NKOTB Are Still Kickin Ass

Merry Merry Christmas 2012

2011-12-07T12:22:00.001-05:00

Ah, it's that time of year again. Since I have affiliations with both Pomplamoose and Lexus, I'm sure I've already had a hand in perpetrating "things that annoy you at Christmas". Sorry. So with further ado, let's talk about Merry Merry Christmas. For some reason 1990 copies of the CD are still listed for $80+ on Amazon.
Even though the NKOTB have gotten with the game and you can A) buy Amazon mp3s B)buy on iTunes or C)Listen for free on Spotify. I suggest you don't buy the outrageously overpriced 1990 cd copies that give no money to the band, and choose one of the other options instead.

Also, I'm happy to see the assholes selling tickets to the cancelled NKOTB/Boys II Men New Years Eve show are no longer on Stubhub.

TV I've been watching even though I know Blue Bloods is a very good show but I'm just not into dramas no matter how good people say Donnie is: The Walking Dead, Up All Night, The New Girl

NKOTB Links Updated

2011-08-15T13:36:00.000-04:00

I've updated the NKOTB links for you. New ones include:

Danny's foundation supporting breast cancer research as a memorial for his mother Betty is now retired in favor of NKOTB's parnership with the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

NKOTB News Blog of NKOTB news announcements, tour info, tickets, promotional appearances etc. Sorta what this site was before the reunion/Twitter

NKOTB Summer I think NKOTB fans are divided into two camps now, the cruisers and the people who spend their vacation days doing other stuff. If you're a cruiser, or an aspiring cruiser, this is the place to figure out how to get the most out of your vacation with the NKOTB.

NKOTB Addiction NKOTB fan commentary and updates. If you like NKOTB Are Still Kickin Ass you'll find a kindred blogger here.

If you're wondering where the other links went, some were retired Geocities, Angelfire or AOL fan pages and I kept links to sites that were still alive but rarely updated.

NKOTB Sweaters on Craftzine

2011-08-15T13:07:00.000-04:00

Blogger Joanne Conklin knitted these awesome NKOTB sweaters when NKOTB t-shirts were a scarce commodity in Germany in the 1990s. My friend Emily spotted this on Craftzine but you can see more photos at Rhythm of the Needles , The Right Stuff Part Two and The Right Stuff Part Three.

NKOTB ART CAR

2011-04-29T17:55:00.000-04:00

I have to say my bf is a reasonable person, so he doesn't want to be seen in any kind of art car, but man, I can't stop thinking about doing a NKOTB art car.

I'd redo the interior with NKOTB blankets, sheets, sleeping bags and t-shirts. Even the rugs and ceiling. I'd put the dolls on the backseat (all 15 of them, including the Jonathan Showtime Kid I bought on Ebay, which I just typed as Egay, which is cool). And the pillows I made in jr. high. I'd drape a tour jacket over each seat.

The outside would be AMAZING though. I'd glue all my buttons, even the big ones, on. All my NKOTB jewelry (strategically placed to not blind other drivers). I'd find a way to shellac my NKOTB cards to cover the trunk. I think I have a few dozen bumper stickers in my collection. On the hood I'd put my scratched copies of NKOTB records, LPs and 45s. CDs are awfully distracting on art cards, but maybe I'll be ready to pass with my Japanese 3" cds. Whatever I can't cover with stuff I can collage NKOTB posters and pinups over. It would be grand.

And of course, I need to finish it off with a NKOTB license plate! I can even get a "help end child abuse" plage and put a heart on it...awesome! NK<3TB4EVR

NKOTBSBloodymeatnemia

2011-04-27T22:00:00.000-04:00

My boyfriend saw NKOTBSB on his friend's facebook page yesterday and assumed it stood for NKOTB Suck Balls. Nice one.

I got home late and forgot to set my DVR so I only caught the second performance on Dancing With the Stars last night. I thought it did suck balls that they used backing vocals on Step By Step, but I loved Donnie and Joey dancing at the end of the song.

Can I add a pre-teen girl just walked by me with a shirt that says Fitch and I saw it as Bitch? Classy.

Of course I had a dream about the NKOTB last night. I was backstage right for the performance. Donnie tried to bring me onstage to dance but I refused. He kissed me anyway. Then the NKOTB were handing out meat (in sealed packages) to the fans in the front row, but we all knew it was some kind of funny Twitter joke so it was okay. When I woke up I realized this was a combination of reading about how Donnie found a kidney for a fan by tweeting about her, and my doctor telling me I'm anemic. Damn I love those guys.

Talking to Girls about Duran Duran

2011-03-05T16:31:00.001-05:00

I never cared for the Backstreet Boys. This blog is a bitter reminder that my love of mainstream pop really ended with the NKOTB. I loved them wholly until the minute I loved the Lemonheads and Soul Asylum. I took a break from listening to NKOTB at that point, but I found myself talking about them all the time. So I started this blog and it was great until they announced a reunion tour. Who was I then? I no longer gathered bits of intelligence from the news and friends, everything was on Twitter. Twitter was part of the stage show. We were all part of this. I think it's "nice" that NKOTB are touring with the Backstreet Boys, but I don't know any Backstreet Boys songs. If asked to name the members of BSB, I'd be naming the members of N'Sync too. I honestly don't even know which band Justin Timberlake was in. I almost called him Justin Timberland. I checked tickets for the San Jose show yesterday. $70 something dollars is left. I don't even work full time. I'm embarrassed that I don't know any Backstreet Boys songs. I'm sure it will be fun, I'm sure they put on a great stage show. I just spent that much seeing Prince, that was enough of an expensive show for this year. I can still change my mind.

What I miss is my friends don't really alert me to NKOTB news now that it seems like everything is online. So I was thrilled to pick up Rob Sheffield's book talking to girls about duran duran and see a chapter on NKOTB's Hangin Tough. Rob Sheffield writes about rock and indie rock. One of my friends had a few awkward dates with him. My boyfriend knows him from sometime ago, but my boyfriend doesn't read books. I find it hard to believe that none of my friends saw this book, and no one wrote to me and said "hey Court, Sheffield has a chapter about NKOTB in his new book." It's not a secret in the indie rock world that I like NKOTB. Even better, he starts out with talking about working at the Harvard library. People. NKOTB. Libraries. Really, is there much more to my life? Or is there anything else I've had in my life so long?

Without giving too much away, the chapter on Hangin Tough isn't so much about the song, but about Rob's relationship with his little sister Caroline, a devoted NKOTB fan when Rob was already into rock and roll. Rob is kind enough to say "There was always something humble and lovable about those New Kids. They never had the disastrous post-teen-pop crash." as if his sister somehow shielded him from Dirty Dawg. As much as I was picked on for liking the NKOTB as a kid, I find most of my slightly older male rock fan friends know better than to dis the NKOTB nowadays. They've watched a few movies that Donnie made, admitted they liked NKOTB songs as much as they teased girls for listening to them (must have been jealousy) and forgot about the embarrassing early 90s incarnation of NKOTB in favor of listening to a few stories about how damn nice they are to their fans. And if you're an obsessive NKOTB fan, you may as well pick up the Sheffield book and read what he has to say.

Huff This! The Right Stuff

2010-07-15T18:11:00.000-04:00

The radical ladies of Huff This have informed me of this video for this AWESOME fucking cover of the Right Stuff that they made. Queer friendly? Remember all the hot girls running around the graveyard in the original? Now they're hopping the rooftops of Brooklyn IN COLOR.

Okay, so you can get the cd at Bicycle Records and I suggest you also pick up some Jenny Jenkins cds while you're at it (no NKOTB covers, but she does play ukulele). You can also visit Huff This for more info on these rad girls.

More NKOTB covers please?

Blue Bloods

2010-07-13T17:58:00.005-04:00

Wow, is Donnie a bit typecast as a cop/detective much? I'm excited to see him on network tv this fall. Even more hilarious is, with Tom Selleck. I forgot Tom Selleck's name a few days ago and described him as "that 80s actor with the hairy chest and moustache" and my boyfriend KNEW who I was talking about. Okay, we're in our 30s so that's not so strange.

Happy Birthday Danny

2010-05-14T20:37:00.001-04:00

Yeah! I'm moving to CA just in time to miss all these terrific East Coast shows. Worst of all, I am going to be separated from all that NKOTB swag in my parent's attic.

If you missed The Kill Point w Donnie, the miniseries is streaming on Netflix now.

But Courtney, I know you are not a lezzie

2010-02-18T21:40:00.002-05:00

See, there was this DRAMA in late 1993 where I got in a fight with a homophobic pen pal of mine. Tonight I was scanning in lots and lots of pages from Prodigy, and I found this letter from a friend. Now, the funny thing is, I JUST friended her on Facebook. I didn't remember anything mean, and this was probably the nicest letter I got during the fiasco. Typical teenage homophobia from all sides I guess. I don't even remember what I wrote, I've always been pretty much "you love who you love" and I remember my parents having gay friends (and friends with HIV, and AIDS, which was especially scary to a kid in the 80s). So when they said "Glen has a boyfriend, like most guys have girlfriends" I just didn't think anything strange about it.

Now, we're pretty sure Jonathan dates men even though he's quiet about it. I'm not sure if I should consider him out or not, or if my tiny little blog is going to cause any offense if I talk about him in this context. But I do feel like sharing this "what were we thinking?" letter and hopefully maintaining the respect of my newly reunited pen pal. Really though, even this broke my heart. I didn't get it til I got back from summer camp (Stagedoor Manor, if a girl is going to get a slew of homophobic so called Christian hatemail, it is best to be fowarded to a mostly Jewish and mostly queer summer camp)

How to Join the NKOTB

2010-01-31T16:01:00.001-05:00

Coming Home Screening

2010-01-28T13:55:00.002-05:00

So a certain number of lucky fans were able to get tickets to a preview screening of the NKOTB Coming Home DVD tonight in Westbury NY.

Like me, because I'm lucky. Really, I'm really really good at winning tickets to stuff.

So I understand the NKOTB will be there and we're not supposed to line up before 5 (I'm getting there just after 4, I am no longer the kind of fan that can wait in the snow all day).

Also, I'll be moving to Cali so I'm not even bothering with Radio City Music Hall tickets.

Sometimes I write this blog just for the hate mail. I am really really looking forward to being in a MOVIE THEATER full of crazy NKOTB fans. That almost makes up for missing them at the TLA in 94.

Quitting Smoking

2010-01-08T13:19:00.002-05:00

Go JONATHAN! According to his twitter (of course, I need a new nickname for the damn twitter) he's gone seven days without a cigarette.

I'm not sure how I feel about quitting smoking as a resolution, but I've been doing the same thing, with a lot more cheating. Maybe not cheating, I can't keep track. I don't want to think I DESERVE one for being so good. Just like Jonathan does not DESERVE any horrible NKOTB song references here. Good job!

New DVD, purchase a relic for only $39.99

2010-01-05T10:38:00.003-05:00

I'm not sure if it has any healing powers, but the NKOTB are pre-selling their new DVD for $39.99 and it comes with a swatch of cloth from one of their tour outfits. Now, as far as I can tell they're not going to say whose suit it was, so it's probably just an idea their wardrobe manager had when hemming the pants. I have no idea how big it is either. As I've been cheated out of several pieces of Morrissey shirts, and hang on dearly to a nice piece of Courtney Love's slip from 1994. Anyway, here is what NKOTB promise:

"Coming Home," the new DVD from NKOTB comes packed with never-before-seen footage, extremely rare items and additional goodies:

Over 60 minutes never-before-seen footage.
6 Live performances filmed during the group's world tour.
Chance to receive 1 of 5 Golden Keys. The Golden Key provides LIFETIME tickets for you and a guest to official NKOTB shows anywhere in the world for 2010 and beyond.*
EXTREMELY LIMITED edition authentic wardrobe swatch from Full Service tour outfits (yes, it's REALLY from the guy's ACTUAL wardrobe). OWN A PIECE OF HISTORY!
Limited edition NKOTB dog tag.
Inside peek at NKOTB life on the road.
Special Moments with the fans.
Behind the scenes.
Deluxe booklet with additional artwork.
AND the unreleased track "Coming Home" delivered digitally at time of purchase.
* certain rules and restrictions apply. keys are inserted into packaging at random.
** A SINGLE STANDARD DVD (NO BONUS CONTENT OR ITEMS) will be available at retail 02/02/10

Did you see that? GOLDEN KEYS WITH LIFETIME TICKETS. Man oh man oh man. I want that. Even though I would waste so much of my life going to NKOTB concerts, like I haven't already..

Unforunately, I was not given any free goods or services or anything to write about a DVD I bought. Boo. Step it up NKOTB...I blog cuz I love you, now show some love back.

Best NKOTB Moments of 2009

2010-01-01T22:37:00.003-05:00

First of all, lets give it up to Twitter. By far the biggest development in the NKOTB community was the guys tweeting all over the place. What was left to blog about when Donnie was giving twugs and Jordan was talking about tink left and right? Everything from birth announcements to website overloads was covered by the guys accounts. So yes, NKOTB and Twitter, you did good.

Best TV Appearance: Remember when I was on the Rachel Ray show and they brought on the NKOTB and my reaction was to reach for my cell phone? Nope, because I didn't make it on the show. She was looking for screamers, and screamers she got. They were cute though. Sorta like my friend Rachel on America's Worst Cooks on Sunday night, while I'm jealous she's on TV, I'm pretty sure I don't WANT to be on that show. Still, yay Rachel Ray!

Best NKOTB Concert: Camden NJ. If you ever told me I'd have a good time in Camden NJ in a blackout I would have laughed, but if the NKOTB overpower the stadium and bring it down, HELL YEAH. Plus, already having a little Twitter thank you interlude, and seeing fans with their Twitter names on t-shirts (I added a few but the constant @ replies to NKOTB were annoying, so I blocked em, and the Twitter updates during the blackouts...more props to the new tech and keeping in touch with your fans. Plus there was the whole NKOTB singing inside the soundboard NEXT TO OUR SEATS that gave us front row tickets. OMG... but more on that later

Best New Kid on Twitter: Almost went to Donnie for his constant love, but has to go to Jonathan for coming out of his shell. Does his assistant write this stuff? He's hilarious! If you are going to follow one New Kid, follow JONATHANRKNIGHT

Best NKOTB song: Dirty Dancing. RIP Swayze, and nice call boys.

Best NKOTB endorsement: Waffle House. Hilarious, and I don't think they got paid but I would love for the FCC to investigate that one and find them innocent.

Best NKOTB merch: Blinky NKOTB pins for $5. The NKOTB tank tops for Susan G Komen were pretty sweet too, but they didn't blink.

Most ridiculous NKOTB merch: Bidding war for a prototype NKOTB Nintendo game box. Just the box. Confession: I bid up to $80.

Best NKOTB moment: HILARIOUS. So we have seats in the middle of the amphitheater and I'm making fun of Marcela for putting on makeup because there is NO WAY Jordan will see her. Well, when I have my back turned to watch Joe and Donnie in the mixing board area, I hear screaming and turn around to see JORDAN has JUMPED into our box and gave her a hug. There is NOTHING like having a New Kid sneak up on you like that!

Happy New Year to everyone!

Last Night I Had a Dream about Jonathan

2009-11-05T10:41:00.003-05:00

I was having a party at my house with a few friends. It started to die down, but I ran into Mark Hosler from Negativland getting a ladder to go into my attic and look for some old transitor radios my dad told him he could have. He was going up the wrong side of the ladder, but once he got up there I climbed up with him to hang out.

Some of my other friends also came up into the attic because it was filled with cool stuff. Then Jonathan Knight was there. He talked to me and Mark for a while, and then I don't know what happened to Mark but it was just me and Jonathan talking. There were about six other people in the room hanging out, but I wasn't talking to any of them.

Jonathan had longish wavy hair and I was petting him as he had his head in my lap. We were really hitting it off, and I said something about how he's the kind of boy friend I've been looking for. He was very quiet and chill, and told me he'd definitely come by more often. We were by a big bay window and it was sunny out, and I was totally happy about the whole party.

NKOTB NES Prototype Cartridge

2009-11-05T10:35:00.003-05:00

NKOTB NES Box Fetches Ridiculous Sum

Or did it? My friend forwarded me the auction recently. I remember the NKOTB being interviewed in Nintendo Power about the game, and the game was listed in the upcoming titles list for a few months. Then. Nothing. I would love to find a prototype cartridge of the game of course, and have spent some time on NES fan sites looking for anyone that's uploaded a simulator, but nope.

Now, this is for the box, and whoever bid that much didn't come through. Honestly, I bid up to $80 and gave up. It's nothing I couldn't make with a few hours of Photoshop (I'm slow!) and a little research (how big are those prototype boxes anyway?). I predict it will actually sell for $200-$300, which is a lot, but NKOTB fans AND Nintendo fans are wierd when it comes to collecting. I once spent the weekend in Chicago with the guy who had the second largest NES cartridge collection in the US. So neither fandom is THAT bizzare.

2009-10-26T00:37:00.002-04:00

At a writer's brunch this morning when it came time for introductions, for some reason my bloggy blogs were not on the tip of my tongue. This was fun when the NKOTB were broken up and there was no official web page for information. Now I'd like to continue to document my days as a fan, but this space, well. First they reunited and were all over the news, then they all got on Twitter and not only do they give you the news right to your phones, but they run contests and games and have fun. It seems to be fun, I had to stop following Donnie this week because I really didn't want to get 30+ positive messages from him while I was at work. A few months ago I said I'd make this a space for NKOTB updates once a week, but now, I'm breaking that promise. I'll add content from time to time, but I don't want it to exist in the same space as the guys reunited and doing their own thing. It's like, we're not a lost tribe anymore. I need a little rest before I figure out what else I want to say. I wish them the best. They are really fun on Twitter actually. I've heard that the Twitter activity has made the bulletin board activity die down, which sounds sad because that was so much more communal, but when I went into that area I didn't see that much I wanted to talk about. I think about that $10 vinyl copy of Face the Music that was at CakeShop last week and how I didn't buy it, and how it might still be there, and they might just give it to me if I ask, but I'm not sure what I want.

Jesus Camp

2009-08-19T22:28:00.004-04:00

I'm watching Jesus Camp

Here are pictures of my counselors looking at photos of my NKOTB room when I went to Jesus camp:

I got in trouble that week for sneaking my NKOTB walkman in so I could listen to NKOTB during our morning quiet prayer time. I was going into the barn with a hoodie on and listening to Hangin Tough under my hoodie. I forget how I got caught, but I cried when my tape was confinscated.

I also remember we all had to bring a "hat that symbolizes us" to camp. Of course, I had a top-less hat ala Joey that was covered in NKOTB pins. After one of the nightly sermons, about halfway through the week, we had to walk around the room and place the hat that we brought at the foot of a giant cross. I was so scared they were going to burn our hats! I was so scared we would have to exchange hats with someone else. I remember feeling so relieved that we were getting our hats back.

Jonathan Knight gets married in South America (may be NSFW)

2009-08-19T22:16:00.003-04:00

via Twitter

http://twitpic.com/ejjfy - While I was there I got married! Meet my new bride!

- And of course, with a bride comes the "mother In-law">http://twitpic.com/ejk0w - And of course, with a bride comes the "mother In-law

Potential cultural imperialism is slightly softened for me by the gay one making fun of heterosexual marriage.

NROTB at Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival

2009-07-10T15:01:00.002-04:00

So this press release was posted on Brooklyn Vegan and I immediately noticed a band called NROTB. No, no secret shows you stupid blockheads. Nu Ravers on the Block are a truely annoying dj pair playing that thumpa thumpa rave music. They have co-opted an old NKOTB logo for their backdrop. Maybe you like this crap, I don't.

From their press release.
Building in the inaugural success of 2008, Famous Friends, a New York-based promotion company, in conjunction with Noise Problem, a leading multi-faceted music agency, are pleased to announce the line up for The Second Annual Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival (BEMF). Spanning two stages, indoor and out, BEMF will be headlined by The Juan Maclean (live) and also feature Young Love, Jupiter One, Adventure, Shy Child, Home Video, Free Blood, Awesome New Republic as well as dozens of other DJs and performers.
Famous Friends will be announcing a very special surprise guest headliner via twitter on the day of the show. Follow them at http://twitter.com/famousfriends to receive the latest news in advance. The line up is listed below.
BEMF is an all-day event for emerging and established dance artists celebrating the vibrant music scene found in the city of New York. The festival will bring together New York's veterans and up-and-coming talent, along with some special out of town guests, and will be held on Saturday, August 8th at Old American Can Factory, located at 232 3rd Street in Brooklyn from 4PM to 4AM.
Adding fuel to the fire, the festival will offer a free open bar courtesy of Pabst Blue Ribbon from 4PM - 6PM. Advance tickets are $25 and can be purchased at BrooklynEMF.com. RJD2 will not be performing as previously announced.
We are holding back the announcement of the co-headliner until the day of show where we'll announce them via twitter. Line-up after the jump.
Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival's Line Up:
The Juan Maclean (live)
Young Love
33hz
Shy Child
Designer Drugs
Jupiter One
BELL
Free Blood
The Cloud Room
Home Video
Adventure
Codebreaker
Kap10kurt
Awesome New Republic
The American Dream Team
JDH & DAVE P (FIXED/ RVNG)
Roxy Cottontail
Larry Tee
DJ Ayres
Finger on the Pulse DJs
Viking
Flashmen
Jubilee
Udachi
Purple Crush
NROTB
Tayisha Busay
LEIF
Rude Crew (w/ Rude Bear!)
VDRK
Subdrive
Galbis
Free Magic
Chaz & Jason Pants (Palms Out Sounds)
Terror Dactel
Charlie Tippie
Gavin Royce
Kids with Snakes

Kids on My Block

2009-06-10T00:04:00.003-04:00

Funny, this weekend Jonathan tweeted that since they've gotten on Twitter, NKOTB.com has been dead. Just like this blog! Lemme promise you new content every WEDNESDAY. I suppose I should put that in the design of the blog. Updates every WEDNESDAY.

So I'm waiting to get the video of the OMG you will not believe this moment from the Saturday show. So I'm going to hold back on that and talk about more stuff we did back in the day that is just so strange to music fans now.

There were a bunch of kids hanging out on my stoop. They live next door and above me and are about 8-12 years old. I came home from work and sat down with them for a little bit, since we usually just talk between the chain link fences in the back yard. I noticed one of the girls was wearing a Jonas Brothers bracelet and I told her I was a New Kids on the Block fan.

I was so happy to hear that these kids KNEW who NKOTB are! They've all heard the song Single or at least would lie about it if someone else tried to sing a little bit. The only one who didn't get it was confused if we were talking about people who lived on our block or not. She's also the one who spends a lot of time talking to her imaginary friends, so let's just say she's creative.

I was a dork and went inside to get some of my NKOTB stuff out. I found my 1991 calendar with a bunch of annotations I made for NKOTB events that weren't published on it, two scrapbooks with newspaper clippings and photos, and a box (Caboodle!) of NKOTB earrings. I brought them outside and showed them the worst of it.

One of the little boys tried to quiz me on the dates on the calendar. I could get their birthdays but some of the other date's I'd written down like TV appearances were completely lost to me. I pointed out how every day the mail came there was a little J because I wrote Jordan a letter every day that the mail came in 1991.

Here is a picture of me outside of each of their houses, these are pictures I traded people in the mail, here are pictures of my room and my friends rooms.

"How did you take pictures without a digital camera?"

I LOVE the technology divide. Not the one between classes, but the one between generations.

"I had a clicky camera, with film. And you could make copies of pictures from the negatives."

I'm not sure they understood a word of this. We had it rough in the 1990s, no Flickr, no digital cameras, not even being able to send images in email.

And I had grass clippings from Donnie and Danny's house. And two dollars that Donnie had touched. Yup. They LOVED that stuff, because I'm so weird.

And now Ms. Jonas now wants to cover her walls with pictures of the guys. Sorry mom. Are there Jonas bed sheets?

Massive List of NKOTB Fan Groups

2009-04-15T09:45:00.001-04:00

I'm pretty sure you can send a message with subscribe in the subject line to join any of these groups, but you might want to check at yahoogroups or whatever url is after the group name to make sure that's the case.

NKSistas@yahoogroups.com
nkotb@yahoogroups.com
Madly_In_Love_With_Jordan@yahoogroups.com
MNKOTBFC@yahoogroups.com
New_Kids_On_The_Block_Reunion@yahoogroups.com
NewKidsAlways@yahoogroups.com
NewKidsOnTheBlock_music@yahoogroups.com
NewKidsontheBlockCRUISE@yahoogroups.com
NewKidsOnTheBlockFanatics@yahoogroups.com
newkidsontheblockfanclub@yahoogroups.com
NewKidsontheBlockFansClub@yahoogroups.com
NewKidsReunion2008@yahoogroups.com
nikisjonathanknightspot@yahoogroups.com
nkob_girl84@yahoogroups.com
NKOTB_FAN_CENTRAL@yahoogroups.com
NKOTB_fans_united@yahoogroups.com,
NKOTB_news@yahoogroups.com
nkotb_oftenimitated_neverduplicated@onelist.com
NKOTB_reunion_tour@egroups.com
NKOTB_The_Block@yahoogroups.com
NKOTB-fans@yahoogroups.com
NKOTB-FEVER@yahoogroups.com
NKOTB2008@yahoogroups.com
NKOTB4eva@yahoogroups.com
nkotb4life@yahoogroups.com
NKOTBBlockheads@yahoogroups.com
nkotbfanhangout@yahoogroups.com
nkotbfans4life@yahoogroups.com
nkotbfansallgrownup@yahoogroups.com,
NKOTBReunion@yahoogroups.com
nkotbscouts@yahoogroups.com
NKOTBSKA4EVA@yahoogroups.com
nkotbstillrule@yahoogroups.com
nkotv@yahoogroups.com
NKSistas@yahoogroups.com
nmgp@yahoogroups.com
officaljoeymcintyrefanclub@yahoogroups.com
oldkidsontheblock@yahoogroups.com
Remembering_New_Kids_On_The_Block@yahoogroups.com
sexiestknightalive@yahoogroups.com
The_NKOTB_List@onelist.com
The_Wonderful_Guys_Alive@yahoogroups.com
thebeantownboys@yahoogroups.com
thenewblock@yahoogroups.com
theneweraofnkotb@yahoogroups.com
Twisted_For_NKOTB@yahoogroups.com
welovenewkids@yahoogroups.com
woodworld@yahoogroups.com
http://launch. groups.yahoo. com/group/ NKOTB_Fan_ Fic/

I am active on exactly 0 of these (or the official Ning message board). Why am I so disconnected? I don't know.

Remeber the 900 #

2009-04-15T09:41:00.001-04:00

Remember calling the NKOTB 900 # and getting in trouble for listening to prerecorded messages from the band? Well, now they have a FREE (long distance charges may apply, but who doesn't have unlimited LD on their cell phone now?) number you can call and listen and leave a little message:

We'd love to hear from you! Give us a call at (617) 830-1100 and leave us a message. You might hear from us sooner than later ;)

2009-04-15T09:36:00.002-04:00

So great the official NKOTB network is trying to control this:

A message to all members of New Kids on the Block

A reminder, discussion of NKOTB, band and management private lives are OFF LIMITS (includes but not limited to: partners, gfs, wives, children, family, etc), members violating terms (even asking) will face immediate time out. Thanks!

Visit New Kids on the Block at: http://newkidsnetwork.ning.com

Because NKOTB fans are crazy. Is partners a reference to Jon's recent outing?

Also, Donnie, Jonathan and Joe have taken over twitter this past week. They rank just behind the Jonas brothers on tweetstats.com, but it's hard to really judge because their combined stats kick the Jonas brothers butts.

I have to say having them join Twitter has been the most exciting news I've heard in a long time. They are great Tweeters! Sure they fill up my phone message box with random observations, positive thoughts and calls for a TWAR; but they are totally amusing and showing so much love for the fans.

If you're not on there already, go to www.twitter.com to sign up and then follow

donniewahlberg
joeymcintyre
jonathanrknight
nkotb

A fair warning, you probably should have unlimited text messaging if you get their updates on your phone. They're pretty crazy with the twittering.

2008-12-02T17:38:00.002-05:00

Donnie admits he fell asleep at the wheel recently.

Why do I bother doing this blog without keeping up with the message boards? For instance, I saw the headline that Donnie kissed Jonathan onstage in FL, but my work blocks gay websites.

NKOTB fans who used to camp outside the Knight's house are now being given tours by the Salvation Army who now owns the house. Seeing the photo of the house brought back so many memories of my sister and I posing out front, and I admit, I took a couple of blades of grass from the yard. The photos are really sweet and I'd love to take on the carriage house renovation as my next fundraising project.

Joey's movie On Broadway is now available for online rental or purchase through Amazon.com. Geek types should check out the options for downloading and that it's available for Mac or PC.

2008-11-29T14:28:00.002-05:00

Happy 40th Birthday Jonathan!

I had a dream last night I took my sister to ANOTHER NKOTB Today show taping. This was the afternoon before the taping and there was a line down the block, but only to the end of the block. None the less, we got green wristbands that matched us up to a chart posted by the site that said the green wristbands were for the people who were not true blockheads. I was a bit cranky that here we were, willing to camp out overnight, but since we weren't in the first hundred people or wearing our 90s NKOTB gear that we were going to be identified as lesser fans. I wondered why they weren't just handing out tickets so we could go home and get some sleep later on. However, there was a large group of fans gathered on a platform and I spotted Jonathan up there in the crowd. The girls were dancing and clamoring for a good look, so we climbed up there to see him. I could barely hold on and realized I was missing my sister. I hopped down to find her and told her I saw Jonathan (who was her favorite). When I turned around I wasn't sure if security had cleared the area because there was a big enough gap in the crowd for us to both climb up and hold onto a railing where we had a good view of him.

Out of Town News is closing in Boston and Boston.com has a little story about two times the NKOTB visited the newsstand.

NKOTB make me Toastie

2008-11-24T13:28:00.004-05:00

NKOTB reuiniting has been a surreal dream for me, not exactly a dream come true. I never dreamed it would happen. I was happy to see the guys in their various projects but it was never important to me that the band would reunite. So the subject here is an attempt to music snob the press that makes the puns I'm sick of hearing while reviewing the reviews anyway. A-ha, this isn't a blog, it's a NKOTB META-BLOG

The New Kids are a Boston Music Awards 2008 Act of the Year nominee!
You can vote for them under "Artist of the Year (National)" from now until December 5th. at the Boston Music Awards website. The winners will be announced December 7th.

I'm not quite sure what is going on here but it appears NKOTB's Dirty Dancing is in a movie in Germany

And Idolator didn't get that it was a movie clip.

MAURA, you have a million ways to contact me to fact check this stuff!!!!

And the NKOTB were on the American Music Awards last night

And some criticism from Entertainment Weekly. I have to say, MY DENTISTS ARE REALLY CUTE. I told them so and I think they put a note on my chart because whenever I go they giggle.

Or you can vote on the performance at Pop Sugar. As usual, NKOTB fans are showing their online campaigning skills and the votes are currently over 2/3 for Lovin It.

While mostly mean, Straight.com at least introduces us to the term "wide-on" for female arousal. Straight.com is not a homophobic set-up, but a reference to the nearby body of water. Still seems like a regrettable name for a newspaper to me.

At least that's more entertaining than a positive but bland review at Canada.com

I said no more certain puns but the Seattle PI review says the NKOTB have teh Right Stuff.

And I'm totally lazy on MySpace but you should add me as a friend anyway: myspace.com/nkotbarestillkickinass

I love reading your blogs and bulletins about the NKOTB. I want to thank everyone that posts and reposts their stories and finds. I will never use a personal story or photos without your permission (though I love submissions, hint, hint!) although I can't credit every news story, I'm digging through hundreds of news stories and blogs to find posts and I can't credit everyone who reposts the same news.

Love Love Love,
Lexi

OMG

2008-11-05T21:14:00.003-05:00

I got NKOTB tickets for Philly.

In a suite.

In a suite with internets. Right now I am blogging on a computer from the NKOTB concert.

They haven't gone on yet, but this is crazy...

2008-10-16T13:48:00.002-04:00

I will no longer link to any review that thinks it's funny for saying
1. old kids on the block
2. not-so new kids on the block
3. nkotb, still hangin tough
4. nkotb, still have the right stuff

Thanks to Molly A for tipping me off to this:

"This is a press release courtesy of the Rose Quarter

Due to an unavoidable scheduling conflict the New Kids on the Block concert, originally scheduled for Rose Garden on Sunday, November 23, 2008 has been canceled.

Tickets purchased via credit card at the Rose Quarter Box Office, ComcastTIX.com or by phone will automatically receive a refund.

Ticket holders who purchased tickets with cash or at Safeway/TicketWest outlets can receive refunds at the place of purchase."

Now, internet comments were mostly nasty, saying the NKOTB can't sell tickets, which doesn't seem true because all the shows I've heard about so far were well attended. The scheduling conflict is they are playing on the American Music Awards November 23instead. It makes perfect sense to me to trade in a reschedulable stadium show for a major tv appearance. Especially when so many people are saying they don't even know the NKOTB have reunited.

NKOTB, Your Check is Ready

2008-10-01T13:46:00.001-04:00

The NKOTB showed up on a list of owners of unclaimed property in MA

When Crazed NKOTB Fans Grow Up

2008-09-30T14:22:00.000-04:00

Or did they? Tattoos, photos and confessions courtesy of Lemondrop.

NKOTB Beat Boxing

2008-09-30T14:18:00.001-04:00

Thanks to Blender, we have a little video of the NKOTB showing off their beatboxing skillz.

Fans Celebrating at the NYC Concert Last Week

2008-09-30T14:09:00.001-04:00

Thanks to Newsday for sending along this clip! If anyone has stories, photos, clips or tips please send them my way! It makes this blog a lot more fun.

Give Donnie a Million Hugs

2008-09-30T14:05:00.002-04:00

Yup, we're giving him a MILLION HUGS.Here's the letter from Nichole:

After watching the "a million-hug" video from Donnie I was thinking how could WE help him out to get his million hugs and suddenly it hit me!!!! Why not making a website where ALL New Kids fans can give Donnie a virtual hug.

I know, I know, you all want a hug for real but in the meanwhile why not letting Donnie know that we are all ready to give him his million hugs???

So GIRLS, now is your chance…give Donnie his hug and tell as many fans about this site!!!!

So visit www.givedonniehismillionhugs.com NOW!!!!

Best,
Nicole

Snarky reviews, Merry Merry Christmas, VH1

2008-09-25T11:38:00.002-04:00

Bostonist gives The Block the analytical blogger treatment and NKOTB fans react like, well, NKOTB fans

Merry Merry Christmas to be rereleased. The only reason I doubt this is it says there are 6 new Maurice Starr tracks, unless they're from the vaults. Too bad you won't be able to sell it on ebay for $40 anymore.

And The Pheonix in Boston also reviews the album, hilariously, in that vague worthy of Pitchfork you can't tell what the guy is saying way. Again, fans don't seem to get the joke.

And lots of NKOTB stuff over at VH1 who will be airing a special Behind the Music this Sunday at 8.

Notes on Last Nights Show

2008-09-24T14:12:00.003-04:00

Edited, but I figured since I had the conversation this afternoon I may as well get it up here and add more later. Now, I am really effin sick and would have ahd a much better time if I had the strength to stand up and scream, but I didn't. I was too far away to take photos too.

S: how was it?

me: great but i was so sick

S: did you have a good view?

me: fave parts> Danny breakdancing, they performed on a platform in the middle of the crowd not at all until the platform. i would have been better off on the side, i was pretty far back on the floor. they only played the singles from the new album, nothing from face the music. lots from hanging tough and some frmo step by step. was My Favorite Girl that big of a hit? I forget. That was the 2nd song and I liked it

S: i never liked that song that much

me: oh, they played IYGA, I guess that was on FTM

S: oh good

me: i was really hoping i could sell my ticket and come back for MSG but the buses only ran before and after the show. that's how sick i am

S: oh that sucks

me: yeah, i sat down for most of the show, i couldn't see anyway, maybe a glimpse of someone's head here or there. after the today show!

S: oh so you had seats? its not just standing room on the floor?

me: yeah. oh if it was standing room it would have been a madhouse! think about it!|

(a bunch of tactics for how to handle the Borgata show this weekend)

me: who is the sociologist who has been studying the mentality of NKOTB fans to take advantage of us like this?

S: haha, donnie wahlberg

me: lol, seriously, this is some terrific market manipulation. we had fun though, i took the shuttle from Seacaucus with a bunch of fans last night. i went pretty late though, i was delirious. lol, it was only a year ago Danny played to 35 people at Maxwell's in Hoboken, where were all these people then!?!?
12:31 PM AND I'd like to whine that Jordan and Joe got to sing their solo hits but Danny didn't get to. i know he didn't have a hit, and isn't the most popular
but still, i think they should have let him do a song for his mom on the acoustic guitar. instead they had a hoochie in tight pants dance for Dirty Dancing with a NKOTB/Breast Cancer shirt and then talked about raising money for the cause

2008-09-22T13:51:00.002-04:00

I'm going to ignore the concert reviews here. There are hundreds of them you can Google, and either the reviewer is a fan who had fun, or never liked the Kids and never will.

Donnie might have a new girlfriend

Righteous Kill came out Anyone see it? Like the tour, there are hundreds of other reviews online. Let me know if you find an interesting one.

A nice article on Maurice Starr's influence on the NKOTB and why he's not around this time.

I'll be at the Izod Center tomorrow night for my NKOTB reunion show. I wish it wasn't happening between My Bloody Valentine and Jad Fair, because it's a little distracting and I can only concentrate on one iconic love of my life at a time. Which gives the NKOTB precious little time between tonight and tomorrow evening.

Where is Jon?

2008-09-10T23:06:00.001-04:00

A little video I shot last week at The Today Show of the NKOTB getting ready to take the stage.

Maybe Jon was inside having a smoke break?

More photos in sets if you're interested...

NKOTB Tickets For Sale

2008-09-09T10:01:00.001-04:00

For Sale: New Kids on the Block tickets
Nassau Colisuem
Wednesday September 24th
Section 108, Row F
Choice of 2 seats together for $200 or 1 seat for $100.
contact aaargh05@gmail.com if interested

newsy news

2008-09-04T17:05:00.003-04:00

The Today Show Appearance
I'm not focused enough to write details about today just yet. Here is some recent stuff and stuff to keep you entertained.

A bit about the initial cancellation

Donnie
Wahlberg Needed Break Before NK Reunion
Wahlberg Spooked by DeNiro in Softball Game

Jordan
Jordan on Sex and Romance

Boston Gets Ready for the Return of the New Kids

Video
For Single in Idolator MAURA thank you for giving NKOTB hipster press time. Thank you. You're not quite John Norris, but I love you anyway.

Reviews
Hint, many are not nice.
Badger Herald
The Sun UK
Northern Star
New Kids Slam Backstreet
Reuters

OMG Jonathan is having a ciggie

2008-09-04T06:56:00.001-04:00

and I'm just too far away to get a picture

Soundchecking

2008-09-04T06:28:00.001-04:00

Today's Setlist

2008-09-04T06:14:00.001-04:00

Step by Step, Single and Closer

Donnie

2008-09-04T06:11:00.001-04:00

just hangin tough at the Today Show. I'm in the second row this time. Not too big of a turnout, so if you were afraid of braving crowds then come on down.

VIP Pass

2008-09-04T06:05:00.001-04:00

for reals OMG

Here we go again....

2008-09-04T03:12:00.001-04:00

NKOTB on the Today show this morning and guess where I am?

NKOTB on the View

2008-09-02T13:43:00.001-04:00

Their Today show appearance has been rescheduled for Thursday but enjoy this video of Step By Step in the meantime.

The Block Reviewed

2008-08-28T13:46:00.002-04:00

We're gonna see a lot of reviews in the next couple of weeks.

This is South Wales

NK Signings Next Week

2008-08-28T13:18:00.002-04:00

BURBANK, CA
August 28th at 7pm
Best Buy
1501 N Victory Pl
Burbank, CA 91502
(818) 845-5121

Pre-Purchase the New Kids on the Block CD "The Block" and you wil l receive a special pass to attend the autograph signing! (Limited Space Available) PRE-SALE BEGINS AT 10AM ON 8/28 AT THIS LOCATION ONLY

NEW YORK CITY, NY
September 2nd at 6:30pm ** THE BLOCK RELEASE DAY**
Best Buy
529 5th Ave # A
New York, NY 10017
(212) 808-0309

Purchase the New Kids on the Block CD "The Block" and you wil l receive a special pass to attend the autograph signing! (Limited Space Available) PASS DISTRIBUTION BEGINS AT 10AM ON 9/2 AT THIS LOCATION ONLY

LONG ISLAND, NY
September 3rd at 7pm
Wal-Mart
2465 Hempstead Turnpike
East Meadow, NY 11554
(516) 579-6769

New Kids on the Block will be signing copies of the CD "The Block" (LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE)

BOSTON, MA
September 6th at 1pm
Newbury Comics ** GRAND OPENING**
Faneuil Hall Marketplace
North Market Building
Boston, MA 02109
(617) 248-9992

Purchase the New Kids on the Block CD "The Block" and you wil l receive a special pass to attend the autograph signing! (Limited Space Available) PASS DISTRIBUTION BEGINS AT 8AM ON 9/6 AT THIS LOCATION ONLY

HMV, LONDON, UK
September 8th at 1PM
150 Oxford Street
London, W1D1DJ

New Kids on the Block will perform live at the HMV Store on Oxford St, London on September 8th at 1PM! After, they will answer fan questions and sign copies of their CD "The Block"

and the NKOTB will be on the Today show Monday morning. I'm debating how to do this. I think there will probably be some serious camp out action going on this weekend so the only way to get in will be to be there by Saturday night. I'll probably go during the day and take photos of the fans this time, since it's something I haven't had the chance to do during their other two Today show appearances.

NKOTB Doo-Wop Comedy Tribute

2008-08-28T02:47:00.001-04:00

I love this! From 2007, but even funnier today.

The Block leaks, VH1 Ultimate Fan Contest

2008-08-27T13:08:00.003-04:00

Maura Johnston reviews The Block over at Idolator. I will resist the temptation to spill a drink on her the next time we run into each other at a show.

And over at VH1 you can enter the NKOTB Ultimate Fan Contest. I was a bit dissapointed this wasn't the "Ultimate Fan Blog" contest where I might have had a better chance at winning. 50 words or less about why you're the greatest NKOTB fan ever? If I don't win (just on the virtues of being chatty, funny, having suffered years of abuse at the hands of non-believers and never once denying how much I love the NKOTB as I started swinging in indie music circles), I hope it goes to someone who raised a lot of money for charity because of NKOTB or was inspired to take in foster kids as an adult because the Knight's did.

Obsess much Heather?

2008-08-27T10:46:00.000-04:00

National daytime talk show is looking for NKOTB's biggest fan! Were Jordan, Jonathan, Joe, Donnie and Danny your obsession? Are you ready to spill the beans on your fanatic behavior? How far have you gone in your love for NKOTB? We want to hear your story! Email your story and contact info to tvshowdaytime@yahoo.com

Scott Wahlberg might be...

2008-08-24T23:22:00.002-04:00

Thanks to NKOTB News for possibly answering my Scott Wahlberg question. Donald Wahlberg had 5 kids from a previous relationship. You should go read their site, they get a lot of news I miss. Like all the Meet & Greets I'm missing because of you know, work and stuff.

Recent news roundup

2008-08-22T16:53:00.003-04:00

Happy belated 39th birthday to Donnie! That was back on the 17th, when I was busy recovering from the amazing performance by The Music Tapes at Athens Popfest in Georgia.

Perez Hilton is reporting that Jonathan is going to come out of the closet any day now

VH1 will be showing a new documentary "New Kids on the Block: A Behind The Music Special Event", September 28 at 8PM (ET/PT).

The Block is available for pre-order on iTunes.

The NKOTB will be doing an instore signing at Newbury Comics new location in Boston on September 6th. Go to the site for details and rules. Mike Dreese do you have any idea what the hell you have gotten yourself into?

Donnie, Danny and Joey were spotted eating at the new sushi resturant at the Bellagio in Las Vegas

Jordan admits he loved wearing makeup Ah yeah, do I even need to post this:

and I'll have to catch up with more later!

The NKOTB talk about their favorite things about Britain.

PS Dear big media, I live in NYC and am an ALA certified librarian. I have very reasonable rates for research requests, especially if you need help fact-checking a NKOTB story.

Who is Scott Wahlberg?

2008-08-22T16:43:00.002-04:00

I got a few emails earlier this week that Donnie's brother Scott was going to be interviewed on the radio. Only problem is, does Donnie have a brother named Scott? According to Scott's website they even have differing number of kids in the family. But look at the photos, he definitely looks like he's part of the family.

Donnie Headed for Divorce

2008-08-19T16:37:00.002-04:00

Donnie is headed for divorce

I'm back from my vacation, I'll have to do a catchup post later but this was too much to not get to you immediately. Thanks to Emily for the tip.

fuck the nonbelievers

2008-08-04T13:47:00.002-04:00

New Kids on the Block become Old Guys Who Can't Rock.
New Kids on the Block Want to Be Your Three-Minute Man
Because it just wouldn't be the NKOTB without non-believers now would it?

Cover Art, Opening Act revealed

2008-08-04T13:35:00.003-04:00

People magazine has a first look at the cover art for The Block coming out Septemer 2nd

Natasha Bedingfield is opening for the NKOTB this fall. Since this is a UK paper I assume it's for overseas dates.

You Tubin

2008-08-01T10:30:00.002-04:00

The Valley Wag uses NKOTB as "a litmus test for wheter aging fans use youtube or not". Of course, otherwise how would I find gems like the Backstreet Boys covering "I'll Be Loving You" in 1993?

Summertime Part II

2008-07-30T23:08:00.003-04:00

The NKOTB have collaborated with Neyo on their next single titled "Single". Single will be available on iTunes August 12th and can be previewed at the People website

Other confirmed collaborations include "Full Service" with New Edition (although no one is sure if Bobby Brown will be part of the reunion, and "Grown Man"with the Pussycat Dolls' songwriter Lady GaGa.

Punk band Dead End Drive namedrops NKOTB as the band they'd most like to have played in, circa 1994.

We all know Jonathan is involved in real estate, but did you know Danny Wood sells jets in his off stage time?

The UK's Daily Starreports from the European reunion press conference.

Popstar Annie confirms her love for our fave five

And after my sad month long absence, I can promise you I am ALL CAUGHT UP with the NKOTB news I had to scan and hope everyone is having an awesome summer.

Troy Kids on the Block

2008-07-29T09:50:00.005-04:00

Once upon a time there was a NKOTB cover band from Troy, Michigan.

They got the dance moves, they got the clothes and they covered the NKOTB:

Here's what happened when the Troy Kids on the Block brought their story to the Today Show:

You can be a fan of Troy Kids on the Block on Facebook.

Summertime Updates

2008-07-25T11:51:00.004-04:00

Hmmm, the number of librarians who ask "what is that" questions on list-servs rather than Googling their questions about the internet reminds me that people MAY actually be coming here for NKOTB news instead of the official site. Now, the official site is MUCH better and more up to date.

I've been dealing with this incredible feeling of disinterest, as the blog hasn't been updated for a while even though we're all gearing up for the reunion shows in the fall. I need to get my scanner working so I can share some photos and letters and such. Thank you for all your comments too, I love knowing I have readers and the visitor stats from all over the world and comments make it so worth it.

Newsy news,
* NKOTB recorded a duet with New Edition
* Donnie signs on as spokesperson for the Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education
*The NKOTB are not recording with Michael Jackson or Madonna Whoa! Checking my news from the past few weeks I had no idea this story had gotten so out of control, everything from people saying Timbaland was arranging the Madonna collaboration to reports the band had secret talks with Michael Jackson...
*Tony and Tina's Wedding featuring Joey McIntyre came out on DVD this week
*The reunion tour is up to 48 dates!
*The Vancouver Courier Kudos and Kvetches about the lack of face time Jonathan and Danny get in the Summertime video
*The New York Times reports the NKOTB reunion shows are 80% sold out

Jones Beach 1988!

2008-05-26T14:15:00.002-04:00

Longtime MTVJ and New Kids fan John Norris interviews the New Kids for the MTV Newsroom blog.

Idolator expresses it's disbelief and analysis of the NKOTB charting. I'm still particularly shocked that a band can chart purely on digital sales. And I had a few iTunes credits in my account so I went and got it too.

2008-05-17T15:21:00.002-04:00

1. NKOTB really do have the best fans in the world. They can be so supportive (ie an old pen pal bringing me homemade cookies during our campout) and so vicious together (ie when our new friends from Bermuda flirted with the cops until they were moved to the front of the line, much backstabbing evilness was voiced amongst those remaining)

2. Highlights of being in the crowd included yelling "PUT THE UMBRELLA DOWN" because the umbrellas (especially the yellow one painted w/NKOTB slogans) were blocking our view

3. Ditto for the signs

4. Couldn't see anything from where we were standing until they came to the platform to do an interview. Then the whole crowd surged forward about 6 feet as you can see in the photos

5. Still feeling negative about the price of VIP tickets and the fact that everyone there had them, to multiple shows

6. New tour dates added, including NYC and Philly, but I don't want to shell out another $90....come on people, anyone got a plus one? Can a blogger get a ticket?

7. I was really glad they played Tonight as it seems so much more special as nostalgia 18 years later rather than 2 years later. It is still my favorite Sgt. Pepper rip off

8. My sleep schedule is completely screwed and will continue to be for a while

9. That was definitely the most fun free thing I've done in NYC since I moved here.

10. NKOTB fan competitiveness is like a RPG with no GM

11. If you have questions about the tour or the guys, go to the www.nkotb.com community bulletin boards.

12. i was trying to explain this blog to people in line and how it's NOT a news site or a fan community. It's a personal site about the NKOTB. www.nkotb.com really covers those other thing. To me it's like, siting in my NKOTB decorated room writing in a NKOTB notebook

Fixed the Times

2008-05-16T19:22:00.003-04:00

So you can see how silly we really were. I had it set on West Coast time from when I started this blog and just now realized it seemed like this whole night happened three hours earlier. I wish. I just woke up!

This Morning's Photos

2008-05-16T12:05:00.000-04:00

But i'll show the silly screamy video I shot:

and my favorite picture I took

Too tired to watch the show even though I had a conversation with my mom. If I wasn't too tired her text would have made ME cry: I cried for an hour and a half because u were a preteen again. I only wish I was there with u. Love u.

I called her back to tell her about this sign:

And we got a good laugh. Thanks to everyone today. The Today Show, the NKOTB, Sharita for keeping me up to date, Jasmine for keeping me company, Chris for keeping me laughing, and most of all to the people who couldn't make it and got to enjoy the spectacle.

We're in!!!!!!!

2008-05-16T06:48:00.001-04:00

soundchecking...hangin tough, tonight, step by step

Soundcheck

2008-05-16T06:14:00.001-04:00

screaming fans, we're moving in...

Free breakfast!

2008-05-16T06:03:00.001-04:00

and screaming fans as the cameras go by....

We got rain, and wristbands

2008-05-16T04:51:00.001-04:00

Around 4AM wristbands were handed out. Orange and purple at the front of the line, the first row on 50th, black for the second row of the block. The fans on 5th Ave and 49th St. are in the "maybe" lines.

Sleepytime on the New Kids block

2008-05-16T02:51:00.001-04:00

I'm still up but a lot of people were prepaired to sleep. People are quieter now. The ladies from Bermuda in front of us have a portable DVD player and are watching videos. Pray that the rain continues to hold off.

In line for the Today Show, tomorrow morning

2008-05-15T23:38:00.001-04:00

kinda far back, kinda more cynical than most, but having hella fun.

Happy Birthday Danny!

2008-05-14T11:54:00.000-04:00

Yes, Happy Birthday Danny....someone correct me, he must be 39....

Already in Line

2008-05-14T11:27:00.000-04:00

As of 10AM Wednesday morning there are already fans waiting in line for Friday's Today Show performance. Now, being that I am taking time off for the NYC Popfest, AND that I am not so dedicated that I want to be there for two days, I am happily at work discussing the insanity of this behavior and our own waiting strategies with my newfound NKOTB posse.

NKOTB VIP

2008-05-06T14:41:00.000-04:00

So I went and checked out the VIP tickets at www.iloveallaccess.com . The US 5 Star Packages are sold out right now, but included (! from the website) :

A ticket in the first 10 rows!*
5 Star souvenir laminate
Meet and greet - photo op!
Pre-show party!
Exclusive New Kids on the Block gift bag!
Parking**
Crowd-free merchandise shopping!
Discount coupon to the New Kids on the Block online store
VIP Ticket Package Price: $ 375.00

And the 4 Stars that are still available:
A ticket in the first 20 rows!
Exclusive New Kids on the Block gift!
Discount coupon to the New Kids on the Block online store
VIP Ticket Package Price: $ 175.00

Now, you don't know WHERE your ticket is til the day of show. You currently need an American Express Gold Card to get these tickets (strangely I JUST got one). Now I see why my tickets are so far back on the floor, as I'm behind the 4 Star VIPs.

If you're interested in checking these out, the password is NKOTB

NKOTB Tour Tickets

2008-05-05T12:12:00.000-04:00

So I got my ticket for the East Rutherford Izod Center NKOTB show in September. Now for my confessions:

I'm honestly not even enthusiastic about the big shows. It was so nice seeing Joe, Jordan and Danny in clubs. I'm kinda curious to see how ticket sales even are... I think about the 1994 tour where they played clubs and now they think they can sell out arenas again? I'm such a bad fan!

Although when Prince played in Seattle and the tickets didn't sell well they ended up discounting them to $25, and when Beck played a new outdoor ampitheater that no one wanted to go to there were SO many free tickets floating around (radio station giveaways, bring canned food to a donation site etc.). Not that I wish that upon them, but those scenarios really make me NOT want to keep paying for $90 tickets so I only bought tickets for one show.

Now, I could find myself with some extra money scouring Craigslist come September, but I don't feel like rushing. Even this morning when I got my so-so ticket with the American Express Pre-Sale, and apparently there are VIP packages floating around that people were clamouring to get, I'm not feeling like I want to be a VIP. I'm not feeling like I want to do anything to meet the NKOTB or that I'll be camping out at their hotel or even feeling jealous of the girls that meet them.

That said, I am camping out the night before their Today show reunion appearance on May 16th. Apparently quite a few people are. I suppose that experience is something I look forward to, like we camped out for Star Wars tickets in the 90s. I assume the atmosphere will be the same, supercharged fans in their costumes and board games staying up all night playing with their toys and hanging out with their friends. That'll be kinda sweet.

Faith 2 Reality Radio Special

2008-04-14T16:40:00.000-04:00

To All You Fans,

f2R Variety will be having a very special 2-Hour New Kids On The Block Day Show!

Beka will be interviewing special guests associated with NKOTB, including original members of Marky Mark & The Funky Bunch, Perfect Gentlemen, and Homework. They will be answering questions from NKOTB fans as well as their own fans. Other special guests include Stray from Straycat Promotions and NKOTB Security Guards. In addition, you will hear fan favorites from around the world!

You have 4 chances to catch the show!
When: April 24th from 12-2 AM April 25th (USA Eastern Time)
April 25th from 6-8 AM (USA Eastern Time)
May 1st from 12-2 AM May 2nd (USA Eastern Time)
May 2nd from 6-8 AM (USA Eastern Time)

Heard every Thursday evening at Midnight
and 6 AM Friday morning (USA Eastern Time)
on WEBR (cable), Fairfax, VA

In Northern Virginia
(Arlington County, Falls Church, Fairfax County, Loudon County and Leesburg):
Verizon Fios TV Channel 37

Fairfax County: Cox Channel (Non-Digital) 7 or Digital 37

Reston: Comcast channel 27

And online around the world at www.fcac.org/webr

Please help SPREAD the word! Thanks!

\

Funky Bunch Dancer Auditions

2008-04-14T16:39:00.000-04:00

(because everyone's gonna wanna cash in on the NKOTB reunion)

When: Sunday, April 20th from 7pm-9pm

Where: 185 Green St Cambridge, Ma 02139

For Directions: Call 617.864.3191

Contact: Send an email with your info & telephone number to funkbs@gmail.com

Bring resumes if you have them and photos

YOU WILL BE SHOWN A ROUTINE AT TIME OF AUDITION (20 sec – 30 sec)

Rehearsals start in 1-2 weeks

100th Post

2008-04-09T16:28:00.000-04:00

This afternoon, this week, this life is just proving to me that love is there to break your heart and only a pop band like the NKOTB (or an all loving diety like Jesus) can ever fill that emptiness inside.

What better way to forget your loneliness than join a fan community? I'm just getting started over at www.nkotb.com, but there are active forums and blog updates and a whole host of NKOTB news. Insert a bit of misery here that I may have harbored grand illusions of making a really excellent NKOTB site, but I hope I've made an intelligent and nostalgic one.

Right now there are over 4000 registered users on the forums, which is kinda huge and I'm excited to see how that pans out. I've never not been an overposter on any forum I get active on, so I wonder if I will be just another lurker or an active member (there are rankings!). Or if I want to be a part of this? Of course I want to be a part of this. This is my 100th post! I AM a part of this.

Jonathan Works the Crowd

2008-04-05T03:54:00.005-04:00

after the NKOTB made thei reuion announcement Joey and Jonathan went around the entire pavilion to shake hands and make the fans smile.

Joey Working the Crowd

2008-04-05T03:54:00.003-04:00

Joey and Jonathan actually shook hands and socialized with the fans after tje reuinion announcement. Jordan ran halfway dow the pavillion and waved but didn't really try to connect with the fans as much as je was showing off.

I Honestly Couldn't See

2008-04-05T03:54:00.001-04:00

...when the NKOTB were revealed on TV

Dry land

2008-04-04T10:30:00.001-04:00

I am tired but at least have ended up on dry land. See me in the middle looking like a drowned kitten? Super thanks to the girl next to me for holding my sign. This was the pan of the crowd right before the NKOTB came on. I couldn't see a damn thing so I'm watching it all on the DVR now.

Teevee

2008-04-04T08:34:00.001-04:00

Iwas on the crowd sweep!

Time is on Our Side

2008-04-04T08:20:00.001-04:00

so now we're told they will come out at 8:30 or 9:30. I am soaked.

Two kinds of people

2008-04-04T07:27:00.001-04:00

There are two kinds of women here, soccer moms who love tje hosts and want to win makeovers, and women with NKOTB ringtones.

Signage

2008-04-04T07:11:00.001-04:00

NKOTB FOREVER!!! Here we are.

In the rain

2008-04-04T07:06:00.001-04:00

If everyone would close their damn umbrellas we could totally squeeze in tighter. I'm sure when the NKOTB get here there will be ascreaming surge.

2008-04-04T06:29:00.003-04:00

Good morning! I have made it as far as the L train as of 5:50 AM. Did they ever make NKOTB umbrellas? I don't remember seeing them yet I really could use one today. Luckily it is not as cold as some of the other times I was following the NKOTB around town.

Some fans online last night were talking about going to the Hot 108 studios for the NKOTB interview at 5PM today. Let's see how I feel in eleven hours.

Photoshop

2008-04-04T06:29:00.001-04:00

Does anyone else agree Donnie's hair looks poorly photoshopped in the new publicity photo?

la la la la la la tonight

2008-04-03T22:24:00.000-04:00

So a few hours away from seeing the NKOTB. Confirmation has been received that tomorrow is just an appearance, but the NKOTB will be performing on the Today show on May 16th.

check back in a few hours for liveblogging from the Today show.

One day to go...

2008-04-03T14:25:00.000-04:00

Here is the official reunion press photo...

If you read the news stories carefully, the narrative is the NKOTB are going to make an appearance in the courtyard to announce their reunion (hence the countdown clock on NKOTB.com). The stories do NOT say the band is performing new songs even if it mentions that Donnie wrote most of the new songs with help from Jordan and Joey. Now, according to the Today show calendar there is an unidentified band reunion performance on May 16th, which looks like either they are just trying to throw off the stalkers (ha!) or perhaps there will be a second day of NKOTB worship on the Today show.

As far as I know NKOTB don't have a record contract, so where is the corporate control that is getting them so buddy buddy with the Today show? I would totally laugh over the whole idea of them appearing on a morning show at all but I watched REM's performance from April 1st and, well, I guess this is just what America is like. I'm lucky the reunion is in NYC and not Boston (well, except that my BFF would be totally psyched for me to visit).

So, a few hours ago I was contacted by an old Prodigy friend who is going to go with me tomorrow. YAY! Now I feel like I have another sign I want to make, something about NKOTB FANS ON *P that would be totally bizarre to the audience :)

The Countdown

2008-04-02T16:09:00.000-04:00

So when the rumors of a reunion started I was skeptical. Then the website went live and I thought, hmmm, probably a video box set or something....I didn't even notice it was a new song. Then on Monday my friend in the music biz e-mailed me that he heard an entire track played in a secret music exec meeting, and later that day the announcement was made/the rumor broke that the NKOTB would be appearing on the Today show on Friday. So NKOTB.com has a countdown clock, and I got the day off from work, and it's hard to describe feelings of dread and excitement that the reunion brings.

Eighteen years ago I would have been off in seach of the sluttiest dress I could find for the show. The days leading up to the concert would be an awful binge of "must be perfect" including "must not eat" (always had 20 pounds to lose), "must not touch face" (so my acne would clear up), "must not pick cuticles" (a horrible habit I'm starting to break). I'd have to have the right lingerie, the right hairstyle planned, the right makeup, the right everything in case I met the NKOTB.

And I was 11. My female family members had made it clear that my breasts were to be desired, but the rest of me was awkward and imperfect and wouldn't be ugly if if if if if

So maybe that has something to do with why after they broke up I didn't really want them to reunite. I didn't have a desire to see the NKOTB as a band after I skipped out on their 1997 show at the Theater of the Living Arts (now the Fillmore East) on South Street in Philadelphia. Showing up that spring day in my grey prom dress, blond punk hair and Doc Martens. Even Friday I wonder if I'm going to be outnumbered by the puffy banged Jersey girls (who still seem to show up en masse for the individual NKOTB appearances). I didn't outgrow them, get married and start a family, I didn't outgrow listening to pop music and devote my life to my career, I didn't even disown the band. I wore my NKOTB 1990 Hanging Tough Tour Jacket through about 1999 and now it sits in my parents attic, covered in riot grrrl patches.

As I went from NKOTB to the Lemonheads to Beat Happening my anxiety over dressing sexy didn't really get any better. I still remember the peach baby doll dress trimmed in lace with white knee high stockings and white heels I wore for my freshman class field trip to K records.

So one day, thirteen hours to go. I might stay overight at Rockafeller Center to get a good spot. Staying out overnight means I would definitely dress warm and comfy. It would feel like a sad waste if I was anywhere not near the front. I don't watch the Today Show but I tuned in for a minute yesterday and I get that you're supposed to bring signs and things to get on TV. I lack all the NKOTB paraphenalia that would make me a sure candidate to get on TV (again, in the attic) but I'm thinking of a good sign, something with glitter. Plus making flyers for this blog.

But this dread, that I won't be able to summon the enthusiasm necissary for the NKOTB reunion. I can barely summon the niceness to correct my coworkers when they make all those guesses about "wasn't _______ a NKOTB?" (Ricky Martin, Marky Mark and Justin Timberlake etc)

Plus, what am i supposed to wear? I used to plan for MONTHS about what I would wear. Basically as slutty as I possibly could be and still get let out of the house. Now I don't want to deal with any of that. I'm eleven years too late to give up my virginity to Jordan Knight, so why act like I want to sleep with him now?

Above all that is the funny part that is missing. The band that made me want to be a groupie in the first place has lost all their sexual appeal. They're simply not the kind of guys who would sleep with me or that I'd be interested in sleeping with. Oh sure, I wouldn't say NO. There would be a certain satisfaction in a dream deferred for so long that I'm sure it would be enjoyable and somewhat surreal. Just the desire is gone, the racing heartbeat, the plotting, the fantasizing all the things that used to occupy my mind for days, weeks, months, years. All the fan fiction and school daydreaming, the bad fan art as well. The fact that my sexual identity revolved around mostly Jordan, but I'd created scenarios under which I'd sleep with any of them, all that is gone, just a teenage fantasy preserved in dot matrix memories. I still have high heels and blue eyeshadow and all the accoutrements I associated with being sexy...and you'll still see me out in that on a desperate night.

Recently I've been going out in jeans and no makeup more than ever before. So what next? What about Friday? What am I wearing Friday?

NKOTB Reunite on the Today Show

2008-04-01T14:14:00.000-04:00

Ugh I better get off for this!!!
NKOTB on the Today Show Friday

ATTENTION NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK FANS
THE TIME: 7AM EST / FRIDAY APRIL 4th, 2008
THE PLACE: THE TODAY SHOW COURTYARD
ROCKEFELLER PLAZA, 48TH/49TH STREET
NEW YORK CITY
THE EVENT: BE THERE IF YOU ARE READY...

Waiting on the NPR Piece

2008-03-11T11:25:00.000-04:00

NKOTB are going to be featured on a NPR Market Place piece that is in production now.

I also added two new site links on the side: NKOTBlog and NKOTBFans.com if you need more places to hang out with like minded fans.

While I'm home computerless right now, seeing the excellent job these ladies are doing keeping up to date with the guys, I'm going to probably be focusing more on nostalgia and my collection for a while once I get the new computer up and running. Until then, keep checking the headlines at the top and hangin tough.

XO
Lexi

Random Roundup

2008-02-28T10:06:00.001-05:00

1. Yes there are rumors that the NKOTB will reunite. This is no longer news. Check #10 for two better blogs covering this. I guess I'm sentimental.
2. The Kill Point will be available on DVD soon.
3. "SHREDDING" IS AN anachronistic '80s term used by fans of hair metal and "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles."
In a similar vein, the phrase "blow your mind" is more likely to evoke thoughts of New Kids on the Block than used as a non-ironic form of expression."
Maybe it should evoke thoughts of the Delfonics who originally recorded the song.
4. I currently have pretty limited computer capabilities so it is a good time to submit your stories/photos for the blog until I can get my stuff up and running.
5. Donnie's father Donald passed away February 20th. Not sure what else to say, I'm very sorry to hear this as the NKOTB's families were a big part of their careers and were very much revered by the NKOTB fans.
6. Via an editorial from the Fort Morgan Times I learned that Diablo Cody, writer (director?) of Juno confesses that NKOTB are a guilty pleasure.
7. The Kill Point will reair on Bravo
8. Joey's baby Griffin is 3 months old
9. Connie Talk has more time to analyze the reunion and link to fan sites than I do. So does the NKOTBlog (whew I'm glad I changed the name of this one!)

More soon...

Reunion Reunion Reunion

2008-02-11T16:19:00.000-05:00

Yadda yadda yadda.
I saw the Spice Girls reunion in NJ last night and of course it reminded me that the NKOTB may or may not be getting back together. Well, some of the things the NKOTB can't do that the Spice Girls did, or maybe?

1. Sexy male backup dancers
2. Sexy sexy moves on their part ie selecting a girl from the audience, putting her in bondage and grinding near her face (thank you Scary Spice)
3. Costume changes done onstage behind frosted glass doors
4. Whips and spankings and general queer behavior onstage

Although I fully support male breakdancers as entertainment between outfit changes.

NKOTB to Reunite

2008-01-27T23:46:00.001-05:00

Yup folks, the rumors start again. The NKOTB will reunite. This could also ruin my finances and vacation plans for the next year.

No info on Pollstar yet, but you know now I'll be all on top of this breaking news.

Of course, this also means that SOMEONE should PAY me to go on the tour and blog about this, interview the band etc.

I hate to get into #1 fan arguments, but really, no one else is doing a blog like this. The message boards might be active, but that is SOOO 1992 (oh wait, isn't this whole thing?)

Shouldn't I be screaming right about now? And freaking out? No, because I know what it's like to be surrounded by thousands of catty NKOTB fans, or even thirty yuppie NKOTB fans, and its not a magic experience. If I had one good friend that would go with me, one person who really loved them and would form a magic shield between me and the other fans, then I might really enjoy it. Even if they're just curious. We'll wait to see how many shows this is and the prices and dates. I'm hoping for Boston and NYC, I'm not sure Philly has a good venue...DC? West Coast? I don't think I could do a West Coast tour without financing. Hmmmm

PLEASE ANNOUNCE DETAILS SOON AND PUT ME ON THE PRESS LIST PLEASE!!!

I'm dancing with Joey

2008-01-27T19:25:00.000-05:00

At least in Wii world.