Dependable Backstreet Boys Kick Off Tour

ByABC News
January 24, 2001, 2:26 PM

January 23 -- FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. While the members of the Backstreet Boys say they're determined to grow musically and transition past their teen sensation status, their fans should be pleased to know that no such boat rocking was on display Monday night as the guys launched their newest world tour this time in support of their current release, Black & Blue.

Materializing on the National Car Rental Center stage amid five thick puffs of white smoke, Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, A.J. McLean, and Kevin Richardson did pretty much as they always do, laying on the hits, the costumes, the dancers, the pyro, and occasional flashes of greatness.

In a quick, 90-minute show (the first of three at the Nat this week), they sailed through staples such as "Larger Than Life" and new songs including "The Call," overcoming first-night tech glitches like a temperamental ramp that misbehaved when it was supposed to transport them over the entire arena floor.

And so, after a sweet rendition of "Time" (the best of the group's self-penned tunes), they found themselves momentarily stranded at the back of the hall while their set unhinged. But not to worry. They made a smooth exit out a rear passageway, reemerging on the main stage moments later while their musicians vamped fans none the wiser.

Hardly great theater, but what it demonstrated was that after eight years together, the guys punt like pros.

What they could not quite overcome was a dreadful sound mix that was unnervingly and dangerously loud. Not since the aural idiocy of '80s hair bands has an entire show been drenched in such ear-ringing distortion.

Whether this too was a technical problem to be ironed out or some sort of misguided attempt at "growth" (or worse, machismo) was not quite clear.

Whatever the reason, it left much of what the guys said and sang sounding as if it came from a warped cassette that had been left to bake on the dashboard in July.

Luckily, the strong melody lines of their best hits elbowed through the din to save the day. The group's chief songwriter, Max Martin, crafts Top 40 confections as skillfully as any of the classic pop tunesmiths and as long as he keeps doing so, talk of boy band flame-out will remain premature.