Backstreet Boys Kick Off World Tour

Tuesday, January 23rd 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) â€” Eager to reclaim their place atop the pile of boy bands, the Backstreet Boys opened their world tour with a show mixing harmony driven pop and dance with playful asides that worked fans into a frenzy.

The Boys â€” Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, A.J. McLean and Kevin Richardson â€” delivered a 90-minute, 21-song set Monday, made up of songs from their latest album ``Black & Blue,'' and two previous records, ``Millennium'' and ``Backstreet Boys.''

``It's hot in here tonight,'' Richardson told the crowd. ``It's good to be back in the saddle again in front of all you people, and it's good to feel your love.''
Thousands of blue glow stick-twirling fans, mostly adolescent girls, joined baby boomers and their children for the first of 36 North American concerts. The Boys return to the United States for a second tour in August.

Staci Zavattaro, 17, brought her 47-year-old mother Nancy to the show as a Valentine's Day gift.

``She's sort of a closet fan,'' Zavattaro said.

The group, backed by a six-piece band and nine dancers, kicked off the show with ``Everyone,'' off ``Black & Blue.'' They swiftly followed that with ``Larger Than Life,'' one of their big hits off 1999's ``Millennium,'' and then slipped into a mellower gear with several R&B ballads.

During their dance numbers, the band performed some light choreography, but for the most part let a supporting crew of nine dancers show off their routines.

The show-stopper came about 10 songs into the set, when the group invited the audience to watch during one of their half-dozen wardrobe changes.

``Do You like these outfits we're wearing now?'' McLean asked. ``Why don't you guys come down into our dressing rooms and watch us change?''

The audience erupted, and the Boys, one by one, piled into a wardrobe ``trunk'' and disappeared beneath the stage. A backdrop doubling as a projection screen showed the group changing shirts and hamming it up.

The Boys emerged to perform a few ballads, including ``How Did I Fall In Love With You?'' and ``Time,'' extending their arms and pointing randomly at the audience, many of whom tried to get closer.

``I'm not going to sleep tonight,'' said Nenette Dameus, 15, of Fort Lauderdale.

The Backstreet Boys closed the show with three dance-heavy numbers, ``Backstreet's Back,'' off their debut album, ``Get Another Boyfriend'' and the ``The Call,'' before vanishing and returning for one encore, ``Shape of My Heart.''