St. Petersburg Times Review: 12/02/99 Tampa, FL

Back - Index - Submissions - - What is RSS? Date: Dec 03, 2099 Source: The St. Petersburg Times Submitted By: KJStanley@aol.com for sending this in. Review Backstreet Boys wired, in tune with 20,000 fans By GINA VIVINETTO © St. Petersburg Times, published December 3, 1999 TAMPA -- Thursday's Backstreet Boys performance at the Ice Palace demonstrated everything that is good -- and bad -- in teen pop. The Boys themselves did an admirable job dazzling the crowd in the first of two soldout performances at the venue. Indeed, Kevin, Brian, A.J., Nick and Howie made a majestic entrance. To the Star Wars theme, the five descended on surfboards above the crowd. Wired to the ceiling, they dangled and danced as almost 20,000 fans cheered wildly. The Boys, dressed in space-age blue vests, dropped to the pentagon-shaped stage in the middle of the arena and launched into Larger Than Life, the first cut on Millennium, their most recent album. This act can teach others a thing or two about utilizing space. With a six-member band, 10 dancers, ample pyrotechnics and strobe lights, a Backstreet Boys concert is a visual feast. The Boys themselves dance, sing superbly, and engage fans in individual, if all-too-earnest monologues, assuring "each and every one" in the audience of their love. They treated fans to hits such as You're the One for Me, on which A.J., the edgiest Boy, the one with the tattoos, earrings and creepy sideburns, does a bit of rapping. All five harmonized beautifully on The One. After that, Nick -- he of the wispy blond bangs in eyes -- chatted with the crowd about Tampa being his hometown. Then came the older favorite As Long As You Love Me, nicely accented by band member Mindi Abair's fluid soprano sax. A dance routine with chairs followed, then some costume changes. Don't Want to Lose You Now. More different duds: black vinyl ensembles. A.J. now in a leopard-print cowboy hat. Quit Playing Games With My Heart, the Boys demanded of the "ladies," most just shy of puberty, in the audience. More wired shenanigans: the Boys up in the air, suspended at five different points over the crowd. Note A.J., the only one brave enough to do somersaults and hang upside down. A.J. also gave tender kisses -- a soft side! -- to stuffed animals before tossing them down. Once back onstage, the Boys serenaded five sets of mothers and daughters with The Perfect Fan, an ode to mothers, written by Brian. The Boys' performance was seamless, true, but filled with spirit. Less engaging was opening act EYC, which, the act informed the crowd, stands for Express Yourself Clearly. EYC is three young men who work the crowd by bumping and grinding, and little else. Well, they sing to prerecorded music, too. Though EYC has an album, I Feel It, the set was short, with snippets of songs by 702 and Eminem. EYC's dancing, too, was -- well, didn't we all learn something years ago from the Thriller video? That synchronized movement doesn't necessarily indicate talent? Sure, you and your neighbors can all drag your feet across the stage, then jerk your heads to your shoulders at the same time, but does that make you all Nureyev? Comment on this item. Recent Comments Submitted by: JimmiXzS 4sW9Xs http://www.FyLitCl7Pf7kjQdDUOLQOuaxTXbj5iNG.com Submitted by: JimmiXzS Q1VjYV http://www.FyLitCl7Pf7kjQdDUOLQOuaxTXbj5iNG.com Submitted by: JimmiXzS ubm2BF http://www.FyLitCl7Pf7kjQdDUOLQOuaxTXbj5iNG.com Submitted by: JimmiXzS aBwlCv http://www.FyLitCl7Pf7kjQdDUOLQOuaxTXbj5iNG.com Submitted by: Bradley W61E6T http://www.FyLitCl7Pf7kjQdDUOLQOuaxTXbj5iNG.com Submitted by: Bradley RGHReJ http://www.FyLitCl7Pf7kjQdDUOLQOuaxTXbj5iNG.com Submitted by: chaba R1pSKx http://www.FyLitCl7Pf7kjQdDUOLQOuaxTXbj5iNG.com Submitted by: gordon DnbzMj http://www.FyLitCl7Pf7kjQdDUOLQOuaxTXbj5iNG.com Submitted by: Fermin I didn't go to university http://www.romainbordes.com/about/ generic wellbutrin problems According to US officials, Joseph Manuel Hunter, 48, served as a sniper instructor and senior drill sergeant in the US Army until 2004, while Timothy Vamvakias, 42, served as an infantryman and attained the rank of sergeant. Submitted by: Patricia Whereabouts are you from? http://www.europanova.eu/contact/ bimatoprost no prescription drug We also need to ensure that everyone living in the UK has access to our shared language - so that they can work, play and engage with fellow citizens. Government cannot be expected to pay. But it can cover the upfront costs in the form of a loan, to ensure new arrivals receive English language lessons, and then seek repayment once migrants are integrated into the workforce. Much like a student loan. Click here to see more comments. Comment on this item. Next Item: Orlando Sentinel Review: 12/01/99 Orlando, FL Prev Item: Digital Collegian Preview: 2/11/00, University Park, PA