Concert Reviews

Click here to send in a concert review.

Date Of The Concert: November 11, 1999
Reviewed By: Kara

I went to swim practice on Thursday morning, and had to wake up at 6:00AM. Then I stumbled into school, mumbling, "Why am I here? Why am I here?", over and over again because I knew that the guys were already in Toronto and I wasn't. They came at 5:45 that morning and I was still far away...*sigh*. Anyways, I got my school work for the next day from all my classes (yes I had to stay in class...) and then got out of school at 1:45. I went to the attendance office to sign out and all of that stuff. Then I went and got changed into what I would wear for the concert. I had to stuff my school bag with loads of clothes since I'd be spending the night in Toronto (more details on this later!). I was just about pissing my pants as usual. Anyways, with butterflies in my stomach, I headed down to the bus terminal to get my bus ticket to Toronto. Oh yeah, two of my friends that were going to the concert with me, went home at lunch because I wasn't allowed to miss a full day od school. They already had their bus tickets. Anyways, I waited in line to get it, thinking that there wouldn't be any left. And guess what??!! There were lots left! I almost started crying with relief. All day I had been thinking that there wouldn't be any tickets left! But there was, so I paid $23 for a return ticket too. It would've been $16 if I wasn't taking the bus home again. I had to wait until 3:00 before my friends came from my friend Nancy's house. I almost started crying again. Sorry, I've been really emotional this week because of all the concert stuff. So, we went and waited outside for the 3:30 bus to Toronto. We got on it, and it took off. I listened to the Millennium CD all the way up there because I was in a single seat. *sniff* Hehe, anyways, by 5:30 we still weren't there, and that was what I figured we would be in Toronto by. See, this bus went through a town called Guelph for like 498, 572, 847 hours before finally heading to Toronto. So you can just imagine the traffic at 5:30 on the highway to Toronto. I was like almost crying (again!) So...FINALLY the bus pulled into downtown Toronto, and I saw the SkyDome and started freaking like, "BRIAN'S IN THERE!!!!" and stuff like that. It was crazy. You could see purple smoke coming from the top and I was like, "IT'S BURNING DOWN!!!" But thankfully it wasn't!!

So, then we finally pulled into the bus terminal around 6:00 and met Nancy's cousins in there. We were half an hour late. So, we raced to their car and they sped through the downtown streets. I must say that they're AMAZING drivers! But they live in downtown Toronto, so they're used to it! We turned the radio up full blast on Kiss 92 because they were live from the SkyDome and I could hear the screams from the fans outside. So I'm like freaking out. FINALLY, we got dropped off at Gate 5, where Kiss 92 was. We stood there for like 2 seconds looking at all the honking banners that were made. There was a contest where the biggest banner would win front row tickets. There were some that there like a block long! I swear! I should've made one! Anyway, then I pulled my friends down to gate 11, and they were yelling at me the whole time. We reached gate 11 just in time to see the doors opening up (what luck!). Then I started to panic when I couldn't find my ticket in my bag! I was like almost crying. But finally, I found it and held on to it for dear life! If I had lost that thing, I'd probably jump off the CN Tower in grief! Well...not really...so anyway, I then remembered that I should hide my camera, but then saw that they weren't even checking for them. So I just kept it in my bag. We gave our tickets to the people and they tore them off. Then I realized, "I'm in the same building as Brian" and started like freaking even more! I saw that there were 2 souvenir stands this time, unlike the 1 that was there at the last SkyDome concert. I guess that they learned their lesson! Anyway, so I pushed my way to the front of the line and got a tour book and a poster it came to $33, but I knew it was that much, so it was no shock to me! See, I'm experienced! Three concerts can get you places! Then, we all had to go pee like nothing else because we hadn't gone since like one or something. We decided to check out our seats first. We ran to the entrance and I was like, "Wow look at our seats!" I thought that they were going be totally worse than they were. So then we ran, and I mean ran because we were all excited. Catia's like (my other friend), "Whoa!! Look at our seats!" We did our business and I was the first one out. I washed my hands like a good little girl and dried them too (ain't I good??!!). Then Catia comes out and starts screaming. I thought that she had saw Nick in the bathroom or something by the way she was going, but no, she was just excited. So then we both scream and people are looking at us like we're on some kinda crazy drug or something. Finally, we headed to our seats, with our stuff in hand of course! We met our other friends there and they were all complaining about the seats and how "bad" they were. So that dampened my happy mood. I went down to the front of the 100s and took a pic of the stage while the lights were on. Just for the heck of is I guess. Then I went back to my seat and took out the binoculars that my friend Silvia let us use. These things made it seem like I was in the front row, so I was freaking out even more! We just kinda hung around until the lights went off. Then came the screams, even though it was just Mandy Moore. I had thought that she wasn't going to be doing the Canadian dates, but I guess that she was. Anyways, I booed her because she's horrible. I'm serious, she sounded really bad! I'm not bitter because she's a girl on tour with the guys...she really did SUCK!!

Then EYC came out and I used the binoculars. One of the guys looked like Nick! They hardly performed to our side, which I didn't mind because I wasn't there to see them! I took a pic of them just because I had to! For memories. Then after like 9, 047, 584, 375 songs, they finally got off the stage. Then after like 5 minutes, the Sears commercial came on after the lights came on. I couldn't believe the screams just for a commercial! I took a pic of the screen again...hehe...I had two rolls to use up, I had to do it! Then the wave started with the fans and it was hilarious! I took a picture of the fans on the other side doing it. I wanna see that picture (I won't get my pictures back until Wednesday) because it'll be really wicked! Anyways, then the lights went off and I was beginning to feel sick...as usual... The countdown went on (Ten, nine eight, seven six, five four, three two *pause*, ONE) and then the Star Aars music began and the screams were the worst at that moment. I began to shake because I couldn't see where the guys were, but I finally saw smoke and fog. The guys came out on those wicked surf boards. It was amazing. I took a picture (hehe...actually, I took two). They got on the stage and went around to each of the sides, kinda like an army and Kevin would nod his head 4 or 5 times and then they'd move to another corner. Very nice...it looked really cool. Then they all started in on "Larger Than Life" and it blew me away. I'm not gonna go into ALL the details because this is already long enough! Then they performed "Get Down" and I kicked after AJ's rap like I always do when it's on TV. It brought back sooooo many memories of 1996 and watching it OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER again! Then came "The One" and they sounded amazing in it. Total harmonies going on there!

Next was "As Long As You Love Me" and they were on the platform thing dancing and stuff in a line (very nice people!). They did the chair dance and my camera went off! Next was the tears. It was "Don't Wanna Lose You Now". I have this thing with that song because it reminds me of how I'll feel when they break up. Just listen to the words and it'll make sense. Anyways, there I am bawling my eyes out and feeling all sick and stuff. *sigh*. That'll stay with me for the rest of my life! Next was "Quit Playing Games" and I expected them to play the instruments, because I'd seen them do that twice and thought they'd do it again even though I knew they didn't at this tour. Instead, THEY FLEW!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT WAS SOOOO GREAT!!!! Howie was on our side, but what the hell!! We were too far back for him to fly over us. :( I was freaking because I had no idea where Brian was and I needed to get a picture of him! But I finally saw him on the right side of Howie at the point of the diamond shaped stage. See, the binoculars work! So I took a pic of him by himself. Don't worry, the others got the pic too! Next they took a costume break and the band kept playing. The stage crew people took out these poles and I'm like, "THIS IS WHEN THEY GET NAUGHTY WITH THE POLES!" and sure enough, they came out and "Don't Want You Back" started. Woof!, is all I gotta say about that song! I don't remember much about it because most of that song was spent freaking. Brian looked a bit awkward on his, but Nick...whoa...Nick was having an enjoyable time on that thing! Actually...let me rephrase that, THEY ALL WERE ENJOYING IT!! After that song was "The Perfect Fan" and it was totally set up. They must've picked the fans and moms earlier Brian looked a bit awkward on his, but Nick...whoa...Nick was having an enjoyable time on that thing! Actually...let me rephrase that, THEY ALL WERE ENJOYING IT!! hehe...after that song was The Perfect Fan and it was totally set up. They must've picked the fans and moms earlier because it took like two seconds. It's kinda unfair that it's probably only the first few rows that get to go up...but I didn't bring my mommy!! Anyways, they started singing and at the end, I was like, "BRIAN!! SAY I LOVE YOU!!" but he didn't and I was all pissed. I almost cry when he says that on the CD, so imagine me live! Whoa! Then Kevin did a little solo with Mindi (the sax player who is really talented!), and then "Back to Your Heart" started. After that, the piano rose up to the ceiling and it was pretty wicked. Then they sang "Everybody" and I was groovin' in my seat because I knew the dance...YEAH BABY!!!!!!! I didn't care what I looked like! Next was "We've Got It Goin' On" and I did the kick too because you just gotta in that song! I'm not exactly sure when all the costume breaks there were, but I think there were 3 or 4 of them. Anyways, next was "That's The Way I Like It" and I can't remember much about that. OH YEAH!! Sometime near the beginning, oh yeah it was during Kevin's greeting. Kevin goes, "We just found out today, that today is Rememberance Day where you guys honour the men who died in the war." It's Canada's version of Memorial Day I guess. "Let's have a moment of silence for them right now." So he bows his head and my side of the arena quiets down. But the losers on the other are screaming their freaking heads off!! I'm like, "Have a little respect!" Like crap! You'd think they'd do whatever he said! Anyways...back to the next song. It was "Spanish Eyes" and the people around me couldn't figure out the name! I'm like, "SPANISH EYES!", as soon as the music started. I guess it's a sign of how many times I've listened to Millennium!! Next was "I'll Never Break Your Heart" and I almost cried again. They were all seated on stools on the platform and it was all sad and stuff. Anyways, next was "No One Else Comes Close" and Catia was freaking out beside me because this is her favorite BSB song (mine is "Don't Wanna Lose You Now", for the reasons that I've already said...it's a depressing song...)

Next was "All I Have To Give" and Nick's voice just went! He was sick then and during his verse, he just stopped! It was so sad. So they finished the song and then Kevin goes, "You'll have to excuse Nick, he's sick", so people are like, "Awwwww!!!", hehe...anyways, next was "Show Me The Meaning" and I was like, "I'm gonna cry", but I didn't. I couldn't because I was screaming too much at that point! Next was "It's Gotta Be You" and half way through it, they stopped and began to introduce the dancers and band. I wasn't paying too much attention to the others because at that point, I was in heaven watching brian with the binoculars the whole time! He was on the platform, sitting down, but his back was too me. :( Anyways, he had a basketball in his hand was the dribbling it in front of him. I was seriously in heaven! For like 5 minutes straight, I watched him! Then he said his intros for Nikki and Reggie. For Nikki, he's like, "She's a Canadian! From Toronto! And a total sweetie. A lot of people from Toronto are sweeties!", and I'm like, "AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!", even though I'm from Kitchener...not Toronto...anyway. I still had the binoculars during it, yum! Hehe...anyways, they finished up "It's Gotta Be You", and then started "I Want It That Way" after like 94, 578, 476 years. People were leaving after "Show Me The Meaning" because there was a LLLOOOONNNGGGG break where the band just played for like 5 mins while the guys changed. Oh yeah! Brian was wearing a blue sweat shirt and pajama pants, the others were all wearing pajama pants. It was soooooo cute!! Oh yeah, Howie did his little rap thing and I was almost pissing myself laughing! It was soooo hilarious!!!!!!!!! Anyways, back to "I Want It That Way." I knew it was the last song, so I was bracing myself with only one picture left of my two rolls, knowing I'd have to get them. So, I remember hearing Nick struggling to finish his verse and it was a little painful to watch him. *sigh* Poor guy, it shows how dedicated he is. Anyways, they finished up the song and let us sing at the end. Oh yeah, at the "DON'T WANNA HEAR YOU SAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYY" the whole place just exploded with that! An amazing moment for me. Very memorable too. So, they let us sing at the end and I was singing my little heart out because it was the last song. *sigh* Then they finished up and said goodbye and then disappeared through the platform thingy that went into the stage. It was over and I couldn't help but feel sad because at that point, I had thought that this would be their last tour (But it isn't AHHH!!!!!! 5 MORE ALBUMS BABY!!!!!). So we headed out of the place and into the lobby. Oh yeah, as we were walking in at the beginning, they were handing out the brochures for concert pics and of course I got one!

We found Nancy's cousins again and they told us that they were handing out tapes outside, so we ran. But they were all gone. They had gotten 3 though, so it was all good. We got in the van and tried to decide where to eat. We were going go to Planet Hollywood because it was just beside the SkyDome, but it was too crowded. We went on the highway and tried to decide where to go. Then we saw this one place that I forget the name of...but ah well. It was by the water front, but then we scratched that out because it was just about to close. This was at like, 12. We hadn't eaten in 12 hours and were starving. We were just too busy to bother to eat! And plus, I bet I would've thrown it up anyways! Then, we headed back out and found this one cafe thing. We were in there for like 15 mins, deciding on which cakes to have. We finally decided and got seperate ones each. They were big honking ones too! Then we decided to order pizza when we got back to their house. So, we went back and got inside. We ordered the pizza as planned and it came. So we ate it while watching Nancy's cousin's wedding video because we wanted to see where Nancy cries in it! Long story, but it was hilarious! We finished the pizza and then watched the rest of the video. It was done by like 3:00AM so we ate half of our cakes because we got full and they were really sweet! Then we looked at the wedding album of pictures for a while. Finally, it was 4AM and we decided to go to bed. Nancy's cousin went to bed, and so did we. The next morning, I woke up at 7:45, leaving me with like only 3 hours of sleep!! But it didn't matter. We watched the news on the concert and Catia was freaking out that she had seen Nick live and went on about his gorgeous face for like 10 mins. I went on about the basketball of Brian's that I wanted so much. Nancy did nothing. Actually I don't remember what she did. We got ready, and went to McDonalds for lunch. I kept picturing 10 honking tour buses pulling into the parking lot and the guys walking inside. But it would suck because none of us had any film left! I know this is REALLY long, but I wanted to get everything in it! So then we were driven to the bus terminal and got on the bus. We got to Kitchener by 2:00 and took our seperate buses back home. I have to say that this concert topped the others by a mile and I feel VERY fortunate to have gone. I hope this review satisfies all of you who didn't get a chance to go to the concert. I'm sorry if this makes you feel left out, but it wasn't meant to be! I just wanted to let you all live the moment as I have. So that's it and I give the concert 10 stars out of 5, if that makes sense...