Venue (United Center): 4/6
I actually like this arena better than the Allstate it has a stronger sound system and is better coordinated. The set changes/set breaks were fast and nearly invisible. Though they need to adjust the base just a little, it overpowered vocals in a few places, especially on Jordin Sparks’ set. While I appreciate the full range of sound on the system, I didn’t need to hear the bass make sounds that more closely resemble a car hitting speed ribbing on the road. While it’s better than clipping out, it’s not a good sound.
The double-edged sword is that the United Center is almost twice as big as the Allstate. This makes some of the seating a little nerve-wracking. I did enjoy the fact that they had screens in addition to the stage work.
The Crowd (5/6): A very active, very expressive crowd, even during the second opener. (The first one was bad enough that it wasn’t going to get any crowd noise). It was also one of the loudest crowds I’ve ever been in. Seriously. Even taking into account the size, whenever the crowd was cued to sing or scream it was a wall of pure sound. It was crazy.
First Opener (Ashlyne Huff) (1/6): Wow. Just wow. Going to a pop show I expected a certain degree of prefabrication; it is the nature of pop to an extent.
There was no talent there whatsoever. None. The DJ was the only talent on the stage. To his credit he was trying very hard.
Just listening to the vocals was tolerable, bad, prefabricated pop, but ok to remix in a club.
Then there was the dancing. It was completely and utterly amateur and uncoordinated. They didn’t even coordinate the bow right. It looked like the dancers had been brought in unrehearsed for this tour, maybe even just for Chicago.
To her credit, she did seem earnestly into it and was trying hard, but honestly, I spent more time looking at my cell phone than at the stage. It was terrible.
Simply terrible.
Jordin Sparks (4/6): I was surprised how good she was live. She was engaging and very gracious. It was still a band to go to the bathroom during. She sounded like she’d had training, which was refreshing after our first opener. Very sweet, and talented. However, nothing really stuck out about her, good or bad. Just solid. Good voice, good legs, but she still needs to find her draw in a sea of similar woman-empowered female artists. Once she finds her ‘thing“ she’ll be fine, but I don’t think she’ll really take off.
Main act: Backstreet Boys/New Kids On the Block (5/6): A surprisingly fantastic show. I confess I was there mostly for nostalgia value. Most shows that combine two main acts are really more one band’s show than the other. They go on in a specific order, and that’s how it is. Not so with these bands. They alternated songs, and combined songs throughout the show constantly engaging the audience and each other.
There were many things than impressed me about both bands. First, was their ability to share the spotlight. This was especially true for the Backstreet Boys. Despite having two who are usually the most dominant voices, every member got their moment in the limelight, and it was smoothly done with the rest of the band still engaged.
New Kids on the Block had more of a set of people who were each separately in the limelight. Joey was particularly fun to see have his moment in the light, because when he was younger he was the top high end of the group, hitting notes that I assumed he could no longer hit as he’s no longer an adolescent. I was wrong. It had been about 21 years since I’d paid attention to The New Kids on the Block, so I didn’t recognize him until he did hit those notes. My jaw hit the floor.
Between the graciousness, toward each other both within the bands and between the two bands and the crowd interaction the show was already great. Add to that the fact that they enjoyed the music, and preformed beyond the choreography and orchestration. There was some improvising and a lot of fan engagement.
They did the mash up at the end. Both bands had their moments to shine (With ”Everybody (Backstreet’s back)“ for Backstreet Boys and "Hangin’ Tough” for New Kids on the Block.) Then they took two songs that already had so much energy and crowd engagement and they made a playfully competitive mash up out of them. It was amazing and so much fun. .
I would see either band again on their own, though Backstreet Boys more than New Kids on the Block.
