky from her Kentucky school Monday, a sentiment echoed by many of the youths on hand. "But I'd go across the seas and run naked for miles before I'd miss the Backstreet Boys," said Ammie Smith of Memphis, 15. "They are so fine, so sweet. ...I'm telling you, not even an 'N Sync concert is this big." Comment on this item. Recent Comments Submitted by: johnansog http://imrdsoacha.gov.co/silvitra-120mg-qrms Submitted by: JimmiNi ccojyp http://www.FyLitCl7Pf7ojQdDUOLQOuaxTXbj5iNG.com Submitted by: JimmiXzS bSYkMQ http://www.FyLitCl7Pf7kjQdDUOLQOuaxTXbj5iNG.com Submitted by: JimmiXzS xUcBMx http://www.FyLitCl7Pf7kjQdDUOLQOuaxTXbj5iNG.com Submitted by: chaba sXa9Z4 http://www.FyLitCl7Pf7kjQdDUOLQOuaxTXbj5iNG.com Submitted by: chaba s27e6x http://www.FyLitCl7Pf7kjQdDUOLQOuaxTXbj5iNG.com Submitted by: buy cheap oem software oJeApR Youth rock band "Ranetki" says thank you for such a wonderful blog..! Comment on this item. Next Item: Post Herald Review: 11/23/99 Birmingham, AL Prev Item: Herald-Leader Review: 11/26/99, Lexington, KY