The Backstreet Boys [ tickets ] may have struggled to hit platinum with their latest album, "Never Gone," but their fans proved Friday (8/26) at Phoenix's Dodge Theatre that a five-year absence can make the heart grow fonder.

Girls screeched nonstop from the time BSB's Howie Dorough introduced opening act Seminole County until the closing number, "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)," three hours later. Fans sang along to older hits such as "Larger Than Life" and "More Than That," as well as a chunk of the group's new, more adult contemporary-oriented material.

Emerging through smoke and down a backlit staircase, the Backstreet Boys kicked off their set with "The Call," a track from 2000's "Black and Blue." The group--which, in the past, hasn't been particularly strong vocally during concerts--was dead on.

The performance was light on BSB's once-trademark special effects (such as flying through the audience on floating surfboards during past tours). Thunderstorm effects and a tolling bell introduced "Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely," while artificial snow trickled down from the rafters before "Siberia." And, still, there was enough seat-rocking pyro to rival a rock show.

The intimate, 5,000-seat Dodge Theater allowed the group to present a more personal show than during its heyday. Brian Littrell and A.J. McLean individually sang from the audience, setting off a flurry of digital-camera flashes and cell-phone cameras.

But some things never change. Nick Carter was overly dramatic in songs such as "Beautiful Woman," which he ended on his knees in front of screaming girls. Littrell flashed disingenuous smiles and blew kisses. During "I'll Never Break Your Heart," the group stressed the "you" in the line "I'd rather die than live without you" by pointing, in sync, to the audience.

The 90-minute show was chock full of choreographed numbers, varying in aggressiveness. BSB dusted off their trademark hat dance in "All I Have to Give" and, during an instrumental solo in "Larger Than Life," they walked in circles like animals stalking prey.

The group displayed signs of maturity. Littrell played with a toddler on stage at one point, and briefly mentioned his charity, the Brian Littrell Healthy Heart Club for Kids. (The girl waddled over to Carter and gave him a hug.) Flashy costumes have given way to more casual attire. Sporting closely shorn hair, Kevin Richardson traded upscale duds for cropped pants and concert shirts. A buffed-up Carter donned a ripped sock on his right hand like Britney Spears during the 2001 Super Bowl. And McLean, whose thinning hairline was fashioned into a mohawk, spoke of his sobriety while playing with his mutton-chop sideburns.

"I went to rehab in a little city called Tucson. I have a lot of love for Arizona. I'm coming up on three years sober," he said.

Despite his troubled background, McLean was clearly the crowd favorite. Carter acknowledged the phenomena.

"What it is that he has that makes the ladies do what they just did?" Carter asked about the screaming. "Maybe, just maybe, it's the little stuff you have growing right there," he added about McLean's pork chops. "Maybe it's the way you dress? I think I figured it out. I think it might be because he's one soulful mofo."

Hinted at in previous tours, the Backstreet Boys showcased their musical chops by playing instruments. Carter strapped on guitars for "Climbing the Walls," and the new single "Just Want You to Know," while Richardson tickled the ivories for "Incomplete" and "Weird World."

Video clips from previous tours and events filled time during costume changes. It was cumbersome, and included recorded versions of "We've Got It Goin' On," "Never Gone" and "I Don't Want You Back," songs that otherwise could have been performed live.

Some songs were changed up a bit: They added a rap interlude to "The One," and remade "As Long As You Love Me" into a 1970s-like soul song. The evening ended on a sour note when the Backstreet Boys did a drum-and-bass-heavy rendition of "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)."

Nevertheless, the Backstreet Boys may have been absent for five years, and they may be gearing their material toward a more mature audience, but they're still a guilty pleasure.

Set list:

"The Call"
"Beautiful Woman"
"More Than That"
"Climbing the Walls"
"Shape of My Heart"
"The One"
"I Still …"
"I Want it That Way"
"Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely"
"Larger Than Life"
"Siberia"
"All I Have to Give"
"As Long As You Love Me"
"I'll Never Break Your Heart"
"Just Want You to Know"
"Crawling Back to You"
"Drowning"
"Quit Playin' Games (With My Heart)"
"Weird World"
"Incomplete"
(encore)
"Everybody (Backstreet's Back)"