Big Time Rush returned to Houston’s Cynthia Mitchell Woods Pavilion for their ‘In Real Life: Worldwide” tour with special guests Katelyn Tarver and Stephen Kramer Glickman.
Boy band Big Time Rush is a household name in the boy band world, best known for their Nickelodeon show of the same name that aired from 2009-2013. The band is composed of four members: Kendall Schmidt, James Maslow, Logan Henderson, and Carlos PenaVega. After a hiatus post the last episode in 2013 and their last “Live World Tour” in 2014 until their reunion in 2021 for all of their devoted fans, they have proved once again they are back, and living it “big time” for fans around the world.
Releasing new music and often playing their biggest hits, Big Time Rush are back on tour for the In Real Life: Worldwide, where they are playing every song from every episode. What makes this tour extra special is that they are being joined by show alumni Katelyn Tarver (who played Jo Taylor) and Stephen Kramer Glickman (who played Gustavo Rocque). It was a HOT day in Houston (when is it not), but the air was thick with nostalgia as it felt more like a reunion than anything. We all grew up watching Big Time Rush, and this show was made for the “Rushers.”
The night began with the opening notes of the iconic theme song, and the roaring noise from the crowd erupted when Kendall, James, Carlos and Logan stepped foot on the stage. Off the bat from the first few songs: these guys are in their mid-30s danced around the stage and displayed the same charisma and enthusiasm that made them stars almost ten years ago. It showed their professionalism and the bond they still maintained with each other.
The setlist was an epic trip down memory lane, pulling nearly every song from the band’s TV series. From high-octane anthems like “Windows Down” and “I Know, You Know” to adored tracks like “Til I Forget About You,” every song felt like a supported sing-along. The audience, a combination of adults grabbing a hold of a sliver of nostalgia with a set of kids that have now moved into fandom, shared every word, proving that the music is timeless. During a portion of the piano acoustic show, Stephen Kramer Glickman joined the guys on stage and supported them as they each sang a solo song of their choice. This set ended with the iconic ‘Giant Turd’ song… if you know, you know.
One of the better moments of the night was the acoustic portion of the show. The guys left the main stage and made their way with their instruments through the audience to an B-stage that was set up in front of the Lawn. They made it more of a living room jam instead of a main stage show. Songs like “Halfway There” and “No Idea” with very stripped down instrumentation. For the track “Count On You,” Katelyn Tarver joined the boys to sing Jordin Sparks’ part, and she snuggled next to Kendall – a treat for us Jendall fans.
The show overall was absolutely stunning – so many dazzling lights, multiple showering of confetti that flew over the crowd, and the boys soaked up all of the applause. The lasting effect was the feeling in the air – a mixture of the excited shrieking of girls, the emotional crying during “Worldwide,” and the feeling of joy one gets when seeing a band they love, come back and be much better than before.
Big Time Rush isn’t riding the nostalgia wave – they are a band who have aged, matured and now operate with their own direction. The Houston show was evidence that their music, and their fans, are still strong. It was a perfect night, one that blended high-energy performance, heartfelt moments, and the sort of nostalgia that felt like reliving our childhoods.
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