New Kids On The Block bring back the time with their Mixtape Tour 2022 featuring special guests En Vogue, Rick Astley, and Salt-N Pepa. I recently was able to attend one of the concert dates for this tour at Ball Arena, here is a review of the show.
NKOTB were certainly on their game performing hit after hit. It was not only the multi-million selling boy band supplying hits. They were coming from three special guests hip hop duo Salt-N-Pepa, R&B hitmakers En Vogue, and crooner Rick Astley. It was two interactive and fun experiences.
Mixtape Tour 2022
The tour took a novel approach to structure the featured artists. Rather than the traditional format where artists perform one after another for a set time. This tour intermixes the artists throughout the show with NKOTB both opening and closing the show. It was amazing how well it all transitioned and mixed.
In fact, New Kids On The Block was the first to take the stage kicking off the mammoth first set with “Block Party”, followed by hits “Favorite Girl“ and “You Got It “. The group donned leather outfits performing eight songs with high energy. Also, it was impressive how much they interact with the crowd because not many groups do that.
There were many highlights from the concert and New Kids On The Block provided many of them. The “Please Don’t Go Girl“ performance was a stage marvel that had Joey McIntyre singing a beautiful rendition of the group’s first hit. By the end of the song, the group was lifting him in the air Broadway style. Their remix set was so much fun
NKOTB front man Jordan Knight had his own showcase during a series of retro ballads. A big highlight was when he belted “I’ll Be Loving Your Forever” in a show-stopping moment. His potent falsetto got stronger as the concert went on.
Special Guests
Salt-N-Pepa was good as usual performing their hits. They were joined by Donnie Wahlberg for a fun version of “Shoop” and duet partner En Vogue for “Whatta Man” in two epic moments. En Vogue still sounds and looks amazing on the stage. They belted out classics like “Don’t Let Go” and “Free Your Mind” evoking the funky diva’s spirit that made them successful in the 90s. Among all the featured artists they had one of the best sets.
Rick Astley had a fun moment with “Never Gonna Give You Up “inspiring a huge sing-along. He performed a couple of his hits with pristine vocals. Something interesting about him is that he has gained a younger fan base which was evident throughout the concert. The whole cast was back at the end for an all-star finale performance of their new single with NKOTB dressed out in Celtics jerseys.
NKOTB know what the fans want giving them an unforgettable experience. There was a lot of great talent as all the acts were having fun with their performances along with the audience. The whole tour format is a great concept and more entertaining than the traditional setup. This tour is a big recommendation for those interested because you are guaranteed to have a good time.
Follow me on Twitter @lizlovato01 and check out more great Belly Up Sports Content.
