A 20-something fan named Paige served as proxy for nearly everyone in the estimated audience of 13,000 when Backstreet's Nick Carter applied his Casanova moves during a rendition of "I'll Never Break Your Heart."
He locked eyes at close range, writhed on the floor and repeatedly teased Paige with a single rose before surrendering the prize. She more or less hyperventilated.
Carter and fellow vocalists on the dual tour billed as "NKOTBSB" brought dimensions of gratitude and humility not readily apparent when New Kids thrived as a money machine in the late-'80s and Backstreet stormed the international scene a few years later.
"NKOTBSB" is still a major production, with the best seats selling for $91.50 each. A catwalk stretched from one end of the arena to the other, allowing close-up views for fans as the singers walked back and forth.
The performers, ranging in age from Carter's 31 to 42 (shared by New Kids Danny Wood and Jon Knight), are physically fit and able to execute passable dance routines.
Supporting act Matthew Morrison, who portrays Mr. Schuester on TV series "Glee," sang and danced circles around the headliners.
Morrison tweaked his prime-time persona by mashing together Lolita-themed tunes "Don't Stand So Close to Me" and "Young." He also aced an array of difficult dance steps.
In terms of talent in the New Kids/Backstreet camps, these comparisons emerged:
» The muscular vocals of Backstreet's A.J. McLean trump the falsetto of New Kid Jordan Knight.
» New Kid Donnie Wahlberg does winking beefcake even better than Carter.
» New Kid Joey McIntyre edges Backstreet's Brian Littrell in the category of most cuddly mascot.
Marcia Stroub, a 57-year-old Indianapolis resident, also heaped praise on McIntyre.
"I have a soft spot for Joey," said Stroub, who attended the show with 52-year-old friend Carol Draper. "He was the baby of the group when they started."
While most attendees were younger than Stroub and Draper, 46-year-old Tom Mollgaard was a more prominent exception in the crowd.
The Cincinnati resident said he and a buddy (who declined to be identified) were checking out the show with designs on meeting women.
"I'm a music fan; I'll go see anything," said Mollgaard, who recently caught hard rock band Buckcherry in concert.
Call Star reporter David Lindquist at (317) 444-6404.
SOURCE
No comments:
Post a Comment