The shrieks coming from American Airlines Center Thursday night seemingly had enough power to cause an earthquake in downtown Dallas. Considering the source was a near-capacity crowd of mostly women ages 30-plus, it will surprise few to learn boy-turned-man-band New Kids on Block rolled through town.
"I think we finally understand what it means when they say don't mess with Texas," Donnie Wahlberg said in response to the noise at one point during the nearly two-hour performance. This, of course, ushered another bout of rampant screaming.
Just about every synchronized dance move and high note Wahlberg and band mates Jordan Knight, Jonathan Knight, Danny Wood and Joey McIntyre hit elicited this same response.
In some instances, the crowd may have been feverishly overzealous. Other times -- such as when the big screen broadcast a live feed of the band stripping down to boxer briefs mid-costume change or during the five-piece's minutes-long tribute to the pelvic thrust -- well, they were asking for it.
In fact, the whole evening dripped sex appeal. St. Louis rap icon Nelly and his bodacious back up dancers opened the concert with a hard-hitting series of songs that were as much about shaking their assets as they were flashing back to the early 2000s. Even R&B soul sisters Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas of TLC offered up a little bump and grind to a randomly selected audience member, who was pulled on stage and seated forcefully into a chair.
The openers pleased with more than just booty, though. Nelly traveled end-to-end of his discography with a medley of "E.I.," "Where the Party At," and "Air Force Ones," among others. After appeasing old school fans with "Country Grammar" and "Ride Wit Me," Nelly left an untamed energy buzzing around the venue (even despite the fact his pitch rose uncomfortably into upper registers periodically).
TLC laid the nostalgia on thick with classics like "Creep" and "Waterfalls," backed by a vocal track of the late Lisa "Left Eye" Lopez's parts.
But when New Kids on the Block took the stage, they relied on all of the above -- plus confetti cannons, smoke machines, fireworks, and a stage with moving platforms. Audiences saw all these at work within the first five songs, which featured re-imagined staples like "You Got It (Right Stuff)" and "Favorite Girl." Between the techno beats and bass drops, it felt more like being at a rave than a pop concert.
In some instances, the crowd may have been feverishly overzealous. Other times, well, they were asking for it.
Thankfully after a quick costume change, the Kids (who are now in their 40s) reemerged in suit and tie, and put their true talent on display in a medley of love songs spanning their 27 years in the limelight. Cue more sexually charged screaming.
Dallas was lucky enough to experience at least one unscripted and un-choreographed moment Thursday. In celebration of Wood's birthday, the crowd sung him a candid happy birthday after which band members chowed down on cupcakes the singer's father brought on stage.
New Kids on the Block saved their biggest hits "Step By Step," "I'll Be Loving You (Forever)" and "Hangin' Tough" for the finale, but by that time they had already proved brilliant entertainers (backed by an incredible live band, I might add). The group has certainly aged well compared to other boy bands.
And yeah, I guess the music was pretty good too.
