Travel back to the 2000s this weekend with Backstreet Boy and *NSYNC.

By the time fans leave Mershon Auditorium on Friday night, AJ McLean hopes their faces will start to hurt.

Whether it’s smiling, laughing, singing or screaming, McLean said he hopes fans who come to see him and Joey Fatone perform will have two hours where they can forget about the world.

“I want their bodies to just come back to life. I want them to go out on a solid cloud,” McLean said.

Former boy band stars Joey Fatone (*NSYNC) and AJ McLean (Backstreet Boys) have joined forces for a tour that will take place on June 14 at Mershon Auditorium.

McLean, 46, and Fatone, 47, members of Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC, appropriately, they are embarking on a joint tour, stopping at the Mershon Auditorium at 1871 N. High St. on Friday night. for the “A Legendary Night” tour.

The performance will feature songs from both iconic bands’ discography, as well as several solo songs from McLean’s upcoming debut solo album.

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“It’s a great launching pad for me to establish myself as an individual,” McLean said. “I do this under my real name, Alexander James. AJ is a personality and a Backstreet Boy, but I want the world to know Alex.”

McLean has been vocal about his struggles with sobriety and mental health, especially during the early days of the band’s success. His song “Arizona,” which appears on the show, directly addresses these issues, “pulling at the heartstrings.”

Each show on the tour also provides plenty of humor, audience interaction and, of course, hits.

“It’s literally for the fans, by the fans, and we keep adding more dates because the fans want it. “We hope we can keep doing this as long as possible until both guys are busy again,” he said.

McLean said that after more than 30 years in the Backstreet Boys, it still feels surreal to have fans singing those words to him – and fans of *NSYNC and Backstreet Boys – singing along with him, making new memories and friends in the process.

More music:What shows are coming to Columbus this summer?

“Being able to create music that connects generations is huge. I have a lot of friends who have a 5-year-old or a 25-year-old and they are both fans. Either they start at a young age, or Gen Zers look at us as if we were old-fashioned. It’s really cool,” he said.

“I still pinch myself when I hear us on the radio or when I look out into the audience and see fans of both bands singing each other’s songs, coexisting and making new friends, it’s really, really cool.”

While *NSYNC recently reunited and released new music earlier this year, Backstreet Boys are taking a break after wrapping up their “DNA World Tour.” However, McLean teased the team’s “huge” announcement in late 2024, which has been “seven years in the making” for who else but fans.

“We really love doing what we do. We are five amateurs, we are in our element, and even five minutes before the performance we forget about what we deal with in life. And we really, really love. We’re the closest we’ve ever been to each other right now,” McLean said.

But for now, McLean and Fatone are enjoying each other’s company (McLean said the rivalry created by the music industry as both bands rose to fame was largely a facade) as fellow fathers and having shared life experiences.

Photos:Justin Timberlake in Columbus: From NSYNC to Man of the Woods, a look back at past performances

“You never know what you’re going to get at a concert,” he said. “We will take you on a trip down memory lane. This is for the ladies. You can have a nice hen party and leave your man at home, or you can take your man and he’ll have a damn good night too.”

In short

Fans are asked to arrive early for the concert, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. and kickoff at 7:30 p.m. Tickets starting at $55 are still available through Ticketmaster.

Travel back to the 2000s this weekend with Backstreet Boy and *NSYNC.

By meerna

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Travel back to the 2000s this weekend with Backstreet Boy and *NSYNC.

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The Philadelphia Zoo is a perfect example of how old institutions can seem new.

Belousov and Austin spoke on the phone on July 12 about Kiev’s “secret operation” — newspaper – World

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You Missed

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Belousov and Austin spoke on the phone on July 12 about Kiev’s “secret operation” — newspaper – World

Baltimore real estate roundup: 3 newly built homes for sale

The Ville vs. La Familia draft