Show Review: Just can’t get enough of Big Time Rush.
written + photographed by hunter astrid
more photos + the rest of the gallery can be seen here
Everyone knows Big Time Rush; childhood heartthrobs that took the world by storm in the early 2010s. I won't lie, when the show ended in 2013 and the band went their separate ways in 2013, my year old self was so emotional. I did cry a little bit. So, seeing them live for the first time in 2023, ten years after their breakup, was a dream come true.
It's no secret that the quartet are boy-band legends; forming all the way back in 2009, all of this is second nature for them at this point. Big Time Rush consists of four members that have been the same since the beginning; Kendall Schmidt, James Maslow, Carlos PenaVega, and Logan Henderson. The sound of BTR is described as ''pop-inspired dance-rock" that includes a combination of synth-pop, hip-hop, and genuinely very good boy-band harmonies. A major aspect about the group that makes them stand out amongst other boy-bands is the fact that they had a whole entire tv show based around fictional versions of the band and their members.
The show, also appropriately titled Big Time Rush, aired from November 28th, 2009 to July 25th, 2013. It followed the “four dogs” from Minnesota who move to Los Angeles and leave behind their hockey dreams to form a boy-band. Other than their journey of becoming a successful boy-band, the plot focused more on the storylines each episode and what kind of trouble they could find themselves in.
Unlike their fictional counterparts, the band formed in Los Angeles while all four of the boys come from different parts of America. As a band, they have released four studio length albums; three of them being released throughout the duration of the show. Their first studio length album, BTR, was released in April of 2011 and features songs like their self titled theme song “Big Time Rush" as well as "Boyfriend" (there are three version; one features Snoop Dogg while the other features New Boyz). The group’s second studio album, Elevate, was released only four short months later and features songs “Windows Down” and “If I Ruled the World (feat. Iyaz).” Their third studio album, 24/seven, was released an a month before the shows end in the summer of 2013. Around a year later, the four went their separate ways to focus on life and some solo careers, shattering the hearts of many fangirls.
By all means, the pandemic was a struggle and hard time for everyone in the world. Yet, it did tend to bring a lot of people and old friends together. Many bands and musicians were like this. Big Time Rush was no different. In April of 2020 they reunited virtually and two months later they released an acoustic cover of their old song “Worldwide”. They released their first single back in December of 2021 titled “Call It Like I See It”. They released their most recent studio album Another Life in June of 2023 that features songs “Can’t Get Enough” and “Waves”.
To say they are natural performers would be an understatement. They were born to perform and they are still beloved by many. When talking about my experience with my friend, I mentioned how this was the loudest concert I’ve been to just due to the fans and their excitement over the boys. I’ve never experienced anything like when the boys appeared on stage and the crowd went completely wild. An unreal experience.
All four of the boys had some of the highest energy I’ve ever seen from musicians live. Clearly loving what they do, the boys worked in tandem with the crowd, interacting with them throughout the whole set. Big Time Rush is there to make you feel included and important at their shows no matter who you are. Many times throughout their show they made sure to come down to the audience, stepping down from the stage to be intimate with the fans before them.
Continuing the tradition from their original tours, they have a special moment with their fans during their song “Worldwide.” Fans have started to bring signs to hold up throughout the show, eagerly hoping to catch the attention of one of the boys. Some of the girls get their wish, and four special ladies get pulled up on stage to be one of the boys’ “worldwide girl” for the night. This is a sweet and intimate moment that not many musicians get to experience with their fans; and you know the girls chosen will remember this moment for the rest of their lives.
Finally being able to see Big Time Rush after a decade of waiting was better than I could have ever imagined. Being able to experience their talent and see how they all matured individually and as a group over the years was a very special thing to see. I will most definitely be bumping Big Time Rush records consistently for the next few weeks, and I can’t wait for the next opportunity to see them live.
MY FAVORITE SONG: Being a fan since their inception in 2009 makes it extremely hard for me to pick one favorite. But, the two songs I have been listening to nonstop recently are “Any Kind of Guy” (2010) and “Famous” (2010)
