NKOTB: Takin' New York By Storm

Did you see the Today show performance this morning? Did you see what I meant in my previous post by "everyone was swaying and singing along?" It was just like that at HOB but on a "slightly" smaller scale.

The guys performed very well, pouring rain and slick surface notwithstanding. The acoustics were sharper and their moves were tighter on the dry HOB stage but they looked damn good, no? Even better, they are as humble as they seem and thrilled by their dedicated fans.

I already had a crush on Joey Mac after seeing him perform on Broadway in "Wicked" (he is sooo my type) and now I have mini crushes on Donnie and Jordan as well. I did always like younger guys but at least now I'm old enough where I'm not breaking the law.

DO NOT call me a cobra! I dare you. I'm just young at heart, is all, thank you very much!

So while I was not of their generation the first time, I confess, I am a now a fan!

In case you missed the Today show performance, click here.

Everything Old is New Again: Yours Truly and New Kids on The Block

I don't get out much lately...

... between sitter scheduling conflicts and hubby's business trips. So when the hubster invited me to see New Kids on the Block perform before the official unveiling of their reunion tour on Friday's Today show, I did not need to be asked twice.

No matter that I was too old to have been one of their rabid fans (and here) from the 80's and early 90's (my music crush was elder Springsteen) and that I only vaguely remembered their most popular songs, like Step by Step or Hangin' Tough, we had V.I.P. tickets to an event and I was step-pin' out.

Yesterday afternoon, pre-escape, I helped my son with his homework, defrosted a most yummy dinner for them in the microwave, brushed my hair, put on make-up, and dressed in jeans, a cute top and heels; I was woman, hear me roar.

Arriving at the House of Blues we were escorted to the front of a long line of exuberant fans who won admittance through radio promotions. I picked a primo spot in the balcony where we watched a sea of a few hundred fans float hand-painted banners above their heads, "Thank you for the Last 20 Years!" and "We Love you N.K.O.T.B.!" Cameramen roamed around the perimeter of the stage shooting footage and creating clusters of screaming maniacs everywhere he went.

I got excited by association. The energy, the view, the over-priced, cheap wine, I was a kid again. I couldn't stop smiling. A screen came down and a short documentary played of NKOTB's recent rehearsals. The crowd went wild.

Then the curtain pulled back and there they were, live and in person: Donnie, Joey, Jordan, Jonathan and Danny (most names I did not know until a few months ago). You'd think the Beatles had risen from the dead and nastily divorced. Dressed casual and hip in black pants, white shirts, vests and sneakers, the guys looked great albeit more like men than kids. They sang and danced to one new song, Summertime, and a few of their oldies.

The furor was contagious, the New Kids danced and sang and the crowd danced and sang along with them. A little while later, even I, probably the oldest person in the room (truly), was waving my arms and hooting at the handsome boys. When they left the stage, the hubby had to pull me away from my spot assuring me there was to be no encore. (I knew he was "in the know" but one can always hope!)

Waiting on the valet line in the middle of West Hollywood and grabbing pizza slices at 10pm on the Sunset Strip, I knew I was not in Kansas anymore. But that was okay. It was a fun night. A great night. And to top it off, tomorrow I'm going out with the girls for a drinking, giggling, SexAndTheCity- type fest dinner.

Mother's Day, NKOTB, girl's night out, and next week, the SATC movie premiere - maybe I can survive my real life a little longer, the one where my son is at this very moment screaming at me because I won't let him watch anymore tv - I said MAYBE.