Title: Aaron Carter brings his party to fair
Source: The State Journal-Register (Springfield, IL)
Source: LOCAL; Pg. 13
Source: http://www.sj-r.com/sections/news/stories/N08182002,g.asp
Author: Kris Wernowsky, Staff Writer
Date: August 19, 2002
Topic: Summer 2002 Concert Review
Better known for his genealogical link to his oh-so dreamy Backstreet Boy brother, Nick Carter, Aaron has made a name for himself with his past two albums; 2001's "Oh, Aaron," and 2000's "Aaron's Party." Nearly 12,000 wailing fans came to see the heartthrob croon, dance and smirk his way through more than an hour of performing at the Illinois State Fair Grandstand.
The stands and track were a sea of green glow-sticks with the word "Carter," written on the side - sold conveniently for $5 apiece.
Autumn Paul, 28, said when her 10-year-old daughter, Bree, found out she and her daughter's friend, 10-year-old Brook were going, their eyes lit up. Paul said, while the kids were looking forward to seeing Carter, she was excited about something else. Paul said she could recall the New Kids on the Block causing similar reactions when she was a kid.
"I'm going to enjoy seeing all of these girls screaming; I don't care about seeing Aaron," she said.
Paul took her daughter to see Britney Spears three years ago, but Bree said she wanted to see Aaron more, mostly "because he's cute."
After three warm-up acts- Triple Image, Jump 5 and No Secrets - sang along with voice tracks, the mere mention of the name Aaron Carter sent the crowd to near hysterical levels of banshee-like screaming. The crowd was chanting, "Aaron, Aaron, Aaron," as his set began.
Before Carter took the stage, his backup singers and his band began playing as kids sashayed their way down the runway that led into the crowd in a mock fashion show - then it happened.
On a platform, from beneath his set, Aaron was lifted up so the crowd could see him, and with the power of their built-up teenage, hormonal angst, girls let out a deafening sea of shrill squealing and screaming as Carter made his presence known.
The show was filled with Carter's most notable hits, such as "Baby It's You," "That's How I Beat Shaq" and "Bounce."
Carter also gave listeners a preview of a song from his upcoming album "Another Earthquake," singing the song "Earthquake," as the fans ate up every piece of the spoon-fed teen pop.
At one point, Carter began waving an enormous flag while professing, "I Was Born and Raised in the USA."
Carter spent the evening dodging flowers, teddy bears and jewelry thrown at the stage by fans in attempts to get his attention.
Notably, Carter covered Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger," which most of the parents seemed to enjoy. Also, he covered Bow Wow Wow's "I Want Candy," completely destroying the song's campy, innuendo-laden sexual overtone, while bombarding the crowd with Silly String.
One girl was sent into a fit after Carter acknowledged her sign.
Others screamed, "We love you, Aaron!"
Carter and his nine backup dancers were filled with energy throughout the show, and while the songs may not be memorable, his liveliness and carefree stage presence is.
He then slowed things down as the stage crew brought out a white, baby grand piano for the ballad "All About You." Get this - he actually played it.
Through four costume changes ,Carter wore everything from a white cutoff shirt with matching pants, to a camouflage ensemble with a cut-off military shirt, all with a gleaming pair of silver shoes.
At one point, Carter teased girls in the crowd by acting as though he was going to remove his shirt.
Through the 2 1/2 hours of poorly written music, while giving cute looks to all of the swooning girls, wetting himself down with a water bottle, and a less than spontaneous performance, one glimmer of hope was seen in Carter's beyond image-conscious performance.
The kids who wait their whole lives to get a glimpse of somebody they listen to on the radio and pine for got to see him, and all left with a smile. If you judge a concert based on that, then Carter's visit to the fair was a success.
GRAPHIC: Nearly 12,000 fans came to see Aaron Carter perform at The Grandstand Saturday night at the Illinois State Fair.
