They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks – and maybe you shouldn’t. With a return to the sound that shot them to success, Backstreet’s back. But word is they never really left.

The Backstreet Boys’ “This Is Us” tour hits New York City on Thursday, and while the tracks and the collaborations are new, the feel is vintage – with a kick. A quartet since the departure of Kevin Richardson in 2006, they released their seventh album, “This Is Us,” last October, and, according to Nick Carter, there’s no chance they’re stopping anytime soon.

“This is who the group is now,” says Carter by phone before hitting the stage at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Canada. “It was a little weird in the beginning, but it is comfortable now. We love him, but you know, we can’t change his mind, but we all still hang out with him. … It’s cool.”

While it’s been 17 years since the band’s beginnings – Carter was 13 at the time, truly a Backstreet “Boy” – and the name may no longer fit industry veterans Carter, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell and A.J. McLean (two of whom are fathers), they have a bond that hasn’t changed, along with a love of the music they write and perform.

“It’s definitely family out here,” says Carter, whose favorite BSB songs are “Shape of My Heart,” “Siberia” and “I Want It That Way.” “We have a family vibe with each other, and getting onstage and performing Backstreet Boys music is definitely great. It’s such good music, [our fans] never get tired of it, so we don’t either.

“We feel that we’re really good at what we do and we’re really strong, stronger than ever as a group,” he adds.

That explains why, despite the ever-evolving music industry, the Backstreet Boys are back in the groove and feeling more comfortable than ever – something they don’t take for granted. Carter even gets defiant when it comes to the way the industry looks at them now. “The radio isn’t playing our music as much, but that’s, like, whatever; we go on tour and our fans come to see us,” Carter says. “Even if the industry has been trying to shut us down, we’ve found ways and outlets to put our music out there. We’ve always created good music, but I feel like … once [the industry is] over something or don’t want to hear it anymore, they don’t want to put it out. We’re a little more conservative in the States, with not as much promotion as other countries in Europe, Canada, Australia, Japan and all Asia. The entire rest of the world is cool with us, but it is what it is.

“We’re the Backstreet Boys – not the coolest thing in the world, but we don’t care,” he says. “It’s unfortunate we have a stamp on us, almost like a tattoo on us that doesn’t reflect who we are or what our music is.”

Their music, of course, has had to progress, but the boys haven’t deviated from the feel-good pop sound they’re known for. “Our sound has to evolve, which is perfectly fine, but we also have to stay within our realm as well, do what we do best and not go too far, which is why I think fans trust us,” says Carter. “Our shows and our music are dependable, and we’re kind of pretty good. Our fans know that when they go to Backstreet Boys, [the group will] perform their ass off.”

They’re working on another album in September that should be ready by next year, according to Carter, who is also busy recording a follow-up to his 2002 solo album, “Now orNever,” as well as giving the actor/director/writer hats a try with a short film called “The Pendant.”

“It’s a gory horror movie, a psychological thriller,” says Carter of the 15-minute film. “It’s my first little initiation into the acting world from behind the scenes.”

Even as he continues to pursue a film career (he’s already working on another script), Carter and the “boys” are, as he says, “always writing, and when we’re done, we submit [the songs] to each other and record that, or other people’s songs as well. We take control of what we want to do.”

Utilizing their collective creativity is something the band most likely never imagined they’d be able to do, but then again, their longevity is something they never saw coming.

“I don’t think anyone ever thought we’d get this far,” Carter confesses. “All we cared about was what we did next, looking toward the future and … going forward. We keep trying to outdo ourselves and continue to do what we do, because we love what we stand for.” [Source]

The ultimate boy band tour could be coming soon to an arena near you. New Kids on the Block and the Backstreet Boys are close to signing a deal with Live Nation Entertainment which could lead to a joint tour as early as March 2011, E! News reports.

The members of NKOTB and BSB may be recording a single together before the proposed tour. While Live Nation has not commented on the tour, the company is also said to be looking for a third group to round out the tour, with Boyz II Men at the top of the wish list.

“The idea is to recreate the boy band phenomenon,” says a source close to the negotiations. “It will be the ultimate ladies’ night out.”

The boy bands first teamed up last June during a Radio City Music Hall performance. At the concert, New Kids on the Block joined the Backstreet Boys (sans Kevin Richardson, who left the band in 2006) for a rendition of the latter’s smash hit “I Want It That Way.” [Source]

According to vesti.az, Backstreet Boys will be going to Azerbaijan in Sept/Oct for an all-stars concert.

Today, the details became known of the forthcoming this year, a grand concert in Baku with participation of world pop stars, organized by the largest music TV channel MTV.

As the regional director of Vesti.Az MTV Eurasia Matthew Goldstein, a concert in Baku will not last one day, as planned, but three.

“The first day will be held in Baku retro concert, which will be attended by Thomas Anders (ex-Modern Talking”), group Roxeth “,” Scorpions “,” Beckstrom Boys “, Tony Brexton and others. The main concert will be held the next day, it will be attended by Beyoncé Knowles, Murai Kerry, Riana Lady GaGa, and other stars. On the third day will perform world-famous DJs. There will also be organized a fashion show with the support of the famous Italian magazine “The Collector”.

We hope that the concert will be held in late September – early October in the main square of Azerbaijan – Square Azadliq. The price for entrance to the concert remains unchanged – only 5 manat. This concert will be broadcast in 168 countries worldwide. Unfortunately, 80% of Americans have never heard of Azerbaijan and its tourist potential. After the concert of your country know the whole world “, – said M. Goldstein.

According to him, as negotiations continue to open in Azerbaijan TV channel MTV. At the moment the opening of MTV discussion with the leadership of two national television channels.

Thanks to bsbsquad.

Boy band fans got a tuneful surprise Saturday night at New York’s Radio City Music Hall when the Backstreet Boys made a surprise appearance at the New Kids on the Block concert.

“You get two for the price of one tonight,” Nick Carter told the screaming crowd.

The New Kids on the Block – Joey McIntyre, 37, Donnie Wahlberg, 40, Danny Wood, 41, and brothers Jordan, 40, and Jonathan Knight, 41 – were sitting in front of a white curtain bantering when they launched into the Backstreet Boys’s 1999 hit “I Want It That Way,” an hour into the concert.

As the audience began to sing, the curtain lifted, revealing the Backstreet Boys – Brian Littrell, 35, Nick Carter, 30, A.J. McLean, 32, and Howie Dorough, 36, who finished out the song.

Cue the deafening screams!

After the big reveal, the musicians embraced on stage, and both groups continued singing. Then the New Kids ceded the stage to the Backstreet Boys, who performed another number.

“I want to thank those guys right there,” a gracious Littrell said. “They are our mentors. We’ve been fans of theirs for a long, long time.”

After performing their 2002 song “Shape of My Heart” while perched on stools, the Boys left the stage with some protest – “Bring them back,” screamed some fans! – only to reappear at the finale when the NKOTB performed “Hangin’ Tough.”

At the end of the show, all took a bow and jumped off the steps on the stage as green and white confetti and streamers rained down from the ceiling. [Source]