Jen Ross
Journal Staff Writer

The Backstreet Boys' concert was all the heart-melting, stomach-fluttering hormonefest you'd expect from the mega-hot teen sensation.

The superpopular American vocal group could have sung like frogs and it probably wouldn't have made a difference to their hordes of devoted fans. But the sensational Boys did, in fact, put on a spectacular and memorable show.

The squeals and tears began in line as thousands of hysterical fans crammed against metal gates in the mad rush to get into the sold-out show at the Commonwealth Stadium.

"You could call it well-managed chaos," said event security manager Rick Thrall. "These young concert-goers...they hear the sound check and they think the show's starting without them so anxiety runs high and they crush together."

Scores of Backstreet-clad fans emerged from the lineup a little crushed and a little bruised, but there were no injuries serious enough to keep any of the 23,000 adoring fans from the event.

The endless squeals went up a pitch when Backstreet Boy Nick's 10-year-old brother Aaron Carter bounced on to the stage. The peppy pint-sized performer and two backup dancers got the crowd pumping their arms and wiggling their torsos to Aaron's hit single Shake It.

Twenty minutes after Aaron, amid deafening screams of "Backstreet, Backstreet," the Boys emerged onstage through fountains of flaming pyrotechnic lights and blinding explosions.

Opening with their hit That's The Way I Like It, the heartthrobs had their enamoured fans clapping, jumping and dancing instantly. Besides their usual assortment of love tunes and bubblegum R&B, the quintet belted out an impressive cover of Shai's a capella song If I Ever Fall In Love.

Their choreography was dually eyebrow-raising. The Boys busted funky smooth yet robotic dance moves to a medley of the latest in hip hop and R&B tunes, proving they can get down with the best of them. The screaming crescendoed every time the Boys did their trademark pelvic thrusts and whenever they teasingly opened their shirts to reveal a little skin.

Some members of the usually vocal-only group also displayed their multiple musical talents by trying their hands at instruments. Sparkled eyelashes batted wildly as Brian played a guitar during the love song That's What She Said.

As the Boys each took turns crooning love solos, thousands of puckered lips mouthed every word. Packs of girls lunged after roses Howie D. threw out into the crowd and hundreds grasped desperately to get their hands on a piece of confetti to take home as a souvenir.

Many fans came equipped with binoculars, and cameras flashed in desperate attempts to preserve the precious moments forever. Some had the name of their favourite Backstreet boy painted scrawled across their face and hundreds waved hand-drawn heart-laced placards in the hopes of catching their idol's attention.

Teen and pre-teen girls made up about 90 per cent of the crowd, although there was the odd boy reluctantly dragged out by his girlfriend. But the girls came dolled up and dressed to impress despite the lack of testosterone in the crowd.

"If we see any guys in the crowd, we won't exactly hesitate to give them a second look," said Rosalyn Derosa, 14. "But we're here for the Backstreet Boys."

"We'll get their attention somehow," said her friend and fellow adoring fan Claire Williams, 14. "Even if it means slingshotting ourselves onto the stage."

The Boys finished the night with three encores, including a ripper version of Backstreet's Back.

And in fact, at the end, that was the lads' promise to Edmonton: "Backstreet will be back."