New Kids on the Block in Mansfield, MA – August 10, 2024
Massachusetts certainly had all the “Right Stuff” at the sold out 2024 “Magic Summer” tour starring The New Kids on the Block. Opening for them were Paula Adbul and DJ Jazzy Jeff. The neon shirts and 80’s and 90’s accessories were in abundance that night at the Xfinity Center in Mansfield, MA.
PAULA ABDUL
Many fans in the crowd remember her as the former American Idol judge, but Paula Abdul made sure to remind everyone she was a famous pop singer and outstanding dancer before her American Idol days. She started strong off the bat with her 1988 hit, “Straight Up”, filled with intricate choreography performed flawlessly by Paula and her backup dancers. After some intense dancing, she had a member of her crew bring out an oxygen tank with a mask to poke fun of her age, looking stunning at 62 years old! One would think she is half that age the way she effortlessly moved on the stage.
Although her set was a short 30 minutes, she packed in as much choreography, sparkly costumes, and pop hits as possible. Songs in her set included, “Cold Hearted”, “Forever Your Girl”, and “Opposites Attract”, which of course featured the iconic ‘MC Skat Kat’ cartoon character in the background. Overall, it was an outstanding performance that got everyone into the nostalgic vibe and ready for some NKOTB!
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
The Massachusetts “Blockheads” as the New Kids on the Block fanbase is affectionately referred to, came out in droves to support their hometown boys. All five members of New Kids on the Block — Donnie Wahlberg, Joey McIntyre, Jordan Knight, Jonathan Knight, and Danny Wood — have been with the band from the start and all grew up in Dorchester, Massachusetts.
They kicked off their two-hour set with “Magic” from the 2024 album “Still Kids”, which is the band’s first album in over 10 years. They performed the song in front of a digital screen with a backdrop featuring the boxes of each member’s toy doll from 1990. This was a beautifully nostalgic touch because the majority of the crowd had one of these dolls or remembers someone who owned the iconic 90’s toy.
As the band started to perform their song, “Block Party”, they began to make their way through the crowd onto individual platforms. No one thought the crowd could get any louder, but they absolutely did as the New Kids performed from these platforms that made it so fans at the higher up levels could see them closely and some lucky guests could literally reach out and touch their hands. To many of the fan’s delight, they stayed up at the higher levels throughout the song “Tonight” as well.
As the night went on and costume changes occurred, the video production really ramped up the nostalgia with clips of 90’s commercials, showcasing vintage NKOTB magazine clippings and other items from the late 80’s / early 90’s. The night could not be complete without playing their smash hits “Step By Step” and “Hangin’ Tough” which turned the entire venue into a neon full out dance party. Everyone could be seen leaving for the night with a smile on their face.
