I did go to one of Joe's solo concerts in Chicago in 2004. He had always been my favorite and it was just a mile or two from where I lived. They were promoting it so much on my radio station and it was cheap so I decided to go all by myself to check it out. I admit, I walked into that show without a camera or a phone thinking this would just be something to pass the time on a Thursday night. But when he got on stage, I found myself squeeling and smiling from ear to ear! It was an amazing, intimate show. I cursed myself for a while afterwards for not having a camera with me! My friend yelled at me for not calling her while I was there so she could hear him! I ran out and bought his solo CD after that (One Too Many) and listened to it every day. But, he kind of disappeared from music after that, so I stopped paying attention to him.
Fast forward to Spring 2008 when I start to hear mumblings about an NKOTB reunion. Inside, I think "REALLY? That would be cool, IF they were any good!" I had not seen serveral of them for years and wasn't sure if they looked fat and bald or what. I also didn't know if they could still sing. My questions are answered the day my brother emails me the link to the YouTube video of Summertime. He makes fun of the "Its On" text Donnie sends so I know he is definitely still anti-NKOTB. I watch the video and am STUNNED to see how amazing all of the guys look. I mean, have they aged at all???? Not only do they look good, but they can sing! And its a good song! I'm fully impressed! But I still avoid jumping on the band wagon. It had been 12 years since I truly cared about NKOTB. Liking NKOTB was hard enough the first time. Everyone made fun of me! I didn't feel the need to go through that again, but I definitely respected the guys for the work they were doing now.
I hear from a friend that NKOTB is planning a tour. They will be making a stop in Detroit and she has decided to go. She asks if I want her to buy me a ticket. No. I don't. There is a piece of me that wants to jump up and scream "YES! Let's try to get the front row!!", but again, I have so many other friends (including this girl's husband) who are anti-NKOTB and I just don't want to be the uncool kid again. I say no and avoid any NKOTB mumblings I hear.
Doing dishes one day, I have the radio on and this song comes on. I think the idea of the song is kind of weird.... a girl goes to a club alone and this guy wants to be her boyfriend for just one song? What a PLAYER! But I do really like the sound of the song. I wonder if its Backstreet Boys. Did they do a reunion too? Then, the song ends and they announce it was NKOTB's song "Single". WHAT? Really? Again, I am floored by how much I like the song and try to shake it off. But I can't shake it now. My curiosity has been peaked.
I contact my girlfriend and ask for details on the concert. I call my other friend, who I know from high school and the end of our mutual NKOTB & Joe love. I tell her that I think I want tickets for the concert for my October birthday. She is shocked but is open to the idea. She never turns down a good concert opportunity. So, we buy the tickets. Ok, I think. I'll go to the concert and check it out. That'll be it. Nothing more. I bought the CD from iTunes (therefore getting all of the songs available) so I would know the songs at the concert. I am even more impressed now. I love every single song on the CD. ALL of them! I'm still keeping my cool about the concert, but I'm definitely looking forward to hearing these songs live in concert.
The day finally comes. Early in the day on October 25, 2008 I am at a football party with my old high school friends (a big college rivalry game - MSU vs UofM - was on that day). This party includes the boyfriend I started dating the day after my last NKOTB concert. I kept it a secret from all of them why I have to leave early from the party. No way was I telling them I was headed to a New Kids concert! They'd laugh me out of the house! So I sneak out and go get my friend.
We get to the Palace of Auburn Hills and as soon as we walk in, I realize we made the right choice by coming! There are girls every where in vintage NKOTB shirts, neon, with crimped hair and high bangs. It was like a costume party! It was AWESOME! It was like they were celebrating our lives from back in the day! It was amazing to be surrounded by so many people who shared the same history as me! I was starting to get excited!
We take our seats and are impressed with how good they are! We are looking straight on to the stage and are just a few rows up from the floor! Then the girl in front of us points to a black covered block on the left. She tells us it is a piano and that the guys come out to that stage for a few songs. WHA??? We are pretty close to this stage (about 20 rows away)! For not being sure if we even wanted to go, we are thrilled with our seats! The opening act begins. Its Natasha Bedingfield. She is pretty good, but I can't wait until the New Kids come on.
The Palace goes dark and the screen starts with "15 years ago.... they walked away... They're back". I have chills EVERYWHERE! And then the New Kids on the Block take the stage. All of a sudden, I am 14 years old again! I start screaming at the top of my lungs and jump up and down. What happened to me? I was supposed to stay calm! I was supposed to not care! I WAS SUPPOSED TO REMAIN SANE! Yet here I am! I have lost my mind! Again! The concert continues, and so does my screaming. By the end of the concert I am sweaty, hoarse, and on the top of the world. The New Kids on the Block are back! And so am I! And so my crazy journey begins....
I was at that show!
ReplyDelete(btw, its me Michele @CdnFan75)