Backstreet’s back in Sin City, alright! The Backstreet Boys have officially kicked off their Las Vegas residency, Into the Millennium, and Parade was there to see the boy band in all their glory.
Nick Carter, AJ McLean, Brian Littrell, Kevin Richardson and Howie Dorough hit the stage at Sphere for a performance that was quite literally out of this world as they paid homage to the 25-year anniversary of their third studio album Millennium.
The venue played a countdown on the massive screen that hit 0:00 at approximately 8:40 p.m., and fans watched a space ship close in as the seats vibrated before the boys appeared in all white for an energetic-filled rendition of “Larger Than Life.”
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Although the band has done world tours, they haven’t had a residency in Las Vegas since their time at Planet Hollywood came to an end in 2019. From their iconic “boy band snap” dance moves to the Y2K-themed cocktails being sold at the venue, there was no shortage of nostalgia at Sphere.
In true BSB fashion, Into the Millennium was all about the theatrics, coordinating costumes and performances fit for every era and season. “Siberia” brought a snow storm that found the guys singing as their own version of Mt. Rushmore while “All I Have to Give” featured the boys in fedoras and coats just like the 1998 music video.
Justin Segura/Sphere Entertainment
Of course, there were emotional moments, too.
When the guys sang “Perfect Fan,” a tune co-written by Littrell, a montage of their moms, children and wives was shown as Dorough dedicated the song to his 91-year-old mother, who was in attendance.
Richardson later choked up when mentioning his late father while thanking his two aunts for flying in for opening weekend.
Carter got vulnerable when he took the spotlight for “I Need You Tonight” while McLean thanked their fans for making this the first sold-out pop band residency at Sphere.
From the words of “The Call” dropping onto the big screen to the heart-shaped space rock in “Shape of My Heart,” the concert was jam-packed with exciting moments, and the guys did more performing than talking to squeeze in their impressive 25-song setlist.
The biggest dance party of the night came at the end, with an all-out rendition of “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” complete with streamers and confetti flying everywhere.
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McLean officially closed out the night by coming out shirtless to wave and bow solo and blowing kisses to the fans as the lights came up. A massive rocket ship also filled a starry sky with the band’s name drawn across it, perfect for fans to capture one last picture before exiting.
Rich Fury/Sphere Entertainment
The almost two-hour concert will leave your legs quivering and sweat dripping all over from dancing so hard. If you are one to get motion sickness, the lower level seating is probably for you; however, the best seats in the house are in the 200-400 level so you can capture a 360-degree view of the Sphere’s impressive screen.
And, if you’re a diehard BSB fan but can’t score a ticket, fear not, as there was no shortage of fandom throughout Sin City. The Venetian, which has an easy-to-access bridge from Sphere, features Backstreet Boys Terminal, an immersive fan experience filled with tons of photo opps and exclusive merch, all thanks to Vibee. From signature cocktails to a TRL look-a-like studio, the free event runs Thursday-Sunday during show weekends and is not to be missed.
The 21-show residency runs Fridays-Sundays throughout Aug. 24.