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Written by Jennifer Manjarez Friday, 05 July 2013 15:37

Fun and flirty, the Boston boys have the ability to make every girl in the audience feel like their girlfriend, and vice versa.

 

 

Scottrade Center, St. Louis
  
Almost exactly two years since their last visit, New Kids on the Block returned to St. Louis’s Scottrade Center as part of their 2013 The Package Tour. Performances by Boys II Men, 98 Degrees, and New Kids on the Block proved to be the perfect storm of entertainment.

The night started strong with opening act Boyz II Men performing six of their familiar hits, including their a cappella version of “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday” and their closing song “Motownphilly.” Noticeably missing was founding member Michael McCary, who had reportedly left the group back around 2003 due to health issues. It was sort of odd to see an act that was such a huge success in the early ’90s now serving as opening act, but nonetheless refreshing to see and hear them still kicking it old school after all these years.

Bringing their A-game, 98 Degrees took the stage shortly after reducing the crowd to piles of goo with their boyish good looks and swooning voices. Songs from their set list included “Give Me Just One Night (Una Noche),” “I Do,” and “The Hardest Thing.” Also included were a few tracks off their new album 2.0, including first single “Microphone,” a more-suggestive-than-usual track for the band. In true-boy band fashion, each of the four members took a moment to bring out stools and pull a girl from the audience to serenade in the middle of their performance.

Their performance escalated the night’s risqué factor until New Kids on the Block hit the stage in their usual dramatic fashion. After throwing the audience in complete darkness, the two large jumbotrons on either side of the stage began to flash large text mimicking the words of the announcer (one of the members of the band) proclaiming the night free of drama and all worries. With fireworks and lights in tow, the fab five hit the stage, teasing, “Would you like us to come closer?” before bolting down the catwalk toward so many screaming fans they were almost inaudible.

Fun and flirty, the Boston boys have the ability to make every girl in the audience feel like their girlfriend, and vice versa. Some, like Donnie Wahlberg, brother to actor/producer/former rapper Mark Wahlberg, even went so far as to reach down and plant a big sloppy kiss on one lucky lady. The best part about a New Kids on the Block concert is, without a doubt, the atmosphere. The comradery and love they have for each other is apparent and genuine. Now with a much more naughtier and flirtier flair, the boys have added sexy to their forever playful, flirtatious, and boyish quality. 

The night’s set list included songs from their recently released album 10, including their first release off the album, “Remix (I Like The).” Deep in the middle of the show, they decided to pay homage to some classic songs mostly from the ’80s, including Joey’s performance of “Faith” by George Michael, and a rather sexy and risqué version of Prince’s “Kiss” performed by Jordan Knight. Equipped with erotic, Prince-like moves, Knight whipped his shirt up his chest, behind his head, and suggestively slid his hand down his pants in a move that almost took down the Scottrade Center. Chippendales be damned: New Kids on the Block are where the real fun is had.

One of the many mixes heard that night included that of their hit “Step by Step” with Salt N Pepa’s “Push It,” which was quickly recognized by the audience, causing a large roar from the crowd. Other songs played in between theirs included the traditional “Shipping Up to Boston” by the Dropkick Murphys and Icona Pop’s “I Love It”; both of these inspired short interludes of dancing and goofing off in between their performances. | Jennifer Manjarez7