Backstreet Boys: Larger Than Life

Backstreet Boys: Larger Than Life
Start Date	March 1, 2017
End Date	April 27, 2019
No. of Shows	32 in 2017 30 in 2018 18 in 2019 80 in Total
Prev. Tour	In a World Like This Tour
Next Tour	DNA World Tour

Backstreet Boys: Larger Than Life was the first concert residency by the Backstreet Boys, performed at Zappos Theater (formerly The AXIS Theater) in the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The show had its opening night on March 1, 2017 and closed on April 27, 2019 in order to start the Backstreet Boys' 11th world tour in May of the same year. A.J. McLean stated on the last night of their final show that the group will return as soon as possible after the DNA World Tour, around 2022 or most likely for their 30th anniversary (2023) after what's happened.

Background and announcement

On April 1, 2016, member Nick Carter told Entertainment Tonight that the group signed a deal with Live Nation Entertainment for a nine-show "test residency" in Las Vegas. A.J. McLean confirmed the deal, telling Us Weekly that the residency would begin in January 2017.

On September 23, the Backstreet Boys confirmed their Vegas residency happening in 2017 titled Backstreet Boys: Larger Than Life.

Reception

According to KVVU-TV's report, Backstreet Boys: Larger Than Life is the fastest-selling residency in Las Vegas in history. It is also the first time that Planet Hollywood has opened up balcony seats for the headliner, making the theater 2000 seats bigger than fellow headliner Jennifer Lopez and Britney Spears.

Its first round with 9 shows had grossed total revenue of $5,399,176 with 4,667 average audiences per show, making it the most attended residency in Las Vegas in terms of the average audience.

Production

The staging for the residency featured a runway stage situated in the venue, with a crescent design attached to it.

The stage featured a curve T-shape runway with five stairways on stage. These steps would normally be higher than the rest of the stage but could be into four between on the stage to allow the band to enter from or exit to the backstage area; the five boxes would adjust accordingly. The boxes could be positioned above the level of the stage or be lowered to the stage, while the band members are strapped inside. The boxes were also accessible by the production staff off the back of the stage to the stage floor.

At the opening night of their 26-date Larger Than Life residency at Planet Hollywood's AXIS Theater on Wednesday, it was immediately apparent that the goal of the show was to recap what the past 24 years have brought: iconic singles, passionate fans and, overall, insane success. Instead of trying to put all 24 years into one 90-minute period, though, what BSB decided to do with their show was bring things back to where it all began.

As Brian Littrell described upon the show's announcement, the Larger Than Life residency is like a Backstreet Boys concert on steroids, with backup dancers, dramatic light shows and even an entire song performed in the audience. But the most exciting parts were when the guys would visually pay homage to the old days, with the throwback setlist accompanied by choreography from some of the group's oldest tunes (yes, including the chair routine from "As Long as You Love Me"), never-before-seen home videos during costume changes, and matching outfits like the Millennium ensembles.

With the 20-song roster seeing the revival of so many older tunes as well as classic dances and videos, Backstreet Boys: Larger Than Life feel less like a prestige show and more like a celebration -- not just of their success from the past two dozen years, but also of the connection they've built with their fans through their music. Because of this, it feels like perfect timing for a BSB Vegas residency, like the AXIS only seats about 4,600 (for residencies) versus the typical arena-size shows the group has been performing for most of their career. And between that kind of intimacy and that kind of nostalgia, Larger Than Life is a show that no Backstreet fan should miss.

Performance and show elements

The band was backed by a mixed band of musicians and a DJ and a complement of ten backup dancers (five male and five female), like the previous Into the Millennium Tour. The band would sometimes split up and perform with one member to each side or corner of the stage, but for much of the show, they performed to one side at a time, circling the stage (often as part of the choreographed dancing) throughout each song. A video feed of the show was shown on video screens on both sides of the overhead lighting rig.

Millions of eager waited longtime Backstreet Boys fans queue up with semi-forlorn husbands and boyfriends. Bachelorettes wear tiaras and shirts that read “I still heart BSB"; others gulp shots waiting to weave through metal detectors before doors open and several of the band's music videos are play overhead.

And then, just after 9 p.m., While fans eagerly awaited the guys' arrival, they were reminded of all the memorable songs the Backstreet Boys have delivered throughout their still-going-strong career with a remixed montage of music videos, from classics like "Quit Playing Games With My Heart" to 2001's "Drowning." And once the curtain was drawn, well, then the nostalgia party got started.

The boys began each show in a curtained-off enclosure on the floor of the venue. They, dressed in purely white outfits that reminiscent of their Millennium album cover, first descend from glowing blue and white boxes inside the Axis (now Zappos) theater and they turned towards the audience before starting the first song, "Larger Than Life". The dancers come out from behind the boxes and perform with them.

The boys used several costume changes during the show. Two versions of these costumes were built: The first encore outfits featured pink and black clothes to match. The later outfits (introduced as of February 2018 on the second leg of the residency) for the encore featured 90s clothes designed for each member. Both they and the dancers also encore outfits as the dancers wore white.

After the first three songs (The One and Get Down (You're The One For Me)), A.J. McLean would greet to the audience as Nick Carter was either toss a used sweat towel in one of the pit seats of hands of a signed water bottle to a fan in the VIP seats (three times he brought his son Odin on stage) and Kevin Richardson would Initially finish by introducing the song "Drowning, followed by "Incomplete" and then "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)".

A never-before-seen home video montages using "Boys Will Be Boys" allow the band to change into black sequin Suits. An instrumental number featuring the dancers performing a dance-number before They were raised on the central platform with mic stands to sing "Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely", before coming down to a melody of ballads "I'll Never Break Your Heart", "Anywhere for You" and "Darlin'" (The two songs were later changed to Quit Playing Games). "Undone" featured five of the female dancers descending the steps to the track while the boys remained on stage until the dancer came down to the band members to do a dance number with. Later, Brian Littrell were come out to discuss the song or shared about each fan moment. Next, They performed "As Long As You Love Me" with the song's signature "chair routine".

The never-before-seen home videos of the guys' past tours, performances, and award shows with their song "Everyone" was played as the boys changed into red, black and leather outfits for the next songs "The Call", "We've Got It Goin' On" and "Get Another Boyfriend". Howie Dorough would be the last to talk and thank the fans for supporting them throughout the years of their career. Afterward, the band would sit down on the steps for the next song, "More Than That" (Later shows, they would interact with the audience).

They added matching black fedoras and surprise the audience for the "hat-dance" routine in "All I Have To Give". They come out with roses for the next song, “Shape of My Heart,” which they performed and pulled fans, celebrities guests (Former *NSYNC members Joey Fatone and Lance Bass, Snooki from Jersey Shore, Shania Twain, Donny, and Marie Osmond, Perez Hilton, Aerosmith Steven Tyler & magician, and illusionist Criss Angel) and love ones from the audience onstage at the end (Brian and AJ had their mothers up at one point, then AJ's two daughters on two occasions, Both Brian and Kevin's wives Kristin and Leighanne came upon two special ones (Richardsons' anniversary and Littrel's birthday, even AJ helped organized a proposal for his friend).

While another costume change, the dancers come out into Black outfits with bomber jackets (white outfits) for a dance break for the audience to an up-tempo medley of "Straight Through My Heart" and "It's Gotta Be You". As an Encore, the boys returned to the stage in black (mixed with pink, but replaced with blue street clothes later in the show) to perform "I Want It That Way", later adding "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" to the mix and perform "Chances" one time on its release day.

The boys returned once more with the final encore, "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)", often in the same clothes (later switching to their 90s inspired street clothes). After ending the song, an instrumental outro was played as the boys said their final goodnights, fooled around, Finally, they take a bow to the audience under a blast of confetti and ended the song and the concert. (On Halloween, all five guys dressed up in their iconic costumes from their music video)

But The true highlight of the last final show came during a performance was when the final concert saw them headed down to the theater’s VIP tables to their loves and escort them up to the center of to the stage while performing “Shape of My Heart”. AJ McLean, and his wife, Rochelle McLean, led the way, with the mom of two wearing a Backstreet Boys T-shirt and appearing emotional by the ballad’s end; Nick Carter, and his wife, Lauren Kitt-Carter, followed, with Lauren also rocking Backstreet Boys merchandise along with light blue hair, then smiling and glowing as Carter sweetly sang to her; Howie Dorough, came next with his stunning wife, Leigh Dorough, who slay, strutting down the catwalk while dancing in a sexy white dress during another epic moment from a celebratory weekend. “It’s her birthday next week so we’re going to be celebrating all weekend!” Dorough told ET before the show; Kevin Richardson, followed with his blonde beauty, Kristin Richardson, who appeared to be having a blast singing along as the two hit the spotlight; and Last but not least was Richardson’s cousin, Brian Littrell, whose wife, Leighanne Littrell, sweetly handed out roses to fans as she made her way to the stage. With that, concluded adorably serenading their gorgeous wives as all five couples took to the spotlight In several video footage, filmed on Saturday night. At the song’s end, the five singers, who have been together for more than 25 years, dropped to their knees before handing the ladies long-stemmed roses. Howie Dorough wrapped things up by telling the crowd, “Give it up for our amazing wives, ladies, and gentlemen! They are the true backbones of the Backstreet Boys.”

Setlist

Pre-Show IHeartRadio Concert setlist

1. "The Call"
2. "Incomplete"
3. "Interview"
4. "Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely"
5. "All I Have to Give"
6. "Get Another Boyfriend"
7. "Q&A"
8. "As Long As You Love Me"
9. "We've Got It Going On"
10. "I Want It That Way"
11. "Q&A"
12. "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)"
13. "Larger Than Life"

Regular Show Setlist

1. Video MegaMix
2. "Larger Than Life" (Millennium, 1999)
3. "The One" (Millennium, 1999)
4. "Get Down (You're The One For Me)" (Backstreet Boys/Backstreet Boys, 1997)
5. Show Introductions
6. "Drowning" (The Hits - Chapter One, 2001)
7. "Incomplete" (Never Gone, 2005)
8. "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)" (Backstreet Boys/Backstreet Boys, 1997)
9. Video Transition
10. Dance Break/"Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely" (Millennium, 1999)
11. "I'll Never Break Your Heart" (Backstreet Boys/Backstreet Boys, 1997)
12. "Anywhere for You"* (Backstreet Boys/Backstreet Boys, 1997)
13. "Darlin'"* (Backstreet Boys, 1997)
14. "Undone"* (This Is Us, 2009)
15. Talk
16. "As Long As You Love Me" (Backstreet Boys/Backstreet's Back, 1997)
17. Video Transition
18. Dance Break/"The Call" (Black & Blue, 2000)
19. "We've Got It Goin' On" (Backstreet Boys/Backstreet Boys, 1997)
20. "Get Another Boyfriend" (Black & Blue, 2000)
21. Talk
22. "More Than That" (Black & Blue, 2000)
23. "All I Have to Give" (Backstreet Boys/Backstreet's Back, 1997)
24. "Shape Of My Heart" (Black & Blue, 2000)

• Dance Break (EDM)

1. "I Want It That Way" (Millennium, 1999)

Encore:

1. "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" (Backstreet Boys/Backstreet's Back, 1997)

Second Show Setlist

1. Video MegaMix
2. "Larger Than Life"
3. "The One"
4. "Get Down (You're The One For Me)"
5. Show Introductions
6. "Drowning"
7. "Incomplete"
8. Video Transition
9. Dance Break/"Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely"
10. "I'll Never Break Your Heart"
11. "Undone"*
12. "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)"
13. Talk
14. "As Long As You Love Me"
15. Video Transition
16. Dance Break/"The Call"
17. "We've Got It Goin' On"
18. "Get Another Boyfriend"
19. Talk
20. "More Than That"
21. "All I Have to Give"
22. "Shape Of My Heart"

• Dance Break (EDM)

1. "I Want It That Way"

Encore:

1. "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)"

Third Show Setlist

1. Video MegaMix
2. "Larger Than Life"
3. "The One"
4. "Get Down (You're The One For Me)"
5. Show Introductions
6. "Drowning"
7. "Incomplete"
8. Video Transition
9. Dance Break/"Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely"
10. "I'll Never Break Your Heart"
11. "Undone"*
12. "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)"
13. Talk
14. "As Long As You Love Me"
15. Video Transition
16. Dance Break/"The Call"
17. "We've Got It Goin' On"
18. "Get Another Boyfriend"
19. Talk
20. "More Than That"
21. "All I Have to Give"
22. "Shape Of My Heart"

• Dance Break (EDM)

1. "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" (2018/DNA, 2019)
2. "I Want It That Way"

Encore:

1. "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)"

Regular Show Setlist

1. Video MegaMix
2. "Larger Than Life"
3. "The One"
4. "Get Down (You're The One For Me)"
5. Show Introductions
6. "Drowning"
7. "Incomplete"
8. "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)"
9. Video Transition
10. Dance Break/"Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely"
11. "I'll Never Break Your Heart"
12. "Anywhere for You"*
13. "Darlin'"*
14. "Undone"*
15. Talk
16. "As Long As You Love Me"
17. Video Transition
18. Dance Break/"The Call"
19. "We've Got It Goin' On"
20. "Get Another Boyfriend"
21. Talk
22. "More Than That"
23. "All I Have to Give"
24. "Shape Of My Heart"

• Dance Break

1. "Don't Go Breaking My Heart"
2. "I Want It That Way"

Encore:

1. "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)"

Shows

Date	Attendance	Revenue
Leg 1
March 1, 2017	42,000 / 44,112	$5,399,176
March 3, 2017
March 4, 2017
March 8, 2017
March 10, 2017
March 11, 2017
March 15, 2017
March 17, 2017
March 18, 2017
Leg 2
April 12, 2017	34,116 / 38,267	$4,678,081
April 14, 2017
April 15, 2017
April 19, 2017
April 21, 2017
April 22, 2017
April 26, 2017
April 28, 2017
Leg 3
June 15, 2017	32,141 / 32,553	$4,308,767
June 16, 2017
June 17, 2017
June 21, 2017
June 23, 2017
June 24, 2017
June 28, 2017	15,985 / 16,225	$2,138,622
June 30, 2017
July 1, 2017
Leg 4
November 8, 2017	18,811 / 23,716	$2,748,074
November 10, 2017
November 11, 2017
November 15, 2017
November 17, 2017
November 18, 2017
Leg 5
January 31, 2018	30,945 / 37,132	$4,786,907
February 2, 2018
February 3, 2018
February 7, 2018
February 9, 2018
February 10, 2018
February 14, 2018
February 16, 2018
February 17, 2018
Leg 6
July 25, 2018	10,544 / 12,325	$1,364,060
July 27, 2018
July 28, 2018
August 1, 2018	10,145 / 11,903	$1,217,585
August 3, 2018
August 4, 2018
August 8, 2018	10,450 / 12,315	$1,272,804
August 10, 2018
August 11, 2018
Leg 7
October 24, 2018
October 26, 2018
October 27, 2018
October 31, 2018
November 2, 2018
November 3, 2018
November 7, 2018	10,978 / 12,611	$1,484,562
November 9, 2018
November 10, 2018
November 14, 2018	10,079 / 12,178	$1,341,778
November 16, 2018
November 17, 2018
Leg 8
February 6, 2019
February 8, 2019
February 9, 2019
February 13, 2019
February 15, 2019
February 16, 2019
February 20, 2019
February 22, 2019
February 23, 2019
Leg 9
April 10, 2019	37,315 / 40,786	$5,489,843
April 12, 2019
April 13, 2019
April 17, 2019
April 19, 2019
April 20, 2019
April 24, 2019
April 26, 2019
April 27, 2019
Total	263,509 / 294,123	$36,230,259

Personnel

• Lead Vocals- Kevin Richardson, Brian Littrell, Howie Dorough, Nick Carter, AJ McLean
• Show Manager:
• Assistant Show Manager:
• Creative direction — Raj Kapoor Productions
• Co-Director:
• Musical Director — Keith Harris
• Co-Director:
• Video Director — Bert Pare & Garry Odem
• Video Engineer / Crew Chief / LED Lead - Caudill Pictures & Entertainment Inc.
• Press Liaison:
• Monitor Engineer — Seth Kendall
• Tour Accountant: Mark Haworth - Tour Manager and Tour Accountant
• Playback Engineer — Romain Garnier
• Technical & Production Director- Dan Mercer
• Road Manager/Production Coordinator- Kristin Rinden
• FOH Engineer- James McCullagh
• Monitor Engineer- Seth Kendall
• Show Caller- Stephen Nimmer
• Stage Manager- David Commisso
• Head Carpenter- Jason Deleu
• Management — Jennifer "Jenn" Sousa, Ron Laffitte
• Lighting Director- Graham Anderson
• Tour Accountant — Mark Haworth
• Video Director- Bert Pare'
• Creative Direction and Design- Raj Kapoor Productions
• Director/Co-Production Designer/Screens Producer- Raj Kapoor
• Assistant Director/Associate Producer- Rita Maye Bland
• Lighting Designer/Co-Production Designer- Richard Neville
• Video Content- Silent Partners
• Staff Photographer- Justin Segura - VIP Coordinator/Photographer
• Musical Director- Keith Harris
• Pre-Show Mix- DJ Earworm
• Additional Music Production- Varun
• Costume Design- Tierney Burchett - Wardrobe
• Supervising Choreographer & Choreographer- Nolan Padilla
• Assistant Supervising Choreographer- Codie Wiggins
• Choreographer-Sharna Burgess***, Chase Benz, Alex Chung, Jojo Gomez, Jaquel Knight, Chuck Maldonado, Tricia Miranda
• Iconic Choreography- Rich + Tone, Fatima Robinson, Richard "Swoop" Whitebear

Security

• Michael "Mike" Elgani- Nick's Security
• Drew Philip- Head of Security/Road Manager/Brian's Security
• Aaron Tonga - Howie's Security
• Josh Naranjo - AJ's Security
• Keith McGuffey- Kevin's Security*

Band

• Keyboards- Lance Tolbert, Delvyn Brumfield (Co Musical Director/Keyboards/Synths/Strings)
• Guitars- Adam Hawley, Tim Stewart
• Bass- Andre Bowman
• Drums-
• Keith Harris - Musical Director/Drums/Keyboards
• Vocal Producer- David “DQ” Quinones
• Drum Programming/Arranger- Adrian “DJ Dubz” Wiltshire
• Programmer/Arranger- Kevin Teasley
• Engineer- John D Norten, Rico Simmons

Dancers

• Floris Bosveld (Dance Captain)
• Hailee Payne (Female Dance Captain)
• Valentino Vladimirov
• Teddy Coffey
• Steven Charles (2017-2018)****
• Jian Pierre-Louis
• Brooke Maroon
• Alyx Andrushuk
• Yorelis Apolinario (2017-2018)****
• Lindsey Desrosiers
• James Marino (2018-2019)****
• Genise Ruidiaz (2018-2019)****

Legal and Business Management

• Keller, Turner, Ruth, Andrew & Ghanem, PLLC
• Jordan S. Keller
• W. Chris Andrews
• Sarah A. Smith
• Meredith McGinnis
• Lindsay Brooker

Booking Agency

• William Morris Endeavor
• John Marx
• Brian Cohen

Vendors

• Lighting and Video- Production Resources Group
• Audio: Sound Image
• Automation and Staging- Show Group Production Services
• Fan Club & VIP Experience- Wonderful Union
• ER production
• Quantum SFX
• Jason Deleu

Touring Partners

• Live Nation
• Michael Rapino
• Steve Herman
• Kurt Melien
• Amanda Moore

Public Relations

• Caravan PR- Steven Trachtenbroit
• Edge Publicity- Shoshanna Stone

Fan Engagement and Website Design

• Wonderful Union
• Eddie Meehan
• Kat Gilbride
• Jennie Quan
• Justin Segura
• Matt Sergent
• Matt Ferro
• Chad Turner
• Nate Gabriel
• Mason Mullendore
• Anthony Ordonez
• Eric Warren

Wardrobe Contributors

• Magnanni Shoes
• Express
• Creative Recreation
• MAC Makeup
• AG Hair
• JakiMac
• Emporio Armani
• Coach

Caesars Entertainment

• Jason Gastwirth
• Talia Rothman
• Gavin Whiteley
• Edward Tex Dike
• John Demos

Merchandise Company

• Global Merchandising
• Barry Drinkwater
• Jen Florez
• Tracy Stone

Digital Marketing and Social Media Management

• Crowd Surf
• Cassie Petrey
• Jade Driver
• Helen Showalter

Travel Agent

• Preferred Travel
• Nancy Rosenblatt
• Debbie Rosenblatt

Afterparty Venue

• Chateau Nightclub and Rooftop

Clips from Backstreet Boys: Show 'Em What You're Made Of feature film (c) Pulse Films/K Bahn LLC 2015 and BSB personal archives

Special Thanks:

• Millennium Dance Complex
• Warner Bros. Studios
• JetSuiteX
• Master Chefs Production Catering
• Sennheiser - For providing wireless microphones.

Notes

• Keith, known as Trey D, is an old friend of Kevin's from Kentucky
• indicates which songs were part of a medley
• Sharna was Nick's dance partner on Dancing with the stars
• indicates which dancer did two years during the residency