Wait, what? Did Backstreet Boys say Mel-boring?

Backstreet Boys played 30 years of pop hits to perfection at Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday. And then they dissed Melbourne.

Backstreet Boys in concert in Carson, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images)

Wait, what? Did Backstreet divert from the wholesome and relentlessly-nice boy band script and say Mel-boring?

It happened about six songs deep into the show, at a packed house at Rod Laver Arena, after Brian Littrell, guns blazing in a sleeveless vest, turned his baseball cap backwards. In other words, time for show business.

Howie Dorough gave a shout out to Melbourne, Victoria, adding he spent time growing up in Melbourne, Florida, near Orlando, where the BSB was formed. “This Melbourne is better,” Dorough said, playing to the home crowd. “The other Melbourne is Mel-boring.”

Let’s hope that review doesn’t get back to our namesake city.

Howie D’s cheeky banter was all in the spirit of Backstreet’s DNA world tour, a showcase of 1990s nostalgia, guilty pleasure pop, and evergreen song and dance talent.

Backstreet Boys — Littrell, Dorough, AJ McLean, Nick Carter and Kevin Richardson — formed in 1993. Their hits include Everybody (Backstreet’s Back), I Want It That Way, Quit Playing Games With My Heart, All I Have To Give, and Larger Than Life.

All the boy band staples were there on Tuesday night: tight harmonies, slick choreography, white suits, and gratitude for the fans.

Of course, 30 years on, the Backstreet Boys are older, and married, with families. “We should have done this 15 years ago,” McLean said during a dressing room skit on stage. We had six packs back then.”

But age hasn’t affected their stagecraft. They worked the room like it was 1999.

While Max Martin’s radio-ready hits stole most of the thunder, the Backstreet Boys got gloriously gritty on lesser known jams (I Wanna Be With You and Don’t Want You Back) and cut the air with pitch-perfect harmonies on Breathe, Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely and I’ll Never Break Your Heart.

Backstreet Boys perform a second show at Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday.