New Englanders were in for a night full of 2010s nostalgia with boy band Big Time Rush performing at The Big E Arena in West Springfield, Massachusetts. Before embarking on the European and Asian legs of the tour, the band stated that this late September performance was a
perfect sendoff!
“Picture This:” Who is BTR?
The band is composed of members Kendall Schmidt, Logan Henderson, James Maslow, and Carlos PenaVega. Audiences may recognize those names from the beloved self-titled Nickelodeon show, which aired from 2009 to 2013. The plot of the show follows four high
school best friends embarking on an opportunity to go from being ordinary hockey players from Minnesota, to reaching stardom and becoming rock stars in L.A.; under the fictional record label Roque Records. Even after the show ended, the band itself continued to grow in popularity by touring the songs from the show, during and after its end. While ultimately deciding to take a hiatus in 2014, some members took that time to branch into solo careers within the pop genre. In the peak of quarantine, band members took to Zoom to have mini reunions for fans. These reunions led to a comeback in 2021, when the band announced a new single “Call It Like I See It.” This announcement brought fans from all over the world, who hadn’t heard from the members in over 6 years, back together. It truly shocked the “Rusher” fandom, because it rebooted the childhoods for many in such a vulnerable time. It was with extreme enthusiasm that fans awaited the announcement for a new album, or even a tour. The band delivered by announcing the Forever tour in 2022, quickly followed by the release of the album “Another Life” in 2023, along with the coinciding Can’t Get Enough tour. Thankfully, even after 15 years, the band seems to just be getting started.
“Call It Like I See It:” The Concert Experience
The night started off with a bang when audience members started screaming “WOOHOO,” a key part from the band’s hit single “Windows Down.” The band members also took connecting with fans very seriously, as all members even took a trip into the pit during the
song “Paralyzed” to interact through high fives and selfies. The song itself was a big hit for the band due to the attention from the show, however, it was not re-released until 2022 when the band released it as an official single. Concertgoers continued the high-energy response
throughout the entirety of the night as the band played favorites from both the show and the new album, even performing the most recently recorded single “Only One” for one of the first times. Around the middle of the performance, band member James Maslow brought the crowd back to 2011 by asking the audience to remember some special references for his character from the show, such as the Barracuda cologne. The playful spirit the group brings is infectious, as the other band members chimed into James’ comment to reflect on their characters as well. Logan Henderson mentioned a well-known relationship between himself and another character Camille, while Carlos PenaVega and Kendall Schmidt referenced some key plot points to make the crowd laugh. Between both the impeccable singing and comedy throughout, watching this performance live was almost as if the show was back on air. The banter continued with band members even interjecting hilarious anecdotes into songs, such as when James asked the members of the crowd “Who out there is looking for a boyfriend?,” which prompted a resounding agreement among the crowd for one of the most notable songs off the band’s discography, “Boyfriend.” It was truly an out-of-body experience being in that audience as “nothing even matters.” Bringing multiple age ranges together, the band created a night full of surprises, backflips, nostalgia, and talent, all of which is unmatched.
“Superstar:” Powering Through an Injury
This concert was a particularly eventful one for Logan Henderson, who tweaked his ankle during the very first song. He went backstage after powering through for a few more songs as the other band members talked to the audience. When Logan returned, he mentioned that his ankle was hurting, and apologized in advance for missing any choreography. The whole band sat down to play the next song acoustically, and if this was a departure from the usual setlist, it didn’t show. Logan also went backstage a few songs later during a transition to change his shirt, which may or may not have been related to his injury, but he didn’t miss any songs for the duration of the show. While he did skip a few of the more involved dance moves, he kept his energy up, and the other members adapted to the circumstances, which is a testament to their endurance as seasoned performers.
“Worldwide:” The Ultimate Fan Experience
As fans who have been following this tour will know, each band member chooses a Worldwide Girl – someone from the audience to come up on stage that they sing to – and last week’s show in West Springfield was no exception. Carlos’ Worldwide Girl was at the concert with her mom, and waved at her giddily after she gave Carlos a big hug. While three of the fans were girls in their mid-to-late twenties, the fan-favorite had to be Kendall’s pick, a little girl who just turned 10. While she was understandably shy, the audience whooped and cheered for her, and she held her “I Love Kendall” sign with pride. Kendall expressed how much the enthusiasm from young fans means to him as a new dad to a little girl, and held his Worldwide Girl’s hand for most of the song.
“Time of Our Life:” Why Does BTR Still Matter?
To be able to provide such a sense of unity and belonging in a crowd is a very difficult task, but to these performers it is second nature. Big Time Rush means something to a lot of people, making each and every performance special. Though the band played an East Coast fair,
all of the members treated it as if it was the greatest honor. The energy and attention to detail between both vocals and choreography is extremely admirable; which explains how the band has kept such a loyal and enthusiastic fan base. All of the band’s songs bring such joy to people – the messages of positivity and gratitude that are portrayed on the albums and on the stage really brings fans together. It may be awhile until the boys of Big Time Rush are back on the East Coast, but until then, “it’s the only life we got so we gotta live it big time.”
