Fans Flash Back to Teenage Roots

One of the perks of living only a couple hours away from Las Vegas, Nev., is the possibility of enjoying some of the hottest entertainment options around. That’s just what happened last weekend.

“The buttons and the pins and the loud fanfare” are lyrics from the New Kids on the Block song, “Tonight” that came true to life for some fans last weekend at a NKOTB concert in Las Vegas.

The Mixtape Tour consisted of a throwback to the ’80s and ’90s with bands New Kids on the Block, En Vogue, Salt N Pepa and Rick Astley performing, and Naughty by Nature Illtown Sluggaz warming up the crowd.

Longtime fans from Lake Havasu City, California, New Jersey, Utah, Nevada, and as far away as Australia, traveled to Las Vegas, Nev., in their hair scrunchie and homemade fan T-shirts to sing and dance along to their favorite ’90s bands.

New Kids on The Block opened the show at Mandalay Bay’s Michelob Ultra Arena to screaming fans as they performed to “Block Party” with confetti falling all around the fans. The boy band performed some of its earlier songs such as “Step by Step,” “Cover Girl,” and a performance by Jordan Knight with “I’ll Be Loving You Forever.”

NKOTB also performed some its newer hits including ‘Bring Back the Time” which included Salt N’ Pepa, EnVogue and Rick Astley on stage.

Photo courtesy Julie Bleeker George

Donnie Wahlberg often gets up close and personal to fans in the crowd shaking his “marshmallow” as fans affectionately call his backside, with the rest of the guys showing off their abs from time to time. NKOTB have often spoken in interviews about how much they appreciate their fans since they started in 1987, in Boston, Mass.

EnVogue donned shimmery silver dresses belting out some of its most famous hits including “Never Gonna Get It”, Salt N’ Pepa fired up the crowd performing “Shoop ” with the crowd rapping along, and Rick Astley sang his hit single “Never Gonna Give You Up.”

RiverScene Magazine asked some fans what they thought about going back to their ’90s roots and this is what they had to tell us.

“It was amazingly fun. I like how they change up the concerts each time and I got to sit on the barstools up next to the stage at the Vegas show. This is now the

NKOTB as an adult fan and went to five of their concerts as a teenager, Oni Studler of Lake Havasu City. “I have also been on three NKOTB cruises.”

“This was my fourth time seeing NKOTB in concert, my first time was 2019. Seeing them is a reminder of a time that was much more carefree and innocent. If my life was ever made into a movie, the bulk of the soundtrack would definitely be New Kids on the Block and the ’80s,” said Leslie Stock, formerly of Lake Havasu City.

“(This was) absolutely dream come true. I caught Danny’s sunglasses in the beginning of the show. Seeing them twice in one week, once in Dallas, Texas, was amazing. Getting to meet them was the icing on the cake,” said Traci Wood of Texas. Wood saw The Mixtape Tour concert also on May 23 in Dallas, Texas. She has now seen them a total of five times.

Traci Wood wears sunglasses she caught after Danny Wood tossed them into the crowd at the Mixtape Tour concert. Photo courtesy Traci Wood

“So after all these years, I still get so excited to see them I get butterflies and go back to my teen years we traveled from California to see them and I loved my younger daughter is in love with them to,” said Megan Perry.

“Even though I’ve seen/met the guys many times, the butterflies never get old! It’s always exciting to see them live & all the friends I’ve made along the way. I traveled from NJ for the Vegas show. I’m also going to 3 more shows (this summer),” said Nicole Flamini of New Jersey.

“I waited my entire life to meet them! It was everything I hoped for! The meet and Greet was the best part,” said Ashley Ceresuolo, of Colorado.

“I have been waiting over 30 years to see the original boy band that started my teenage years. New Kids on the Block was on my wall, yes, I’m that old, and in my cassette player at all times! Donnie and Jordan even took turns being my “boyfriend” and I was shocked at how amazing they were live! I knew they would be good, but they weren’t just good, they were AMAZING! Salt n’ Pepa, EnVogue and Rick Astley were a fabulous addition for sure. Rick looked as though he hasn’t even aged! I will most definitely go see them again when Mixtape: side b comes out. Hell, I’ll be seeing them every time they come back,” said Rose Mitchell of Las Vegas, NV.

“This was not my first time with a meet and greet; I did my first one about five years ago and have decided that was definitely the way to go! This concert was definitely an emotional one as I had not seen them in three years nor had I been to any live music since 2019. It meant a lot to be able to make this my first concert back,” said Lake Havasu resident Tanya Powell.

For tickets for future Mixtape Tour shows, visit nkotb.com