Title: Aaron Keeps Screams Going
Source: London Free Press
Source: Entertainment; Pg. A2; Review
Author: James Reaney
Date: March 9, 2001
Topic: Winter 2001 Concert Review
This time, Aaron Carter and his fans really did party.
When the little blond prince of pop hit the stage at jam-packed Centennial Hall last night, Carter danced and moved his way into Life is a Party.
The screams from the sold-out crowd of more than 1,600 fans made it official. The Aaron's Party tour had hit London. The 13-year-old star kept the screams going with the old pop hit Iko Iko, leading his solid rock band through a set expected to run an hour. Most of the crowd was made up of young girls, Carter's age or younger. They were up on their chairs, standing along the lower floor railing and screaming "Aaron, Aaron, Aaron" -- apparently pronounced "erin, erin, erin" -- whenever things became quiet for a moment.
Along for the show in the overwhelmingly female crowd, keeping the kids company, were many moms.
None could have been prouder than Jane Carter, the mother of Aaron, his-14-year-old sister Leslie --last night's opening act --and their big brother Backstreet Boy superstar Nick Carter.
Aaron Carter gets a little tired of hearing people mention his bro -- but there's no escaping it. If the littlest Carter keeps working a crowd with the charisma and energy he showed last night, a slice of Backstreet style stardom is there for him.
The youngest performer on a bill where the collective age of all four acts -- including a pair of dance diva twins from Montreal -- didn't hit 90 was the most polished and professional.
Jane Carter was just happy things were much better for Aaron Carter this time around in London. Two years ago, he was booked into a downtown dance club and both Carter and his young fans became tearful in the crush.
"It was terrible . . . we'll never play there again," Jane Carter said, pointing to the 1999 show's promoter as booking her son into the wrong place.
By contrast, last night's show was well-handled by its promoter, Don Jones Productions. Security kept the party from turning into a crush, without keeping the fans from their dance and scream party fun.
Typical of the partying mood were the mother and daughter pairing of Lori MacPherson and her 10-year-old Toni, from Dashwood. Toni MacPherson had been the envy of her Grade 4 classmates at Stephen Central elementary school because of her ticket to Aaron's Party, a present for her 10th birthday.
"Great" was Toni's assessment of Aaron Carter from her perch atop a chair.
Her mom's taste in concerts runs more to Steve Earle and Stompin' Tom Connors -- two men who have experienced more showbiz joys and sorrows than the whole Carter family put together.
"They're awesome," Toni said, after dancing to the group 11:30, the Montreal duo of twins Toni and Trish Sherwood and their hit Ole Ole.
"She's great," was her verdict on Leslie Carter's opening set, which included her rocking take on Tracey Ullman classic They Don't Know About Us. An older reviewer noticed aspiring rocker Leslie is not the dancer in the Carter family.
Second to appear was hip-hop lite specialist Ricky J, who loves to yell. "Not as a good as Leslie," Toni said. Good calls all around, kid.
NOTES: James Reaney is a Free Press reporter covering arts and entertainment.
GRAPHIC: 2 photos by Sue Reeve, The London Free Press; 1. Pop singer Aaron Carter, 13, performs at Centennial Hall last night.; 2. RICKY J one of opening acts for Aaron Carter show
