The year was 1999. The Backstreet Boys ruled the airwaves and MTV with their #1 hit “I Want It That Way.” They set little girl’s hearts on fire and sold-out stadiums world wide. Fast forward to 2010, and the “boys” are still at it, even though their fans and the boys themselves (the youngest BSB, Nick Carter, is now 30) have grown up. However, as much as think you have “grown up,” you’ll be surprised how quickly you revert to teeny-booper status the moment you hear the the guys sing the phrase, “Backstreet’s Back…Alright!!!” Or at least…..that’s how it goes for me.

I became a BSB fan back in ’99, the very first time I heard their songs played on a boom-box at a birthday party. I wish I could show you of photo of my bedroom from back then, from the floor to the ceiling my walls were covered in the faces of the BSB. And whereas with time, many fans “outgrew” the Backstreet Boys, I didn’t. Although, fear not, my walls don’t look like that anymore.

The Backstreet Boys are incredibly resilient. The guys have weathered stints in rehab, DUI’s, open heart surgery, marriage, children, death of family members, solo projects, the departure of a band member and even Nick Carter’s stint with Paris Hilton (yep, I just went there). Through it all the guys are still standing strong and recently celebrated 17 years together as a group.

Now I know what you’re thinking – the Backstreet Boys are still around? Yes, they are. Since their return to the music world in 2005 the boys have recorded three studio albums and embarked upon three successful world tours – one of which they are currently on right now.

Image via Kelcey Bridges

Last week, the Backstreet Boys appropriately titled “This Is Us” tour stopped in Washington, D.C. and I had the chance to bask in the presence of Nick Carter, Brian Littrell, Howie Dorough and A.J. McLean.

Image via Kelcey Bridges

Judging by the near sold-out show at the Wolf Trap Filene Center, the Backstreet Boys still have quite a strong and diverse fan base. The crowd was filled with grown women, teen girls, twenty-somethings, Dad’s and even little girls who weren’t even born when BSB was in their hey-day.

I’ve seen quite a few Backstreet shows in my day and “This Is Us” is definitely the best tour I’ve seen them do. Let me tell you something, the Backstreet Boys put on one heck of a show and never disappoint! The guys danced non-stop for nearly 2 hours, literally only taking a break to do a few quick wardrobe changes. How they get the energy to perform on stage night after night, I will never know. Put them up against any other artist 10 years their junior, and without a doubt the BSB would run circles around them.

Why? There’s no question about it: The Backstreet Boys enjoy their job.

In a recent interview with Sound Spike, Nick said,

“We enjoy it just as much as the fans do. It’s a great exchange.”

That vibe wholeheartedly comes across in their live shows. Signing along to all the songs, you truly get the feeling that the guys still love being there just as much as the fans do. They guys did an excellent job of mixing the new songs with the good ole Backstreet classics. Go to a Backstreet show and you’ll still hear “I Want It That Way,” “Backstreet’s Back” and “Shape of My Heart” – but with a new fresh twist. Be prepared to hear a little mix of “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes in the middle of “Larger Than Life.”

Image via Kelcey Bridges

Let the critics say what they may, but the Backstreet Boys are incredibly timeless. Whereas every other “boy band” has fallen by the waist side, the Backstreet Boys have reinvented themselves time and time again without losing the true heart of who they are. Something tells me these guys aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. I’m pretty sure I’ll be taking my grandchildren with me to Backstreet concerts 40 years down the road. Hey, if the Rolling Stones can do it, why not the Backstreet Boys?

Image via Kelcey Bridges