Which Band Is This Again?

It was only fitting that the Backstreet Boys moved into Staples Center Wednesday on the heels of the latest World Wrestling Federation spectacular.

Both shows fuel youthful fantasies.

With the WWF, boys, mostly 8 to 15, are fascinated by seeing action heroes in the flesh rather than simply on their TV sets. With the Backstreet Boys, the hearts of girls the same age flutter at the sight of their dreamboats in person.

“I Luv U Nick,” declared a banner waved proudly by a teenager in the audience at the Backstreet Boys concert, summarizing the core appeal of the boy groups that have been a commercial sensation in pop in recent years.

You could substitute Brian, Kevin, Howie or A.J. for Nick on the banner in the case of the Backstreet Boys, or Chris, Lance, J.C., Justin or Joey in the case of the more lighthearted ‘N Sync--and the tune is the same. In fact, an 8-year-old in my row Wednesday insisted that the Backstreet Boys and ‘N Sync were the same band--and it’s not a bad perception.

If you’re not part of the target audience, chances are the music will strike you as pretty uneventful.

After a half-hour, the show was so numbing that you had your own fantasy: staging the WWF and the Backstreet Boys on the same bill so Stone Cold Steve Austin could race out and body slam A.J. during the dull “Shining Star,” or Lovely Lita could dropkick Howie across the stage during some equally sappy number. Anything to bring some spontaneity or adventure to a show that is as slick as a freshly waxed floor.

The group didn’t show a lot of personality, but the members were unpretentious enough, thanking the young fans repeatedly for their loyalty. The quintet also dazzled the crowd with lots of visual extras, including countless explosions, a busload of dancers, a disappearing act and more ramps (to bring the Boys closer to the fans) than the Harbor Freeway.

It was all pretty much standard stuff for veteran concert-goers, but we’re not dealing with longtime KISS fans here. The youngsters loved it. This was a night when you needed earplugs more as protection from the screams than the music from the stage.

Regarding the music, the Boys--whose ages run from early to late 20s--take turns on lead vocals, and they are all creditable singers, though none stands out in a way that makes you think: great solo career ahead.

The songs are mostly melodramatic tales of romantic desire that are built around melodies and pop or R&B; arrangements so commonplace they could have been lifted from a sale table at a 99 Cents Only store. The exception is the zesty, hook-heavy “I Want It That Way,” one of the few genuine pop delights to have emerged from the teen pop boom.

The best thing was watching the audience--not just the young, innocent fans screaming for their heroes, but also the parents who got to share this special moment with their kids.

Thanks to the sweetness of the audience, the Backstreet experience wasn’t as bad as I had feared--but that’s only like saying the Novocain shot at the dentist’s office didn’t hurt as much as expected.

The bad news for parents is that the Boys (who were scheduled to play a second show Thursday at Staples) are headed back here this summer, which means all the little girls are going to start begging to go again. Sitting through another two hours of this music is the real test of parental love.

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* The Backstreet Boys, with Krystal, play Saturday and Sunday at the San Diego Sports Arena, 3500 Sports Arena Blvd., San Diego, 7:30 p.m. $46.50 and $55.50. (619) 224-4176.