(The Express-Times, September 7, 1998)
Call them a Boyz II Men rip-off, a reconstituted New Kids on the Block. You can even call them a passing fad. Just don't call the Backstreet Boys untalented.
Appearing hell-bent on proving to their audience that they can move beyond the fantasy world of screaming prepubescent girls, the Backstreet Boys put on a performance at the Great Allentown Fair on Saturday night that showcased their dancing ability and provided enough entertainment for the adults who were dragged along for the ride.
They crooned heartfelt ballads, jumped and gyrated in smoothly choreographed routines, and, at one point, even took up the band's instruments to show there's something underneath those Leo DiCaprio-like hairdos and shaved torsos.
Striding onstage after a brief opening performance by Racquel and Aaron Carter (younger brother of Backstreet's Nick Carter), the Boys took the stage to the accompaniment of swirling clouds of mist and pyrotechnic gimmickry. Almost immediately, the screaming and squeals started and didn't abate until the performers exited the stage for good nearly two hours later.
One by one, they introduced themselves and offered such witty lines as "whaz up Allentown?" which was repeated at least 10 times during the performance.
They began with a capella versions of songs they sang back in the mid-'90s, when they were Orlando, Fla., uknowns hoping to be discovered.
The BSB gave the crowd what they wanted, perofrming mostly songs from their top-selling "Backstreet Boys" album, including their breakthrough U.S. pop singles, "Quit Playing Games (With my Heart)" and "As Long As You Love Me." They tossed in "All I Have to Give," "Darlin'," and "We Got it Goin' On."
They returned for a lively encore that saw most of the group's impressively choreographed performances, including a clever routine that had each of them stomping around a folding chair in perfect unison. Then the stage went dark, and all eyes were directed to the jumbo screens, where Backstreet's best known video, "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" was shown. As the screams from the audience continued, a crew of grim reapers wheeled five coffiins on stage, which were spund around to reveal the performers, who shed their white-boys-from-the-'hood attire for flowing Gothic shirts they wear in the video.
Their last, and by far, best number ended with a wild light display, fireworks, shooting rockets, blasts of confetti, and an audience that continued to squeal for more long after the performers left the stage.
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