On July 27, the signature opening vocals to Big Time Rush’s titular single resounded through the amphitheater at BankNH Pavilion in Gilford, N.H., announcing the familiar sound of a 2010s boy band. The venue was packed with Gen Z and millenials alike, all of whom were in attendance to reminisce on the days of Nickelodeon when boy bands just made sense.
The band started at the same time as the eponymous sitcom in 2009 spotlighting four Minnesotan hockey players recruited to form a boy band in Los Angeles. Following the fictitious group’s misadventures in Hollywood, the show also featured their original music. Ironically, the show’s premise mirrored reality when the band became a real success, releasing chart-topping singles and three studio albums accompanied by tours starting with “BTR” in 2010. Members Kendall Schmidt, James Maslow, Carlos PenaVega and Logan Henderson rose from Nickelodeon actors to bona fide musical artists wearing skinny jeans outside the Nickelodeon lot. At their best, the band embraced campy self-awareness while poking fun at boy band clichés.
After taking a hiatus starting in 2014, they fully reunited in 2021 with reunion performances preceding the release of a new album “Another Life” in 2023. In 2025, the group announced their “In Real Life Worldwide Tour,” scheduled from July through December 2025 across North America and Europe.
Millennials themselves, these self-aware, now-older members knew exactly how to play to a crowd that once had posters of them on their bedroom walls. The band still is the perfect intersection of Nickelodeon goofiness and actual pop competency. That said, there have been some changes with age. Their skinny jeans were replaced with baggy apparel; Carlos’ helmet was traded for a backwards hat and platinum hair. Kendall sported a buzz cut, Logan showed up in an army outfit and James pretty much stuck to his good-guy look paired with apparently new tattoos. The band members have grown up.
The set would not have felt complete without the opening appearance of Katelyn Tarver — who plays Kendall’s girlfriend Jo Taylor in the show — and her indie pop songs with elements of folk and country. Her popular 2017 song “You Don’t Know” about feeling misunderstood and not wanting advice in the moment felt particularly emotional, rousing audience members to raise their phone flashlights.
Big Time Rush’s entrance was met with excited screams. Each member showcased his vocals in solo segments, adding emotional depth to the vibe‑heavy party pop: Schmidt shined in “Cover Girl,” Henderson in “All Over Again,” PenaVega in “You’re Not Alone” and Maslow in “We Are.” As the group sang fan favorites like “Windows Down” and “Halfway There,” fans were reminded why Big Time Rush is still so good. The band itself also referenced its past. Every now and then a member reflected on memories of a series episode, even bringing out Canadian actor Stephen Glickman — who plays the band’s manager in the series — in show‑inspired skits.
The night was further enhanced by audience interaction. At one point, four female audience members were brought onstage, as is characteristic for the band’s performances of “Worldwide,” a song about the bands’ fans.
With tight vocals and perfect pop hooks, the setlist included both classic Nickelodeon-era anthems and newer songs, all accompanied by engaging choreography. The dances felt very 2000s — not at all 2025 — and yet it didn’t feel cringey. Somehow, the band members still looked cool snapping their fingers while belting “Crazy for You.” If you grew up singing “Boyfriend” into your hairbrush or watching the show on repeat, the concert was a joy bomb of memory and rebirth.
The best part of the concert, however, was the encore. When the opening beat of “Boyfriend” dropped for this final hurrah, the entire arena erupted: not just in cheers, but also in a sort of collective time warp. Phones shot into the air, and every lyric was shouted back in unison as though 2010 had just crashed headfirst into 2025. It was not merely a song, but also the moment everyone was waiting for. As Kendall sang his signature opening line, “Your boy, BTR…,” thousands of fans became teenagers again.
The staging enhanced the nostalgia: spotlights cut through smoke as confetti rained down. James and Logan traded harmonies with a smoothness that reminded everyone that this wasn’t just TV nostalgia; they can still really sing. Helmet absent yet energy intact, Carlos bounded across the stage, rallying the crowd like it was the series finale all over again.
Halfway through, the band slowed down, letting the audience carry the chorus a cappella. For a full minute, the venue was nothing but voices, glowing lights and the shared giddy recognition that this was our song. Then — boom — the beat dropped back in with explosive pyro and synchronized jumps that felt ripped from Nickelodeon prime time. By the time the last note faded, fans were crying, laughing and still singing. Besides ending the concert, this closing number cemented why Big Time Rush still works in 2025. With its perfectly self-aware nostalgia and pure joy, the song refuses to age — just like its band.
