May might be coming to an end, but that means that summer (aka concert season) is just beginning! This Summer I am seeing NKOTB (5 times), Toad the Wet Sprocket, Ryan Bingham and Bob Dylan, Justin Timberlake and Jay Z, and Joan Jett and others at the Shindig Festival. It all starts Tuesday May 28th at Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut where I will be until Saturday June 1st attending the first three shows of The Package Tour featuring New Kids on the Block with Boyz to Men and 98 Degrees.
On Tuesday May 28th, Mom and I are driving six hours up 95 to Uncasville, CT. For two nights, we are staying at Mohegan Sun Casino where the NKOTB shows are. We should arrive on Tuesday just in time to check in and eat dinner before I go to the show. Mom will play the slots while I am screaming for Jordan. For this first show of the tour, I have seats in the stands (Section 15 Row J) but close to the stage. I will be live tweeting the set list during the first show on May 28th, as well as pics and videos. After a night of stalking the boys in the casino, or hopefully there will be an opening night after party like there was in Vegas on opening night of the casino tour, I will spend Wednesday restfully playing the slots with Mom. For the second show of the tour, I am in on the floor next to the stage in section Section 6 Row G. I won’t be live tweeting during this show, but I will post pics, vids and set list after it. I need pay attention since I will only be seven rows away from Jordan! The next morning Mom and I will check out of Mohegan Sun Casino, drive about 8 miles over to Foxwoods Casino to spend the next two nights. We want to get the whole Connecticut Casino experience, plus Friday night at Mohegan Sun would have cost $500! With no NKOTB show on Thursday, we will have the entire day and night to play the slots and relax. Friday May 31st I will drive back over to Mohegan Sun in the afternoon for my very first, and probably only, 5-Star VIP Package. (I still need to join a group of 10, so if you need a Jordan girl please let me know.) I had never planned on buying the expensive VIP ticket, but this was originally the first show of the tour (and then they added the two prior) and I couldn’t get a floor ticket. This 5-Star VIP package includes: One premium reserved floor ticket in first 7 rows in Sect. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, Meet & Greet photo op with NKOTB, Exclusive NKOTB gift bag, Pre-show refreshments, NKOTB VIP commemorative laminate, Early entrance into venue, Crowd-free merchandise shopping, and Onsite VIP hosts. Needless to say, this should be an amazing night! Hopefully I can get at least a few minutes of sleep after the Meet and Greet and concert because I have to drive six hours home the next day.
NKOTB Memphis 7.2.09
Exactly two weeks later I will attend my fourth NKOTB Package Tour show at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC on June 14th. For this show I have a floor seat next to the stage in Section 8 Row F. This is my ‘hometown’ show, so just a short drive and metro ride away. Then just over a month later I am seeing my fifth and final NKOTB show of the summer at the MixTape Festival in Hershey, PA. I am only going to one day of this two-day festival. I bought VIP for this as well. It is not a ‘Meet and Greet’ opportunity, but I do get a Reserved Single Day Ticket to festival in section A, B, or C (rows 4-13), Access to Exclusive VIP-Only Mixtape Afterparty Saturday hosted by NKOTB with a DJ set by Benji Madden, Access to the Exclusive Backstage VIP-Only VH1 Performance Stage, Lower Level Ticket to Rock n Jock Mixtape Festival Dodgeball match at GIANT CENTER, Ticket to Hersheypark, One Parking Pass, One Mixtape Festival tote bag, One Mixtape Festival water bottle, One Mixtape Festival t-shirt, Access to shaded and air conditioned VIP Lounge with snacks and cash bar, VIP-Only flush toilets and air-conditioned restrooms, Private VIP festival entrance, and On Site Event Host. The price is totally worth it even without a Meet and Greet, considering just the ticket would cost half of what I paid for this VIP. I can’t imagine how this year’s MixTape Festival is going to top last year’s, but I am sure it will be a blast!
Please remember keep reading this blog and follow me on Twitter @DeenasDays and on Facebook as I live tweet throughout the NKOTB Package Tour – as well as the other concerts I am going to this summer.
I’ve been looking forward to May all year, but before I could partake in the fun activities I had planned for May I had to get through the A to Z Blog Challenge. I loved blogging everyday in April, except Sundays, on a specific theme. I loved doing it last year, and I enjoyed it even more this year. I think I enjoy the challenge so much because I am one who likes to to lists things, rank my favorites. This year’s theme, in case you missed it, was ‘My Music from A to Z.’ It was fun, and it seemed I may have introduced some new music to some folks, and I definitely brought back some great 80s memories. Just in case you were away from the internet in April, the following is what I wrote about: Al Kapone, Bobby Darin, Cleanin Out My Closet by Eminem, Drums, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Grammys, Honor Among Thieves, I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, Johnny Cash, Kurt Cobain and Nirvana, Lisa Marie Presley, Madonna and 80s Music, New Kids on the Block, Olivia Newton-John, Potsie and Happy Days, Q magazine, Rockabilly, Soundgarden, Toad the Wet Sprocket, U2, Video Killed the Radio Star, Wham!, XM Radio, You’re the One that I Want and Grease, and ZooTv. I also blogged the A to Z Challenge on my other blog On the Road with U2 about ‘My U2′ – what I love about U2 from A to Z.
Now it’s MAY!!!! YAY!!!! Why am I SO excited for May? Because I am starting the month off with a weekend in Memphis and ending it with NKOTB. This first weekend in May I am going to Memphis for the Beale Street Music Festival, which I have done every year since 2002 – with the exception of last year. In addition, the Memphis Grizzlies are in the playoffs and game 6 is being played in Memphis on Friday while I’m in Memphis. If they win, the Grizzlies will advance to the next level in the playoffs. I used to have season tickets to the Grizzlies, so I am very excited to be going to this playoff game. I haven’t been to Memphis since I moved in October 2011. Besides the Beale Street Music Festival and the Memphis Grizzlies playoff game, I will be visiting Graceland and Sun Studio, hanging out on Beale Street, and eating at some of my favorite restaurants like the Cupboard, Marlowe’s, Central BBQ and the Blue Plate. Nothing better than Memphis in May! But something that is just as great is seeing the first three shows of the NKOTB Package Tour at Mohegan Sun Casino! And that’s exactly what I’m doing the last four days in May. Slots and NKOTB – what could be better? So keep following as I’ll be tweeting, posting, and blogging my adventures in Memphis and on the NKOTB Package tour.
My first concert of my life was New Kids on the Block at the Baltimore Arena in 1990 – I was almost 18. (I wasn’t allowed to go to concerts until I graduated high school.) Twenty-three years later I still love the NKOTB! The only difference is back then I was a ‘Danny girl’ and now I’m a ‘Jordan girl’. I get criticized for being a BlockHead – that’s what the NKOTB fans are called. My U2 friends can’t believe such a passionate U2 fan like myself is also a passionate NKOTB fan, but I don’t care because I love the 5 guys from Boston. They are so entertaining and great to to their fans, their concerts are a blast – and they’re hot! Sadly I don’t have any of my old NKOTB memorabilia. I have no idea where my tour program, concert ticket, Step By Step vhs tape, or Danny pillowcase is. I never get rid of anything, but who knew NKOTB would make such a great comeback after all of these years.
NKOTB Memphis 7.2.09
19 years later, I saw NKOTB again in Memphis on July 2, 2009. It was in support of their new record The Block. I was in the 5th row. I had the best time at that concert! So much fun to relive my youth. All the screaming girls who were in their teens in late-80s, early-90s were now screaming women in their 30s. They had just gotten back together the previous year. I arrived early to the venue and saw Jorday and Joey and his family arrive by golf carts to their tour buses. Then during the opening act, Joey’s wife and son were sitting across from me and I danced with the little boy – so cute. Earlier that day, Joey had been at Graceland – of course I was working at the National Civil Rights Museum and was unable to stalk them. But Joey wore his Elvis tee shirt while he sang Jailhouse Rock, so that was pretty cool. To see all my pictures from that show, please click here.
NKOTB-1 Memphis 7.2.09
I saw NKOTB the following year on May 7 & 8, 2010 in Las Vegas for the opening of their Casino Tour. These two opening shows of the tour were general admission at the Pearl Theatre at the Palms Hotel. For opening night, I was up front on the rail, but all the way to the right – but luckily I got some close Jordan action there (even touched him). I loved the acoustic set NKOTB did – especially Single, which was quickly becoming a favorite of mine. After the opening night show, NKOTB invited everyone to their after party at Rain – free admission with our concert ticket. This is a place I would never ever go to, but since Jordan was going to be there so was I. The concert was over at 9:15, and Rain didn’t open until 10:30. Finally at midnight Jordan, Danny, Joey, Donnie and Jon arrived – and went to opposite end of the room from where I was. From their restricted balcony, I got to see Jordan dance, Danny flirt, Donnie work the crowd and Joey make out with his wife. I have no idea where Jon went.
NKOTB Vegas 5.7.10
my view NKOTB Vegas 5.7.10
NKOTB Vegas 5.7.10
JORDAN! Vegas 5.7.10
love this one! NKOTB Vegas 5.7.10
NKOTB Vegas 5.8.10
NKOTB Vegas 5.8.10
NKOTB Vegas 5.8.10
NKOTB Vegas 5.8.10
The second night of NKOTB in Vegas I didn’t line up early, but still had a great view. I stood dead center toward the back of the floor at the sound board. This was a great spot too because when the guys came back to sing Tonight they were right in front of me and then I got to shake each of their hands as the ran by to back to the main stage. Poor Jon fell off the stage during Tonight. Even though I was closer for opening night, I enjoyed this second Vegas show better. Musically the show was the same as the first night, but their energy was much much better the second night. The guys were having so much more fun. Donnie messed up the lyrics and laughed about it. Then Jordan messed up his dance and laughed about it. They made Jon sing Step 5 of Step By Step. They joked about all the fans complained about the show only being an hour and fifteen minutes last night – tonight it was almost an hour and a half. To see all of 161 of my pictures from both NKOTB shows in Vegas in 2010, please click here.
Jordan Knight 3.25.12
Two years later I saw Jordan Knight solo on March 25, 2012 at The Fillmore in Silver Spring, Maryland. It was a great show! Jordan is very entertaining, funny and of course hot! I wore my Jordan boyfriend tee shirt and listened to Single repeatedly on my half hour drive to The Fillmore. I arrived just after the doors opened at 7pm. I got a spot on the front rail all the way on the end, but it was a great view. My ticket said doors opened at 7pm and the Fillmore website said the show started at 8pm, but Jordan Knight didn’t take the stage until 9:05pm – and only played until 10:23pm. So basically I waited for Jordan longer than I saw him perform. But it was well worth the wait because Jordan Knight put on a great show, very intimate and entertaining! He talked and interacted a lot with the audience, including bringing three fans on stage to dance during Rockstar. The highlight of the show for me was Jordan’s performance of NKOTB’s The Right Stuff. To see all my pictures from this show, please click here.
Jordan! 3.25.12
Jordan Knight Silver Spring, MD 3.25.12
NKOTB MixTape Festival Hershey, PA 8.17.12
Five months later, I saw NKOTB at the MixTape Festival in Hershey, Pennsylvania on August 17th and 18th, 2012. The first night it was just NKOTB and the second night it was NKOTBSB. The first night was better – absolutely amazing! Although I am glad I did get to see NKOTBSB because I missed their tour in 2011 because I driving around the US for three months on the U2 360 Tour. My friend Abbey and I got in the GA line on Friday and by 3:45 we were inside the stadium one person back from the rail behind the VIP section. We noticed there were five platforms (let’s call them blocks) spaced along the rail on the VIP side. We quickly realized 5 blocks for 5 New Kids. We knew that NKOTB performs one song in the middle of the audience. I mentioned to Abbey that it would be great if they opened the show out here in front of us, rather than on the main stage. We stood behind the center block. Even though we were one person back, we were so close that we could reach out and touch it. Luckily for me, I am tall and the person in front of me was not. Minutes after we had secured our spot at the center block, it started to rain and then downpour – and it continued to drizzle the rest of the night. After listening to Aaron Carter, Steel Panthers and Paully D, the opening montage for NKOTB finally began at 8:45pm. After the retrospective video, I saw NKOTB riding through the stadium on a what looked like a golf cart. I was right, they were starting the show on those five blocks – right in front of us! It was so exciting watching them run in. Unfortunately Jordan ran past us to the block on the right. Donnie got on the block right in front of us. They opened with One Song. Towards the end of the song, all five of the New Kids were directly in front of us on the center block. Unfortunately Jordan and Joey were facing the other way toward the VIP, but Jon, Donnie and Danny were facing us. They were all wearing Adidas track suits. Jordan’s and Joey’s were blue with matching blue sun glasses while Jon’s, Donnie’s and Danny’s were red. At the end of the first song, they all started to get off of the block – except for Jordan! At that moment, I felt a big push like I was riding a wave and I ended up in front of Abbey (who had been standing next to me) and completely squishing the girl in front of me who was luckily really short. I was even closer to Jordan now! Then Jordan (and the rest of NKOTB) took off his track suit and was wearing a white tank and white pants. My legs were quivering – I was so excited! Abbey said Jordan was posing for me. NKOTB performed Summertime while Jordan was in front of me – not that I remember. All I remember is my neck hurting from looking straight up at Jordan because he was so close, reaching out for him to touch me (which he didn’t) and my legs shaking. It was quite an amazing three minutes! At the end of Summertime, Jordan left and Joey came to our block while NKOTB performed Dirty Dancing. I let Abbey get in front of me, so she could see – besides Jordan had already left for another block. After Dirty Dancing, NKOTB went to the main stage to perform to the anxious VIPers who I’m sure were none too happy that the lowly GAers got a close up performance for the first three songs. Friday was Donnie’s birthday, so Jordan, Joey, Danny, Jon, and the audience sang Happy Birthday. And then out of nowhere Jon started singing NKOTB’s version of Happy Birthday! It was great because Jon never sings and is very shy on stage. He stopped after the first verse and Donnie told him to keep singing “it’s the same lyrics.” And even Jordan tried to help him, hiding behind him singing. Then a girl from the audience gave Donnie a birthday present, some sort of giant chocolate bar from Hershey’s Chocolate World. A while later, I think it was Jordan who said something like let’s go back out there to perform this “they’re VIP too!” So back they came – right in front of us. Unfortunately, Jordan did not come back to our center block, but he was on the one to the left of us. Joey was in front of us while they performed Tonight. But it turned out to be great because Joey’s wife brought their little son Griffin up on the block with Joey. And together they sang. It couldn’t have been any cuter! Then NKOTB returned to the main stage for the rest of the show. At the end of the show, 98 Degrees joined NKOTB on stage during Hangin Tough. I got to see Nick Lachey and Jordan Knight standing next to each other. Sigh! As they were saying goodnight, Donnie told everyone to go watch Kelly Clarkson’s performance because they had a surprise for us. So at 10pm we went to the other end of the stadium to watch Kelly Clarkson, who was very good. About a half hour into her set, Joe McIntyre walks out and they sing an amazing duet together. We left after that and caught the shuttle back to the hotel. We were back by 11pm, but I didn’t fall sleep until after 3am. I was just too excited and kept replaying the show in my head, especially those first three songs. That NKOTB show was absolutely amazing! It was so great! Although they didn’t perform my favorite Single, they did perform my favorite Step By Step. It was a great show of New Kids’ oldies – very different from the shows I saw in Vegas on the Casino Tour two years ago. The NKOTB set list for Friday August 17th was as follows: One Song, Summertime, Dirty Dancing, The Right Stuff, Didn’t I Blow Your Mind, Valentine Girl, If You Go Away, Please Don’t Go Girl, Step By Step, Cover Girl, Happy Birthday, Tonight, I’ll Be Loving You Forever, Hangin Tough.
NKOTB MixTape Festival 8.17.12
Jordan right in front of me! 8.17.12
this is my favorite picture! 8.17.12
Joe and Griffin 8.17.12
NKOTB MixTape Festival Hershey, PA 8.18.12
NKOTBSB rehearsals MixTape Festival 8.18.12
NKOTB MixTape Festival 8.18.12
NKOTB MixTape Festival 8.18.12
The next day we returned to Hershey Park around noon on Saturday for Day Two of the MixTape Festival. We decided to wait at the entrance where the bands arrive. We saw Jordan walk up the stairs to the stage. Then we watched NKOTB and BSB rehearse. Luckily the stage was high enough that we could see them when they were out on the platform extension of the stage. They rehearsed Single, so I was very happy. After their rehearsal, Danny ran by and waved to us, but he didn’t stop. A few of the guys from Back Street Boys came out and shouted to us. Around 4:00, we went inside the stadium, bought a tee shirt, and sat in the shade at the soundboard. Nothing could top the previous night, so we didn’t even try to be up front. Also, the platform extension of the stage wasn’t as close to the GA section as were the previous nights ‘blocks.’ We watched the Dan Band, the Wanted and LL Cool J before NKOTBSB took the stage at 9pm. They opened with Single! Now I’ve seen three different versions of Single. I saw the regular album version in Memphis in 2009, the acoustic version in Vegas in 2010, and now the NKOTBSB version. Besides Single and the songs they did with Back Street Boys, NKOTB played the same songs as the previous night. But this time they wore black instead of white. They again came out into the audience for Tonight. Both The Wanted and 98 Degrees joined New Kids on the Block and Back Street Boys on stage – four boy bands on one stage! It was a great show, but I’m not a Back Street Boys fan so I was kind of bored every other two songs when BSB performed. It was great to see NKOTB two nights in a row though! I listened to Single on repeat the entire 98-mile drive home Saturday night. For all 119 of my photos from the MixTape Festival, please click here.
NKOTB record release Orpheum Boston 3.30.13
Seven months later on March 30, 2013, I saw NKOTB in a more intimate venue at their Record Release party for their new album 10 at the Orpheum Theatre in Boston. I flew up just for the night. I met my new friend Tricia at my hotel and we were at the Orpheum just after 3pm because I was hoping to catch Jordan as arrived. I did more than that! I wanted to go to the box office to see what the procedure was for our ticketless entry, so I walked up to the door of the Orpheum. I was about to go in, but saw someone standing just inside the door talking to someone else. He was leaning on the door, so I didn’t want to open it and have him fall. He started pushing his way out, so I opened the door and held it for him. I was stunned to see that it was Jon Knight. I didn’t know what to do. I looked over at Tricia and the other women waiting, but no one was looking. I didn’t want to shove my iphone in his face to take a picture, so I just said, “Hi Jon!” He said, “Hi.” I said, “Good luck tonight!” He said, “Thanks.” I was shaking – and it wasn’t even Jordan! Jon was actually on his way to get coffee, as we saw when he returned. A few minutes later Jordan come walking up the alley – the cars must have let them off at the end of alley at the street. Jordan waved and said, “Hi.” He may have looked at me and smiled A while later Joey walked up. Apparently Danny and Donnie were already inside – we just missed meeting Danny by a few minutes. Ugh! Even though all the guys were inside, we stayed and hung out in front of the Orpheum. We listened to the soundcheck – even though the fire door said not to block it and the food court security guy kept kicking us out. We heard NKOTB rehearse The ReMix, Jealous, Step By Step, Hangin Tough, The Right Stuff, Five Brothers and a Million Sisters, Crash, Whisper, and Survive You.
here comes Jordan
NKOTB record release Orpheum Boston 3.30.13
chatting with NKOTB
Donnie in the audience!
The show was supposed to start at 7:30, but didn’t begin until about 8:15 and lasted just over an hour – although it felt longer. It opened with a montage of NKOTB’s albums while Whisper was playing – so I guess we didn’t actually hear the boys sing it during soundcheck. Then NKOTB appeared on stage in their suits singing what is my current favorite off ’10′ We Own Tonight. Crash was next and was followed by the guys sitting down and talking about how the new album came about. They brought Lars and the production team on stage – but there was no Q & A like Jordan had tweeted. I really wanted to ask him if they were going to play Single on this tour, and I wanted to ask Donnie where the After Party was. The sit down talk was followed by Survive You with Robbie on the piano, then a very excited performance of The Remix. And just when I thought it couldn’t get any louder, the theatre erupted with the Step By Step / Hangin Tough / Right Stuff medley. Fans then presented NKOTB with the full-page ad they bought in Billboard congratulating them on the release of 10 and thanking them. The guys were visibly moved, especially Jon who was a bit choked up to talk. Joey then sang Five Brothers and a Million Sisters while Jordan played piano. It seemed that the show was over, so I ran outside in case they tried to sneak out early. Once outside the doors, I heard Donnie talking and it was obvious they were going to sing another song. So I ran back inside the Orpheum to listen to Jordan sing I’ll Be Loving You (Forever). I would have been VERY upset had I missed that. Then I ran back outside to wait for them. It was 9:30. At 11pm, Donnie drove by us. Apparently there was a side door where everyone left – even though everyone had entered at the front door. We went to the Beantown Pub, since I hadn’t eaten in 12 hours. I wanted a Bostonian meal, so I had a lobster roll and a Sam Adams – across from Sam Adams’ grave. We found out that Jon Knight was in the back playing pool. By the time we got back there, he was upstairs talking with everyone. He was so nice and gracious. Tricia got a nice hug and kiss from Jon – so sweet. For all 88 of my pictures from the Orpheum show, please click here.
This summer I will add five more NKOTB shows to my list. I am going to the first three shows at Mohegan Sun Casino May 28, 29, and 31st then I’m going to the show in DC on June 14th and then the show in Atlantic City on July 26th. Please check back for full reviews, picture and videos. I will be live tweeting (and posting on facebook and writing here on my blog) my NKOTB adventures. So make sure to follow me on twitter @DeenasDays and here on my blog for all the updates – I have VIP on May 31st at Mohegan Sun, so hopefully I’ll have a nice story about meeting Jordan!
This blog post is part of my A to Z April Challenge about ‘My Music’ – music I love from A to Z. Thanks for stopping by. I am also blogging the A to Z Challenge on my other blog On the Road with U2 about ‘My U2′ – what I love about U2 from A to Z.
NKOTB 10 Record Release party at the Orpheum Theatre in Boston March 30, 2013 started and ended with Jon Knight. In between, I enjoyed a bit of Boston, made a lot of great friends, and saw a great show. I landed in Boston just before 11am on Saturday, walked from the Hotel Nine Zero to Faneuil Hall and back, then met Tricia and walked over to the Orpheum Theatre around 3pm.
Hi Jordan!
Hi Joey!
I wanted to go to the box office to see what the procedure was for our ticketless entry, so I walked up to the door of the Orpheum. I was about to go in, but saw someone standing just inside the door talking to someone else. He was leaning on the door, so I didn’t want to open it. He started pushing his way out, so I opened the door and held it for him. I was stunned to see that it was Jon Knight. I didn’t know what to do. I looked over at Tricia and the other women waiting, but no one was looking. I didn’t want to shove my iphone in his face to take a picture, so I just said, “Hi Jon!” He said, “Hi.” I said, “Good luck tonight!” He said, “Thanks.” I was shaking – and it wasn’t even Jordan! Jon was actually on his way to get coffee, as we saw when he returned. A few minutes later Jordan come walking up the alley – the cars must have let them off at the end of alley at the street. Jordan waved and said, “Hi.” He may have looked at me and smiled A while later Joey walked up. Apparently Danny and Donnie were already inside – we just missed meeting Danny by a few minutes. Ugh! Even though all the guys were inside, we stayed and hung out in front of the Orpheum. We listened to the souncheck – even though the fire door said not to block it and the food court security guy kept kicking us out. We heard NKOTB rehearse The ReMix, Jealous, Step By Step, Hangin Tough, The Right Stuff, Five Brothers and a Million Sisters, Crash, Whisper, and Survive You.
The show was supposed to start at 7:30, but didn’t begin until about 8:15 and lasted just over an hour – although it felt longer. It opened with a montage of NKOTB’s albums while Whisper was playing – so I guess we didn’t actually hear the boys sing it during soundcheck. Then NKOTB appeared on stage in their suits singing what is my current favorite off ’10′ We Own Tonight. Crash was next and was followed by the guys sitting down and talking about how the new album came about. They brought Lars and the production team on stage – but there was no Q & A like Jordan had tweeted. I really wanted to ask him if they were going to play Single on this tour, and I wanted to ask Donnie where the After Party was. The sit down talk was followed by Survive You with Robbie on the piano, then a very excited performance of The Remix.
And just when I thought it couldn’t get any louder, the theatre erupted with the Step By Step / Hangin Tough / Right Stuff medley. Fans then presented NKOTB with the full-page ad they bought in Billboard congratulating them on the release of 10 and thanking them. The guys were visibly moved, especially Jon who was a bit choked up to talk. Joey then sang Five Brothers and a Million Sisters while Jordan played piano.It seemed that the show was over, so I ran outside in case they tried to sneak out early. Once outside the doors, I heard Donnie talking and it was obvious they were going to sing another song. So I ran back inside the Orpheum to listen to Jordan sing I’ll Be Loving You (Forever). I would have been VERY upset had I missed that. Then I ran back outside to wait for them. It was 9:30.
At 11pm, Donnie drove by us. Apparently there was a side door where everyone left – even though everyone had entered at the front door. We went to the Beantown Pub, since I hadn’t eaten in 12 hours. I wanted a Bostonian meal, so I had a lobster roll and a Sam Adams – across from Sam Adams’ grave. We found out that Jon Knight was in the back playing pool. By the time we got back there, he was upstairs talking with everyone. He was so nice and gracious. Tricia got a nice hug and kiss from Jon – so sweet. I got back to my room around 1am, didn’t get to sleep until almost 3 and then left for the airport 9am the next morning.
Donnie jumps into the audience.
Boston is a great city! I never really appreciated it before. I had a fantastic time at the NKOTB record release party – it flew by way too fast though. To see all of my pictures from NKOTB ’10′ record release at the Orpheum in Boston, please click here. To read about my preview of the NKOTB Package Tour and my ticket buying saga, please click here. To read about NKOTB at MixTape Festival last year, please click here.
I saw the first two shows of the NKOTB casiNO tour in Las Vegas in 2010. It is three years later and NKOTB is touring again, but this time it is not called the casino tour – although for me it should be. I am going to five NKOTB shows in three months and four of them are in casinos, because I love the slots! This summer the NKOTB tour is called the Package Tour and also features Boyz II Men and 98 Degrees. This is the story of my planning and ticket buying odyssey for the NKOTB Package tour.
NKOTB The Package Tour
When the dates for the NKOTB Package Tour were first announced, I noticed they were opening the tour at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut on May 31st. This was perfect because I wanted to go to the first show of the tour and bonus that it was on a Friday night at a casino that was a driveable six hours away. I also saw that NKOTB was playing in DC on Friday June 15 and in Philly Saturday June 16. Again perfect because I am only a half hour from DC and less than two hours from Philly, plus it was a weekend. Unfortunately, tickets for all these shows went on sale at the same exact time. So I prioritized by proximity and got my DC ticket first, then Philly, then Mohegan Sun. But by the time I was able to purchase my Mohegan Sun ticket, they were sold out of floor seats. So what’s a girl to do? Buy a VIP ticket of course. I bought the cheapest VIP ticket I could that would get me a seat on the floor and a meet and greet with NKOTB, among other goodies. I booked a room for two nights at Foxwoods Casino fifteen minutes away from Mohegan Sun Casino because it was half the price. This worked out perfectly. I was seeing three shows, including the tour opener, while only really traveling to one.
NKOTB Memphis 2009
Be aware of perfection. About a week later NKOTB added more shows to their tour including a second show at Mohegan Sun casino. This would not have been a problem except it was added two days before the original one. Now I had a ticket (a VIP ticket) to the second show of the tour, not the first. I had no other choice but to buy a ticket to this added show, so I could be at the first show of the Package Tour on May 29th at Mohegan Sun Casino. I bought my floor seat and added another night to my hotel reservation at Foxwoods. Since I had added another show, I decided I did not need to go to the Philly show and sold my ticket to my friend who couldn’t get one. This second show at Mohegan Sun actually worked out better because now I could spend more time at the casinos in Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun.
NKOTB Vegas 2010
Be careful what you wish for. A couple weeks later NKOTB added many more shows to their tour including a third show at Mohegan Sun and a show in Atlantic City. Again, they added a show before the other two I already had tickets to. I couldn’t very well go all the way up to Connecticut to attend the second and third shows of the tour and not go to the first. So I bought a ticket to the first show of the NKOTB Package Tour on May 28th at Mohegan Sun and added yet another night to my hotel reservation. Then I decided to buy a ticket to the Atlantic City show because I have never been to the East Coast Vegas. Also, concerts on July 26th have been very lucky for me, like when Larry hugged me on his way to the stage in Pittsburgh at the last U2 360 show in the US.
For those of you keeping score at home, I am going to five NKOTB shows in three months. In May, I am going to the first three shows of the Package Tour on May 28th, 29th and 31st at Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut – staying four nights at Foxwoods Casino. In June, I am going to the DC show at the Verizon Center on June 14th – just a drive and metro ride from my house. In July, I am going to the Atlantic City show at the Taj Mahal on July 26th – staying two nights at the Showboat casino next door. So it isn’t Vegas, but it is a lot of NKOTB and a lot of casinos.
NKOTB 10
By the way if you’re asking yourself why I need to see more than one show of the same group on the same tour, you obviously don’t know me very well and have not read my On the Road with U2 blog.
I haven’t been this sad after a concert since after the last concert I saw in Pennsylvania – it was the last US show of the U2 360 tour last year in Pittsburgh when Larry hugged me on his way to the stage. I was in Hershey this weekend, not Pittsburgh, and Jordan didn’t hug me, but I was so close to him that my neck hurt from looking up at him and my legs were quivering from being so close to him. NKOTB’s performance at the MixTape Festival Friday night August 17th was absolutely amazing! That is the most excited I’ve been since that fateful night last year in Pittsburgh.
JORDAN!!!!
I had been excited for months for this first annual MixTape Festival at Hershey Park. It was a pop festival featuring performances by Kelly Clarkson, The Wanted, LL Cool J, DJ Paully D, 98 Degrees, NKOTBSB and NKOTB! The whole reason I went was obviously for New Kids on the Block (NKOTB). There were playing Friday night and again Saturday night with the Back Street Boys (NKOTBSB). Although I’m not a fan of the Back Street Boys, it was cool to see NKOTB two nights in a row!
Hershey Park
I left my house around 10:15am Friday morning for the 98 mile drive up to Hershey, PA. My friend Abbey, who I’ve known since the U2 Elevation tour in 2001 and who was also standing next to me when Larry hugged me last year in Pittsburgh, was meeting me at the hotel with her friend Sarah – who got us all tickets for the MixTape festival through the NKOTB fan club. Two hours later, I arrived at the Days Inn Hershey (a great hotel if you’re going to Hershey Park), but our room wasn’t ready quite yet. I waited in the lobby for about a half hour and then was able to check in, and that was when Abbey and Sarah arrived.
MixTape Festival Day1 August 17, 2012
Friday GA line for NKOTB
Abbey and I took the free hotel shuttle over to Hershey Stadium around 3pm. We got in the GA line and at 3:45 was inside one person back from the rail behind the VIP section. We noticed that there were five platforms (let’s call them blocks) spaced along the rail on the VIP side. We quickly realized 5 blocks for 5 New Kids. We knew that NKOTB performs one song in the middle of the audience. I mentioned to Abbey that it would be great if they opened the show out here in front of us, rather than on the main stage. We stood behind the center block. Even though we were one person back, we were so close that we could reach out and touch it. Luckily for me, I am tall and the person in front of me was not. Minutes after we had secured our spot at the center block, it started to rain and then downpour – and it continued to drizzle the rest of the night.
this picture was in the Harrisburg newspaper (you can see me in the cowboy hat – 2nd row center)
The first performance on our stage was Aaron Carter at 5:25pm. Because of the rain, his set was cut short to only three songs. He was really good though – very entertaining. He is the younger brother of Nick Carter from the Back Street Boys. Next up was a frightening band called Steel Panther. They were an 80s hair band parody, at least I hope they were a parody. Their lyrics were a little raunchy, especially since there were young girls in the audience. DJ Paully D, from Jershey Shore fame, was up next. I have to admit that I was a little excited. It was a fist pumping good time, and when Paully left the stage he screamed, “Cabs heeeer!”
Aaron Carter
Steel Panther
DJ Paully D
At 8:45pm, it was finally time for NKOTB! I was so excited! I hadn’t seen them in two years – since the opening of the No Casino Tour in Vegas. The screens came down and the thunderous pound of the video starting scared me to death. After the retrospective video, I saw NKOTB riding through the stadium on a what looked like a golf cart. I was right, they were starting the show on those five blocks – right in front of us! It was so exciting watching them run in. Unfortunately Jordan ran past us to the block on the right. Donnie got on the block right in front of us. They opened with One Song. Towards the end of the song, all five of the New Kids were directly in front of us on the center block. Unfortunately Jordan and Joey were facing the other way toward the VIP, but Jon, Donnie and Danny were facing us. They were all wearing Adidas track suits. Jordan’s and Joey’s were blue with matching blue sun glasses while Jon’s, Donnie’s and Danny’s were red.
Donnie
Jon, Donnie, Danny
At the end of the first song, they all started to get off of the block – except for Jordan! At that moment, I felt a big push like I was riding a wave and I ended up in front of Abbey (who had been standing next to me) and completely squishing the girl in front of me who was luckily really short. I was even closer to Jordan now. Then Jordan (and the rest of them) took off his track suits and was wearing a white tank and white pants. I was taking video and pictures and my legs were quivering – I was so excited! Abbey said Jordan was posing for me. NKOTB performed Summertime while Jordan was in front of me – not that I remember. All I remember is my neck hurting from looking up at Jordan because he was close, reaching out for him to touch me (which he didn’t) and my legs shaking. It was quite an amazing 3 minutes!
JORDAN!!!!
Jordan looking at me!
SummerTime
Jordan!
At the end of Summertime, Jordan left and Joey came to our block while NKOTB performed Dirty Dancing. I let Abbey get in front of me, so she could see – besides Jordan had already left for another block. After Dirty Dancing, NKOTB went to the main stage to perform to the anxious VIPers who I’m sure were none too happy that the lowly GAers got a close up performance for the first three songs.
Joey
Friday was Donnie’s birthday, so Jordan, Joey, Danny, Jon, and the audience sang Happy Birthday. And then out of nowhere Jon started singing NKOTB’s version of Happy Birthday! It was great because Jon never sings and is very shy on stage. He stopped after the first verse and Donnie told him to keep singing “it’s the same lyrics.” And even Jordan tried to help him, hiding behind him singing. Then a girl from the audience gave Donnie a birthday present, some sort of giant chocolate bar from Hershey’s Chocolate World.
Happy Birthday Donnie!
Donnie
A while later, I think it was Jordan who said something like let’s go back out there to perform this “they’re VIP too!” So back they came – right in front of us. Unfortunately, Jordan did not come back to our center block, but he was on the one to the left of us. Joey was in front of us while they performed Tonight. But it turned out to be great that Joey was in front of us because his wife brought their little son Griffin up on the block with Joey. And together they sang. It couldn’t have been any cuter! Then NKOTB returned to the main stage for the rest of the show.
Joey back in front of us
Jordan to our left
Joey and his son Griffin singing Tonight
At the end of the show, 98 Degrees joined NKOTB on stage during Hangin Tough. I got to see Nick Lachey and Jordan Knight standing next to each other. Sigh! As they were saying goodnight, Donnie told everyone to go watch Kelly Clarkson’s performance because they had a surprise for us. So at 10pm we went to the other end of the stadium to watch Kelly Clarkson, who was very good. About a half hour into her set, Joey McIntyre walks out and they sing an amazing duet together. We left after that and caught the shuttle back to the hotel. We were back by 11pm, but I didn’t fall sleep until after 3am. I was just too excited and kept replaying the show in my head, especially those first three songs.
Jordan and Nick
Kelly Clarkson and Joey McIntyre
That NKOTB show was absolutely amazing! It was so good. Although they didn’t perform my favorite Single, they did perform my favorite Step By Step. It was a great show of New Kids’ oldies – very different from the shows I saw in Vegas on the No-Casino Tour two years ago. The NKOTB set list for Friday August 17th was as follows: One Song, Summertime, Dirty Dancing, The Right Stuff, Didn’t I Blow Your Mind, Valentine Girl, If You Go Away, Please Don’t Go Girl, Step By Step, Cover Girl, Happy Birthday, Tonight, I’ll Be Loving You Forever, Hangin Tough.
Goodnight!
After just three hours of sleep, free hotel breakfast bar and watching The Karate Kid in our room, Abbey and I took the hotel shuttle over to Hershey Park around noon on Saturday for Day 2 of the MixTape Festival. We decided to wait at the entrance where the bands arrive. We saw Jordan walk up the stairs to the stage. Then we watched NKOTB and BSB rehearse. Luckily the stage was high enough that we could see them when they were out on the platform extension of the stage. They rehearsed Single, so I was very happy. After their rehearsal, Danny ran by and waved to us, but he didn’t stop. A few of the guys from Back Street Boys came out and shouted to us. Around 1:30 we walked over to Chocolate World for lunch, to get out of the sun, and sit down and rest. We were back at the band entrance by 3:00, but nothing was really going on except I did catch a glimpse of Jordan walking by.
MixTape Festival Day2 August 18, 2012
NKOTB rehearsing Single
Around 4:00, we went in, bought a tee shirt and sat in the shade at the soundboard. Nothing could top the previous night, so we didn’t even try to be up front. Also, the platform extension of the stage wasn’t as close to the GA section were the previous nights ‘blocks.’ At 5:00pm, the Dan Band performed. They were a funny, entertaining cover band. Next up was The Wanted, who were really good. They are a British Boy band with a hot bassist named Max. We left our comfy spot in the shade and moved as close as we could for LL Cool J. He was great – and hot! I had seen him once before a few years ago at the Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis. The audience was very into it and so was Donnie, who was jumping up and down back stage. LL put on a very entertaining show. He was throwing towels out to the girls like Elvis threw scarves. He also threw out some roses and gave away a laptop to a guy in the audience. LL brought two girls up on stage – at two different times. He seemed like a really nice guy. Nice and hot – go figure!
The Dan Band
The Wanted
LL Cool J
At 9pm, it was time for the main event – NKOTBSB! They opened with Single! Now I’ve seen three different versions of Single. I saw the regular album version in Memphis in 2009, the acoustic version in Vegas in 2010, and now the NKOTBSB version. Besides Single and the songs they did with Back Street Boys, NKOTB played the same songs as the previous night. But this time they wore black instead of white. They again came out into the audience for Tonight. Both The Wanted and 98 Degrees joined New Kids on the Block and Back Street Boys on stage – 4 boy bands on 1 stage! It was a great show, but I’m not a Back Street Boys fan so I was kind of bored every other 2 songs when BSB performed. It was great to see NKOTB two nights in a row though! I listened to Single on repeat the entire 98-mile drive home Saturday night.
NKOTB
NKOTB
NKOTB
NKOTBSB
Click here for all 119 photos of my weekend at the MixTape Festival.
I am seeing 6 concerts in 3 months in the Summer of 2012. It is a little different than 16 concerts in 3 months like I saw last summer, but U2 is not touring this summer. This summer I am seeing Lisa Marie Presley and Lucero in June, Def Leppard (with Poison) and Toad the Wet Sprocket in July, and New Kids on the Block twice in August.
My first concert of the summer is Lisa Marie Presley! And I am SO excited! I am seeing Lisa Marie Presley at Baltimore Soundstage on June 15th! This is a seated event and general admission seats are $25 or a show package table for two is $75 – guess which one I got? I have to skip seeing the Beach Boys at Merriweather the same night, but I would never miss Lisa Marie, especially in Baltimore. I have seen her every time she’s played Baltimore – this will be the third time. I have seen Lisa Marie Presley several times in concert since 2003 when she started. For more on me and Lisa Marie, please read my next blog post.
My second show of the summer is a week later. I am seeing Lucero at Rams Head Live in Baltimore on Friday June 22nd. It is a general admission show and tickets are $25. Lucero is this great rock band from Memphis. The lead singer has a very unique, raspy voice that I love. I lived in Memphis for three years and never got to see Lucero – something always got in the way. And now that I am back in Maryland, I’m seeing Lucero – ironic.
My third concert of the summer is Def Leppard and Poison at Merriweather on Tuesday July 10th. This is going to be quite the 80s scene. I am pretty excited about this one. I have always wanted to see Def Leppard, as I was a big fan in high school. And recently Bret Michaels of Poison has peaked my interest. Plus 80s rock queen Lita Ford is opening. This show should provide for some great crowd watching. I bought a lawn ticket for $50.
My fourth concert of the summer is Toad the Wet Sprocket at Rams Head on Stage in Annapolis on Monday July 30. I love Toad the Wet Sprocket and have seen them several times in concert. They are definitely one of my favorite bands. They were the soundtrack of the 1990s for me – along with U2 and The Cranberries. This show will be my only seated show of the year, so it will be quite a different atmosphere. Tickets are $50.
My fifth and sixth (and final) concerts of the summer are a two-day festival. I am seeing the New Kids on the Block at the MixTape Festival at Hershey Stadium in Hershey, PA on August 17-18. New Kids on the Block are playing both days of the festival. The first day by themselves and the second day with Back Street Boys. I have seen New Kids on the Block four times. In fact, New Kids on the Block were my very first concert. It was 1990, I had just graduated high school, and my mom deemed me finally old enough to go to a concert. I was way up top in the back of the Baltimore Arena, but it was a great show – lots of screaming girls. I saw New Kids on the Block again in 2009 in Memphis almost 20 years later. Those same girls were now women screaming for New Kids on the Block, now referred to as NKOTB, And then I saw NKOTB a year later in Las Vegas for the first two shows of their tour, and even went to the after party. Also playing the MixTape festival are LL Cool J, The Fray, The Wanted, Kelly Clarkson, DJ Pauly D, and others. Tickets are crazy expensive (almost $200.), but I get to see NKOTB twice! Plus, since I’m skipping the Beale Street Music Festival for the first time in 10 years, I really wanted to go to a music festival – even if it is a pop music festival.
So I’m starting and ending the summer with some of my favorite performers. If I can’t see U2 this summer, I am glad I’m seeing Lisa Marie Presley and NKOTB!
Last night I saw Jordan Knight at The Fillmore in Silver Spring, MD, the first of my four concerts in four months. I had a great time, even though I only knew one song! My first concert of my life was New Kids on the Block in 1990 – I was almost 18. Twenty-two years later I still love the New Kids on the Block, which is why I went to see Jordan Knight. I don’t have any of his solo albums, but I just like Jordan. He’s gorgeous and nice and very down to earth and extremely entertaining.
I left my house at 6:30pm and was back home at 11pm, a world of difference from the last concert I went to on July 26, 2011 – the last U2 360 show in the US (when Larry hugged me on his way to the stage in Pittsburgh). I wore my Jordan boyfriend tee shirt and listened to Single repeatedly on my half hour drive to The Fillmore. I arrived just after the doors opened at 7pm. I got a spot on the front rail all the way on the end, but it was a great view. The first thing I saw were orange drums! My ticket said doors opened at 7pm and the Fillmore website said the show started at 8pm, but Jordan Knight didn’t take the stage until 9:05pm – and only played until 10:23pm. So basically I waited for Jordan longer than I saw him perform. But it was well worth the wait because Jordan Knight put on a great show, very intimate and entertaining! He talked and interacted a lot with the audience, including bringing three fans on stage to dance during Rockstar. Jordan performed songs in typical NKOTB style as well as sang ballads while playing the keyboards. The highlight of the show for me was Jordan’s performance of NKOTB’s The Right Stuff.
The Fillmore is a great venue and easy to get to right on Route 29 in Silver Spring, MD – and free parking on weekends and week nights. It has a nice bar and a balcony around the perimeter. Capacity is 1100 people, but it wasn’t sold out last night. The floor was pretty much filled without being jam packed scary disgusting. The audience was about 99% women who were in their 30s and 40s and squealed every time Jordan rotated his pelvis. Jordan Knight definitely had the right stuff last night!
A while later Joey walked up. Apparently Danny and Donnie were already inside – we just missed meeting Danny by a few minutes. Ugh! Even though all the guys were inside, we stayed and hung out in front of the Orpheum. We listened to the soundcheck – even though the fire door said not to block it and the food court security guy kept kicking us out. We heard NKOTB rehearse The ReMix, Jealous, Step By Step, Hangin Tough, The Right Stuff, Five Brothers and a Million Sisters, Crash, Whisper, and Survive You.
