The chant began early and rose in volume and intensity by the minute, ``BACKSTREET BOYS! BACKSTREET BOYS!'' And at precisely 8:20 last night at the FleetCenter, the screaming began as Nick Carter, A.J. McLean, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell and Kevin Richardson, aka the Backstreet Boys, took to the stage for the first of two sold-out shows.

Throughout the energetic two-hour performance - on a flashy, silver pentagonal stage affording great views from all sides - the reigning boy band easily set themselves apart from vocal group peers like N'Sync and 98 Degrees. While employing many of the same techniques - fireworks, ``flying,'' zippy dancing - the BSB's vocal elan, strong material and mature presence puts them a cut above.

The ``Star Wars'' theme played and white fog drifted into the air as the BSB emerged from under one end of the arena to take to the skies to surf toward the stage.

The white boy funk of ``Larger Than Life,'' an ode to their delirious fan base, proved an animated opener as the boys fell into step with their 10 hard-bodied dancers, who ringed a six-piece band in the center of the stage.

While all the boys sing - and their one-for-every-type good looks were beamed on overhead video screens - Littrell easily has the most pleasant style and tone and his tenor pairs lushly with Richardson's velvet baritone. (If there are post-BSB careers to be had, bank on these two.)

Switching between the adult contemporary sax lines of ``Don't Want to Lose You'' and buoyant pop numbers like ``Quit Playing Games (With My Heart),'' the group charmed everyone in the crowd from toddlers and swoony teens to couples and even a large male contingent.

A mid-set collection of ballads sung while sitting on stools center stage sincerely impressed, especially the hip-hop doo-wop of ``I'll Never Break Your Heart.''

The BSB's only problem is their flashy staging sometimes undercuts their emotional connection. For example, the heavy percussion and angular riffing of ``Don't Want You Back'' was convincingly sung with a biting anger. Unfortunately, the quintet were wearing futuristic roller-derby padding and climbing all over what looked like old TV antennae.

Likewise, snazzy-looking zoot suits added little to the smooth blue-eyed soul of ``All I Have to Give.'' Less can very often be more, which includes the overly lengthy band and dancer intros.

In a sweet gesture during ``The Perfect Fan,'' a song Littrell wrote in tribute to his mom, a quintet of moms and daughters were invited onstage for a serenade.

The boys closed what turned out to be a classy night with ``I Want It That Way,'' graciously thanking their fans.

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