If this doesn't get your music pants crazy, I don't know what will:
No, this isn't from the school newspaper... this guy gets PAID to do this.
By MARIO TARRADELL / The Dallas Morning News
mtarradell@dallasnews.com
My ears are still ringing.
The volume of screams from adoring fans Sunday night during the nearly sold-out New Kids on the Block concert at American Airlines Center was deafening. One woman sitting in front of me kept fingers in her ears through much of the two-hour show even as she clutched her digital camera.
But the reunion concert from Boston's one-time humongous boy band was a total blast. Featuring a bunch of songs from The Block, the group's first studio disc in 14 years, as well as rhythmic staples such as "Hangin' Tough" and "You Got It (The Right Stuff)," the gig was pure fun. Jordan Knight, Jonathan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Danny Wood and Donnie Wahlberg danced, changed clothes, harmonized and took us back in time while giving us plenty of the present.
The tunes from The Block played well onstage. The crowd was receptive to them. Of particular note are "Summertime," one of those sing-along and tap your feet songs that sounds like the season it tributes. Also, "Click Click Click" is a cool contemporary R&B meets hip-hop number that featured a slamming rap by Mr. Wahlberg. He pulled it off.
That brings to mind Mr. McIntyre. He can now fully embody "Please Don't Go Girl." Back in 1988 he was just too young to inhabit the pop-soul ballad. Not anymore. And his performance of 1999's solo hit "Stay the Same" was a showstopper. That guy belongs on Broadway. No joke.
Most important the gig felt unified. The quintet seemed genuinely happy to be together again on the same platform. That's no small accomplishment when your heyday was nearly two decades ago and later generations of boy bands from 'NSync to the Jonas Brothers have stolen your momentum.
For NKOTB, this is the right time to come back.