Old Kids On the Block

I got a surprise free ticket to see the New Kids on the Block Friday night. Back in the day, I was completely OBSESSED (ok, obsessed isn't even the word) with them, but now that they have reunited, I've been a bit skeptical. Would seeing them now ruin my 14 year old image of them? Would they be old and sweaty and forget the words to the songs? Would they try to reinvent themselves and forget all the old stuff completely? So, I wasn't that upset about not going and when I got the call on Friday afternoon, I almost said no. But, I thought if it was free I would have nothing to lose, right?

I went with a woman I know at church who was also a big fan and a girl who is a senior in high school and was 2 at the prime of NKOTB. It was her cousin who gave us the tickets. So, I was expecting just regular seats, since they were free, but we had a executive box!! Complete with private bathroom, stocked refrigerator, tv, leather arm chairs, etc. I might never be able to go to a concert as a normal person again. It was great! Natasha Bettingfield opened and she was pretty good. I was still sort of blah about the whole thing until they showed clips of old New Kids videos up on the big screen, then they got all sentimental and the screen said "15 years ago we said goodbye and walked away and now we're back" and then they came out on the stage and it was so exciting! It was like seeing old friends again! Their performance was great, they had a perfect mix of new stuff and old stuff, they danced just as well if not better than before and they were just as nostalgic I was about it. You could really tell they were having a good time.

All in all, it was a really fun night and I am so glad I went. Had I known it was going to be so fun, I would have made more of an effort to get tickets for me and my group of NKOTB fan friends. I feel like they are the only ones who truly understand my obsession. I did have fun with the people I went with, but sometimes, you just need your best buds. It was great to look out and see groups of women with their old NKOTB shirts on, singing along and having fun together just like we were all 14 again.