Date: Friday, August 30, 2002
Title: Carter shines in Pepsi Pavilion show
Author: By Donna Isbell Walker, ENTERTAINMENT WRITER dwalker@greenvillenews.com
Source: GreenvilleOnline.com
Source: http://greenvilleonline.com/entertain/2002/08/30/2002083027814.htm
Topic: Summer 2002 Concert Review
Friday night's Aaron Carter concert at the Bi-Lo Center's Pepsi Pavilion was all sparkles, from the disco ball suspended from the ceiling to the glittery confetti sprayed on the crowd to the shiny, happy pop-n-hip-hop songs. TANYA ACKERMAN / Staff Teeny-bopper: Aaron Carter performs at the Pepsi Pavillion on Friday.
The 14-year-old singer sported a pair of shoes that looked like they might have been made from the leftover mirror shards of the disco ball. Even Carter's Army fatigues, which he donned for several songs, were dotted with sequins.
But then, sparkle and gloss, sweetness and light are what teen pop is all about, and it was present in abundance Friday night. Of course, it was fitting for a performer whose audience member's average age is probably pre-teen.
Twelve-year-old Kelly Spaugh of Easley, clutching a newly purchased poster of Carter emerging from a swimming pool, was introduced to his music a couple of years ago by a friend at school.
What does she like about him? "I like all of it," said Kelly, who previously saw teen popsters 'N Sync and Backstreet Boys in concert. "I told my mom I had to come."
Heather Campbell of Simpsonville, a bouncy 8-year-old attending the show with her mother, sister and friends, echoed the feelings of many of her fellow concert-goers when asked about his appeal. "He's cute," she said. "I'm gonna marry him when I grow up."
For all of Carter's girl appeal, the audience didn't lack for boys.
Ten-year-old Aaron Silverman of Woodruff, who points out that he and Carter share a first name, said he likes the sound of the music. "This is the first time I've seen him, but it probably won't be the last," he said.
Carter's 80-minute show featured a mix of tunes from his most recent albums, including the lively "Bounce" and the ballad "Do You Remember," on which he played piano. He also did a cover of Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger" and "I Want Candy," a tune done by everyone from the Tremeloes to Bow Wow Wow.
The dancing was energetic and featured more leaps, cartwheels and flips than a month of gymnastics class. And if anyone doubted that post-Sept. 11 patriotism had filtered down to the teen-pop world, Carter dispelled that with a flag-waving dance number and the American-flag boots he donned for the latter part of the show.
There was plenty of time for light-hearted fun, as well, as Carter and his dancers sprayed each other with Silly String. For the final number, Carter appeared suspended above the stage in harnesses, from which he flipped and spun and twirled one last time.
