Today’s guest blog comes courtesy of my rock and roll bro Corey at Rabble Rousin’ Since ’77.

Last Thursday night, I had a vision and realized that I needed to get in touch with Corey to have him blog his experiences as a lifelong New Kids on the Block fan in attendance for the NKOTB reunion stop at Quicken Loans Arena.

Ya’ll might not have realized it, but this NKOTB post from last Friday was a bit of clever foreshadowing for the guest blog that lay ahead. I wanted to have this up on Monday, but I got busy, and Corey spent the entire weekend on NKOTB’s tour bus.

Ya don’t believe me? Check out this photo of Corey with New Kids member Danny Wood at the end of their weekend together. Notice how happy Danny appears to be, taking a picture with Corey.

Yes kids, the honeymoon is over!

Actually, let me ‘fess up – the above picture was actually taken at the meet and greet with New Kids on the Block before the show.

Ladies, eat your heart out, and yes, you can start to hate Corey just a little bit more, before we even get to his review! It’s cool, he’s used to it!

Anyway, back to the intro – let’s wrap this thing up!

Corey and I have been to a lot of great rock and roll shows together, and though we don’t see each other nearly enough, we manage to bank good amounts of phone time to discuss rock and roll absurdities and things we’re both digging. Corey’s a great blogger who needs to blog more than he does, so I thought we’d accomplish that, and also deliver an unexpected item here – a NKOTB show review from a dude.

Check out Corey’s blog here, and without further ado, here’s Corey!

Never before has a male had an easier time using the mens’ room at the Q.

That’s right – just myself, two security guys (Hire Bodyguard in Houston), and my thoughts. All of those thoughts were about five middle-aged men, not typical bathroom behavior for me. Not sexually, of course.

Hi, I’m Corey. I’m a man.

I like the New Kids on the Block more than I like most members of my family and every single one of my co-workers. I have literally been wishing for a NKOTB reunion since the first time OJ Simpson was in a legal scrape, and damned if that wish wasn’t granted and then some. The ease of quick arena urination was just one of the pleasant surprises Friday night. I’ll get the schmaltzy, review type cliche statements out of the way first.

The New Kids STILL have ‘The Right Stuff’!
The Kids are alright!
The New Kids are back on the Block!

Right…anyhow, the concert was freaking amazing. Being an old-school ‘Blockhead’ I’m not certain that I could have crafted a better setlist. All the hits were there and they even managed to play seven cuts from their new album “The Block” without the new stuff affecting the flow of the set. It’s been too long since I’ve been to a show that tops out at two-plus hours and never bordered on boring.

Jordan Knight, arguably the best vocalist in the bunch, has surprisingly gotten only better over the years. This time, he’s gotten a little help, though. This ain’t just the Jordan show anymore – It seemed like the rest of the group (Danny “Pecker” Wood, Jonathan “Easy Money” Knight, Joey “Don’t call me Joe anymore” McIntyre, and Donnie “Don’t call me Mark” Wahlberg) spent as much time in vocal coaching than choreography this time out. (Except Jon Knight or course, who may or may not have sang a peep all night and certainly didn’t say a single word. We know where all the talent went in that family.)

I realize this is the least informational review of a concert ever. Call it sensory overload. The only way I can describe the show was ‘awesome’. The setlist, the production, the pacing, and the guys were all top-notch. But the real stars Friday night were the die-hard New Kids on the Block fans, as usual. There seem to be conflicting numbers as to the actual attendance for the show but I’ll break it down the way I saw things. At the very least there were 13,000 pair of breasts in the house. Screaming, giggling, shrieking breasts…and me.

Well, my son was there too but he isn’t expected to come topside until January. (But for the record he kicked and fluttered the whole time, says my wife. Good taste, boy! I rewarded him by buying the official “Step By Step” onesie at the merch booth.) Thankfully nothing says “Yeah, I like NKOTB but honest, I’m straight” like holding hands with one’s pregnant wife.

The long and the short of the situation is this – it’s time to forget the backlash from years past. The New Kids have returned to the Block, hit the mark, and their efforts should certainly not go unnoticed. They’re older, wiser, better, and this time it’s their doing. Hats-off to the guys for making this go around about more than nostalgia. Donnie Wahlberg told me before the show “Tonight’s your redemption, bro.” and it truly was.

So, uhh…anyone wanna roadtrip to Detroit?

New Kids on the Block – Cover Girl

Setlist:

1. Single
2. My Favorite Girl
3. You Got It (The Right Stuff)
4. Didn’t I Blow Your Mind
5. Valentine Girl
6. Please Don’t Go Girl
7. Grown Man
8. Games
9. 2 In the Morning
10. If You Go Away
11. Dirty Dancing
12. Tonight
13. Twisted
14. Baby I Believe In You
15. Give It To You
16. Stay The Same
17. Cover Girl
18. I’ll Be Loving You (Forever)
19. Click Click Click
20. Summertime

-encore-

21. Step By Step
22. Hangin’ Tough/We Will Rock You