(Still) Hangin’ Tough

A few Saturdays ago, it was that time again. Time for some love, peace and good old nostalgia! I had tickets to the Total Package Tour with Boyz II Men, Paula Abdul and – most importantly – NKOTB!

I mean, they played 5 miles from my house, so it was absolutely no question that I HAD TO GO (but I also totally would have driven to the Bay Area again to see them, as I have done in previous years, of course!)

I went to the concert by myself. Again. But honestly, I didn’t mind. I mean, I invited J to come with me (and he has gone with me on various occasions in the past), but I had absolutely no problem whatsoever doing this for myself, by myself.

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J dropped me off downtown around 6:30 p.m. and I made my way to the new Golden 1 Center. The new arena is huge and some seating is way up there under the ceiling (if you recall, I had seats there with my parents for Paul McCartney last fall!), but this time I had a great seat down on the lower level (not super-close to the stage, but close enough!) with a great view of the stage. I was so excited.

I was excited to see Boyz II Men (again!) and Paula Abdul as opening acts. They did a great job getting everybody warmed up, but of course, we were all there for NKOTB (ok, minus the guy in the row behind me who was clearly there for Paula! He kept screaming her name and I do admit, I enjoyed her performance more than I thought I would.)

Finally, 9 o’clock rolled around and it’s time for NKOTB. Yay! It had been too long.

The show started out with their new single ‘One more night’. Typical pop stuff. Yaddah, yaddah. I don’t think their music is the GREATEST (never have), but I do enjoy it and it’s ear-worm material for sure. Overall though, I am much more a fan of these five guys, who have come so far, and what they stand for: loyalty, love, and peace. They’re all about giving back.

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The show was amazing. I said it before, I think they have become better entertainers with age. Everybody was just in such a good and positive mood, even though the terrible attack at the Ariana Grande concert in London had just happened! But what else can musicians/entertainers do but carry on and keep spreading their music and positive attitude?

They performed all five of their new songs and then a nice mix of more recent songs (from the last decade) and also some very old songs, some dating back all the way to 1984! It was awesome!

They also played a couple of songs from lesser known albums like ‘Dirty Dawg‘ (from their 1994 ‘Face the Music’ album) and even ‘This one’s for the children‘ from their Christmas album (in the middle of June, ha!), which I had never seen performed on stage! Very cool!

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There was a woman in front of me, probably my age, who never had the opportunity as a teenager to see NKOTB in concert and this was her first time… after 25 years! I mean, you can’t beat that kind of ‘dream come true at last’-joy that she exhibited! It was amazing!

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If you made it all the way down here to proceed and judge me, to roll your eyes and tell me that you think that NKOTB are stupid (wouldn’t be the first time I hear it) or that it’s embarrassing that they’re still touring or anything like that, I am just going to tell you right now that I DON’T FREAKIN’ CARE ONE IOTA.

I hope that you have something in your life that brings all the smiles and joy and all the good feelings to you because boy, do we need them in this day and age.

Now, where are my fellow blockheads?

 

  1. SO fun! I’m jealous! They were here a few weeks ago but it was while I was out of town, so I didn’t even try to get tickets. I am sure it would have been a blast though!

    1. What a bummer that you were out of town! It was really worth it… what a great show!

  2. not an nkotb fan, but i can appreciate someone being honest about their musical preferences. i know someone who once had every no doubt album before they’d released tragic kingdom and entered the mainstream (he had that one, too, by the way). and a decade later, when i’d reminded him that he’d liked that band back in the day, he’d insisted that he never had. whatever.

    my senior year in high school, i liked the bands nelson and queensryche. i still listen to their music. i’m not ashamed to admit that, the latter of the two especially because geoff tate had a four-octave range and chris degarmo was a pretty gifted guitarist. anyway… kudos to you for doing this. i’m glad you went and had a good time.

    1. I think there is no harm to admit past and present musical preferences… it’s not the end all, be all… but it’s part of what makes us…us!

  3. I love it! That looks like so much fun! I loved them growing up :-)

    1. It was fantastic! If you ever get the chance, go see them!

  4. I was never into NKOTB (I think I was born right after they were super popular) but I was a huge NSync fan! I would go crazy for their concert now so I can imagine how excited you were. How fun!

    1. Yeah, I think I am a little older than you… but I am glad you can relate with NSync!

  5. Not a real NKOTB fan but I do like some of their songs. I’m glad you were able to see them.
    I have a huge fan-crush on Depeche Mode for over almost 30 years now and I can totally relate to your excitement :)

    1. Thanks friend. Obviously, there are other bands (Pearl Jam!) that I had a major crush on for decades… but NKOTB always have a special place in my heart. Have you seen Depeche Mode in concert?

      1. I hear you, I have a few other bands / singers I really really like. However, for me Depeche Mode is the one special band I will always love. And yes, I have seen them multiple times in concert and ones even chased them down in a hotel in Berlin after a concert at Waldbuehne….. :)

  6. It’s tough for two people to stay together that long, but five? The photos of the guys then and now looked like father/son pictures! Like them or not, we sort of grew up with them.

    1. I know I can’t believe they’re still doing music together!

  7. I just shared at work that my first ever music buy was a tape of NKOTB and I still listen to this particular album every summer, simply cause nothing reminds me better of the innocence of my youth and that particular summer – all weather, smells, sights and feelings included. How wonderful you have seen them so often and still get a real buzz and smile!

    1. Heck yes, girl! :)

  8. I had to look what NKOTB stands for. No kidding!!!
    Maybe because I was born in the 70ies and I was already to old(??), But I am admitting that my music-crush was (and still is) A-HA.
    Ha, here I said it out loud. I do understand your excitement! I am glad that you could see them again performing.

    1. Are you serious… I was born in the 70’s too, girl! And my first music love was A-HA too! Have you seen them perform?

      1. Many times! 1985 was the first one. Koelner Sporthalle and the last time 2010 in LA where I was first row! It was supposed to be their fare well tour, now they are touring again but they dont come to the US anymore! :(
        Morten’s voice is so incredible.

        1. That is really awesome. I never got a chance in the 80’s (was too young), but I finally did see them at a festival in Germany (around 2000?)… loved it! Morton really does have a great voice!!

  9. This sounds like such an incredible concert!

    1. It really was so much fun!

  10. Sounds like you had the best time. For me, I would love to see N’SYNC in concert again. I did get to see them twice as a teenager though!

    1. It definitely brings back a lot of nostalgia!

  11. Oh my goodness! If NKOTB and Boyz II Men were playing so close to my house I would have to go along too!! If it makes you feel any better Hanson played near me recently and my husband wouldn’t even let me talk about it because he was so embarrassed that I went!

    1. You go girl! I am so glad you didn’t listen to your husband and went to see Hanson!

      1. Me too! Just quietly it was the third time I have seen them in concert ;)

  12. I have a lot of nostalgia for these groups as I listened to a lot of NKOTB, Paula Abdul, and Boyz II Men when I was in my pre-teens/teens. I haven’t seen them in concert and don’t think I will but I can totally see the appeal of going to a concert! My elementary school best friend was obsessed with NKOTB. She had an NKOTB comforter on her bed that I can still picture – it was bright pink with huge pictures of the boys. Hilarious. I love that the people around you were so into it!

    I have also gone to a concert alone. I went to a Mat Kearney concert (he’s one of my favorite artists). It was a concert with general admission so no seats so it got kind of old standing there by myself but I am still glad I went and would definitely go to a seated concert alone. There really isn’t anything I won’t do alone, though, as I’ve gone on big trips, gone to movies, ate out, etc, on my own!

    1. So awesome that you also feel comfortable doing things by yourself! I think it’s a real treat every time!

  13. That would have been an awesome concert!! LUCKY girl. AND good for you for being so confident to do stuff like that all on your own. Love that!!

    1. Thank you… it was really worth it!

  14. That would have been an awesome concert!! LUCKY girl. AND good for you for being so confident to do stuff like that all on your own. Love that!!

  15. I’m very jealous of this experience :) Also I love that you went to a concert by yourself! Atta girl!! I had no idea NKOTB fans were called Blockheads LOL. Sounds like a great time!!

    1. Thanks girl! It was really awesome!

  16. RIGHT HERE! RIGHT HERE! What a great concert, glad you had such a good time. And love the awesome pics.

    1. Yes! I knew I could count on you, Katelin!

  17. How exciting! Looks like you had an awesome time. I’ve heard that they give a very energetic concert!

    1. Thank you – yes, they’re concert are always super-fun and entertaining!

  18. Wie cool. Und das ist GENAU der Grund, warum ich in 3 Wochen auf ein Robbie Williams Konzert in Frankfurt gehe! Was habe ich mit mir selbst gehadert, ob das zu peinlich sein könnte…vor mir selbst. Aber ernsthaft…ich bekomme von so vielen Leuten mit, dass sie gehen, dass ich weiß – wenn der Tag gekommen ist – ich hätte es bitterlich bereut, keine Karte zu haben. So ganz heimlich und tief im Herzen. Und weil ich das nicht wollte, gehe ich hin und werde unglaublich happy sein, nicht auf diese bekloppte Vernunfts-Erwachsenen-Dummheit-Stimme gehört zu haben :-)
    Liebe Grüße
    Nina

    1. YESSS! Finde ich super, dass du dich nicht von der “Vernunfts-Erwachsenen-Dummheit-Stimme” hast einschüchtern lassen und zu Robbie gehst! Du wirst es sicher nicht bereuen, im Gegenteil!! Man macht sowas wenn man erwachsen ist eigentlich viiiiel zu selten… daher: ich unterstütze das 1000%!!!!! <3

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