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Backstreets Back ALRIGHT! Yes your one and only Natty is guilty of being a part of the boyband craze that swept through the nation all those many years ago. In fact, I was the one who purchased the merchandise, even made the numerous trips to Burger King to get my hands on the action figures (not to mention, I still have two sets of those). It would seem a fan girl never dies in any of us. I will however admit that I am a lazy fan when it comes to the Backstreet Boys, and wasn't even going to make it to the current stop of their tour when it came around to Toronto. Not that I couldn't go, but for the simple fact that I didn't really have an interest in attending. It would seem the day had passed for me.

However, my friend Julie's friend scored us some lawn tickets at the Molson Amplitheatre and away we went on August 7. I wasn't really excited to be there, I wasn't at all looking forward to seeing the people from days before who brag about the amounts of time they have met the band and how much they spent for VIP passes and the like. Or better yet how they stood outside the hotel for hours upon hours waiting for them to come out. That just isn't fun for me. But alas off I went to sit on the lawn and watch one of my favorite boy bands rock out on stage. I knew it was going to be a weird experience from the first time I?d seen them in 2006, due to the simple fact that they were down one member and had a new album out of which I had only heard one single song from at the time (not for lack of trying because I did have the album on my ipod). Me and my friends cracked jokes and made comments and just all around spent the first hour or so laughing so hard some of us had tears in our eyes.

I never really did enjoy any of the opening acts that the Backstreet Boys brought out on tour with them when they went. This time was no exception. I had spent time watching the reality show where Robin Anton wanted to make a new girl group. Have you all heard of it? Pussycat Dolls Present Girlicious. Well that band was the opening act. I had seen them on tv a few times, when they made their appearance at the Much Music Video Awards this year, and honestly? Wasn't all that impressed with what I saw. Therefore, I wasn't really expecting too much upon their act. Okay, so won't lie. The music is damn catchy and for some reason I found myself knowing the words to every song (was it because they were predictable or because I am a closet fan? You will never know). But alas two songs in and we made our way off towards the overcrowded merch tent to see what we could find. What we found was crazy prices and a severely overpriced hoodie. We left and moved back to sit on the lawn and just shot the shit and wait for the boys to finally hit the stage and give us that dose of energy that we were all losing at this point. Then came the time. The lights went out, the screams started and we began with...

...A BOXING RING? Okay first of all. I'm completely serious on that matter. I had heard beforehand about the boxing ring, but wasn't really sure if it was real (though I had seen pictures). But there it stood in all its glory. With each one of the boys being introduced as if they were in corners. Brian, Howie, AJ and Nick (by this point, even so early, I really missed Kevin still). I was far too busy giggling as this point to pay much attention to how they were being introduced. But the first song had me dancing and singing along as if it was the days of old, Larger than Life, filled the arena and we were going crazy. I always thought the opening would set the tone for the rest of the show for me. However, it did not. I found myself wanting to sit down at certain points because they were singing new stuff that I didn't know. The individual solos were boring to say the least. With AJ trying to channel Gene Simmons, Nick singing something from his solo album from years back, Brian also singing something from his solo album and Howie, well I really can't tell you what he sang because I don't remember it. But needless to say most of my time during the new songs was spent taking photos with my friends and just laughing and getting annoyed with the crowd of drunken women behind us who thought it was amazing to scream the lyrics and how much they loved Nick. Wow. Busted ear drums were in for the night if they hadn't decided to head off for more beer.

The show was laced with impromptu tables and fake fire bins. Dance moves from days of old, and some new ones that seemed to be from days of old. There was thrusting and air grinding, again from days of old. There was stage walking and over emoting and just everything that you would expect from a boy band. I will admit that the old songs had me dancing and singing and just enjoying myself. It was the new ones, which was the major part of the show, which had me wanting to sit down and/or head home. When it came to the closing song, I was expecting something energetic or lively. They had already at this point done Backstreets Back, so I knew that was out (speaking of, during backstreets back, we all decided to do the dance, with full on dance moves. And yes, we all did remember them). When the lights dimmed and Shape of My Heart started, I will admit I was disappointed for them to end it with such a song. Though, the lyrics did fit and it worked out will in the end. And that was the end of my boy band days. I believe I saw the end of an era come to a close the night of the concert. It wasn't the same as the old days. It wasn't the same with just four members of the band. It would seem when Kevin left the band, so did my fandom. It was an amazing 11 year run, wherein I met the band, enjoyed good times with friends and had some cheesy pop music to fill my ears and my iPod. But on August 7, 2008 at the Molson Amp in Toronto, my boy band era closed.

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