Shamelessly Showing my love for the NKOTB
So, this year, I attended four New Kids on the Block concerts, purchased 4 copies of their new CD, The Block PLUS 1 copy of their newly released Greatest Hits album and 1 copy of their re-released Christmas album. When I first heard of their reunion in May, I swore I would never be that crazy fan I was back in the early 90's. But, when I saw these five sexy guys all grown up, I just couldn't help myself.
I didn't blog about my first two concerts in Boston. Yes, I flew all the way to Boston just to see a New Kids on the Block. Call me what you will -- crazy, superfan, groupie. I'm not offended!
But, for me, out of the four New Kids' concerts I have attended, Tacoma topped them all. But, I'm moving forward way too quickly! Let me tell you about Vancouver first! And, be aware, this will be a VERY LONG post!
First of all it took about an hour longer than we had originally anticipated to get to Vancouver. My friend, Kerri (who I only knew from online!) picked me up at 3:45p, and we were on the road. We blasted the Block CD and often had the windows down to help with the defrost. When we got to the border, we had to wait about a half hour to get through. No worries, there. We had the windows rolled down then, and a woman walked by us. She didn't even acknowledge us. As if on queue, Kerri and I looked at each other and said, "she must not be a fan!".
We got a little turned around after we got to Vancouver but eventually found the venue, parked and got inside. I was amazed at how good my seats were. They were lower level right by the stage, row three, seats 101 and 102. We had a perfect view of the stage, perfect angle for pictures. Hubby had bought me two disposable cameras, so you'll have to wait for the hopefully amazing pics I took that night. They do this pose at the end of their song, "Click Click Click" and then talk about their poses. Well, in Vancouver, the pose off wasn't exactly wonderful. Jon didn't pose at all. Jordan is looking down at Donnie. Danny did a one handed hand-stand, but the picture clicked after he landed on his feet, and he looked like he was having a seizure. Joe explained to us that his pose was a Janet Jackson/Paula Abdul move? Anyway, I guess you can't have perfection every night. I was actually glad the pose-off was bad because I had run out of film by then!
I kept trying to get Danny to see my sign (it said, "Wood, do my body good, and Take off the Shirt!!!), but he didn't see it till the very end, when they were saying their good-byes to the crowd. He was over on my side and finally read it, smiled and pointed at me. I was so giddy! Of course, he didn't take off his shirt, but at least he saw my sign!
The encore seemed to take forever; it was obvious to me that they guys were realizing that this was coming to an end, and they wanted to stretch it out as long as they could. After the Hangin' Tough/We will Rock You. They sang "a little bit louder now". Donnie was all ready to sing some verses, but I saw Jon whispering to Jordan, and Jordan shook his head. I'm guessing Jon was asking Jordan if he knew the lines, and Jordan was saying that he didn't!
After the concert ended, we were determined to follow the buses back to Tacoma. Well, we kinda needed to because I hadn't printed out any reverse directions. We waited till almost 3am when we finally saw some movement. We actually got behind two buses. We were in no way chasing them. Kerri was following at a reasonable distance and wasn't tailing them at all. Regardless, at one point the buses tried to run a red light to lose us, and then they decided to pull over behind a cop that had pulled another person over. Thankfully, we were already on the highway and continued on the freeway. At some point, we hoped to find the buses again before we reached Tacoma, but it didn't happen. We pulled into a La Quinta hotel where two girls were offering to let us take a nap. I left Kerri and drove to the Tacoma Dome. There were two buses in the parking lot and one truck. I raced back to tell Kerri and then left again to see if any of the guys were at the Best Western. This trip required me to pass the Tacoma Dome again, and as I did, two more buses showed up. I was in shock and returned to La Quinta.
I told the girls why don't we get over there around 10am, and they agreed. It was around 830 then, and I left again to get my hair done and grab breakfast. When I returned around 945, they weren't ready. Wendi (another online friend) had texted me a few times by that point, so I decided, well, I'd go by myself and meet up with everyone later. So, Wendi and I stood out there and waited and waited and waited. Around 1:30, we were told that the guys wouldn't be showing up till 4pm. Actually, the first story I was told was that the guys were still in Vancouver, that they were flying in and landing at 4pm, soundcheck was at 5, meet and greet at 6:30. Well, then I was told that the guys had to arrive before then because the soundcheck was at 4pm. It was so confusing. Finally, I learned the truth. Jon Knight had done an interview with a local radio station on Friday night, saying that they were driving down to Tacoma and then flying to LA on Saturday. They were already in Tacoma; though no one really knew where. Becky (yet another online friend) showed up just before 4pm with hot chocolate for Wendi and me. She's so sweet! When 4pm finally showed up, so did their buses. We learned at that point that the buses we had been following the night before were crew buses. But, it didn't matter. At least we found our way to Tacoma.
Every single guy got out of their bus, waved and walked inside. Donnie was the last to emerge. Around 4:20, I had to leave to meet up with my VIP group, so I never got to see him. What I was told was that when he did emerge, he charged the fence and jumped up on it. I guess some other fans ran at the fence from the other side. Donnie jumped down, told them to be careful and then walked inside. No facetime for anyone.
It took forever to get everyone inside for the VIP event. What was funny was that KISS FM, the radio station that refused to play New Kids' music, was set up outside the arena, playing the entire Block CD, giving away front row tickets. They were the ones who interviewed Jon the night before. They came through our line giving out window clings, but I declined. I wanted to say something, but I held myself back.
Right before we went up to meet the guys, they told us we couldn't bring anything with us. We could either leave our things at our table, or put them on this table outside the curtained off area. Of course, I still needed to get Donnie his custom-made boxers and t-shirt. So, I folded them up and tucked one side inside my jeans. Danny's present, I wasn't sure what to do with, so I left it on my table.
To impress the guys, our group was going to do the "hey hey I feel all right" thrusting thing and then do Sookie Sookie Sookie. It sounded great, but no one had really discussed the timing. When it came our turn, they walked in doing it. I was at the end of our line, so I didn't get to do anything. They had finished before I got behind the curtain.
Well, as predicted, I wanted to go straight to Danny, but there was another girl there first giving him a hug. Jon was just standing there, and no one in our group had claimed him, so I decided to give him a hug and say hi while I was waiting. Then, I got to give Danny a hug, which he readily accepted. I stood back and said, did you see my shirt (It said, "Forget about Facetime. I need some Wood time")? He paused for a moment, read, and then said, "Awww, thank you so much!" And, he hugged me again. I gave him his letter and the pic of me and his brother, told him about meeting Brett in Boston. He loved the picture and said thank you again. I told him I had a present for him too but I wasn't sure how to get it to him. He said do you have it here? I said yes, he said well, go get it, I'll wait for you. I told him okay, but I want to hug Donnie first. I'm such a dummy!!! Ok, so then it was time for the photo. Danny wrapped his arm around me for both photos. There was another Danny girl in our group, but I think I hogged Danny the entire time! Well, then I ran to Donnie gave him a quick hug. He really seemed disinterested in everything. I told him I had some presents from the Donnie Wahlberg Thrustbunnies, and he said, oh really? so I grabbed both the boxers and the t-shirt and handed it to him. I told him he should like both of them. He smiled and said thanks and said he would look at them later. They were shoving everyone out at that point, and I still wanted to see Joey, so I ran to him.
I pulled his letter out of my pocket and said, this is for you and Barrett. He smiled and said thank you. I gave him the rest of the letters then and asked if he would distribute them and he said yes. Then, I just stood there. Oh yeah, how bout a hug? I asked if I could have a hug, and he said yes.
Then, it was time to go. I never got to see or say anything to Jordan. Danny stopped me before I walked out and said, go get your gift! So, I ran to my table, grabbed it, and ran back. He said thank you again and gave me another hug.
Let me tell you, I was in complete euphoria. I can't even explain it. It was just this feeling that came over me that was complete and utter happiness. And, I hadn't been nervous at all. Right before we went up, the girls at my table were talking about their kids, and I had to get up and leave for a minute to calm down, but there was never any fear or nerves about meeting the guys.
Then it was out to the arena. The arena is a very strange set up. Almost seems like it's a very old place when I compare it to Boston or Vancouver. They ushered us out the door and pointed to another door on the other side of the hallway. I walked through that, and I was in the Tacoma Dome seating area. Everyone walked into the floor area and then climbed the risers to find their seats. I got in there after Lady Gaga's first song, and I could have cared less to hear the rest of her set. I went to the merchandise stand and bought myself a t-shirt and a key chain. Oh, I forgot, I bought a program and the breast cancer tank top during the meet and greet party. Then, I went to find my seat. I thought it was one of the best seats there at first. Section one, row 6, seat one. I was on the aisle on the right hand side directly facing the right-side platform. However, throughout the concert, girls were running up and standing directly in front of me so I couldn't see. There was a very large aisle separating the floor seats from the lower level, so it would seem I would have plenty of room to move out from my seat, but security kept telling me to go back to my seat and making the girls leave. So, it was very disruptive. Many times I was told that the seat I was sitting in must not be mine because people were spreading out in my row basically standing in front of my seat. That part wasn't fun. But everything else was.
So let's see. Joey found me first during "You Got It (The Right Stuff)", and he pointed at me and smiled.
Then, for "Games": at every previous concert I had attended, I remembered that Danny did the break dancing immediately after Donnie's rap, but he didn't this time. Instead, they did the competing sides where Donnie and Jon are on one side and Danny, Joe, and Jordan are on the other trying to see which part of the audience could do which part of the chorus louder. After that, Danny did his break dancing, but he was still as amazing as ever.
During "If You Go Away", Danny spotted me and mouthed the words "thank you" to me. I just about cried on the spot. Actually, I had to sit down to compose myself. I wasn't sure if he was saying thank you again for the shirt, or if he had the chance to read my letter, or if he was saying thank you for the book. But, it didn't matter. There was some more "Wood time" just for me!
Now, I hadn't talked about my sign during the meet and greet, and because I had gotten my hair cut and was wearing a different shirt, I wasn't sure if Danny would have put it together. During "Click Click Click", I held up my sign, and he saw it. He smiled at me again and winked. The pose off in Tacoma was really cute. Jon did a superman pose. Jordan lay on his stomach and put his elbows down, his hands under his chin. Donnie stood there looking all smug with his arms crossed. Danny did this flip and landed in the crab, and Joe had his hands on his chest as if he were showing off suspenders? But, this time, the band also got involved. Fish and Ethan posed. And the discussion about the Pose-off centered around those two band members. Fish said that the guys had inspired him to reach higher, and Joey said that's a bunch of bullshit! Then Danny said the reason why they got involved was that they had too much to drink before the show.
The encore wasn't as long as Vancouver. They introduced the band and the dancers, and then they left. They promised that they would be returning to Tacoma next year. They said it was one of the louder concerts, and of the four I attended, I would have to agree. People were stomping on the risers and screaming just about as loud as Boston, but with less people. The balcony was closed, so people were just sitting in the lower level or on the floor. So, with fewer people than Boston, it was still just as loud. According to the Tacoma Dome blog, there were about 12,000 people at an arena that could hold 23,000. Boston TD Banknorth Garden can hold approximately 18,000, and I'm pretty sure both concerts there were sold out!
Here are my youtube videos. None are complete songs because my camera can't manage that big of a file. Pictures will probably be by the end of this week. Oh, and all the videos are from Saturday night. Pictures will be from Friday night:
Grown Man:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZF7L9Q6nYw
Games Rap:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_C3KLiy81BM
Dirty Dancing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WGKmjaobu8
Didn't I Blow Your Mind:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3f-YYO9R4A
Click and Pose-Off
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTcVypc6i80
Transition from Didn't I Blow Your Mind to Valentine Girl:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_9PFF6GGFc
The noise of the crowd in Tacoma prevents Danny from speaking:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFO4WwHFcIU
Tonight:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHBnyVrazKI
I didn't blog about my first two concerts in Boston. Yes, I flew all the way to Boston just to see a New Kids on the Block. Call me what you will -- crazy, superfan, groupie. I'm not offended!
But, for me, out of the four New Kids' concerts I have attended, Tacoma topped them all. But, I'm moving forward way too quickly! Let me tell you about Vancouver first! And, be aware, this will be a VERY LONG post!
First of all it took about an hour longer than we had originally anticipated to get to Vancouver. My friend, Kerri (who I only knew from online!) picked me up at 3:45p, and we were on the road. We blasted the Block CD and often had the windows down to help with the defrost. When we got to the border, we had to wait about a half hour to get through. No worries, there. We had the windows rolled down then, and a woman walked by us. She didn't even acknowledge us. As if on queue, Kerri and I looked at each other and said, "she must not be a fan!".
We got a little turned around after we got to Vancouver but eventually found the venue, parked and got inside. I was amazed at how good my seats were. They were lower level right by the stage, row three, seats 101 and 102. We had a perfect view of the stage, perfect angle for pictures. Hubby had bought me two disposable cameras, so you'll have to wait for the hopefully amazing pics I took that night. They do this pose at the end of their song, "Click Click Click" and then talk about their poses. Well, in Vancouver, the pose off wasn't exactly wonderful. Jon didn't pose at all. Jordan is looking down at Donnie. Danny did a one handed hand-stand, but the picture clicked after he landed on his feet, and he looked like he was having a seizure. Joe explained to us that his pose was a Janet Jackson/Paula Abdul move? Anyway, I guess you can't have perfection every night. I was actually glad the pose-off was bad because I had run out of film by then!
I kept trying to get Danny to see my sign (it said, "Wood, do my body good, and Take off the Shirt!!!), but he didn't see it till the very end, when they were saying their good-byes to the crowd. He was over on my side and finally read it, smiled and pointed at me. I was so giddy! Of course, he didn't take off his shirt, but at least he saw my sign!
The encore seemed to take forever; it was obvious to me that they guys were realizing that this was coming to an end, and they wanted to stretch it out as long as they could. After the Hangin' Tough/We will Rock You. They sang "a little bit louder now". Donnie was all ready to sing some verses, but I saw Jon whispering to Jordan, and Jordan shook his head. I'm guessing Jon was asking Jordan if he knew the lines, and Jordan was saying that he didn't!
After the concert ended, we were determined to follow the buses back to Tacoma. Well, we kinda needed to because I hadn't printed out any reverse directions. We waited till almost 3am when we finally saw some movement. We actually got behind two buses. We were in no way chasing them. Kerri was following at a reasonable distance and wasn't tailing them at all. Regardless, at one point the buses tried to run a red light to lose us, and then they decided to pull over behind a cop that had pulled another person over. Thankfully, we were already on the highway and continued on the freeway. At some point, we hoped to find the buses again before we reached Tacoma, but it didn't happen. We pulled into a La Quinta hotel where two girls were offering to let us take a nap. I left Kerri and drove to the Tacoma Dome. There were two buses in the parking lot and one truck. I raced back to tell Kerri and then left again to see if any of the guys were at the Best Western. This trip required me to pass the Tacoma Dome again, and as I did, two more buses showed up. I was in shock and returned to La Quinta.
I told the girls why don't we get over there around 10am, and they agreed. It was around 830 then, and I left again to get my hair done and grab breakfast. When I returned around 945, they weren't ready. Wendi (another online friend) had texted me a few times by that point, so I decided, well, I'd go by myself and meet up with everyone later. So, Wendi and I stood out there and waited and waited and waited. Around 1:30, we were told that the guys wouldn't be showing up till 4pm. Actually, the first story I was told was that the guys were still in Vancouver, that they were flying in and landing at 4pm, soundcheck was at 5, meet and greet at 6:30. Well, then I was told that the guys had to arrive before then because the soundcheck was at 4pm. It was so confusing. Finally, I learned the truth. Jon Knight had done an interview with a local radio station on Friday night, saying that they were driving down to Tacoma and then flying to LA on Saturday. They were already in Tacoma; though no one really knew where. Becky (yet another online friend) showed up just before 4pm with hot chocolate for Wendi and me. She's so sweet! When 4pm finally showed up, so did their buses. We learned at that point that the buses we had been following the night before were crew buses. But, it didn't matter. At least we found our way to Tacoma.
Every single guy got out of their bus, waved and walked inside. Donnie was the last to emerge. Around 4:20, I had to leave to meet up with my VIP group, so I never got to see him. What I was told was that when he did emerge, he charged the fence and jumped up on it. I guess some other fans ran at the fence from the other side. Donnie jumped down, told them to be careful and then walked inside. No facetime for anyone.
It took forever to get everyone inside for the VIP event. What was funny was that KISS FM, the radio station that refused to play New Kids' music, was set up outside the arena, playing the entire Block CD, giving away front row tickets. They were the ones who interviewed Jon the night before. They came through our line giving out window clings, but I declined. I wanted to say something, but I held myself back.
Right before we went up to meet the guys, they told us we couldn't bring anything with us. We could either leave our things at our table, or put them on this table outside the curtained off area. Of course, I still needed to get Donnie his custom-made boxers and t-shirt. So, I folded them up and tucked one side inside my jeans. Danny's present, I wasn't sure what to do with, so I left it on my table.
To impress the guys, our group was going to do the "hey hey I feel all right" thrusting thing and then do Sookie Sookie Sookie. It sounded great, but no one had really discussed the timing. When it came our turn, they walked in doing it. I was at the end of our line, so I didn't get to do anything. They had finished before I got behind the curtain.
Well, as predicted, I wanted to go straight to Danny, but there was another girl there first giving him a hug. Jon was just standing there, and no one in our group had claimed him, so I decided to give him a hug and say hi while I was waiting. Then, I got to give Danny a hug, which he readily accepted. I stood back and said, did you see my shirt (It said, "Forget about Facetime. I need some Wood time")? He paused for a moment, read, and then said, "Awww, thank you so much!" And, he hugged me again. I gave him his letter and the pic of me and his brother, told him about meeting Brett in Boston. He loved the picture and said thank you again. I told him I had a present for him too but I wasn't sure how to get it to him. He said do you have it here? I said yes, he said well, go get it, I'll wait for you. I told him okay, but I want to hug Donnie first. I'm such a dummy!!! Ok, so then it was time for the photo. Danny wrapped his arm around me for both photos. There was another Danny girl in our group, but I think I hogged Danny the entire time! Well, then I ran to Donnie gave him a quick hug. He really seemed disinterested in everything. I told him I had some presents from the Donnie Wahlberg Thrustbunnies, and he said, oh really? so I grabbed both the boxers and the t-shirt and handed it to him. I told him he should like both of them. He smiled and said thanks and said he would look at them later. They were shoving everyone out at that point, and I still wanted to see Joey, so I ran to him.
I pulled his letter out of my pocket and said, this is for you and Barrett. He smiled and said thank you. I gave him the rest of the letters then and asked if he would distribute them and he said yes. Then, I just stood there. Oh yeah, how bout a hug? I asked if I could have a hug, and he said yes.
Then, it was time to go. I never got to see or say anything to Jordan. Danny stopped me before I walked out and said, go get your gift! So, I ran to my table, grabbed it, and ran back. He said thank you again and gave me another hug.
Let me tell you, I was in complete euphoria. I can't even explain it. It was just this feeling that came over me that was complete and utter happiness. And, I hadn't been nervous at all. Right before we went up, the girls at my table were talking about their kids, and I had to get up and leave for a minute to calm down, but there was never any fear or nerves about meeting the guys.
Then it was out to the arena. The arena is a very strange set up. Almost seems like it's a very old place when I compare it to Boston or Vancouver. They ushered us out the door and pointed to another door on the other side of the hallway. I walked through that, and I was in the Tacoma Dome seating area. Everyone walked into the floor area and then climbed the risers to find their seats. I got in there after Lady Gaga's first song, and I could have cared less to hear the rest of her set. I went to the merchandise stand and bought myself a t-shirt and a key chain. Oh, I forgot, I bought a program and the breast cancer tank top during the meet and greet party. Then, I went to find my seat. I thought it was one of the best seats there at first. Section one, row 6, seat one. I was on the aisle on the right hand side directly facing the right-side platform. However, throughout the concert, girls were running up and standing directly in front of me so I couldn't see. There was a very large aisle separating the floor seats from the lower level, so it would seem I would have plenty of room to move out from my seat, but security kept telling me to go back to my seat and making the girls leave. So, it was very disruptive. Many times I was told that the seat I was sitting in must not be mine because people were spreading out in my row basically standing in front of my seat. That part wasn't fun. But everything else was.
So let's see. Joey found me first during "You Got It (The Right Stuff)", and he pointed at me and smiled.
Then, for "Games": at every previous concert I had attended, I remembered that Danny did the break dancing immediately after Donnie's rap, but he didn't this time. Instead, they did the competing sides where Donnie and Jon are on one side and Danny, Joe, and Jordan are on the other trying to see which part of the audience could do which part of the chorus louder. After that, Danny did his break dancing, but he was still as amazing as ever.
During "If You Go Away", Danny spotted me and mouthed the words "thank you" to me. I just about cried on the spot. Actually, I had to sit down to compose myself. I wasn't sure if he was saying thank you again for the shirt, or if he had the chance to read my letter, or if he was saying thank you for the book. But, it didn't matter. There was some more "Wood time" just for me!
Now, I hadn't talked about my sign during the meet and greet, and because I had gotten my hair cut and was wearing a different shirt, I wasn't sure if Danny would have put it together. During "Click Click Click", I held up my sign, and he saw it. He smiled at me again and winked. The pose off in Tacoma was really cute. Jon did a superman pose. Jordan lay on his stomach and put his elbows down, his hands under his chin. Donnie stood there looking all smug with his arms crossed. Danny did this flip and landed in the crab, and Joe had his hands on his chest as if he were showing off suspenders? But, this time, the band also got involved. Fish and Ethan posed. And the discussion about the Pose-off centered around those two band members. Fish said that the guys had inspired him to reach higher, and Joey said that's a bunch of bullshit! Then Danny said the reason why they got involved was that they had too much to drink before the show.
The encore wasn't as long as Vancouver. They introduced the band and the dancers, and then they left. They promised that they would be returning to Tacoma next year. They said it was one of the louder concerts, and of the four I attended, I would have to agree. People were stomping on the risers and screaming just about as loud as Boston, but with less people. The balcony was closed, so people were just sitting in the lower level or on the floor. So, with fewer people than Boston, it was still just as loud. According to the Tacoma Dome blog, there were about 12,000 people at an arena that could hold 23,000. Boston TD Banknorth Garden can hold approximately 18,000, and I'm pretty sure both concerts there were sold out!
Here are my youtube videos. None are complete songs because my camera can't manage that big of a file. Pictures will probably be by the end of this week. Oh, and all the videos are from Saturday night. Pictures will be from Friday night:
Grown Man:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZF7L9Q6nYw
Games Rap:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_C3KLiy81BM
Dirty Dancing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WGKmjaobu8
Didn't I Blow Your Mind:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3f-YYO9R4A
Click and Pose-Off
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTcVypc6i80
Transition from Didn't I Blow Your Mind to Valentine Girl:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_9PFF6GGFc
The noise of the crowd in Tacoma prevents Danny from speaking:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFO4WwHFcIU
Tonight:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHBnyVrazKI