Backstreet is not only back, but they've become larger than life with a Vegas residency at The Sphere that was kicked off Friday (7/11) with a 25 song-set and countless crazy visuals.
"We are bringing the Into the Millennium Tour to this state of the art facility where we can do things we could have never have imagined back in ’99," the boy band proclaimed when they announced the residency.
"The coolest part is that we are the very first POP ACT to take over Sphere Las Vegas and we’re going to bring you an experience you’ll never forget!"
To coincide with their Vegas residency, The B Boys dropped a 25th-anniversary deluxe edition of Millennium creatively titled Millennium 2.0, which includes a new track, "Hey."
Fans were able to get "Hey" when they pre-saved the LP on streaming sites. Millennium 2.0 also boasted remastered versions of the OG tracks, six live cuts, demos, and, hold your hats: an alternate version of "I Want It That Way."
All joking aside, whoever programmed the visuals understood the assignment as AJ McLean (47), Brian Littrell (50), Howie Dorough (51), Kevin Richardson (53), and Nick Carter (45) appeared huge on the giant screen and when they danced on little asteroids in their white costumes it looked more fun than ridiculous.
However the spaceship / outer space vibe called back Journey album covers, which Arnel Pineda and Neal Schon should be paying attention to because their GenX/Boomer target audience is ideal for in regards to being able to afford a show at The Sphere.
"When this opportunity came to us to do the Sphere, it just made sense," Howie told People a few months ago. And yes, LL, he called it a comeback.
"I mean, it's a comeback on the next level. You can't get any bigger than the Sphere."
According to Kevin, the group did some reconnaissance at another Sphere show to brainstorm ideas for their spectacle.
"Hearing 'Hotel California' live and seeing the visuals, it blew my mind," he told the magazine about catching the Eagles during their first residency at the joint.
"This venue is one of a kind, the possibilities are endless, and so we are just in full creative mode right now with our creative team, getting the setlist together, going over visual concepts."
BSB did do something fairly new. During their smash hit "I Want It That Way" their stage floated high above the ground - bad news for those on the floor, but fantastic for those fans way high up in the Sphere.
It also seemed way safer than the flying car we saw Beyoncé have a technical issue with last month in Texas.
What this production proved - along with the Kenny Chesney one in May - you don't necessarily have to have on-the-nose visual graphics for every unique song for every unique artist who wants to do a residency at the Sphere.
A theme is plenty. In this case: space. Is it better when it feels like a page from a documentary of the band's 50-year career like they did with Dead & Co and Phish? Sure. But just make it trippy-enough with a few super specific moments about the band and that just might be all the fans need.
This works particularly well when you're talking about a dance group who will use the whole stage compared to a band that will just stand there: make the background videos non-specifically trippy.
All eyes are going to be on BLACKPINK anyways. Don't spend too much time trying to make everything match. So for a song like "Ice Cream" just have a gazillion images of the treat everywhere like a kaleidoscope. And get it out there quick so they can do a dozen shows there.
Backstreet have 19 remaining weekend dates at the Sphere through the end of August. Grab your tickets on their website.
July 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27
August 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24.
