The Honda Center

New Kids On The Block And Backstreet Boys Unite At Honda Center

The groups, who played for two hours and twenty minutes, came out from the beginning with huge energy. As each boy’s (or should I refer to them as men now) picture was displayed on the giant screen, women of all ages screamed and screeched for their favorite guy. Then Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida” began to play as background music as the two bands united to sing New Kid’s “Single” and Backstreet Boy’s “The One.” From then, the two groups would switch off or have blocks of songs, then take a break for the other band to perform.

Throughout the night, it appeared to me that there were slightly more Backstreet Boy fans in the crowd. However, the New Kids moms brought more excitement, screams and the bigger party. Sure the Backstreet Boys performed their love songs such as “Shape Of My Heart.” In fact, four lucky ladies, including one precious little girl, were chosen to come on stage and be serenaded by the boys. Nonetheless, New Kids managed to bring more people to their feet, even if those in attendances didn’t come to the show knowing their songs.

The crowd loved New Kid’s “Step By Step” which included a little dose of Salt-N-Pepa’s “Push It.” After some guys took their shirts off during “Cover Girl,” the moms flipped out. The top song of the night from New Kids must have been “Tonight.” Besides the great lyrics and beat, the group also spread out into the audience to meet with fans near the floor section. During the song, many in attendance were singing along and everyone had their hands in the air. 

Backstreet Boys couldn’t let their fans down. Right after New Kids went into the audience, Backstreet Boys followed as they performed “Shape of my Heart.” The reaction from some fans standing by both groups had a response similar to young teens seeing Justin Bieber perform.

Opening up for the first time this tour was “Glee’s” Matt Morrison . The opener for the first half of the tour was “American Idol” star Jordin Sparks. His set began with a video of him and Sue Sylvester, AKA Jane Lynch, riding in a car together. Morrison was singing along to a wide variety of songs that tortured Sylvester. She later told the crowd, “Enjoy the show, losers.

NEW KIDS NEWS: NKOTBSB at Honda Center Last Night

I can think of countless childhood classmates more deserving of the opportunity to see NKOTBSB , the boybandaganza that invaded the Honda Center last night. Particularly the girls at my school who would smooch posters of Donnie Wahlberg taped to the inside of their lockers and wear buttons that say "The Right Stuff" on their acid-wash denim jackets. And yet I, a New Kids sorta-fan who could never tell the difference between brown-haired cutie Joey and brown-haired cutie Jordan, was lucky enough to get the golden ticket. NKOTBSB, of course, is New Kids on the Block + Backstreet Boy s, a summer tour collaboration that banks on giddy nostalgia. New Kids' Joey McIntyre addressed the generational gap in the female-dominant audience, saying, "For some of us, it feels just like 1989. For some of us, it feels just like 1999." Which just proves that women of all ages can enjoy synchroized pelvic thrusts by guys in color-coordinating outfits. The show opened with all nine members of NKOTBSB (five from NKOTB; four from BSB--the fifth guy Kevin Richardson left the group in '06) joining forces for an energetic mash-up of Backstreet Boys' "(I'll Be) the One" and New Kids' recent track "Single," doused with some of Coldplay's "Viva La Vida." It was enough to show that though the boys have grown up, they still got it. What followed was a tag-teamin' supershow with both groups performing their respective hits. NKOTB sang their 2008 single, "Summertime," then took all the way back to 1989 with "You Got It (The Right Stuff)," complete with their signature side-to-side kicks. Jordan Knight sang a mind-blowing falsetto on a version of the Delfonics' "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)," and McIntyre slid down the stage on his knees as he finished off "Please Don't Go Girl," which had the audience roaring. BSB had less impressive vocals, but were just as fun to watch. Their ballads were heartfelt and swoon-worthy. For "I'll Never Break Your Heart," they serenaded four girls (including one little one) on stage and handed them roses. Later, in one of the most memorable moments of the entire concert, they walked through the audience, hugging (!) fans as they belted "Shape of My Heart.

Orange Coast Magazine

Orange Coast Magazine

Orange Coast Magazine

Honda Center

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