Here's my personal thoughts about the Backstreet Boys concert on September 4th, 1998 (better known as the best night of my life thus far). The guys gave an amazing performance and I hope they decide come to Merriweather (or even maybe DAR-Constitution Hall?) again because it's smaller than most venues, and it's definitely more intimate. Also, hopefully, I hope I can get better tickets next time - like in the orchestra pit! - but even so I had a great time. (So, if any or all of the Backstreet Boys are reading this, please take note that Maryland loves the BSB and would love to see you again soon! (And I would love to meet you five amazingly talented guys sometime - keep rocking!)
        I don't have any photos of the concert, simply because Merriweather's policy says that they do not allow cameras on the premises. I saw lots of people who had cameras! I don't get it - don't people read the regulations? All I can say is that I didn't blind Nick, Brian, Kevin, Howie and A.J., but if you got pictures, great for you (as for me, I'm waiting for Guido Karp's official photo in the mail). Also, I wish that everyone would have sat down so we could see the stage better, but everyone stood the entire time, so I had to stand too (if I wanted to see anything). I hope next time one of the BSBs will say, "Hey, will everyone sit down so the people in the back can see?" and I'm sure at that time everyone will listen.
        Hope you enjoy my story, and if you have any comments or questions about the concert, E-MAIL ME.

---

Time: 5:42PM.
After having dinner in the dorm (and eating it as if my life depended on it), my mom and I peeled out of the parking area in front of Queen Anne's Hall. I practically had a heart attack because my mom was supposed to show up at 4:00PM and she ended up getting to school at 5:10PM because of pre-Labor Day backups on the Beltway. It was slightly an adventure trying to find Route 32 West and Route 29 North, but we saw lots of cars and minivans packed with girls, so I assumed we were going in the right direction.

Time: 6:10PM.
Once we arrived I was utterly taken aback by the line of people that jutted out from the main entrance. The most people I'd seen assembled in a group for a long time, that's for sure. Since I had only a voucher for my tickets, I ran all the way towards the box office (I kept asking people for directions) and got the tickets (row JJ, seats 37 and 39 - hey, at least I had ACTUAL seats), while my mom waited in line. I'm glad we did that because it we didn't split up we probably would have waited forever to get in! I bought a tourbook (with some delicious close-ups of Nick, Howie, Brian, Kevin and A.J.) and ran back to my mom in the line. I talked with some fellow fans - they had seats in 4th row! - but they were ultimately worried that their sign wasn't big enough (supposedly, the Buzz (102.7 FM), a Baltimore radio station, would get you in to meet the Backstreet Boys if your sign was the largest at the concert). They'd already been to their Nissan Pavilion appearance on July 15th as well (lucky stiffs) and most of the crowd were resplendent in tour t-shirts.

An Aside...
Who wouldn't want to meet the Backstreet Boys? If you're a BSB fanatic, you'd probably give your left arm to meet them - right? But even if you're fanatical, I don't see any reason to say you met them when you haven't. Outrageous claims are all over the 'net.

Has anyone had luck in making a big sign and getting the Backstreet Boys' attention? I mean ACTUALLY meeting them. There are plenty of people who've said that they've met one or more of the BSB - but in my mind, unless you have photographs, you really have no proof. Please understand that I, like any Backstreet Boys fan, would LOVE to meet them (personally I'd like to sing something a cappella with them). Based on what I've seen on the Web, people seem to like to say they've met them (when there's no way that the BSB, with their busy schedules and all). So far, I've only seen one website with actual photos of a fan meeting three Backstreet Boys. Please visit Tina Gan's Singapore Backstreet Boys Page (the photos and her account of their July 15th Nissan Pavilion concert under Concert Reports).

Why did I write this aside?
On my little spot on the web, I'd like to ask one favor to all the BSB fans out there - please respect Nick Carter, Brian Littrell, Kevin Richardson, Howie Dorough, and A.J. McLean - like anyone else on this planet they deserve their privacy. I don't mean to sound preachy, but I'm always thinking about that probably every move they make is being scrutinized by their managers, their fans, their families, etc. I'm also getting really tired about people who claim to be "the future Mrs...." when it's completely the boys' business about who or whom they date and/or marry. They're five multi-talented singers - and should be given respect for their singing ability, not their looks.

Okay, back to the concert account...

At least soon the line was moving rather smoothly and we got to our seats at about 7 PM, people-watching, looking at signs. Tons of people (well, girls) practically caused a stampeded when they saw someone down by the fences in the front (there's a grassy area between the Pavilion fence and the dressing rooms) and I guess some girl mistook a roadie for a Backstreet Boy. Well, I'm pretty sure that a Backstreet Boy would NOT take the risk of walking out of the dressing room before the performance (he'd get run over most likely). The masses screamed every time someone saw something - a waving of a curtain, the turn on of the screen projectors, the testing of microphones and lasers.

Though, to me, the time passed rather quickly. I wish I had been more bold and had talked to more of the fans, but I figured that most of them wouldn't believe that I'm almost 19, and I also didn't want to start a cat-fight by telling them who my fave BSB is. (So, to all the fans reading my story, if you'd like to have an INTELLECTUAL discussion about the Backstreet Boys, and not a gushfest, feel free to e-mail me.) So I just waited in anticipation, while songs provided by the Buzz droned in the background (like Aerosmith's "Walk This Way," Def Leppard's "Pour Some Sugar on Me," and Puff Daddy's "Mo Money Mo Problems").

Time: 8:00PM.
A guy in a red shirt came out, pumping up the audience and introduced Aaron Carter. For those not familiar with the Backstreet Boys, Aaron Carter is BSB Nick Carter's younger brother, a singer in his own right. Like many other BSB fans I'm sure, I was really skeptical about Aaron's singing and wondered if I would like his songs. Boy, did he prove me wrong! He and his dancers (Darryl and somebody else - Darryl was on my side of the stage for most of Aaron's performance) had lots of energy, doing handless backflips and cartwheels. The three of them were wearing tracksuits that were white and had black stripes. The backbeat for "Crush On You," "Crazy Little Party Girl" (in which my section screamed "Party Girl" at Aaron's request), and "Shake It" was infectious. The crowd loved it. A little bespectacled girl was invited onto the stage, to be serenaded by Aaron, who sang "Ain't That Cute" (a song written by Brian and older bro Nick). He was such a sweet heart, putting his arm around her, and getting down on one knee, marriage proposal-style, at one point (to the delighted screams of fans). Around 8:17 PM he was done with "Ain't That Cute," thanked the audience, and left the stage to thunderous applause.

Time: 8:18PM.
Then we waited for what seemed like an eternity. The crowd was obviously getting restless. Bored kids bought "lite-sticks" with "Backstreet Boys" emblazoned on them (temporary glow sticks), $15 fake backstage passes, posters and t-shirts. As much as I like/love the Backstreet Boys, I decided that the poster I had at school was sufficient (and until I find a better one, I'm not going to get another one, though I've saved space for more - so if anyone sees a good group shot, or a really good one of any of them, and wants to donate...) I'm also not big on black t-shirts, so I didn't get a tour shirt - I'm very proud of myself .

Time: 9:01PM.
Time ticked on. Finally, they came on stage around 9 PM, following the blasting of "Mo Money Mo Problems" (in which the audience collectively sang along to the chorus). The boys came out in a flurry of pounding backbeat and exploded out of the trapdoor high above the mainstage (which fans who've seen the BSB's fave videos special on MTV will recognize), along with amazing exploding pyros. This being my first concert, I thought the roof was going to blow off from all the high decibel screaming. I ended up screaming for all of them, whenever they each came on the screen individually (though, of course, I screamed the most for Nick and Brian). I almost lost my eardrums initially, but I learned the secret to surviving the screams - to scream along with everyone else. They exploded onto the stage and sang "That's the Way I Like It" with infectious energy (from what I've heard from other concert-goers, it was just a coincidence that they were wearing Maryland colors - red, black and silver). A.J. pumped up the crowd by noting "all the sexy ladies in the house tonight" and throughout the concert he and Howie both said "Maryland's in the house!" (causing even more mayhem). Kevin remarked that it was their first show at Merriweather and thought the crowd was great. Next, they sang "If You Ever" a cappella (I'm assuming this is the name, since that's what people have been telling me - since I don't have the Canadian version of their album). Nick was complaining that he didn't have a solo for that song, so the guys (and the audience) humored him a bit while singing his solo a cappella bit.

Since I was understandably overwhelmed by the whole experience, I've been getting some bits and pieces a little confused. So a lot of the stuff following might be mixed up, like song order and clothing. Please forgive me (but then again, I'm sure if you were there, you'd have the same problems ;-)

After the a cappella bit, A.J. and Kevin came out with black tank tops (I guess A.J. wanted to show off his tattoos). Brian was completely in red, and made a point of turning his red baseball cap so we could see him better. He waved to us a lot. Nick was wearing a white t-shirt and a Bulls' jersey with #33 on it (Scottie Pippen's number). For the life of me, I don't remember what Howie was wearing, probably something in a red and black scheme, sporty looking. I think we can all agree that the five of them all took turns hamming it up for the cameras - there were four girls behind me, totally in love with Brian, and every time he winked or waved for the cameras, up went the decibels. Brian and Kevin glared jokingly several times, Howie did his trademark winking, and A.J. gave singing his all. Several times Nick grinned into the camera and came close to kissing it (no doubt to make the fans more frantic), though I think personally he was trying to conserve some of his energy. During the next song, "Hey Mr. DJ," Nick turned his back to the audience when headed towards the drum kit and getting a swig of bottled water. (It wasn't until later that I figured out on the BSB website that they had been on Regis and Kathie Lee on Wednesday morning, AND had played the Nassau Coliseum in Long Island that night, AND had performed in Providence, R.I. the night before - so I figured all five of them were probably just exhausted from the tour. Even so, I was worried about Nick especially.)

They each took turns doing solos. Howie came up first, throwing white roses and a final red rose into the front orchestra pit area (can you get any luckier?) and took off his red satin jacket at the end (I have no clue as to what song he sang, as the screaming was ongoing while he was working the crowd and throwing the roses). Pink glitter came down like rain near the end of Howie's performance. Then A.J. sang the suggestive "Lay Down Beside Me" and seemed like he was singing for the cameras, and when I say suggestive...

Kevin, in his black tank top, bustled in to sing "Nobody But You" - cool song, and it was great that he kept looking out into the audience, and gazing longingly at the cameras. Okay, now I see what some fans see in Kevin ;-) Then Brian came out in a white t-shirt and dark shorts. He asked if he could sing us a song he'd written himself (are you kidding? us fans screamed with approval), strapped on his acoustic (it was either red or plain wood - I don't remember), and sang the beautiful "That's What She Said." Finally, it was Nick's turn. He came on with the red satin ensemble, looking gorgeous, hair disheveled (probably because he dumped a bottle of water on his hair so that his hair looked like it did in the video "Quit Playin' Games"). He kept stopping, and alternately making his drawls longer, probably because the crowd was screaming so loudly. It ended up that he didn't even sing all of "Heaven In Your Eyes" and it was quite disappointing, really - all he sang was the first verse and the chorus. I wanted to say, "Shut up everybody, I want to hear Nick sing this song!" But like I said before, I think maybe he was really tired or something so maybe that's why he didn't sing all of "Heaven." So, based on the solos, I'd have to say that Kevin and Brian tied for the best solo of the night (Kevin because he was playing with the audience with his winking, and Brian because he played his acoustic for us and I thought he was great).

Next was "Let's Have A Party" and the guys really strutted their stuff. (I'm amazed that they kept up the pace for 2 long hours and they sounded incredible too! Though, I still was worried about Nick because he kept resting on the sidelines every once in a while, to catch his breath and get some water.) After the dance moves, they wanted to sing "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)." The band first played what sounded like a country version of the song, then played a hard rock version. They got mad at the band, and Nick took over on drums, A.J. grabbed bass, Howie took lead guitar, Brian sat next to the congos on a raised platform, and Kevin made himself at home at the keyboards. I must say, they play pretty well - personally, I liked Kevin's keyboard playing the best. Brian and Nick sang the solo parts, just like in the American version of "Quit Playing Games." They then fired off a fantastic set of songs from the American album - "Darlin'" (in which they asked that our section sing "tell me what to do to make things right"), "All I Have To Give," "Anywhere for You," and "I'll Never Break Your Heart" (which they sang, seated, in the red satin suits, on white stools, while Brian and A.J. roamed back and forth across the stage).

They changed into sporty ensembles for "Get Down (You're the One for Me)" and their dance moves wowed me yet again. (By this time, if you're not bopping to the music, there must be something wrong with you.) My mom thought the concert was over (because they kept thanking the audience and saying good night), but I assured her that there was much more to the concert!

But then they did "As Long As You Love Me" (a personal favorite) and reprised their famous folding-chair dance moves (though I wish it could have lasted longer, and I wish they were wearing what they wore for the music video, but c'est la vie...) They then left the stage, while the "Everybody" video showed on the two big screens (and everyone in the audience screamed when Brian found that furry animal under the sheets, and at the end when there's a zoom-in shot of them screaming). Also, we were all hooting "oooh, oooh, oooh, oooh" (you had to be there - and you have to be a BSB fan to know what I'm talking about) during all the dance scenes. (If you're a BSB fan, you've probably already memorized every little scene from the MTV music award-winning, Joseph Kahn-directed music video.)

A sneaky trick, though - to get us to watch the video, as they had been moving stuff around on the stage and so instead of the multi-colored setup that had been there before, the stage was all black and there was an ominous gate in the back. Five upright coffins were wheeled out to the front of the stage, shepherded by 5 Grim Reaper-ish guys in black robes, having red lights for eyes. They turned the coffins to reveal the Backstreet Boys! (I also noticed that Nick was sitting down in his coffin, whereas the other guys were standing up in theirs - further adding to the theory that Nick was just too exhausted to be his usual "Mr. Hyper" self. However, I read a US article today (9/13/98) that seems to suggest that sometime ago Nick had strep throat, but continued performing anyway. Poor Nick - I hope he's all better!) They came out and really built up the crowd again with the always crowd-pleasing "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)." Nick hung out behind the gate for a while, instead of roaming the stage like A.J., Brian, Kevin, and Howie were doing during the song. He eventually came out again, though, to everyone's delight (not to mention he swayed his body really quite seductively several times during the song, and everyone screamed when he sang the "am I sexual" part of "Everybody"). They bowed, thanked us again for being such great fans, then ran off the stage.

Time: 11:04PM.
Post-concert time. Ever felt a mixture of awe, wonderment, and the wish that something would never end? I didn't get home until 12:30AM because the line coming out of Merriweather was horrendous. But I couldn't care less - I had just seen the Backstreet Boys in concert!

Lots of people stayed behind because they probably thought maybe they'd get to meet one, if not all, of the Backstreet Boys. But they probably didn't - and I don't blame the boys. After all, they deserved a rest after putting together such an amazing performance for us (and it being the third night in a row that they needed to perform for such large legions of fans). All I hope is that they'll remember the screaming masses at Merriweather and think of us next year when they'll hopefully pick to come back and play for us again. Maryland loves the BSB, and as always, keep the Backstreet pride alive!

Backstreet Boys Forever, and KTBSBPA!
Mary Chang (aka BSBVOICE aka slylvsngs)

This way back to the homepage of THE BACKSTREET INTELLECTUAL
Sign my guestbook by CLICKING HERE

people have visited this site to read my concert review - thanks to everyone who stopped by!

First Posted 9/8/98
Last Modified 10/3/98 ("Happy Birthday, dear Kevin...")
Created 1998, BSBVOICE (bsbvoice@hotmail.com).
Photos Courtesy of Caitlin Deachman, Backstreet.Net / Caitlin's Backstreet Boy Pages