Another Grand Rapids review
Seriously fun review written by an actual fan!
New Kids and Backstreet Boys Live On
by Jennifer Pascua
When GRNOW.com asked if I would write a review for the NKOTBSB concert, I jumped at the chance.
I mean, c'mon...an opportunity to gush about the greatest boy band of the late 80's and early 90s...OF COURSE I'd do it.
But keeping it only a few paragraphs? Well, that's a bit of a challenge.
I am a BIG TIME NKOTB fan. It was my first "real" concert at the age of 12. I was in 7th grade and went with a group of girlfriends that, thanks to Facebook, I am still in touch with today. I remember every moment...from driving to Chicago...to buying a New Kids on the Block t-shirt...to screaming from the top of my lungs, "I LOVE YOU, Jordan!!!"
Hmm...this actually sounds much like the way things went on Thursday night, 23 years later.
This time around, my friends Mandi and Sasha joined me for this night out.
We bought the tickets several months ago thanks to the fact that Mandi is in the NKOTB fan club. It's true. She was able to get us AMAZING seats and it was like Christmas all over again when they arrived in her mailbox.
PRECONCERT AT MCFADDEN'S
I can't review the show until I tell you about the madness BEFORE it. We enjoyed a pre-concert dinner along with drinks at McFadden's. It was filled with New Kids on the Block fans and Backstreet Boy fans. Some took time to create handmade t-shirts to spell out NKOTBSB. Others took old Tiger Beat/Bop Magazine pictures and blew them up to create signs of their undying love for the boy bands. As if we weren't pumped enough, the songs the boys made popular played throughout the bar! I knew it was going to be a "lose-my-voice-from-screaming/hurt-feet-from dancing" kind of night.
...AND SO IT BEGINS
Ever been in a room with 7,000-plus women who are trying to relive their youth? It's probably one of the most intense things one can ever experience.
Most were like myself, in their late 20s to mid 30s, and mind you each of these women have "their guy" on their mind going into the Van Andel. With that said, it's no surprise that there were a lot of "fantasies" likely being created in the minds of everyone there. I mean, let's be honest. These "kids" and "boys" are MEN...HOT men...HOT HOT men who got the crowd to scream as if...well, you fill in the blanks.
The duo of NKOTBSB took to the stage shortly before 9 p.m. and the crowd went wild. The louder one woman screamed, the woman next to her would scream louder. NKOTB started the night with two of their newer hits, "Single" and "Summertime". At this point I did the whole, "I LOVE YOU JORDAN!!!" thing all over again. I remember taking a look around and hearing other women screaming the same thing. That's when I said to my friends, "Well, certainly he's singing to ME! I mean, did you SEE the look he just gave me!" I recall seeing someone in the crowd hold up a sign that said, "Kiss Me Donnie!" and secretly wished I had remembered to make a sign of my own.
Backstreet Boys were popular when I was in college. But for my friend Sasha, THIS was her moment to go boy crazy. At one point she screamed, "I think I'm in love with Brian (Littrell) more than Nick (Carter) !!!" Ahh, it's easy for the heart to be confused when mesmerized by these men. Personally, Howie Dorough stole my heart that night even though I've always been attracted to the bad boy Nick. Again, you can see the inner turmoil happening here.
I have to say NKOTB beats out BSB when it comes to choreography. When they came out to sing "(You Got It) The Right Stuff," I was doing the move along with them (Yah, you know which move I'm talking about!). When they came out with canes, my friend Mandi said "And there you go...canes get me EVERYTIME!"
It was high-energy despite the fact that they're much older now. But like a fine wine, they are so much better with age. And can we talk about outfits? Put a guy in a black tank top and have him take it off (yes, I'm talking about Donnie (Wahlberg)), and you can bet at that point no one was really paying attention to the singing.
The ballads like the Joey (McIntyre) favorite, "Please Don't Go Girl" and the BSB hit, "Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely" had the women in a tizzy. That's when my friend Sasha said, "Brian just pointed at me!" Then she got all jealous when a fan, Christina, was brought to the stage as the boys continued to serenade her with two more songs, "I'll Never Break Your Heart" and "Drowning".
The two bands came together for the song "Tonight". We were warned ahead of time from one of the security personnel that one of the guys would be on a box within our reach. Before I could even ask, I was told "...and no touching allowed." Danny (Wood) was positioned right in front of where we were sitting. He's not one of my favorites, but I screamed nonetheless. (Now, if that was Jordan or Donnie on that box...I may be doing this review from a jail cell for not abiding by the rules. Just sayin'.)
One thing about the crowd of West Michigan women to note: none were too shy to reach out and (ahem) get a feel for the guys on stage. It was as if those adolescent hormones were on overdrive! Can you blame them? Both NKOTB and BSB were so interactive with the crowd from the second the curtain dropped. Much to the delight of the crowd, the guys blew kisses, pointed, waved, and gazed into the eyes of every woman there. Or at least it felt that way!
I don't want to forget to mention there were men in the crowd, too. Some reluctantly came with their significant others. And there were even those who were very adamant to point out that if we ever publicly admit we saw them at the concert, they would deny it. Those were the ones who knew ALL the words and danced all night long!
CONFETTI FINALE
After the bands wrapped, the chanting of "NKOTBSB" continued until the came back on stage for a finale. The concert ended with a big bang with the two bands doing a bit of a sing/dance-off to "Hanging Tough" and "We Will Rock You." With fanfare, it ended with confetti falling down. Many (like myself) weren't afraid to pick up pieces as a memento of the night.
I must say having both bands perform together was genius marketing. It was an amazing show that still makes me all giddy 48 hours later.
Spending my hard-earned money on the 2 hour and 15 minute show was so worth it!
And in case you're wondering...I'm wearing my new NKOTBSB t-shirt right now :).
comments at Dreamwidth. Comment at either place.
New Kids and Backstreet Boys Live On
by Jennifer Pascua
When GRNOW.com asked if I would write a review for the NKOTBSB concert, I jumped at the chance.
I mean, c'mon...an opportunity to gush about the greatest boy band of the late 80's and early 90s...OF COURSE I'd do it.
But keeping it only a few paragraphs? Well, that's a bit of a challenge.
I am a BIG TIME NKOTB fan. It was my first "real" concert at the age of 12. I was in 7th grade and went with a group of girlfriends that, thanks to Facebook, I am still in touch with today. I remember every moment...from driving to Chicago...to buying a New Kids on the Block t-shirt...to screaming from the top of my lungs, "I LOVE YOU, Jordan!!!"
Hmm...this actually sounds much like the way things went on Thursday night, 23 years later.
This time around, my friends Mandi and Sasha joined me for this night out.
We bought the tickets several months ago thanks to the fact that Mandi is in the NKOTB fan club. It's true. She was able to get us AMAZING seats and it was like Christmas all over again when they arrived in her mailbox.
PRECONCERT AT MCFADDEN'S
I can't review the show until I tell you about the madness BEFORE it. We enjoyed a pre-concert dinner along with drinks at McFadden's. It was filled with New Kids on the Block fans and Backstreet Boy fans. Some took time to create handmade t-shirts to spell out NKOTBSB. Others took old Tiger Beat/Bop Magazine pictures and blew them up to create signs of their undying love for the boy bands. As if we weren't pumped enough, the songs the boys made popular played throughout the bar! I knew it was going to be a "lose-my-voice-from-screaming/hurt-feet-from dancing" kind of night.
...AND SO IT BEGINS
Ever been in a room with 7,000-plus women who are trying to relive their youth? It's probably one of the most intense things one can ever experience.
Most were like myself, in their late 20s to mid 30s, and mind you each of these women have "their guy" on their mind going into the Van Andel. With that said, it's no surprise that there were a lot of "fantasies" likely being created in the minds of everyone there. I mean, let's be honest. These "kids" and "boys" are MEN...HOT men...HOT HOT men who got the crowd to scream as if...well, you fill in the blanks.
The duo of NKOTBSB took to the stage shortly before 9 p.m. and the crowd went wild. The louder one woman screamed, the woman next to her would scream louder. NKOTB started the night with two of their newer hits, "Single" and "Summertime". At this point I did the whole, "I LOVE YOU JORDAN!!!" thing all over again. I remember taking a look around and hearing other women screaming the same thing. That's when I said to my friends, "Well, certainly he's singing to ME! I mean, did you SEE the look he just gave me!" I recall seeing someone in the crowd hold up a sign that said, "Kiss Me Donnie!" and secretly wished I had remembered to make a sign of my own.
Backstreet Boys were popular when I was in college. But for my friend Sasha, THIS was her moment to go boy crazy. At one point she screamed, "I think I'm in love with Brian (Littrell) more than Nick (Carter) !!!" Ahh, it's easy for the heart to be confused when mesmerized by these men. Personally, Howie Dorough stole my heart that night even though I've always been attracted to the bad boy Nick. Again, you can see the inner turmoil happening here.
I have to say NKOTB beats out BSB when it comes to choreography. When they came out to sing "(You Got It) The Right Stuff," I was doing the move along with them (Yah, you know which move I'm talking about!). When they came out with canes, my friend Mandi said "And there you go...canes get me EVERYTIME!"
It was high-energy despite the fact that they're much older now. But like a fine wine, they are so much better with age. And can we talk about outfits? Put a guy in a black tank top and have him take it off (yes, I'm talking about Donnie (Wahlberg)), and you can bet at that point no one was really paying attention to the singing.
The ballads like the Joey (McIntyre) favorite, "Please Don't Go Girl" and the BSB hit, "Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely" had the women in a tizzy. That's when my friend Sasha said, "Brian just pointed at me!" Then she got all jealous when a fan, Christina, was brought to the stage as the boys continued to serenade her with two more songs, "I'll Never Break Your Heart" and "Drowning".
The two bands came together for the song "Tonight". We were warned ahead of time from one of the security personnel that one of the guys would be on a box within our reach. Before I could even ask, I was told "...and no touching allowed." Danny (Wood) was positioned right in front of where we were sitting. He's not one of my favorites, but I screamed nonetheless. (Now, if that was Jordan or Donnie on that box...I may be doing this review from a jail cell for not abiding by the rules. Just sayin'.)
One thing about the crowd of West Michigan women to note: none were too shy to reach out and (ahem) get a feel for the guys on stage. It was as if those adolescent hormones were on overdrive! Can you blame them? Both NKOTB and BSB were so interactive with the crowd from the second the curtain dropped. Much to the delight of the crowd, the guys blew kisses, pointed, waved, and gazed into the eyes of every woman there. Or at least it felt that way!
I don't want to forget to mention there were men in the crowd, too. Some reluctantly came with their significant others. And there were even those who were very adamant to point out that if we ever publicly admit we saw them at the concert, they would deny it. Those were the ones who knew ALL the words and danced all night long!
CONFETTI FINALE
After the bands wrapped, the chanting of "NKOTBSB" continued until the came back on stage for a finale. The concert ended with a big bang with the two bands doing a bit of a sing/dance-off to "Hanging Tough" and "We Will Rock You." With fanfare, it ended with confetti falling down. Many (like myself) weren't afraid to pick up pieces as a memento of the night.
I must say having both bands perform together was genius marketing. It was an amazing show that still makes me all giddy 48 hours later.
Spending my hard-earned money on the 2 hour and 15 minute show was so worth it!
And in case you're wondering...I'm wearing my new NKOTBSB t-shirt right now :).
comments at Dreamwidth. Comment at either place.