Live Review: Backstreet Boys, All Our Exes Live In Texas

All Our Exes Live In Texas are an interesting choice for an opening act and are flattered to play their first-ever stadium gig. The Sydney folk quartet prove a charming way to begin with their eclectic range of instruments – including an accordion, mandolin, ukulele and guitar – that beautifully offset their unique voices. The group’s harmonious sound is a breath of fresh air and has a calming impact as the audience excitedly take their seats within the arena.

Anticipation builds as a Backstreet Boys soundtrack plays through the speakers as a teaser for the real deal. The light dims and deafening screams from the primarily female crowd sound throughout the arena as die-hard fans try to catch a glimpse of their boy band idols. Ten minutes later, a James Bond-themed video plays on the screen. All five original members rise up in matching blue suits and black patent leather shoes to perform The Call while executing a choreographed dance. Nick Carter officially welcomes us to his band’s In A World Like This world tour and lays out the rules for us: 1) to act crazy and scream all night long; 2) to act like we’re 15-year-olds and 3) “What happens at a Backstreet Boys concert stays at a Backstreet Boys concert”. One by one the Boys are introduced to us and this time Kevin Richardson joins them for this reunion tour. He tells us he’s glad to be back on the stage with his brothers for their 20th Anniversary Tour, which began in mainland China in 2013. They’ve toured all around the world and back again before bringing their celebration of 22 years making music together to us here tonight. 

We take “a trip down memory lane” to “party like it’s 1999” with some of their biggest songs, which are complemented by cheesy, ‘90s video clip-style dance moves. Backstreet Boys show us their sensitive side with emotional slow-burners All I Have To Give and As Long As You Love Me before a newer song called Show ‘Em (What You’re Made Of), which is a personal dedication to the children of proud fathers AJ McLean and Kevin Richardson. A choir of fans join the boys on stage and Brian Littrell takes it upon himself to hug every single one of them before all Backstreet Boys take a seat and pick up instruments for a few acoustic, a cappella renditions. Taking us to back to some old Backstreet Boys, we’re encouraged to imagine rain coming down and shirts coming off for Quit Playing Games (With My Heart). And then Howie Dorough shakes what his mother gave him.

After one final “Aussie-Aussie-Aussie!/OI-OI-OI!” call and response, Backstreet Boys promise that it won’t take them as long to return next time. McLean announces that they’ll be going back in the studio, which means a new album and a brand new tour too. Concluding with two of their biggest hits to date – Everybody (Backstreet’s Back) and Larger Than Life – the now ‘full-grown men in a boy band’ still have it after all this time. They took this journey together and, decades later, their bond is still unbreakable.