NKOTBSB (awesome)

It is ridiculous that tickets to NKOTBSB were only $40. It was SPECTACULAR! For those not quite in the know, NKOTBSB represents the epic event of the year, New Kids on the Block united with the Backstreet Boys - at last! I purchased tickets for myself and poor Timon a couple of months ago and the time had come. We jumped on the train and joined the queue at Port Authority for the bus to New Jersey's IZOD arena. Luckily we were just early enough to get in line before a billion girls of all ages, and some begrudging boys, turned the queue into a giant snake around many corners. We made it to the stadium just in time for Jordin Sparks, an Americal Idol performer who has duetted with none other than Guy Sebastian. Her show was brief and her songs were catchy but the main event was just beyond her giant hair. Our seats, however cheap, provided a pretty awesome view of the stage that extended the length of the stadium. We were also right in front of a giant screen that magnified the action, the boys and the pecs. I spent the next 2 hours in a state of glazed over, light headed, slightly drooling bliss as my old favs went head to head in a boy band showdown. Songs I didn't remember, that thrust me back to my early teens, came pouring out of the rusty NKOTB and the BSB did not disappoint with a mix of old and new. I swear, when the lights came up in the beginning and they were all on stage together, my heart skipped several beats. I felt a little bit bad for Danny and Jon who were so obviously dragged from their day jobs to re-live a time when they were glorified backup singers at best. Danny's only solo effort was.....poor. Jon looked tired before he even started moving. But Jordan (my favourite), Joey and Donnie put it all out there, falsetto and all, muscles and rap, and I was thrilled. Timon spent that same 2 hours taking photos, filming and sneaking sideways glances at the weak kneed, gooey 12 year old girl that used to be his girlfriend. But I wasn't alone - the shrieks in that stadium rivaled any Beatles gig and my ears rung for hours afterwards. Let me throw a few song titles out there, just to see if they jog a memory and thrust you back to an era when denim overalls were the perfect match for high-top reeboks....

"Step-by-Step"
"Hangin Tough"
"You got it (the Right Stuff)"
"Didn't I (Blow your mind this time)"
"I'll be loving you (Forever)"
"Cover Girl"

NB: According to Wikipedia, Marky Mark Wahlberg was an original member alongside brother Donnie.

Also, I cannot explain their penchant for parentheses.