“Backstreet’s Back, Alright!” & Hitting the Boy Band Jackpot

Shoutout to the Illinois Lottery for hosting this awesome Anything’s Possible Music Series this summer and giving me an opportunity to relive my wildest boy band dreams. All opinions and girlish screaming are my own. 

It’s no secret that from the time I could walk I have had an obsession with pop music and all things boy band. My very first large concert experience was with NSYNC back in the day. Last year, I continued to live out my dream by seeing NKOTB, Boyz II Men, and 98 Degrees, Justin Bieber, and a stellar classic – Bon Jovi in concerts all within the last few years. You can usually find me rocking out in my seat, fawning over my fangirl crushes, and imagining that I’m back in high school swaying to the tunes of JT and the overall-clad crew.

So when the Illinois Lottery gave me the opportunity to see the Backstreet Boys in concert at Northerly Island, I realized that Anything’s Possible and that I had truly hit the boy band jackpot – giving me a chance to cross the last big group of singers off my high school dream list.

Why yes, I WOULD like it that way.

The Illinois Lottery’s Anything’s Possible® Music Series features over 30 concerts and gives you a ticket to an unforgettable summer soundtrack. You can check out the full line up of music courtesy of Live Nation, including artists like Bruno Mars, Rascal Flatts, and Panic! at the Disco. #APMusicSeries

Our night started out with a stop at the Illinois Lottery tent

Julie realized that being able to time travel back to high school for the Backstreet Boys means Anything’s Possible

Instant Win cards so you can test your luck!

I really hit the boy band jackpot!

After asking about 15 security guards who had no idea what to do with us, they finally realized we were VIP and brought us to our seats under a covered canopy.

We grabbed some food, sat on the patio and listened to Avril Lavigne get all Complicated. After singing along, we realized that she released that song over 12 YEARS ago…

Time for the main event! We headed to our seats and stood up almost the entire time – alternating screaming, “NICK! KEVIN! BRIAN!” repeat.

And we realized that like a fine wine, 

Nick Carter has only gotten even better with age. 

Cell phone cameras everywhere lit up the night sky instead of the age-old lighters during the slow songs. It was magical.

The FirstMerit Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island is a beautiful venue with the city skyline creating a beautiful backdrop. As night fell, we also could catch glimpses of the Navy Pier fireworks over the lake. Truly awesome!

We also jammed out to the Shape of My Heart and the lyrics for all the songs we thought we didn’t remember came flooding back 

Did you think they were done?!? Backstreet’s BACK, Alright!

Thanks to the Illinois Lottery for an AMAZING evening! A little nugget for you to experience the night with us:

 Follow along all summer with the Illinois Lottery and the #APMusicSeries.