Review: Backstreet Boys got it going on
Performing as much of a production show as a concert, the Backstreet Boys took the stage Wednesday night at Grand Sierra Resort as part of their “This Is Us” tour with perfectly choreographed moves and high-tech features.
Band members Nick Carter, 30; A.J. McLean, 32; Brian Littrell, 35 and Howie Dorough, 36, made their initial on-stage appearance busting through a hanging video projection screen that was showing their pictures.
Fans, predominately teens and women who seemed younger than the band members, greeted them and made their best efforts to interact with the performers.
The group opened with “Backstreet’s Back” and “We’ve Got It Going On.” The band then engaged the crowd in “PDA,” which made security guards on alert to control excited fans.
Backstreet Boys, who changed clothes several times, also had four female dancers. One of the most interesting routines was during “Larger than Life,” when performers dressed as robots and effects included computerized features on the projection screen.
Other songs during the 100-minute show included “Shape of My Heart,” “Quit Playing Games,” “As Long as You Love Me” and “I’ll Never Break Your Heart.”
The encore was “Straight Through My Heart.”
Even though they’ve grown up since the band’s formation in 1993, members still have strong voices and are able to rev up a crowd. The unison performing and technology make them even better.
In other words, I enjoyed this concert much more than I thought I would, even though band members mispronounced Nevada.
The Backstreet Boys positive performance made up for the 20-minute odd opener by Christian Berishaj, formerly of Love Arcade.
Berishaj, who ironically calls himself “Christian TV,” had a thick Mohawk hairstyle and wore blue jeans, a low-cut pink undershirt and a leopard-print sweater. He sang songs, such as “When She Turns 18.” Other lyrics had to do with not wanting to be alone at 2 a.m., trying to get someone naked and calling 9-1-1.
Maybe he was intending to strike fear into the hearts of parents in the crowd. But regardless, Berishaj had a decent voice and was somehow able to attract plenty of noise. People even gathered around him for pictures following the concert.
By Carla Roccapriore
July 1, 2010
RGJ