Fans of the Backstreet Boys are probably glad the original ’90s boy band didn’t have a breakout star on par with Justin Timberlake. With all founding members still alive and in fighting shape, Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, AJ McLean and Kevin Richardson have made it simple for the BSB faithful to catch them live and reunited at their Planet Hollywood residency Backstreet Boys: Larger Than Life.
It was in Vegas during their April 20 performance that they celebrated the date they first united in 1993. That was the year they created the template countless multiple-male pop vocal groups after them would follow. Now the Backstreet Boys are readying their first album in five years for release, and will be adding their latest single to the Planet Hollywood set list. The newfound inspiration they are experiencing as a result of the Vegas residency has affected the new music.
“I definitely feel that our resurgence that we’ve had by doing Vegas has influenced us with the new track (“Don’t Go Breaking My Heart”), the album, the direction that we’re moving in,” said Dorough in a video posted July 4 to the BSB Twitter account. “I think Vegas brings a breath of fresh air to the way people perceive the Backstreet Boys again.”
The Boys are in good spirits, as evidenced by a June 28 appearance singing “I Want It That Way” with Jimmy Fallon and The Roots on The Tonight Show. They’ve been on MTV’s TRL and Good Morning America, and performed “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” at the CMT Music Awards, where they announced plans for an upcoming world tour. Still, nothing compares with Vegas for the first boy band, which is still the first and only boy band to score a headliner residency on the Strip.
Planet Hollywood Resort, 9 p.m. July 25 & 27-28, $79-$259 VIP plus tax and fee. 800.745.3000 Ticketmaster
