Mixing early career hits with songs from their new album Unbreakable, the band shows it still has the moves and songs to get the girls screaming
T'CHA DUNLEVY, The Gazette
Published: Wednesday, August 06They've still got it - the power to make a crowd of 12,200 mostly female fans scream so loud it hurts, that is. Earplugs, fast! Ahh, that's better.
The Backstreet Boys played the Bell Centre last night in support of their sixth album, Unbreakable, released last year - their first without original member Kevin Richardson, who left the group in 2006.
If there was any doubt as to the ongoing allegiance of their audience, it was quashed even before the show began, as cheers broke out in waves. But that was nothing compared with the outburst when the concert finally started.
They might not be "Boys" anymore, but these guys have no trouble pulling out their old boy-band moves.
They came out swinging with the boxing ring-themed opener Larger Than Life (complete with gloves, hoodies and synchronized dance steps), making it clear they were not above giving the people what they want - in this case, a balance of upbeat pop hits and fist-clenching ballads.
They quickly traded in their robes for black leather jackets, and followed with another oldie, Everyone.
Having paid tribute to their past, they dropped three new ones - the upbeat Any Other Way and two torch songs, You Can Let Go and Unmistakable - reminding fans that there is a new album on the shelves.
But it was the night's sixth song, I Want It That Way, that really got the party going.
The singalong was immense, providing the first truly communal moment of the evening, and prompting member Brian Littrell to hold his microphone out to the audience. "You sing," he said. And they did.
"Comment ça va, Québec?" Howie Dorough asked. "Hello, Montreal. I can speak on behalf of the guys and say it's an honour to be here in Montreal. This is where it all started. We'll never forget you guys. We were just reminiscing today about how many great times we've had here, from playing the hot air balloons festival to the Millennium tour when we played here five nights."
They delivered Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely while sitting around a card table, the crowd backing them on every line.
A mid-show medley brought the house down with the early- career hits Quit Playing Games (With My Heart), I'll Never Break Your Heart and All I Have to Give. And the set-closing Everybody (Backstreet's Back) had fans dancing in the stands.
Each one emerged on his own to sing a track from either previously released or forthcoming solo albums - with mixed results.
This show was not about new material or any single member of the group. It was about the Backstreet Boys as band, as phenomenon and as childhood nostalgia act.
Yep, even kids remember the good old days, and the hits that went along with them.
The Backstreet Boys might not be as big as they once were; they might be getting up there; but as long as they can get this kind of adoring reception from this big a crowd, you can bet they'll keep coming back.
tdunlevy@thegazette.canwest.com
© The Gazette (Montreal) 2008SOURCE
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