So...

[sakon76]

iaurcalien and I went to see the Backstreet Boys at the Hollywood Palladium last night. This was... a very interesting concert. Partly because I wasn't familiar with the album it was for (short story long: both our CD towers toppled this year and as we've been lazy and never secured them to the wall, all the CDs are stacked atop one another in a huge box until we scrounge up some initiative....). Partly because it was in a 4000-person venue when I've only seen them in stadium venues before. Part of it was because they're down a member currently.

Still... despite the extremely stripped-down show, there were some really nice set pieces. In particular their poker game setup for "Show Me The Meaning of Being Lonely" comes to mind. That also sticks out because Nick's costume at that point was pretty much Professor Henry Jones, Jr. (Though I doubt Indy ever wore a bow tie with rhinestones on it.) There were hat tricks. Brian could have a successful alternate career in comedy if he wanted. All four of them got to sing songs off their present or forthcoming solo albums. I am SO buying Howie and AJ's when they come out. Their opening act was... unfortunate. His centerpiece song had the refrain "I'm Dr. Love and you can be my patient," if that gives you an idea of how bad. Both iaurcalien and I agreed the best part of his five-song set was his backup dancers. I mean, I said in all honesty and still mean it, that Howie was sexier fully clothed than whats-his-name was shirtless. (And, for the record, if they ever attempt a remake of I Love Lucy, I'd like to nominate Howie to be Ricky....)

The problem is, I got the feeling that it had been a long tour for all of them. Except Howie, who is like a non-evil Chihuahua or something, they all started off looking tired. Like they were working at it, rather than enjoying themselves. Still, they did all manage to shake it off and were into things by mid-concert. Sans Kevin, they seemed to be trying to make up for his bass line in the songs with bass guitar, which had the unfortunate effect of upsetting my stomach. The concert itself was short, just under two hours, which partly accounts for my feeling of disturbia; the pacing and choice of which songs they chose seemed to be awkward....

Still, it was a fun way to spend the evening, I'm glad they added a L.A. date, the lead guitarist playing "Beat It" for his solo and Nick and Howie doing various '80s dance moves to it (including NKOTB's "The Right Stuff", which cracked me up) was a blast and the crowning moment was the (single-song) encore of "Shape of My Heart"... when Kevin showed up and sang with the rest of the group! (Cue 4000 fangirls and fanboys going wild! Especially the Kevin fangirl I went with.... ^_^) Theoretically today they were going back in the studio to start their new album. I'm actually kind of hoping they take a few days of R&R from the tour. I'm also feeling that it's pretty likely that Kevin will come back to the group at some future point when his familial commitments allow him to.

Comments

[etoilenoir959.livejournal.com]

"they're down a member currently"

I thought Kevin stepped out for good? Is it just temporary then?

And -SQUEAL!!!- You got to see both NKOTB and BSB!! Lucky, lucky! ^_^

[sakon76.livejournal.com]

Kevin did leave the group, but given that it's apparently amicable on both sides and that he's not adverse to showing up on stage, I'm guessing that in a few year/tours/albums/once his kid is a little older he may come back.

And, yes! This was an excellent autumn for boyband concerts. ^_^