Backstreet boys find way to Main, much to fans' delight
By April Boyle
August 12, 2005
Portland Press Herald

The Backstreet Boys are back together after a five-year break with a new album and tour titled "Never Gone." It's a nostalgic comeback for the pop icons. For the young fans gathered at the Civic Center Wednesday, it was a lifelong dream come true.

Nick Carter, Brian Littrell, AJ McLean, Howie Dorough and Kevin Richardson were the reigning heartthrobs in the most successful boy band of recent times. They traveled the globe, playing to millions of adoring fans. But they never came to Maine. They were simply too big.

Times have changed. The boys fell from the top during their troubled absence. They are now much more accessible to smaller venues. And Maine fans eagerly welcomed the opportunity.

High-pitched screams pierced the night as the quintet slowly descended from a staircase, forming the letter V (five in Roman numerals). Deafening pyrotechnics shook the building as green lasers shot across the crowd. The primarily female, adolescent fans were ecstatic.

A video montage preceded the Backstreet Boys' dramatic entrance. The clips featured images taken during "Black and Blue," their 2000 release. It was the first of four trips down memory lane.

Each montage centered around an album, chronicling the group's 12-year career. The crowd erupted in giggles during the third set of clips. The images featured the early days when Carter was just 12 years old and the other four were in their mid- to late teens. The clips reminded just how much the five have changed.

They followed each video segment with songs from the featured album, interspersed with new tracks from "Never Gone." Past hits included "Shape of My Heart," "I Want It That Way," "Show Me The Meaning of Being Lonely," "Larger Than Life," "As Long As You Love Me," and "Drowning."

Many of the older songs included choreography. But, the boys wisely opted not to take it too seriously. It had a much looser feel, almost as if they were parodying their former selves.

Their tastes have clearly matured. The new songs showed depth and vocal growth. Two members have even added instrumentation to their repertoire. Carter joined the Backstreet band on acoustic guitar for "Climbing the Walls" and electric on "I Just Want You to Know." Richardson provided piano accompaniment on "Weird World" and "Incomplete."

The set also included "Beautiful Woman," "I Still," "Siberia" and "Crawling Back to You" from "Never Gone."

The Backstreet Boys returned for a one-song encore of "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" before making a grand exit during a pyrotechnics display that rivaled the Fourth of July.

Seventeen-year-old Kaci Brown opened the evening with a four-song set from her debut, "Unbelievable," which was released Aug. 9. The Click Five followed, dressed in suits and matching haircuts, not unlike the Beatles. The Berklee School of Music alumni delivered a six-song set of pop songs from their debut, "Greetings From Imrie House," due to be released Tuesday. Songs included "Pop Princess," "Just The Girl," "Catch the Wave" and a cover of "I Think We're Alone Now."