Just Hangin' (Tough) with old friends

How to put this into words? Um ... let me try this: The New Kids On The Block reunion tour is absolutely amazing!!!
I saw Donnie, Danny, Joe, Jonathan and Jordan first at the Izod Center in New Jersey on Tuesday, and then the next night at the Nassau Coliseum on Long Island.

Crazy New Kids fan, you say? You bet I am!

For those unfamiliar, here's a little background: I've been a New Kids fan since their first hit single, "Please Don't Go Girl" came out in 1988. When the guys came to Poughkeepsie's Mid-Hudson Civic Center in July '89, I was unable to go to either of their shows — they played a Thursday gig then added a Friday concert — so I'd been waiting since then to see my first New Kids concert. I got a glimpse of the excitement back in May when they did a 15-minute set as part of Z100's annual Zootopia concert at the Izod Center. That was also the same day (through both sheer determination and a lil' bit of luck) I was able to actually I met the guys before the show!!!

OK, so fast-forward to Tuesday night, when my GF and I danced and sung along as the New Kids played their first full concert in America since 1994! (They started their new tour Sept. 18th in Toronto.) The next night, a fellow New Kids fan here at the Journal and I saw the guys in Long Island.

The best way to describe the experience: It was the most amazing concert I've ever seen in my life!!! Don't believe me? Just check out this video clip I shot at the Long Island show...



I mean, they did just about every hit they've ever had — everything from the aforementioned "Please Don't Go Girl" and "You've Got It (The Right Stuff) to "Cover Girl" and "Step By Step" — to about half of their new CD, "The Block," including "Dirty Dancing" in that video above. Their final encore, the energetic and iconic "Hangin' Tough," was the best way to cap the night.

It was like living my high school years all over again, except instead of listening to CDs, the guys were right there, standing just feet in front of me, singing the songs I listened to ad nauseum.

And sing they did. There was dancing, too! In all, the guys played more than 20 songs — almost all of which were meticulously choreographed — putting together a show that lasted more than two hours. (And that's not even including opening act Natasha Bedingfield, who sounds great live.)
There was an immense main stage, complete with smoke, pyrotechnics and a giant video screen behind the guys that only served to complement the singing and dancing.

But, wait ... there's more!

Emerging through the crowd, the guys came out to a second, smaller stage mid-way through the seating area on the floor, where they performed two new songs — "2 In The Morning" followed by that "Dirty Dancing" — and their classic, "Tonight."

Bringing their music (literally) to the people this way, the guys got up close and personal with fans, the ones who've supported them for the past two decades, and made a lasting connection.

For a tour fans like me have waited 14 years for — and that many people thought would never happen — the New Kids pulled out all the stops, making every day, every month, every year of the wait worth it. And the best news: It's only just beginning. They're heading out across America, then Mexico and Europe over the upcoming months.

Now, I know, some of you are thinking, Dude, you're a guy and you're a New Kids fans?! You betcha! Hey, I've heard it all since I was in high school, and none of that "negativity" (as Donnie would put it) bothers me at all.

I always viewed the New Kids as positive role models — guys you'd want to hang out with and play pool or basketball with. And now, I can add (first-hand) that they put on an amazing concert, and really appreciate their fans ... even if a few of them are guys, like me!

So keep watching out for me, fellow New Kids fans; the guys come back to Madison Square Garden in October. While I haven't finalized my plans, you might find me again in the crowd, singing along with my favorite group of all time in the world's most famous arena!