98 Degrees fires up teens waiting all night for show

Dozens of sleep-deprived teenage girls capped March break madness by maintaining a chilly vigil outside London's Centennial Hall yesterday.

Some, such as Nikole Maitland, 15, of London lined up almost 20 hours before a concert featuring Ohio pop favourites 98 Degrees, slated for 7 p.m. yesterday.

"We are the biggest fans because we've been here the longest," Maitland yelled over a crowd of exuberant girls, her wait nearing an end.

Maitland and four friends were first in line. Except for the occasional washroom break, for which they trekked over to neighbouring businesses, the group wasn't budging.

"We were here at 11:30 (Friday night) and we haven't slept."

The $29 tickets were worth the price even before the fabulous four hit the stage, according to Maitland.

"They call them 98 Degrees because they're so hot!" said Angel Gamble, 15, who was also in line for prime seating at least 19 hours before the concert.

Susan Vermeltfoort, 16, and two friends joined the line about 2 a.m.

"My mom was nuts," she said. "She was worried about the stabbings downtown so she slept in her car while we were in the lineup."

Other parents, many driving minivans, did special duty delivering pizza, hot chocolate and various other necessities to girls in the lineup. A few worried Centennial Hall staff members popped their heads outside.

"The one guy let us in for a bit to warm up," Gamble said.

The pop-music group of four men aged 22 to 26 prompted more than a few spontaneous proclamations of love from the crowd of knap-sack toting, glitter makeup wearing teens.

"Jeff is Karla's man," Gamble shouted.

"All their songs are slow and so-o-o romantic," she added.

As the objects of their affection warmed up for their sold-out performance inside, local fans screamed and whistled loudly when anybody who looked anything like a band member walked by.