DAILY STAR: SETLIST: NKOTBSB, 02 ARENA, LONDON

ABOVE: NKOTBSB have a back catalogue boasting some of the most timeless classic pop efforts ever written

New Kids On The Block ruled the eighties, while Backstreet Boys picked up their mantle in the nineties. Now the two grown-up man bands are touring together

30th April 2012

By Kim Dawson

BOY BAND fever might be sweeping the globe but without these originals they wouldn’t exist.

New Kids On The Block ruled the eighties, while Backstreet Boys picked up their mantle in the nineties. Now the two grown-up man bands are touring together.

As they came out to a mash-up of NKOTB’s Single and BSB’s The One with a pinch of Coldplay’s Vida La Vida, the heartbeats of thousands of fans, who never thought they’d see this moment, thundered.

With a back catalogue boasting some of the most timeless classic pop efforts ever written, there wasn’t a dull moment.

And showing the energy of blokes half their age, both groups effortlessly flipped out the old dance routines.

We’ve Got It Goin’ On and Cover Girl took the crowd back to their teens. And without spots, school and puppy love to worry over, it was worth every second.

SOURCE: http://www.dailystar.co.uk/playlist/view/248618/Setlist-NKOTBSB-02-Arena-London/

DIGITAL SPY: NKOTBSB live at the O2 Arena: Review

NKOTBSB live at the O2 Arena: Review

 By Robert Copsey

Sleeveless shirts, curtain fringes and dance breakdowns were just some of the many, many things that made '90s pop music great. In fact, it didn't take much else for New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys in their heydays to conquer the world. Well, except for the occasional landmark song.
"It feels like 1989 all over again, or 1999 for some of us," New Kids member Joey McIntyre told the crowd. It's a confusing statement for those not aware that both bands are currently in the midst of a joint world tour under the guise NKOTBSB, but the intergenerational crowd cheered regardless during last night's second sold-out show at London's O2 Arena.

© WENN

All nine remaining men (out of a possible 12) were noticeably thicker around the edges, but it didn't hold any of them back during a blistering two hour set in which the opposing groups to'd and fro'd between their respective catalogues.
Younger and with more hits under their belt, you'd be forgiven for thinking Backstreet Boys were the real attraction of the evening. On the contrary, 'Dirty Dancing', 'My Favourite Girl' and 'Step By Step' were deserved highlights by New Kids for their cheesy yet brilliantly slick routines and on point vocals - helped along by the plush production of lights and firework displays.
Backstreet Boys were equally unafraid to ramp up the nostalgia, sporting matching white suits for a string of ballads as well as imitating some of their best moves on 'Larger Than Life' and 'As Long As You Love Me'. However, time constraints meant a section covering most of their biggest moments felt rushed, particularly given their significance on the pop landscape.

© WENN / Sakura/WENN.com

Save a curious LMFAO 'Party Rock Anthem' interlude and even stranger moment when One Direction's 'What Makes You Beautiful' was played out during a crowd spotting moment, both bands appeared to embrace their age rather than blindly ignore it. Crotch-thrusting not only became the move of choice adopted by all for the evening, it told their now all-grown-up fanbase that yes, the lyrics really were that filthy.
Despite reports of fan bickering during the US leg of the jaunt, the end of the night was a victory for all. BSB fans welcomed the news that AJ is to be a father and, more importantly, the announcement of former member Kevin returning for their next album and tour. For NKOTB followers it was a win of a very different kind: that after 25 years, the world's first proper boyband can still put on one hell of a show.

SOURCE: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/thesound/a379168/nkotbsb-live-at-the-o2-arena-review.html

Entertainment Focus: NKOTBSB at O2 Review

NKOTBSB – Sunday 29th April 2012 – The O2 Arena, London

Submitted by Pip Ellwood on Mon,

EF Rating: 5

Boyband fever is taking over the world at the moment with British talent such as The Wanted and One Direction topping the charts in the US. 26 years earlier though it was New Kids On The Block that ruled the world before handing their boyband crown over to Backstreet Boys in 1996. New Kids On The Block called it a day in 1994 leaving it 14 years until they reunited. Backstreet Boys on the other hand have been going since 1993 and have taken one hiatus in their careers in the early 00’s before Kevin Richardson decided to leave the group. Carrying on as a foursome the group has had limited success since.
In 2010 New Kids On The Block and Backstreet Boys performed together and after receiving a positive reaction they formed super-group NKOTBSB and set off on tour together in 2011. A collective greatest hits featuring two newly recorded tracks was released and now NKOTBSB are taking their show across the world. Last night we caught the boyband legends as they performed the last date of the UK leg of their tour.
Nostalgic was definitely the best way to describe the NKOTBSB show. As we piled into The O2 Arena along with a largely female audience, the excitement was bubbling as people began to take their seats. For some fans they were seeing both groups for the first time whilst others had clearly been fans since the beginning. We were somewhere in-between remembering both groups as part of our childhood and shaping our idea of what good pop music should sound like.
Arriving on stage at 8pm NKOTBSB performed on an elevated platform which lowered down allowing them to move around their impressive stage. As Coldplay’s Viva la Vida played NKOTBSB performed a mash-up of their songs Single and The One. Immediately the super-group hurtled down the long catwalk stage towards the circular stage at the rear. For some fans the sight of their idols was too much with screaming and tears a key feature of the night making it really feel like the 90s.
From that point on the two boybands alternated on the stage for the first part of the show. Surprisingly this worked very well with the crowd getting into the rhythm of the show with ease. At the end of each song the lights went down and it actually became fun trying to figure out where the boybands would enter onto the stage. From NKOTB we heard hits such as their 2008 comeback Summertime, The Block’s Dirty Dancing and classic You Got It (The Right Stuff). Backstreet Boys selected The Call, early hit Get Down (You’re The One For Me) and Larger Than Life as their first songs of the evening.
After alternating for the first third of the show the boybands then took it in turns to perform longer sets consisting of several tracks. This also gave them opportunity to utilise The O2 Arena to the fullest. Backstreet Boys entered into the audience to find girls to take on stage and sing I’ll Never Break Your Heart whilst NKOTB ran up-and-down the arena stairs singing Tonight and hugging their adoring fans.
Highlights during this portion of the show came thick and fast. For NKOTB Joey McIntyre stole the show with an incredible vocal on Please Don’t Go Girl and classic hit Step By Step got the audience singing and dancing along. For Backstreet Boys the highlights were Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely and the classic Quit Playing Games (With My Heart).
Performing two longer sets each the boybands then alternated once again until they all appeared on stage for new track Don’t Turn Out The Lights. It was at this point you could see the genuine chemistry between the 9 men and Backstreet Boys shared the news that AJ was going to be a father and that they were recording a new album with original group member Kevin Richardson returning to the fold.
For the encore Backstreet Boys performed Everybody (Backstreet’s Back) and NKOTB performed monster smash Hangin’ Tough. Then both groups returned to the stage to perform a mash-up consisting of Queen’s We Will Rock You and their encore songs.
What really impressed us throughout the show was that both bands sung completely live. They sounded absolutely fantastic with Jordan Knight and Joey McIntyre taking care of the majority of lead vocals for NKOTB and Backstreet Boys sharing vocal duties a bit more equally with Brian Littrell and A.J McLean pulling off some impressive vocals. Howie Dorough got the opportunity to sing more lines as he picked up lots of Kevin Richardson's lines whilst Nick Carter clearly loved the screaming attention he was getting from the women in the audience. All 9 men were in great shape and managed to pull off some serious dancing over the course of the set. Donnie Wahlberg proved to be NKOTB’s most memorable member as he ripped his shirt off revealing his toned physique and treated us to a few of his trademark raps. Danny Wood and Jonathan Knight provided solid backing vocals and were beaming throughout the show.
As confetti sailed down from the ceiling and the 9 men took their bows it was clear that there’s still a lot of love for both NKOTB and Backstreet Boys. The show was one of the best pop shows we’ve ever seen and the energy was nothing short of incredible. From the fans going crazy to NKOTBSB giving it their all, it really was a show to remember. In the near 2 and a half hour set both groups reminded us of how good pop music used to be and we felt incredibly nostalgic. We hope this isn’t the last time we see both bands performing together and we’ll certainly be first in line for tickets if they come to the UK again.
Setlist
NKOTBSB
Medley: Single / The One (contains elements of Viva la Vida)
New Kids on the Block
Summertime
Backstreet Boys
The Call
New Kids on the Block
Dirty Dancing
Backstreet Boys
Get Down (You're the One for Me)
New Kids on the Block
You Got It (The Right Stuff)
Backstreet Boys
Larger Than Life
New Kids on the Block
Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)
Valentine Girl
If You Go Away
Please Don't Go Girl
Backstreet Boys
Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely
10,000 Promises
I'll Never Break Your Heart
Inconsolable
Drowning
Incomplete
New Kids on the Block
Step By Step
Cover Girl
My Favorite Girl
Games
Tonight
Backstreet Boys
Shape of My Heart
As Long As You Love Me
All I Have to Give
We’ve Got It Goin’ On
Quit Playing Games (With My Heart) (contains elements of Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough)
New Kids on the Block
I'll Be Loving You (Forever)
Backstreet Boys
I Want It That Way
NKOTBSB
Don't Turn Out the Lights
Backstreet Boys
Everybody (Backstreet's Back)
New Kids on the Block
Hangin’ Tough (contains excerpts from We Will Rock You)
NKOTBSB
Medley: Everybody (Backstreet's Back) / Hangin’ Tough (Reprise)

SOURCE: http://www.entertainment-focus.com/music/articles/nkotbsb-%E2%80%93-sunday-29th-april-2012-%E2%80%93-the-o2-arena-london

THE SUN: Caught Live: Backstreet Boys & NKOTB @ O2 Arena

THERE can't have been much beer sold in the O2 last night.

The concert venue was entirely packed with women for the Backstreet Boys and New Kids On The Block gig.
The bands were performing the last leg of their joint British tour to thousands of screaming ladies, who didn't seem to care that their childhood idols had lost a few hairs since they last saw them onstage.
All of the favourites were included in the show; Backstreet's Back, I Want It That Way and As Long As You Love Me all made an appearance.
Meanwhile NKOTB had the whole crowd singing every word to songs like Hangin' Tough and Please Don't Go Girl.

More the merrier ... NKOTB & Backstreet Boys on stage together earlier in UK tour

 

When the blokes first announced their decision to double up on a tour, it was questionable that they'd be able to sell out arenas like the 02, but judging by the bums in seats yesterday, they could probably have added another date to London gigs.
The bar staff would've needed to re-stock white wine before then though.

SOURCE: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/music/4289895/Caught-Live-Backstreet-Boys-NKOTB-O2-Arena.html

4 MUSIC: news: New Kids on The Block and Backstreet Boys rock London

Mon 30 Apr 16:45
Written by Trent Maynard

The biggest boybands of yesteryear, New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys, took to the stage at London's O2 Arena Sunday night for the last UK date of their NKOTBSB world tour.
The two groups stormed the stage for an all-hands-on-deck opening mash-up number, before NKOTB jumped into their 2008 single Summertime and Backstreet followed with The Call.

The groups played tag-team for most of the evening, allowing time for the all-important costume change. Nearly all the boyband wardrobe clichés were present - there were white suits, black suits, fedoras, glittery t-shirts, army fatigues and some baggy streetwear.

NKOTB's Donnie Wahlberg even tore off his t-shirt to reveal washboard abs and rippling biceps. The women screamed. So did some of the men.
Screaming is an essential component of boyband reunion shows, it seems. In between cranking out more than two decades of pop hits, the bands graciously stopped and posed - eyes looking skyward - for minutes on end so delighted crowds could applaud. It's hard to not get swept up in all that energy and emotion (and muscle).
And so, when Donnie Wahlberg stretched out his sweaty hand as he passed our row - singing passionately into his mic and staring into our eyes - the ladies around me stretched out their arms to touch him. And, I'll admit, so did I. I may have missed his hand and accidentally poked his shoulder blade, but I still feel I was a part of something special.
Being it their last night in the UK, the boys - or men, rather - also had some big revelations. Not only is AJ expecting another baby (congrats, AJ!), but the Backstreet Boys will be returning to London in July to record their eighth album. And if that wasn't enough, former member Kevin Richardson - who left the band in 2006 - will rejoin the group.
Looks like fans of heavy screaming will have even more to scream about in the coming year!
Rating: 3 / 5
Setlist
Intro
Viva La Vida Single / The One
Summertime Remix
The Call
Dirty Dancing
Get Down
Right Stuff
AMA Dance Break
Larger Than Life
Diddn't I Blow / Valentine Girl / If You Go Away / PDGG
Show Me The Meaning / 10,000 Promises / I'll Never Break Your Heart / Drowning / Incomplete
Step By Step
Cover Girl
Favorite Girl / Games
Tonight
Shape of My Heart
As Long As You Love Me
All I Have To Give / We've Got It Going On
Quit Playing Games With My Heart
I'll Be Loving You
I Want It That Way
Don't Turn The Lights Off
Backstreet's Back
Hanging Tough/We Will Rock You
AMA Mashup

SOURCE:  http://www.4music.com/news/reviews/4125/New-Kids-on-The-Block-and-Backstreet-Boys-rock-London

The Guardian: NKOTBSB at O2 review

NKOTBSB – review

Caroline Sullivan

"NKOTBSB" doesn't exactly trip off the tongue, but it's the official moniker for the combined forces of New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys, who put boyband differences aside last summer and have been touring together ever since. Their marriage of convenience has created a nine-man display of raunch and cheese: there's abundant crotch-thrusting and gay-biker leatherwear, but also gleaming white suits and hormonal serenades to women picked from the crowd. And there are the hits – seemingly hundreds of them, nearly every one an identical mulch of pop and "urban" that sounded fresh in the 90s. They don't now, but that doesn't stop the audience from partying like it's 1999.

Impossibly buff and toned for men with an average age of 38, the bands don't bother with modesty. "It's a good year to be in London," says New Kid Joey McIntyre. "The Queen's birthday [sic], the Olympics and NKOTBSB – that's all you need." A woman a few seats down from me agrees; she's made a placard that pleads: "Joey can we lick your boots?" To be fair, McIntyre is one of the stars of the 135-minute show; his a cappella performance of Please Don't Go Girl leaves both him and the fans drained.

There aren't many moments to equal it. Each band is on stage for a few numbers, revisiting the No 1s (BSB's I Want It That Way, New Kids' Hangin' Tough) and lesser-knowns, before disappearing to let the next lot on. With both groups rooted musically in vocal harmonies owing something to the Temptations, there are more similarities than differences. What they do have, all these years later, is perspective. During Tonight, New Kid Donnie Wahlberg accepts a fan's proffered beer and downs it in one, knowing he may as well have fun while the sun shines.

SOURCE:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/apr/29/new-kids-backstreet-boys-review?newsfeed=true

The Journal: Generation game at arena

The Backstreet Boys and New Kids on the Block at Metro Radio Arena COMBINING their boy band appeal, the two American five-pieces served up one enormous, scream-inducing show. Although both massive in their heyday, they never overlapped, with NKOTB disbanding as Backstreet were starting to make waves. NKOTB formed in 1984 but didn’t hit the big time until second album Hangin’ Tough in 1988. It was later that the Backstreet Boys leapt to fame. Put together by pop mogul Lou Pearlman, they released their first album in 1996.

And so it was that two generations of pop fans descended on the arena for a night that was to bring out the teenage girl in us. Hanging Tough, You Got It and Step by Step were devoured by NKOTB fans while the Backstreet Boys wowed theirs with classics such as Backstreet’s Back, As Long As You Love Me, and Larger Than Life. First crushes were re-ignited, despite the odd wrinkle and paunch, and grown women launched themselves at their heroes when they made their way through the crowd, the Backstreet Boys at one point picking a girl each to serenade on stage.

The bands performed together and then separately, appeasing all fans. For any true pop fan it was a show to be devoured. The cheesy dance routines and questionable stage attire were a small price to pay for watching two great boy bands make their return. For me, at least, it was a childhood dream come true and something to be cherished for a long time. Here’s hoping we haven’t seen the last of either of these classic groups.

Philippa Goymer 

SOURCE: http://www.journallive.co.uk/culture-newcastle/2012/04/28/generation-game-at-arena-61634-30856490/#ixzz1tNLhejw4

Birmingham Mail: Review: New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys at Birmingham's LG Arena

By Christina Savvas /Apr 28 2012

DURING a recent spring clean I came across a video tape labelled with child’s scrawl; Christina Savvas, aged nine. It was my treasured New Kids on the Block video, so you can imagine the childhood memories which came flooding back when the US band announced they were to join forces with the other huge band of the 90s - Backstreet Boys to form supergroup NKOTBSB - catchy!

As the nine members took to the stage - at Birmingham’s LG Arena - the crowd of mainly females in their 30s, took a trip down memory lane.

Surprisingly the night started with a version of Coldplay’s Viva La Vida, before each group performed a series of their own huge hits.

NKOTB – made up of Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg, Danny Wood, Jon Knight and his brother Jordan - my childhood crush - got the crowd going with The Right Stuff, Step by Step and Cover Girl.

Backstreet’s Howie D, AJ Mclean, Nick Carter and Brian Littrell, belted out Quit Playing Games, I’ll Never Break Your Heart and I Want It That Way, to name just a few.

There were some fashion faux pas which you might expect when a group of forty-something men, attempt to rekindle their youth; one or two should have ditched the leather ensembles, and someone should have told Jon not to tuck in the bling T-shirt into his high wasted skinny jeans.

Despite the odd move of uncomfortable ‘dad dancing’ and one or two off notes, no-one in the crowd really cared. Both groups were fantastic and they had obviously been working hard to keep their bodies in shape. They were keen to show off their efforts and the ladies of Birmingham lapped it up.

The night ended in an epic Glee style mash-up. Backstreet’s Back and Hanging Tough in an on-stage battle with the guys dressed in tracksuit tops emblazoned with England and caps, Joey wearing his to the side he always did.

When I spoke to Howie D before the gig, he promised more than two hours of high energy entertainment and they delivered.

For two hours we partied like it was 1999 or 89 for the hardcore NKOTB fans and once again I was a young girl with a very big crush.

SOURCE:

http://www.birminghammail.net/lifestyle/latest-features/2012/04/28/review-new-kids-on-the-block-and-backstreet-boys-at-birmingham-s-lg-arena-97319-30859092/#ixzz1tNH0JsVU

Halifax firm lands work for New Kids on the Block and the Backstreet Boys

Ellis Wayman of Quite Great PR who have recently moved into he Elsie Whiteley Centre in Halifax. They do PR for bands like Back Street Boys and New Kids on the Block

Published on Thursday 26 April 2012 12:52

A HALIFAX PR firm has landed a top contract working for two of the biggest boy bands of all time.
Quite Great PR, based in the Elsie Whiteley Innovation Centre, has landed work to promote a unique event featuring global superstars, New Kids on the Block and the Backstreet Boys.
The boy bands - who found fame in the 80s and 90s - have reformed and reunited in a joint tour. This Sunday, the boys play the O2 Arena in London and the show will be broadcast to 400 cinemas across Europe - and Quite Great PR are working behind the scenes to publicise the gig.
Ellis Wayman, head of music development, said: “It’s been really fun working on this. And being on Skype to Los Angeles, talking to their management while I’m sitting in Halifax. It’s been exciting organising TV, radio and press for the event.”
Quite Great has secured more than 200 articles across Europe - including OK! and Hello! magazines - and TV and radio appearances for the bands such as BBC Breakfast and Radio 5 Live.

The company has an office in Cambridge but created a branch in Halifax to cover the north.
They moved into the Elsie Whiteley Centre earlier this year.
Mr Wayman said: “We have clients in Manchester and Leeds, so Halifax is ideal. It’s central to the north west creative hotbed.”
As well as publicising global superstars, Quite Great are on the hunt for local talent to help.
He said: “We’re want to help people based up here. Send us demos or tracks and we can outline a whole PR plan to get you noticed.”
For more information and tickets to the bands’ cinema show - which includes Cineworld in Bradford and Showcase in Leeds - visit www.myscreenevent.com/nkotbsb.html.
It will also be screened via the boys’ Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/nkotbsb.
To contact Quite Great PR email north1@quitegreatmusicpr.co.uk

SOURCE: http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/lifestyle/arts-culture-and-entertainment/arts-and-entertainment-news/halifax-firm-lands-work-for-new-kids-on-the-block-and-the-backstreet-boys-1-4488272

Contactmusic: Nkotbsb Want Another World Tour

27 April 2012 07:43:14 PM

Nkotbsb Want Another World Tour

NKOTBSB would love to do another world tour but need to take a break after they finish up the current one.

NKOTBSB want to do another world tour.
Although the supergroup - comprised of pop heavyweights New Kids on the Block and the Backstreet Boys - are only on the UK leg of their series of concerts with dates still to come across Europe, Asia and Australia, they are enjoying themselves so much they would love to tour together again, after a well deserved break.
NKOTB's Donnie Wahlberg exclusively told BANG Showbiz: ''After we finish up the European leg of the tour we head off to Asia and Australia and then we're going to take a much needed break. Backstreet Boys are going back into the studio after July 4 to make a new BSB record. This is a tour that we are all enjoying so much so if at any point down the road an opportunity arises for us to do this again then NKOTBSB will rise to the occasion again. We've all had fun doing this so who knows. This whole concept, it just works so we're there!''
The band's concert at London's The O2 arena on Sunday (29.04.12) will be streamed to cinemas across Europe by Myscreenevent.com using HD camera technology and they admitted they wish it wasn't live because they would love to be able to sneak in to some screens to see the fans reaction.
BSB's AJ McLean joked: ''We're trying to figure out how we can skip the concert and go to the theatre instead. We might nominate one guy to miss the shows or maybe when one band is on stage the other band can sneak out to the cinema.''
Fans can buy tickets for the live screening direct from the band's web and social media sites and from www.myscreenevent.com/NKOTBSB.

Contactmusic

SOURCE: http://www.contactmusic.com/news/nkotbsb-want-another-world-tour_1323362

 

New Kids and Backstreet Boys hit Birmingham LG Arena

Friday 27th April 2012, 3:46PM BST.

New Kids and Backstreet Boys hit Birmingham LG Arena


If it’s good enough for every other 90s band, then it’s revivial time for the New Kids On The Block too.

Back in their heyday, they had arenas full of crazed teenage girls screaming in excitement. Believe it or not, it’s been a whopping 26 years since the New Kids on the Block released their first single.

For the Backstreet Boys, it’s been 16. And now, not to be outdone by a series of staggeringly successful comebacks from the likes of Take That, Spice Girls and Steps, the ultimate boyband heartthrobs of the 80s have joined forces with their 90s-dominant musical brothers to form a cheesy pop supergroup.

This frightening beast – nicknamed NKOTBsB – has taken the world by storm, selling out dates across the US and Canada as Joey McIntyre, AJ McLean, Jordan Knight, Howie Dorough, Jonathan Knight, Donnie Wahlberg, Brian Littrell, Danny Wood and Nick Carter try to prove they still have the moves.

Now, they are hitting the UK, bringing two generations of unapologetic pop fans together in one place.

Backstreeter AJ, now at the staid old age of 33, said he didn’t believe the world was quite undergoing the same kind of boy band revival as the one which more or less defined the 90s, but said the tour owes its creation to the recent spike in dance and pop music, which has been helped by new 90s club nights and the like.

“It couldn’t be a better time for both of us to go on tour,” he said. “When we first started, everyone immediately compared us to New Kids on the Block.

“They pretty much paved the road for us.”

The show features a mix of the two groups’ best-loved hits, from NKOTB’s Summertime and Hangin’ Tough to some of BB’s more annoyingly catchy tunes – many of which get played on primetime radio even now (think Everybody Backstreet’s Back and I Want it That Way).

And Kids member McIntyre said they were loving life on the road together.

“It’s been great. We hit it off pretty much from the get-go and we get along great and that makes it all worthwhile,” he says. “But then on the professional side we just wanted to make a great show and the two groups feed off of each other.


“It comes from a pure entertainment perspective. It’s fun to rock and to listen to music, but it’s much more interactive.”

“When you get nine of us in the same room, it’s overdrive,” adds AJ. “We’re all focusing for an hour and then we go goof off.

“We’re still young guys, we’re still in great shape. We always try to keep it youthful but mature. It’s a sophisticated youthfulness.”

* NKOTBB hit Birmingham’s LG Arena tonight. Tickets start at £40 at www.theticketfactory.com

By Charlotte Cross

Read more: http://www.expressandstar.com/entertainment/music/2012/04/27/new-kids-and-backstreet-boys-hit-birmingham-lg-arena/#ixzz1tHrJT4gO

Johnny Ruffo To Support New Kids On The Block And Backstreet Boys Tour in Australia

 

27 abril 2012

Fresh off the back of supporting One Direction on their Australian tour, Johnny Ruffo has been confirmed to warm up for two more hot boy bands -- New Kids On The Block and Backstreet Boys!

It's been a massive 12 months for Johnny, who was a finalist in The X-Factor and is currently showing off his smoothest moves on Dancing With The Stars.

"Some days I pinch myself," Johnny said. "I've just finished the One Direction tour, now I'm going on the road with NKOTBSB. I can't wait."

New Kids On The Block and Backstreet Boys will arrive in Australia next month performing in Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney and Perth. Tickets available now from Ticketek. at www.ticketek.com.au.

SOURCE: http://www.take40.com/news/30882/johnny-ruffo-to-support-new-kids-on-the-block-and-backstreet-boys-tour!

MTV: Justin Bieber Doing NKOTB? Jim Jonsin Reveals Ideas

Producer says he would like to help Biebs channel New Kids on the Block, New Edition and Kelly Rowland.

By Rob Markman

Multi-platinum producer Jim Jonsin has some interesting plans for when he gets in the studio with Justin Bieber. No, he won't be coupling the teen-pop sensation with B.o.B, but rather he will try to capture the vibe of NKOTB.
"For Bieber, I think I want to reach back to New Edition, those days," Jonsin initially said before referencing another 1980s Boston-bred boy band. "I want to try to do something like that — 'Please Don't Go Girl,' New Kids on the Block — because the girls would go crazy. Maybe not that song, but something that feels like that: little bit of soul, R&B, but pop as well." 
While the track pre-dates the 17-year-old Bieber by about four years, "Please Don't Go Girl" was the first single from NKOTB's sophomore album, Hangin' Tough, and ultimately put the group on the map. The ballad, which featured Joey McIntyre as the lead vocalist, drew comparisons to New Edition's 1983 single, "Is This the End" — not surprising considering both acts were founded and produced by Maurice Starr.
It isn't all about the '80s however: Jonsin also would like to produce something more modern for JB as well, using Kelly Rowland as a reference. "And then I'd love to put him on something like that 'Motivation' type of track," he said of the hit Rowland single he helped create. "Just a hard beat that he could sing something super slick [on]."
Jonsin admits that, at first, he didn't know what to make of Justin, but thanks to the Biebs' "Never Say Never" film, the hitmaker has a newfound respect for the young star. "When I watched the movie with my 8-year-old daughter, I was floored and inspired at who he was as a person. He's a good kid, he's a philanthropist, he's a good role model," Jonsin said. "I have a newfound respect for the young man, and I'm honored to work with him."

SOURCE: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1666717/justin-bieber-new-kids-on-the-block.jhtml

Boybands hit Liverpool with Backstreet Boys on Beatles trail - and New Kids on cycle trail!

Backstreet Boys and New Kids On The Block both landed to perform as part of the Once In A Lifetime tour and they certainly seemed to make the most of their time with trips to the Anglican Cathedral, The Beatles Story, The Cavern and Liverpool One.
First up was Backstreet Boys AJ McLean and Nick Carter who decided to go on a Magical Mystery Tour after admitting to fans that they are huge Fab Four devotees and that being able to visit the Beatles haunts was a lifelong ambition of theirs.

The pair also visited Liverpool One and Church Street for a spot of shopping with their wives and partners.
AJ and Nick took in most sights, but the rest of the band weren’t far behind, with lead singer Brian Littrell visiting the Anglican Cathedral, the Quarter restaurant and a few shops, while fellow band member Howie Drorough was spotted at the Cavern and the Beatles store.
Sadly fellow boyband New Kids On The Block weren’t able to arrive until 5am on Monday, but they still managed to fit in a trip to One Park West gym. There members including Danny Wood kept up with their daily gym routine before their show while singer Joey McIntyre enjoyed a bike ride along the waterfront.

 SOURCE:

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/in-the-mix/2012/04/26/boybands-hit-liverpool-with-backstreet-boys-on-beatles-trail-and-new-kids-on-cycle-trail-100252-30841913/#ixzz1tA0SCOKZ

Review: New Kids On The Block and Backstreet Boys at Manchester Arena

If the nineties was the decade of the boy band then the noughties must be the dawn of man band.

It seems almost every ageing pop star has dusted off the mic for a second shot at fame recently.

So when US heartthrobs New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys announced they were teaming up for a tour, girls around the world screamed.

The two bands have joined forces to form a super group with a suitably 21st century style name NKOTBSB. LOL.

As they filed out – all nine of them – onto the Manchester Arena stage we all took a step back in time. The concert kicked off with a surprising collaboration of Coldplay’s Viva La Vida before each band rolled out a series of hits including I’ll Never Break Your Heart, Quit Playing Games, and I Want it That Way from Backstreet Boys Howie Dorough, AJ McLean, Nick Carter and Brian Littrell. NKOTB – made up of Joey McIntyre, Jordan and Jon Knight, Donnie Wahlberg and Danny Wood - also got the crowd going with The Right Stuff, Step by Step and Cover Girl. They’re far from being Kids or Boys – half of the members are knocking on 40 – but time has been good to them all. They look better now than they ever did and there wasn’t a dance step out of place. Special mention must go to Jordan’s falsetto, Joey’s knee boots, Nick’s dedication to his blonde curtains, Brian’s royal wave, and last – but by no means least – Donnie’s abs. They saved the best til last performing mega-hits Backstreet’s Back and Hang Tough in an on-stage battle complete with England hoodies. It's a mash-up of epic proportions which proves the pop bubble never bursts. For two hours we partied like it was 1999 (or 89 if you’re a NKOTB fan) and once again I - like the rest of the crowd - was a screechy girl with a crush. Some things never change.

SOURCE:
http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/tv_and_showbiz/s/1492178_review-new-kids-on-the-block-and-backstreet-boys-at-manchester-arena 

METRO UK: New Kids On The Block and the Backstreet Boys kick off UK tour

New Kids On The Block and the Backstreet Boys showed signs of their 348 combined years of age when they joined forces on stage.

Boys to men: NKOTB and the Backstreet Boys on stage (Picture: Deborah Law)

The boybands moved a little slower but their fans screamed just as loud at Liverpool’s Echo Arena on Monday.

NKOTB played favourites such as You Got it (The Right Stuff), while the Backstreet Boys belted out I Want It That Way.
Joey McIntyre from NKOTB recently told Metro that the tour would be like a 'rollercoaster'.
He said: ‘From the get-go, we came together and made this one performance, so it’s like a rollercoaster,.'

‘Each fanbase gets their group but then we trade off, so the energy never stops. At the end of the day, you gotta give a good show.’
He added that the two groups coming together have caused them to shift roles within the super band.

McIntyre said: 'There’s similarity between different characters onstage.
‘Donnie and AJ would play on being the ‘bad boys’; we’d all bust each others’ balls. But in a weird way, this also gave me permission to be my best.

'Before, you’d get so locked into your own group, thinking: “I gotta be more cute than sexy.”

'The more we allow each other space, the more we come back to the table.’

 

Read more: http://www.metro.co.uk/music/897178-new-kids-on-the-block-and-the-backstreet-boys-kick-off-uk-tour#ixzz1t7Uh70c1

Heral IE: A double helping of cheesy pop

By Chris Wasser

Monday April 23 2012

THERE'S an interesting drinking game you could play at a New Kids on the Backstreet Boys concert. For every time the acronym NKOTBSB is mentioned, take a swig of that "delicious Guinness" that Donnie Wahlberg claims to be able to smell from the stage. I guarantee you'll be hammered within the hour. Ah yes, it's a fun experience, this joint headline tour, courtesy of two of America's biggest ever boybands.
There are flashy garments, tacky dance routines, fire and confetti, and stools -- plenty of stools. But what's most amazing about this coming-together of cheesy pop is that, as a 'supergroup', NKOTBSB (drink up) actually works. And how could it not? What we have here are two separate groups, both of which are capable of some shockingly cringe-worthy showmanship (for the record, Wahlberg and his 'kids' are the better bunch). Stick 'em all together, though, and the results are surprisingly entertaining.
There's very little room for spontaneity, but the New Kids' Boston background goes down a treat with a room full of Irish women. And the songs could be a lot worse (The Right Stuff, Cover Girl, Incomplete, Larger than Life, etc.). By the end of the night, all nine men take to wearing 'Ireland' sweatshirts. It's a rather touching sight. True, every bit of emotion on display is both typically American and way over the top, and we could have done without the rapping.
But as a glitzy pop spectacle that rarely resorts to special effects for added power, this live extravaganza just about passes the test.
3/5

- Chris Wasser

SOURCE: http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/music/a-double-helping-of-cheesy-pop-3088786.html

 

Liverpool FC: New Kid on the Block in LFC shirt

24th Apr 2012 

A member of New Kids on the Block - one of the biggest pop bands ever - wore a Liverpool shirt on stage during their show at the Echo Arena last night.

The photo below shows singer Donnie Wahlberg in his Standard Chartered home top as thousands of Scousers screamed their way through hits like Hangin' Tough and Cover Girl.

The band - who formed in Boston, USA - have sold 80 million records and were huge in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
We suspected wearing a Liverpool shirt might have been a stunt to woo the home crowd, but it turns out Donnie has been tweeting about his affection for the Reds for a while...

@DonnieWahlberg :yeah baby! pic.twitter.com/tDCwbHey

22 Apr 12

@DonnieWahlberg

Belfast was great! Dublin may have been the best audience ever. Liverpool, the home of my favorite football club, is up next! #nkotbsbeurope

22 Apr 12

And we even found a video of him wearing a Liverpool top at the O2 in London back in 2009...



SOURCE: http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-news/new-kid-on-the-block-in-lfc-shirt

Liverpool Music: NKOTBSB at Echo Arena

byRachael Campbell | Apr 24, 2012

Best night of my life. The end…..I could happily leave the review at that but I’ll probably get in to trouble so I’ll expand. Last night saw the Echo Arena being taken over by what seemed like every woman under the age of 35 in the North West area for it was the return of the mighty New Kids On The Block and their (slightly) younger counterparts Backstreet Boys for the co-headlining NKOTBSB World Tour.The show began with a countdown for what felt like a life time before members of each band (minus Kevin Backstreet, sob) were revealed on stage to a chorus of deafening screams from an audience of women who, quite frankly should know better. The fans may have gotten older and may now have a gang of children at home but you certainly wouldn’t know from the level of excitement. The crowd, comprising mostly of fans who followed the boys first time around were ready to re-live their youth and have a great time and both bands did not disappoint! The boys, or should I say men opened with a mash up of New Kids ‘Single’ and BSB’s ‘The One’ which was mixed with Coldplay’s ‘Viva La Vida’ – Sounds shocking but I promise you it was amazing. From the moment Nick Carter took to his vocals I was immediately sent hurtling back to 1999 and from that moment on, I was a screaming 12 year old. After this number, BSB vacated the stage (the devastation) and left New Kids to do ‘Summertime’. To begin with I wasn’t particularly looking forward to New Kids solo efforts as I’m not that familiar with a lot of their stuff as I was born just as the band were hitting the big time but that has all changed and I am now a die-hard Donnie Wahlberg fan or a ‘Donnie Girl’ as they were called back in ’89.
BSB returned to the stage in full concert get up and stomped in to ‘The Call’. A Strange choice of opening number I thought but it was great all the same. AJ McClean’s vocals were just as strong as I remember and the crowd literally went insane. Casting my expert eye over the boys I could see that the years had been kind to them. Nick Carter and Joey McIntyre still managed to look about 15 whilst Donnie Wahlberg and Danny Wood had been working on their bods and aside from some thinning hair and the odd expanding waistline the lads were looking good for a group of 30 and 40 somethings. Taking it in turns to churn out their hits, New Kids performed ‘Right Stuff’ complete with original dance moves imitated by the crowd in perfect unison. Some good old fashioned hip thrusting and abs-displaying completed this number and was followed by ‘Larger Than Life’ by BSB. The boys were constantly on the move and it was like watching a game at Wimbledon as I didn’t know where to look. If they weren’t popping out of the stage, they were being lifted in to the air on a podium or sliding down the catwalk. It was during ‘Larger than Life’ that Brian Littrel and I had a moment. I swear he waved at me and only me. The girl behind me tried to claim this wave as hers, as did my friend Jess but I’m afraid they were both clearly mistaken. New Kids returned to the stage and completed a mini-set of their hits that included ‘Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind)’, ‘Valentine Girl’, ‘If You Go Away’ and ‘Please Don’t Go Girl’. Jordan Knight’s vocals shine throughout and he was for me, the stand out vocalist of the entire show. It’s no surprise he has had the most successful solo career as his vocal range is staggering and his falsetto during ‘Didn’t I Blow Your Mind’, ‘Valentine Girl’ and later number ‘I’ll Be Loving You Forever’ showed that he has most defiantly still got it…Whatever ‘it’ is. ‘Please Don’t Go Girl’ showcased Joey McIntyre’s vocals and he also played homage to Liverpool by including some Beatles lyrics in to the song. The performance was a little dramatic to say the least but what did we expect from the biggest American boyband of all time?
New Kids took themselves off stage for a well earned rest (a couple of members we’re wheezing like they had run a marathon) and on came the mighty BSB for their main set of the night. The boys treated the crowd to full length versions of ‘Show Me The Meaning of Being Lonely’, ‘I’ll Never Break Your Heart’, ‘Drowning’ and ‘Incomplete’. ‘Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely’ was missing my favourite member Kevin Richardson and I wasn’t going to let it lie – Gone but not forgotten Kev. ‘I’ll Never Break Your Heart’ and ‘Drowning’ were sickeningly cheesy but that’s why they were so brilliant! The boys didn’t try to pretend to be something they’re not and make their old stuff ‘cool’ and this instantly made them credible. Newer track ‘Incomplete’ saw Nick Carter show us his musical abilities as he took lead guitar and teased the girls in the front row with a riff or two. Throughout the show, both bands interacted brilliantly with the crowd and it was great to see that the years of touring and playing show after show hadn’t made them take the experience for granted. Still waving and pointing banners out in the crowd it was great to see. One group of lads had braved the all female crowd and were clearly die hard Backstreet fans and this didn’t go unnoticed by AJ McClean as he applauded their efforts. Audience interaction didn’t stop there as four lucky ‘ladies’ were pulled from the crowd to be serenaded during ‘I’ll Never Break Your Heart’. One particular candidate provided much entertainment due to her ummm ‘assets’. Unable to sit on the stool provided due to her tight fitting corset the lady in question proceeded to dirty dance with (my) Nick Carter and gave the Echo Arena a few laughs. Nick was a good sport and played along and provided one of the best moments of the night.
New Kids stepped (or flew) back on to stage for their second set comprising of ‘Step By Step’, ‘Cover Girl’, ‘My Favourite Girl’ and ‘Tonight’. ‘Cover Girl’ is my favourite New Kids song and it was expertly performed by Donnie with him sporting a rhinestone encrusted Liverpool FC shirt as Donnie is a huge LFC supporter. As quickly as he put on the shirt, he had whipped it off again and the shirt was thrown in to the crowd. During ‘Tonight’ the band sent themselves off in to the crowd accompanied by bodyguards the size of houses and quite rightly too as women were literally throwing themselves at the boys. After being practically ripped to shreds by the women of Liverpool, New Kids left the stage and Backstreet Boys returned with some of their biggest hits including ‘Shape Of My Heart’, ‘As Long as You Love Me’, ‘All I Have to Give’, ‘If You Stay’ and ‘Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)’. The songs were set to various backing tracks including ‘Empire State Of Mind’ and ‘Can You Feel It’ and although there is no denying that this worked and added a different dimension to the tracks I think I would have just liked to hear the original versions but hey, I’m a sentimental fool! Hearing ‘As Long as You love me’ live after the years of ‘hairbrush in the bedroom’ singing was quite a moment for me and I don’t think I was alone as you could barely hear the boys over the audience sing-along.
BSB left the stage and re-entered in true boy band style after donning white suits and hats and began ‘I Want It That Way’. By far my favourite Backstreet, I know for a fact that Nick Carter’s every lyric was aimed at me – Sorry girls but it’s true. New Kids joined Backstreet on stage for collaborative single ‘Don’t Turn Out The Lights’ and the track isn’t half bad. It wouldn’t be out of place in the current top ten and both parties sound great with the audience chanting ‘NKOTBSB’ and I’m not going to lie, I was probably leading it? Both bands seemed to genuinely enjoy each other’s company as they messed and joked about on stage throughout the track. Both bands left the stage together and returned for their encore separately. Backstreet Boys left their biggest hit ‘Everybody’ until last and gave the audience something to remember. During their performance, New Kids On The Block appeared and began their biggest hit ‘Hangin’ Tough’, performing with the energy of teenagers and putting today’s boy bands to shame. The boys joined forces for the finale and mashed up both tracks in a battle scenario with audience members having to decide what camp they were going in. When push comes to shove I favoured Backstreet Boys. Nick’s ‘Am I originaaaal?’ swung it for me.
Overall, the night was an amazing trip down memory lane, full of nostalgia but surprisingly it didn’t feel tacky and outdated. They were just as energetic and passionate as any current performers and the quality of the stage show was outstanding. My only problem was that I couldn’t decide on my favourite member? Standing side by side both parties bowed out and thanked the crowd for sticking with them and as Joey McIntyre stated ‘There are two generations here. To some, it’s 1989 again, and to some others, its 1999 again. … There’s no reason it has to stop.’ Here, here Joey, you were always my favourite.

SOURCE: http://www.liverpoolmusic.com/2012/04/24/nkotbsb-the-echo-arena/

Liverpool ECHO: Review: New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys, Liverpool’s Echo Arena

• by Jo Kelly

The New Kids on the Block and Back Street Boys at the Echo The New Kids on the Block and Back Street Boys at the Echo. Pix David Munn WATCHING NKOTBSB is like being reunited with an old boyfriend - well nine of them actually. All those teenage feelings of obsession and angst, which age has taught us to be ashamed of, come flooding back. Nights staying up into the early morning to catch and record a Backstreet Boys' music video on retro music channel, The Box, suddenly feel like yesterday.

Last night at the Echo Arena, women in their late 20s and 30s (maybe older) released those repressed feelings, screaming themselves breathless as Donnie Wahlberg ripped off his vest and gyrated over and over and over.
Members of both bands, New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys, paid tribute to Liverpool. BSB talked of having watched rap star Drake at the Arena the night before and of visiting The Cavern.
Donnie, a mad Reds fan, pulled on a crystal-encrusted Liverpool shirt at one point as the guys sang, My Favourite Girl, while band mate Joey McIntyre performed a sweet acapella version of Beatles hit, Help.

The dance moves aren't as slick as they once were and a few waistlines aren't as trim but the audience couldn't care less (perhaps because they're in the same boat).
They might not be as hot as they were ten years ago but by bringing both bands together, the appeal is doubled. The nine of them strut along the catwalk, which runs down the middle of the arena, touching hands, throwing sweaty hankies into the crowd, waving and blowing kisses at their long-term fans.
Joey summed up the night when he said: "To some people in here it feels like 1989, to some it feels like 1999 but whatever time travelling journey we're on, we don't see a reason for it to stop."
The two bands take turns on stage. One highlight is when NKOTB don their eighties gear to drive the crowd wild for Right Stuff as well as Step by Step and Summertime.
BSB boys seem to pip the Kids to post in the popularity stakes as they croon Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely, 10000 Promises, Shape of My Heart and so many more than you remember them recording.
The show is choreographed well and the changes in tempo and costumes keep the audience at a constant level of craziness.
8 The boys are back

Original Review and photos: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-entertainment/echo-entertainment/2012/04/24/review-new-kids-on-the-block-and-backstreet-boys-liverpool-s-echo-arena-100252-30824945/#ixzz1t0MtRH1o

Donnie and Jordan on "The Breakfast Show" BBC Radio 5 - 04.24.12 (podcast)

New Kids On The Breakfast Show

Two of America's finest boy bands have regrouped and joined forces to become NKOTBSB. New Kids On The Block and Back Street Boys have begun their UK tour and Jordan Knight and Donnie Wahlberg from NKOTB chat to 5 live Breakfast.

Listen the interview here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00rfjbw

Goldenplec: Review: New Kids On The Backstreet Boys at The O2

 BY AIDAN CUFFE / ON APRIL 22, 2012 AT 9:05 PM/

I came up with 25 and 19 years ago respectively. Despite their additional years, their ability to drive women wild has not particularly diminished. What happens when you take two chart topping heartthrob boy bands, put them in one massively co-ordinated stage showpiece mixing a dash of pyrotechnics, a dollop of choreography and occasionally remove their shirts and rattle off hit after hit for two hours. Well you would be witnessing one of the best pop shows to roll in the town in recent memory.

I was in the minority as I wade through the sea of ladies to find my seat. Looking around, hoping to find others of the male species to validate my presence at this show was a fruitless endeavour. The atmosphere was out of this world, you could feel the electricity in the air as an X-factor style introduction sequence gets the crowd screaming wildly, as visuals of each member illicit vociferous shrieks.

Opening with a medley of Single* / I’ll Be The One to a backing track of Coldplay’s Viva La Vida, it was clear from the start this would be an assault on all your senses. Out come the rising platforms, fog machines, pyrotechnics and dance moves. It’s a ’90s pop merry-go-round which becomes a chart hit tag team battle royale, in a fight for boy band supremacy. This format proves to be one of the key elements in making this such an entertaining show. Hits from the New Kids On The Block catalogue like Dirty Dancing, The Right Stuff, Cover Girl and Tonight all get an airing while theBackstreet Boys strung together hits like The Call, Larger Than Life, Incomplete and Everybody among some of the large list of chart hits on their set list.

Cover Girl provides our highlight from the New Kids repertoire, whilst Larger Than Life and perhaps Everybody using AC/DC’s “Back In Black” as a backing track, prove highlights from our Backstreet Boys offerings. Both acts changing up some of their hit songs add a fresh dimension to the back catalouge. The combination of hit after hit, rotating between the acts  is the key factor in what is so compelling about this show. Not one trick is missed with “Dublin” inserted to multiple tracks, Irish flags, Olé Olé’s, Irish tracksuit tops, claiming we’re the best and loudest crowd, bringing four members of the crowd onstage to serenade, to a New Kids vs Back Street finale to close the show. It was a pop concert 101 check-list and these veterans barely stopped to take a breath.

Stunning lighting and visuals, quality styling, theatrics and stage tricks create a phenomenal production and arguably can be described as one of the best pop shows you are likely to witness. The crowd gets a tip of the hat for the excitable and fun atmosphere created within The O2, making this reviewer feel fifteen years old again. If only! Will more pop acts tag team in the future? Who knows, but certainly walking away from this gig it has eclipsed all pop offerings I have seen roll through Dublin.

(Originally cited the track Single as Boyfriend, corrected)

Setlist

Single / I’ll Be The One – NKOTBSB
Summertime – KNOTB

The Call. – BSB

Dirty Dancing – NKOTB

Get Down – BSB

The Right Stuff – NKOTB

Larger Than Life – BSB
Didn’t I / If I Go Away / Valentine Girl – KNOTB
Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely – BSB
10,000 Promises – BSB
I’ll Never Break Your Heart – BSB
Drowning – BSB
Incomplete – BSB
Step By Step / Push It medley – NKOTB
Cover Girl – NKOTB
My Favourite Girl – NKOTB
Tonight – NKOTB
Shape of my Heart – BSB
As Long As You Love Me – BSB
All I Have To Give / We’ve Got It Going On – BSB
Quit Playing Game With My Heart – BSB
I’ll Be Loving You – KNOTB
I Want It That Way – BSB
Don’t Turn Out The Lights – NKOTBSB
Everybody – NKOTBSB
Dropkick Murphys – Shipping Out To Boston intro into
Hangin Tough into We Will Rock You
BSB v NKOTB

SOURCE and Gallery:
http://www.goldenplec.com/reviews/review-new-kids-on-the-backstreet-boys-at-the-o2/

NKOTBSB on BBC One Breakfast - Interview 04.24.12

 
Credits:  BsBSiberiaDe

Inside Ireland: Backstreet Boys and New Kids on the Block Got “The Right Stuff”

April 24, 2012

By Olivia Kerr

 

It’s not often I enter radio competitions. But on the morning of Friday 20 April, I took the radical decision to enter a competition to win tickets to see Backstreet Boys and New Kids on the Block that evening in the Odyssey Arena, only to go and win a pair of tickets. Delighted would be an understatement, being a fan of both boy-bands.
The Odyssey Arena show was a sell-out, with the crowds being dominated by either middle-aged women, or young girls who long for the return of these 80’s and 90’s boy-band wonders. The Backstreet Boys and New Kids on the Block definitely know how it’s done, JLS and The Wanted have a lot to live up to.
After the lights went out, and the crowd went wild, both New Kids on the Block and The Backstreet Boys put on a fantastic, exciting and energetic show. You would never have thought that the New Kids on the Block were in their early 40’s – they’re still dancing about to “The Right Stuff” like they were 16 again.
The Backstreet Boys entertained fans with renditions of their classics such as “I Want It That Way”, “Larger Than Life” and their most recent power ballad “Incomplete”, which saw Nick Carter picking up a guitar and joining their backing band.
New Kids on the Block kicked the show off with their most recent hit, “Summertime”, which saw heartthrob Joey McIntyre melting the hearts of many a woman, including myself, with his sultry tones. Belfast was whisked back into the 80’s as the five piece man-band performed hits from their first albums, “The Right Stuff” and “I’ll Be Loving You Forever”.
At different intervals, both bands would come together to give a musical battle, which saw the show finishing with an extra-ordinary mash up of “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” by the Backstreet Boys, and “Hangin’ Tough” by the New Kids on the Block. Fire and fake snow added to the show, as well as the fantastic dance moves shown by the ultra-fit men gracing the stage.
All in all, this was an extremely enjoyable night, albeit, slightly random. Both bands were excellent and proved they could still whip fans into a frenzy, my personal favourite band being the New Kids on the Block.
This concert showed that the boy-band genre was definitely not over, but perhaps, today’s young guns need to take a leaf out of their senior’s books. Roll on Westlife, I say!

SOURCE: http://insideireland.ie/2012/04/24/backstreet-boys-and-new-kids-on-the-block-got-the-right-stuff-67133/?doing_wp_cron

METRO UK: NKOTBSB: We're more refined on tour but there's a s***load of dancing

Boyband juggernauts New Kids On The Block and Backstreet Boys talk to Metro about going on the road, inter-band rivalry and why they won't be slowing down too much on tour.

NKOTBSB: 'What guy wouldn't want to have a bunch of screaming girls in the audience?'

‘There are eight million stories in every boy band… so there are about 16million in this one.’ Joey McIntyre flashes a pearly showbiz trouper smile, despite the fact he’s been up since dawn for a TV shoot. Even at 39, he has a sparkly youthfulness that hints at his past in US late-1980s/1990s boy band New Kids On The Block – McIntyre was just 12 when he joined the line-up.

On his left sits the similarly bright-eyed Howie Dorough, 38, an original member of the Backstreet Boys. Now both men feature in the nine-strong man band, NKOTBSB – with New Kids Jordan and Jon Knight, Donnie Wahlberg and Danny Wood and Backstreet’s AJ McLean, Nick Carter and Brian Littrell. It’s a pop mash-up sparking an age of hysteria. ‘The first time this idea was mentioned, around 2008, New Kids were just returning, so I wasn’t that interested,’ says McIntyre. ‘Perspectives change so much in the music industry.’

Blockbuster pop is certainly not limited to teenyboppers any more. The New Kids’ smash reunion tour came more than a decade after the band’s exhausted implosion; it also echoed Take That’s romance with an older  fanbase. Backstreet, meanwhile, never really split, although various members battled addictions (McLean, Carter) and one (Kevin Richardson) quit. ‘Doing this brings out the good and bad in you, depending on how cohesive you are as a team,’ says Dorough.

New Kids On The Block and Backstreet Boys sing up a storm on stage on their joint tour
 

When NKOTBSB did get the collective go-ahead, it was unveiled with a flourish: at a New Kids’ 2010 show at Radio City Music Hall. ‘Backstreet were in New York too, so we thought it’d be an amazing surprise to get them onstage,’ grins McIntyre. ‘We did an acoustic set, beginning with (Backstreet’s 1999 hit) I Want It That Way – then the curtain went up and these four guys were standing there. The place just went mad – everyone knew how effing cool this was.’

It’s bizarre hearing this former teen fave using ‘salty’ language. What’s even more strange, though, is that both bands should gel so easily as showmen, release a collaborative compilation album and embark on a global tour. They might have shared commercial territory (and a big-time manager, Johnny Wright) but pop fans, like football supporters, are noted for their loyalty and partial to fierce rivalry.

‘Backstreet always credited New Kids as the first group of our style,’ says Dorough, nodding at his pop comrade. ‘When they decided to break, we took the torch and carried on. We were from two different eras but both groups always had some fans that crossover. If we did a show with N Sync, maybe that would clash.’

McIntyre adds: ‘Time Magazine called us the second biggest comeback of 2011 – behind Gabby  Giffords,’ referring to the US politician who recovered from a near-fatal shooting. He’s clearly aware of how surreal this seems but also quite pleased. McIntyre seems confident about what makes NKOTBSB work. ‘From the get-go, we came together and made this one performance, so it’s like a rollercoaster,’ he says. ‘Each fanbase gets their group but then we trade off, so the energy never stops. At the end of the day, you gotta give a good show.’

 

The New Kids On The Block Hangin' Tough in the old days

 

New Kids’ members have used the ‘rollercoaster’ analogy before. Back in 1993, a shattered Danny Wood told Smash Hits: ‘It was going too fast. We were on a rollercoaster, we had to get off.’ In 2012, though, NKOTBSB seem fairly well-adjusted, good-humoured and up for the ride. As McIntyre points out: ‘What guy wouldn’t want to have a bunch of screaming girls in the audience? Everyone’s older, the pitch is not as piercing to the ears – there’s more of a husk to it. And  being on the road is different now.  There’s wives, kids and…’‘Lovers!’ interjects Dorough, laughing.

Boy bands generally play to type, so have roles shifted within NKOTBSB? ‘There’s similarity between different characters onstage,’ says McIntyre. ‘Donnie and AJ would play on being the ‘bad boys’; we’d all bust each others’ balls. But in a weird way, this also gave me permission to be my best. Before, you’d get so locked into your own group, thinking: “I gotta be more cute than sexy.” The more we allow each other space, the more we come back to the table.’

NKOTBSB’s combined multimillion-selling hit repertoire includes 1989 chart-topper You Got It (The Right Stuff) and 1997’s Everybody (Backstreet’s Back), and McIntyre promises they won’t be relaxing with ballads: ‘There’s a s***load of dancing in this show.’

Their aim, though, remains strictly mainstream. Dorough is already mulling over ‘a Vegas, Celine Dion kinda thing’, while McIntyre  cites a classier tradition. ‘Boy bands come from that vocal revue history: The Temptations, The Four Tops,’  he says. ‘We’re really singing for  our supper.’

Only now there’s a crucial difference. ‘When we were younger, we were running around like headless chickens,’ says McIntyre. ‘This time, it’s much more refined.’

The six-date British leg of NKOTBSB’s world tour starts tonight at the Liverpool Echo Arena.  www.nkotbsb.com

SOURCE: http://www.metro.co.uk/music/896769-nkotbsb-were-much-more-refined-but-theres-a-s-load-of-dancing#ixzz1ssMk8LEU

NKOTBSB 2012 TOUR Setlist

INTRO
Viva la vida / Single/ The One
Summertime remix
The Call
Dirty Dancing
Get Down
The right stuff
AMA dance break
Larger than life

Didn't I Blow / Valentine girl/ If you go away / Please don't go girl
Show me the meaning / 10000 promises/ I'll never break your heart / Drowning / Incomplete

Step by step
Cover Girl
Favorite girl / Games
Tonight

Shape of my heart
As long as you love me
All I have to give/ We've got it going on
Quit playing games with my heart

I'll be loving you
I want it that way
Don't turn out the lights

Backstreet's back
Hangin' tough/ We will rock you
AMA Mashup

New Kids on the Block, Kelly Clarkson, The Fray Highlight MixTape Fest

Kelly Clarkson, New Kids on the Block and The Fray are set to headline this year’s MixTape Music Festival, which will be held this summer in Pennsylvania.
The MixTape Music Festival will be held August 17-18 at Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey, Pa. In addition to the above headliners, other notable artists include LL Cool J, Steel Panther, The Wanted, The Dan Band and DJ Pauly D, who is known from MTV’s “Jersey Shore.”
Additionally, the Backstreet Boys will take the stage with New Kids on the Block to form NKOTBSB. The appearance will be the supergroup’s only North American performance this year.
In addition to all the live music, the festival will feature many other events and vendors like interactive exhibits, food trucks, celebrity appearances and a spa. The event also has joined up with Shecky’s Media, which will host “Shecky’s Girls Night Out on Tour.” This event will feature makeovers, manicures and shopping.
Both nights will feature after parties following the musical performances, and will feature appearances by the artists that appeared at the festival during the day. DJ Pauly D will DJ Friday night’s after party.
Prices for the festival range from an early bird special two day pass for $99 up to “Super VIP” tickets that run $750. Though there are some presales, tickets go on sale to the general public on April 27.
In a statement, New Kids on the Block expressed their excitement about playing the inaugural year of the MixTape festival.
“It’s an honor for us to be a part of the inaugural year of MixTape,” the band said. “To share the stage with such mega artists as Kelly Clarkson, LL Cool J and the Fray is really exciting. With the artist selection, and all of the amenities and accommodations offered, this festival is raising the bar to the next level. We couldn’t think of a better way to spend our weekend than with our amazing fans, and there couldn’t be a better setting than such a fun filled festival with such an amazing bill of artists.

SOURCE:
http://concerttour.org/new-kids-on-the-block-kelly-clarkson-the-fray-highlight-mixtape-fest.php

MixTape VIP Update!

MixTape VIP Update!

Dear NKOTB fans!
We understand there has been a bit of confusion with the VIP packages for Summer MixTape Festival 2012. You have lots of questions and concerns, and are looking for more specific information about additional events and parties, etc. So, we thought you might want to know EXACTLY what BOTH the SIDE A and SIDE B VIP packages will include:
• EXCLUSIVE ACCESS TO THE FRIDAY AFTERSHOW AND DONNIE'S BIRTHDAY PARTY WITH DJ PAULY D! A TRUE DDUB CELEBRATION!!
• ALL VIP TICKET HOLDERS WILL RECEIVE AN EXCLUSIVE MEET & GREET WITH NKOTB! We couldn’t let you come all the way to Hershey without saying hi! Details on where and when will be revealed at a later date.
• EXCLUSIVE ACCESS TO THE SATURDAY AFTERSHOW -  COME PARTY WITH US AND A FEW SPECIAL FRIENDS AS WE WRAP THE FESTIVAL IN NK FASHION!
• EXCLUSIVE SUNDAY MORNING CHAMPIONSHIP ROCK N JOCK SOFTBALL GAME - JOIN NKOTB FOR A SOFTBALL GAME AS THEY FACE OFF WITH WITH OUR FRIENDS THE BACKSTREET BOYS & SOME FAMILIAR FACES. A GREAT WAY TO SPEND THE DAY BEFORE YOU HEAD HOME. NOW BATTING...
• And more soon-to-be announced surprises!
Yep, ANY VIP PACKAGE will include the above exclusive perks!!! Due to capacity limitations at the festival, VIP packages will be limited and while supplies last, so be sure to get yours before they are gone! You will also receive the following amenities:

SIDE A VIP
• 2 Day Ticket to festival
• Preferred access/front of line passes to all events/parties/activities and VIP section in front of stages
• Barricaded viewing area closest to the stage
• Private VIP Entrance
• Access To VIP Compound: upgraded restroom facilities, baggage check, pampering areas, snack/beverages, misting tents, private merchandise booths
• Exclusive event merchandise item
• Golf cart/shuttle access to/from events/venues
• Access to after-events
• Access to any soon-to-be announced special additional events
SIDE B VIP
• 2 Day Ticket to festival
• Barricaded viewing area closest to the stage
• Access To VIP Compound: upgraded restroom facilities, baggage check, pampering areas, snack/beverages, misting tents, private merchandise booths
• Private VIP entrance
• Access to after-events
• Access to soon-to-be announced special additional events
NKOTB aims to provide the BEST experience for you, our fans, at all of our concerts and events! Come hang with us for what will be a memorable and exciting weekend at the sweetest place on Earth, Hersheypark Stadium. It wouldn’t be a NKOTB weekend with our fans, so come and play!
Please visit mixtapefestival.com and nkotb.com for more information.
Love,
NKOTB


SOURCE: nkotb.com