Nick Carter of Backstreet Boys. Photo Credit: Lisa Hiser
On November 14, Nick Carter (Backstreet Boys fame) performed a solo concert a the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts on Long Island.
Carter kicked off his solo set at 8:45 p.m. with “Larger Than Life,” and he subsequently took his fans back to the ’80s with such throwbacks as Tears for Fears’ “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” and Corey Hart’s “Sunglasses at Night.”
After “Get Over Me,” he segued into “80’s Movie,” and delivered a soaring rendition of “Private Eyes” by the pop-rock duo Daryl Hall & John Oates.
Equally remarkable was his Backstreet Boys hit single “Shape of My Heart,” and he showcased some attitude on Bon Jovi’s “Wanted Dear or Alive.” “19 in 99” was up-tempo and sheer bliss.
Particularly impressive about “You Shook Me All Night Long” was that he performed it in a true AC/DC fashion in their key and voice.
Carter was also able to tip his hat to ZZ Top with “Sharp Dressed Man.” He was able to nail the Journey power ballad “Faithfully” with ease.
One of the emotional highpoints of the evening was when he sang the tender ballad “Hurts to Love You,” and the same holds true during “Do I Have to Cry for You.” Equally meaningful was “Superman.”
Carter interacted well with the audience over the course of the night. He also covered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band The Cars with “Just What I Needed.”
After “As Long As You Love Me,” he played yet another fan favorite “Quit Playing Games,” prior to closing with his latest solo single “Made For Us,” which has a retro vibe to it.
Encore
For his encore, Carter returned to the stage and delivered two fan favorite Backstreet Boys hits: their signature ballad “I Want It That Way” and “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back),” which was high-adrenaline and a great deal of fun.
“Nick Carter is a completely underrated solo talent,” said Valerie Horne, fan and attendee. “The world sleeps on him but his vocals are just amazing,” she added.
Cure 4 The Kids
At his soundcheck, a few hours prior, Carter spoke about his partnership with the nonprofit organization, Cure 4 The Kids, and his latest projects with them. His holiday tune “Happy Xmas (Cancer’s Over),” with Kyle Khou was just featured on “Christmas 4 The Kids” album, and it will benefit help this charitable cause.
“This is an amazing foundation that takes care of 100 percent of the funding for childhood cancer and other diseases,” Carter said. “I’ve worked with them for six years since I’ve been in Las Vegas.”
“I would do something with them every holiday season, and this time it was a compilation and an album, and we chose John Lennon’s ‘Happy Xmas (War Is Over).’ We recorded the song and 100 percent of the proceeds went to Cure 4 The Kids foundation,” Carter elaborated.
“The beautiful part of the story from the song is that when a child finally beats cancer, then the war is really over,” he added, and his response earned a tremendous round of applause from his New York fans that gathered at Patchogue Theatre.
“Happy Xmas (Cancer’s Over)” by Nick Carter and Kyle Khou is available on Apple Music.
The Verdict
Overall, Nick Carter’s solo show at the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts was a complete success. It had a balance of his solo songs, his Backstreet Boys hits, as well as some of the music and songs from the ’80s that helped shape his artistry. There was a feeling of nostalgia in the Patchogue venue.
It is highly recommended that one sees Nick Carter perform live when he comes to town. His live set garnered an A rating.
For more information on Nick Carter and his solo music check out his official website and follow him on Instagram.