Wednesday, November 15, 2000

Boys are NSYNC-able

Live *Nsync photos from the Toronto Performance

TORONTO -- What's that old vaudeville saying?

 The smell of the greasepaint, the roar of the crowd?

 Well, NSYNC took that credo to heart last night at SkyDome as they treated 27,000 of their extremely vocal, mostly young, female fans to a fast-paced, high-energy, 90-minute song-and-dance show during the first of two sold-out performances.

 Granted, there were fireworks, flames, explosions, confetti, laser lights, costume changes, glow-in-the-dark suits and three video screens to help the famed Florida fivesome -- Justin Timberlake, Chris Kirkpatrick, Joey Fatone, Lance Bass and JC Chasez -- in their quest to entertain.

 But mostly NSYNC relied on their singing and dancing abilities to move the crowd to high-pitched screams, even though at times the group's vocals didn't exactly sound live as they went through their elaborate dance routines.

 Currently touring on behalf of their wildly successful sophomore album, No Strings Attached, (sales of 500,000 in Canada and 9.5 million in the U.S.), the five performers initially descended onto the stage via puppet strings to perform the record's title track.

 A lot of special effects were packed into that eye-popping opening, including the group members flying above their six-piece band on the stage.

 But nothing could really prepare the excitable audience for NSYNC's levitating, movable glass stage, which literally transported the group through the crowd on the floor during the ballad This I Promise You towards the end of the night.

 Other gimmicks included showing a clip of Bass' recent appearance on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, leading up to the new song Just Got Paid, which also featured some female audience members taking part in a dance club scene.

 But NSYNC actually came across a lot more likable and sincere when they kept it low-key, like during their a capella rendition of I Thought She Knew on a scaled-down living room set.

 And, frankly, the audience screamed the loudest whenever the group members simply slapped their behinds or either Justin or JC -- NSYNC's designated hotties -- took over on lead vocals.

 What can you say about the hormones of female teenagers? Give them a young, well-toned male physique and they're pretty happy.

 My favourite part was when the group admitted to getting their first tattoos in Toronto. (Guess it's an age thing.)

 NSYNC's second performance is tomorrow night at SkyDome, but don't even think about getting tickets, except maybe from scalpers.

 The first show sold out in 25 minutes, the second in 38 minutes.

 The group, who have today off, are expected to take an entire month to rest after their last North American concert date on Dec. 1 in San Diego.

 However, it's hardly the last we'll see of them this year. They have a Christmas TV special expected to air on Nov. 30 (FOX /Global) and will appear at the Billboard Music Awards on Dec. 5 (8 p.m. on FOX).

Set List No Strings Attached  I Want You Back  God Must Have Spent  A Little More Time On You  Tearin' Up My Heart  Justin's Beat Box  It's Gonna Be Me  I Drive Myself Crazy  I Thought She Knew  Just Got Paid  Space Cowboy (Yippie Yi Yay)  It Makes Me Ill  This I Promise You  Encores:  Digital Get Down  Bye, Bye, Bye		Concert rating