NKOTBSB Stops in Toronto June 8th

NKOTBSB

Our parents, and their parents before us have always criticized the music we've listened too. It didn't matter if it were legends like Elvis Presley, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Journey or Johnny Cash, there was always something to complain about. I've heard countless times, that my generation doesn't know the true meaning of rock and roll. That our music isn't as good as it "used" to be. But like our parents, we didn't listen. We listened to what we wanted and whenever we wanted as it was what WE liked, not them.

This is how it went for me when I was a teen. No, I wasn't the hardcore, metal loving fan that most parents fear, but I was (and still am to this day) a pop-loving (and country, let's not forget), top-40 kind of girl. While my music tastes have expanded since I was a kid, I am still pretty much that same girl today as I was back then.

So my infatuation with a certain band started in grade six (that was in 1997 for all you nosy readers). I was 10ish and in LOVE with Brian Littrell (no jokes). Slowly growing out of my country faze - in reality I was sick of people making fun of me - I turned my attention to none other than the Backstreet Boys. They became plastered all over my wall, constantly listened too on my disc-man (oh yeeeah), and had countless arguments to "turn that racket" down. They were my love - my obsession even.

The first time I ever saw BSB in concert was the day after 9/11. Their friend and roadie had passed away due to the attacks on the USA. They stayed strong, put on a show and dedicated it to all those who were lost. If I hadn't loved them before, I was fully devoted to them now. They were so strong in such a horrible time and they pulled through. They played a show to remember and it's exactly 10 years later I got to see NKOTBSB perform once again at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto on June 8, 2011.

New Kids on the Block

As much as I was a BSB fan, New Kids on the Block came JUST before my generation. I'm not saying that people my age didn't know and weren't fans of NKOTB, but I was not one of them. The main reason I wanted to go to this show was because of the Backstreet Boys but I have to say, NKOTB did not disappoint. They were so entertaining and fun to listen to. With their matching outfits, cheesy songs and even cheesier dance moves, you couldn't help but get caught up and enjoy every moment. While I only knew some songs (and even less lyrics) I still couldn't help but dance along and repeat what they sang. While the only songs I recognized were "Step by Step" and "Summertime", I loved listening to the rest of the crowd sing the songs.

The boys (oops, sorry they are MEN now) of NKOTB very much seemed tied to their 80's selves. Right down to their voices and outfits, they looked as if they walked out of one of their old videos. And I honestly can't tell you how many times they grabbed themselves or air humped the audience - to much of the audiences amusement. Kids and adults came together and had a great time.

Now BSB just blew me away. Ten years after seeing them for the first time, I was able to see them again (thanks to my lovely friend Zebraprintsky's Jenny Ellis who won the tickets but couldn't pick them up). They won my heart all over again with the familiar songs, their humble attitudes and yes, their cheesy dance moves. I  honestly couldn't get over the fact that while ten years had gone by they still looked and sounded the same as before. The only difference being they are all in their early to mid-thirties (yikes!). Singing hits like "10,000 promises" "I'll Never Break Your Heart", "Backstreet's Back", "Shape of my Heart" and tons more, they spent the full two and a half hours (split with NKOTB of course) making all the girls fall in love with them once again.

BSB singing to four lucky ladies

This is only technically my second concert I've went to where the shows were split fifty-fifty with another major artist/band (my first one being Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera) and I was thoroughly impressed with how they went about splitting up the time. For JT and Xtina it was pretty much just one and then the other. For NKOTBSB, they split up sets by playing four to six songs at a time before taking a break and letting the others perform. It was a great mix of both bands and kept it pretty even the entire night.

I also have to say I loved the electricity in the air that I felt while being in the pretty much sold out crowd at the ACC. It just felt like everybody was having an amazing time and their good vibes were vibrating off of themselves and into the crowd. Everybody was on their feet singing and dancing and just having an overall good time and you could actually feel it. Everything about the night was great, even with the opening acts (which unfortunately I arrived too late to see Neverest perform). Jordin Sparks performed her radio hits with ease and got the crowd pumped and excited for the main event.

Who knows when I'll get to see them again, but if this was the last time, I am proud to say I was at that show. I will always be a lover of cheesy 90s boy bands for the rest of my life!

- Taryn

*All photos are property of me.