They turn the lights down low (screams) and recorded tracks play as the Earth appears on a large screen and computer-animated meteors strike, made 3-D by fireworks. Soon (but not soon enough) 5 figures appear on podiums from below the stage, dressed in black suits (blue inside :-)!) (Even more screams). My Boys - Nick, Howie, Brian, Kevin, and AJ - have finally come onto the stage. "Everyone" and "Larger than Life" open the show, songs saying 'we know who you are' 'and that makes you larger than life,' and awesome dances besides. A small break for a little "solo" by one of the dancers and out comes Brian (and the other 4) 'I was lookin' for something/On the crime scene/Where you're in too deep…" Yup - "Not for Me!!" Their black outfits with red scarf-accent things were extremely sharp. Don't know much else, my film had to be changed! They disappeared, except for hometown-Boy Brian. It was time for the thank yous.

After figuring out what to say (awww) Brian acknowledged his family and friends and wife (all in the audience), then asked it we were ready for "AJ? How about Howie? My cuz Kevin? And, who else…(one, two, three, four)…oh, yeah, Nick? [screams] That's what I thought…" And he left to change for the next set. AJ came out and said his thanx, especially to his mother who was in attendance, then asked us to keep screaming. "You've been doing a great job already, I expect you to keep it up." Then comes…*NICK* "Hi guys, I'm Nick, the youngest of the group…" He was so sweet and I was like, 'wow,' because he reminded me so much of Nick aged 17. "I don't really have much to say because usually the other fellas are with me and they…do all the talking." Then he told the fans how much he loves us and appreciated us coming to see him tonight. 'Bye Nick. Then came Howie, then Kevin, who introduced the next song. "It was writted by Howie and is called 'What Makes You Different'"

Such a beautiful song! They were wearing white suits and, for this song, sat in chairs - Nick, Howie, Brian, Kevin, AJ. Then came "Yes I Will" and a cool dance with canes as props (Yay! - I respect this totally as I am in the color guard and dude it was cool!). Then they disappeared, only to reappear on podiums in the back to proclaim "Don't give lonliness a chance/Baby, listen to me when I say/I will love you more than that" … their beautiful new single! Then Nick (our side…again!…I did good in getting the seats!), Brian (luv him!) and AJ came to the front for "I Want It That Way." They showed some of the "making of the video" and when they showed Nick smiling, screams erupted (no comment!). Then came a funny clip of "Backstreet Boys in 2050" - so funny that you'll have to see it yourself to really truly enjoy it!

Then the 5 guys were out on stage, wearing similar blue suits as in the video, and did a nice medley of "Quit Playin' Games" and "As Long As You Love Me" (Brian's verse of "QPG" followed by the chorus, then Nick's verse of "ALAYLM" then the chorus). "As Long As You Love Me" ended with them singing a capella the chorus -- I love a capella verses, especially when sung by my Boys -- plus a capella shows true talent! Then 5 mics and the first verse and chorus of "I'll Never Break Your Heart," with a pretty cool stationary dance! Then AJ tossed his jacket to Brian/Howie in the back and began talking. After what seemed like some sort of argument, Howie came up to AJ, with his jacket, and was like "I can't believe you've been lying to us for the past three years!" "Whaddaya mean?" "I'll never break your heart? You should be saying something else…" and shoves AJ as "Don't Want You Back" starts - I thought that was a creative way to tie the two songs together.

Now they had on cool blue sleeveless shirts (no jackets, they took 'em off) and sang the first verse and the chorus a couple of times through. Stop. AJ: "So do you like the outfits we have on? [screams] Should we change? [more screams]" After more parley and some leaps (i can't spell the ballet term..LOL!)across the stage by AJ :-) (spurred on by screams, I admit!), a box came out on stage, labeled "BSB Wardrobe." Brian goes in, then Nick (who took his shirt off (Howie: I did NOT want to see that!) - he had a black tank top on underneath!), then Howie, the AJ, and finally Kevin. A "tour" of the changing room follows (pre-recorded video).

It starts as just showing where each guys' changing area is, then turns into discussion when Nick/Brian/AJ's area is identified in confusion. Nick talks about a "girl in the 3rd row with blonde hair, maybe" who's number he got, then Howie and AJ start teasing him - Nick walks away "upset" ((whining) "Why do you always do this to me!?") while AJ tosses Howie's stuffed animals onto the stage (for real!). [a sulking Nick gets a random Tweety bird from AJ as apology]. Brian watches the whole thing like "these guys are crazy" and only really speaks to say "Nick, quit complaining and get changed." AJ reveals his new nickname - "'Bone' is no longer cool." They then fight over the mirror, until Howie shoves them all away so he can have it to himself. Very funny - you'll have to see yourself to really appreciate what goes on.

Then comes the time for us nearer to the back to see these guys lots closer -- the little stage in the back! (And Guess Who was on our side? [Nick and Brian!] …again!). "Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely" … YAY! Nick air-drummed and air-guitared during the vocal break! And them my favorite Black and Blue song - "I Promise You!" They were now in black suits and lookin' cool. "I Promise You" received much screaming from me :-) - Brian sung his verse and they did the arrangement of the chorus like after Nick's verse on the album. And those high notes! Wow! Nick really impressed me of how high he got - and you can bet I screamed…a lot. Plue he was waving out into the audience towards, well, our section…and just guess who was waving enthusiastically back at him :-)! Then Nick, AJ, and Kev sat down on the edge as the next song's lead vocals were carried by Howie D. and B-Rok - "How Did I Fall in Love With You." Yet another song I love (so of course I screamed a lot). The entire time they were there, stuffed animals were being chucked, most at AJ who at first ducked then stood up and became a (willing) target.

Brian: 'Now here's some Backstreet trivia for those of you who don't know - we have been together for 8 years now (screams). This next song we wrote together.' And the cool bridge lowered to take the Boys back up front and AJ was the first to go onto it. While Brian sang, he also signed basketballs for fans before going onto the bridge finally. Nick was silly-stringed by fans, then got his hands on a couple of cans of it himself and got AJ and Howie and Kevin (polysydeton). [Then he complained to Brian, after the song (while Kevin was talking), about having silly string all over him :-)!)

Kevin talked about the charities they all are involved in - Brian's 'Healthy Hearts for Kids', Howie's 'Dorough Lupus Foundation', AJ's 'American Diabetes Association' involvement, Nick's 'Save the Ocean' campaign ("I love the li'l fishies") and his own (Kev's) 'Just Within Reach'. This led into the next song "The Answer to Our Lives," which was coupled with a video of environments and nature (my favorite being the ocean coral shots and shots of whales). Brian played guitar and AJ the drum/percussion set. They disappeared before coming out again for a few more songs.

First (lots and lots of HYSTERICAL screaming for my *all time* favorite song, because Nick is right when he says "I'll be there to make you smile") "All I Have To Give!" -- it was really cooly done. Nick had a hat and sang his part, then Brian took the hat and sang his part, then the other three guys came out and did the chorus…then they did a new routine with the hats (while I put more film in my camera) before doing into part of a new song. It is slow- to midtempo, Brian sings most of it (of course!) - I think it's called something like "If You Stay" or something. I like it a lot and wanna get my hands on a full recorded version!

Then came "Shining star" a great uptempo song with an awesome dance and sweet video of galaxies and stars and…dude! Well produced, too! First only AJ danced, with the dancers, during his part, then only Nick during his verse. Also during Nick's verse, a phone rose out of a trap door ("It doesn't matter if the phone might ring/Cuz I won't hear a thing/When I'm in your arms"). Only thing is - the female dancer with him was a *li'l* close (yes…I think that's spelled: J-E-A-L-O-U-S-Y). Then during the second bridge ("You know that I adore you/Wanna be there everything for you/Satisfy your every needs my baby/baby") they broke in half. Kevin in back (on podiums) with the dancers, Nick and Howie on the right, Brian and AJ on the left [our side]-during the first run Nick and Howie had a "uniform" dance thing, then on the second Brian and AJ had "uniform" time (each had an improve dance while the other group had their "uniform" time).

'Bye'bye to all but Kev - first a "Happy Birthday" wish to his gramma Lucy, then a little time to introduce the band (he and Nick did this) and dancers (Brian, AJ and some rapping by Howie). They now had on my personal favorite costume: the silver chainmail shirts over white tees (Nick) or black tanks and black pants. "Everybody" they sang -"BACKSTREET's BACK - Alright!" and did their video dance with the "wrist thing" (along with much of the audience) :-). Nick played guitar during the second verse…his new talent! :-) Then came "Get Another Boyfriend" - I absolutely LOVE their dance for this song because it's soooooooo cool lookin', especially the first part before the singing begins!

All but AJ left the stage. "Thanks again for comin, we have one more song for you…(ring, ring)…You have been a great audience…(ring, ring)…Should I answer it? Well, should I?" (YES!!!) He did, finally, and then "The Call" started. Wow! They did a great job. After jumping into the trapdoors (that is a participial phrase!) they came back with chior robes on for the middle part of the song, then took them off for the last part and bows.

And I knew they would not let us go without singing their "big single" from the album-"Shape of My Heart." Wearing UK Wildcat jerseys (participle) (Nick and Brian wore white, the other three blue…I don't know numbers because my eyes are, um, not so great-even with contacts in!) they performed. The silly string theme reappeared. Nick and Howie chased each other all over the stage like little kids! Howie was literally covered with it and had trouble getting Nick back. Howie ducked behind Brian, and Nick was about to get him (Brian) but he walked away like "I'm NOT getting into this!" B-Rok was the only one who didn't get silly stringed in the whole show :-)!) Then there was AJ and his SuperSoaker! :-) They did a final bow and a final "Thanx for comin'!" then it was over…until August!

Yes, it was a fun and exciting time! I have yet to acknowledge them having been there in person, in the flesh, but it will set in. Nick ran all over the stage during many of the songs, reminding me of li'l Aaron. He has calmed down a LOT (except for occassional headbanging during songs like "More Than That" (?!?) and "Shinging Star"). AJ has calmed down too…for the most part. Part of the reason I have no voice today (the day after the concert and until three days later) is his asking "How are the beautiful ladies on the left?" And his requests for us to scream. But the fact that my favorites Nick and Brian have most of the leads doesn't help much either. As a group, they wow'd me with their improvements in dancing, they aren't just five guys trying to gel together-they are a group as they dance. Only thing is that Nick seemed to trip over his feet a lot while dancing, but it didn't really affect his overall dancing. They have 5 beautiful voices, and are 5 talented dancers and just keep getting better…the reason why I like to say: