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RSS08.07.1998 Backstreet Boys MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, NV
Aug 07
08.07.1998 Backstreet Boys MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, NV
Openers: Jimmy Ray
Soap
Aaron Carter
Laugh if you must. The tickets to this show were purchased in conjunction with my friend Laura’s visit for the weekend, which also included coming back the next night for the Pretenders. She and I went with Mike Malloy, who really didn’t enjoy himself because he couldn’t be seen enjoying himself.
What I will say about this show was that for an adult, it was high camp. Imagine an arena filled to the brim with screaming pre-teen girls and decibel levels that put hockey games to shame. (In case you’re wondering, they have a decibel measure that was supposed to fire people up during Thunder games, encouraging the crowd to reach a certain decibel. Apparently it was never turned off, at least until the Thunder went under.) The energy from the audience crackled like a forest fire, not so much from the stage. The Backstreet Boys had that “proving we are legit” attitude that required the band to hand off instruments to the Boys for a whole song (N’Sync did the same thing.) They also each took turns solo, which wasn’t really the highlight. But as they finished up with their strongest radio stuff, it was a bonus for me because I actually recognized the songs.
The novelty was worth the money. The show probably was not.
