Title: An 'Awesome' Aaron Carter grabs hearts of young fans
Author: Carol Robidoux, Union Leader Staff
Date: September 23, 2002
Source: The Union Leader (Manchester NH)
Source: Section B Pg. 2
Source: http://www.theunionleader.com/articles_show.html?article=14359
Topic: Summer 2002 Concert Review
Just after 9 p.m. downtown Manchester looked a lot like Munchkinland with adult supervision, as thousands of school-age fans and their parents filed out of the Verizon Wireless Center, still high on Aaron Carter.
"He was awesome," agreed sisters Sondra and Claudia Withey, both 13, of Manchester.
"I lost my voice from screaming," said their 12-year-old sister, Trisha.
And the youngest Withey, 10-year-old Rebecca, admitted to falling off her seat.
Carter, who emerged on the pop scene a few years ago billed mainly as the cute little brother of Nick from Backstreet Boys, has in two years developed enough star power to headline his own tour. Opening for Carter was Jump5, No Secret and Triple Image, which confused 9-year-old Kaylee Thrasher of Candia.
"It's her first concert and she didn't realize there would be acts on ahead of time," said her mom, Amy Thrasher.
Kaylee exited the Verizon clutching her denim hat which was filled to the brim with flakes of silver glitter she managed to catch as it spilled from high above the crowd during the show.
An instant souvenir that, no doubt, is one Ziploc bag away from becoming a family heirloom.
"I'm going to keep it forever," said Kaylee.
Several fans said they were impressed with Carter's wardrobe, which changed several times during the hour-long show.
Besides singing several of his hits from his new "Earthquake" CD, Carter also found time to squirt fans with Silly String, fly around the stage suspended by cables and get hit in the face with lots of pies by his dancers.
More fun than an episode of "Super Sloppy Double Dare."
Kayla Frost, 9, and Rachel Huff, 7, of Manchester, said the highlight of the show for them was when Carter sang, "I Want Candy."
The girls had permission to be up past bedtime on a school night because their moms had surprised them with tickets. Their moms also shelled out $47 each for T-shirts, green Glo-sticks and official Aaron Carter Summer Tour badges.
And ear plugs for everyone.
"These worked good," said Rachel's mom, tucking her plugs into her purse.
Another mom, who couldn't identify herself for obvious reasons, waited on a bench outside the Holiday Inn/Center of New Hampshire for her teen daughters.
"I just got a call. They told me to move from the street light on Elm Street where I was standing before. God forbid anyone should see me waiting for them," she said.
It's all part of the letting go process. Last year she was allowed inside the Verizon with them when O-Town performed.
But that was last year.
"Gotta go. There they are," she said. "I can't let them see me talking to a reporter."
[Photo: AARON CARTER falls to the floor as part of a routine with his dancers last night at Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester. (Tom Thibeault/Union Leader)]
