New Kids On The Block

Allstate Arena - Chicago, IL

10/4/08

By: Yvette Espinoza

Video From Boston

After 15 years NKOTB are Back! The sold-out crowd was insane! The energy was phenomenal. Walking into the Allstate was a sight to see; I have never seen so many women in one place in my life and I was also eerily surprised at the handful of guys I saw. After fighting a sea of people trying to find a bathroom, I finally came up to one of the shortest lines I could find, which happened to be a men’s room. The ladies had been officially taken over! Why the venue didn’t think about this in the first place was beyond me, but at first the women took over the right side that had the stalls and the men kept to the other side. Eventually the venue made that restroom a women’s restroom; maybe they will learn from this for when New Kids come back later this month.

The crowd went into hysterics once the lights went out, but the buildup was overwhelming. There was a video playing on the big screens working up the audience. Then they appeared! NKOTB opened with a medley of “Single”, “My Favorite Girl”, and “The Right Stuff”. The show was fantastic! They were so hot, in sync, and they just sounded outstanding. The guys are all grown up now and look so good. I remember seeing them when they toured with Tiffany back in the 80’s, wearing their torn jeans and Batman tees to wearing button down shirts and ties. The group performed all the greatest hits, including “Cover Girl”, “Hangin’ Tough”, and Joey got the girls going crazy when he dropped to his knees with “Please Don’t Go Girl” and a solo performance of “Stay The Same” while Jordan sang “Give It To You”.

Follow the jump for the set list and tour dates.

During the middle of the show there was a photo montage of loved ones, musicians, and movie stars who have passed including Danny Wood’s mother, Donnie Wahlberg’s father, Tupac, Biggie, Aaliyah, Lisa “Left Eye” Lopez, Heath Ledger, Kurt Cobain, and more while playing “If You Go Away”.

New Kids did not forget about their fans in the back of the venue. The lights went out and they surfaced on a rotating platform with a piano and sang 3 or 4 songs before making their way through the crowd back to the main stage. I thought that was a pretty risky move on their part. It was wild to see each guy have his own security guard running through the crowd to finish up the song on stage.

With numerous wardrobe changes, smoke machines, confetti, and fireworks this show is a must-see! The YouTube videos don’t do the show much justice. Check out NKOTB in a city near you!

Set List:
“Single”
“My Favorite Girl”
“(You Got It) The Right Stuff”
“Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time)”
“Valentine Girl”
“Please Don’t Go Girl”
“Grown Man” (With Nicole Scherzinger)
“Games”
“If You Go Away”
“2 In the Morning”
“Dirty Dancing”
“Tonight”
“Twisted”
“Baby I Believe in You”
“Give It To You” (Jordan solo)
“Stay the Same” (Joey solo)
“Cover Girl”
“I’ll Be Lovin’ You (Forever)”
“Click, Click, Click”
“Summertime”

Encore
“Step By Step”
“Hangin’ Tough”

Tour Dates: