Fans hang tough with New Kids on the Block as aging boy band ...

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TORONTO - They brought the moves, the co-ordinating outfits andplenty of cheese.
Thankfully, the reunited New Kids on the Block have been around theblock long enough to know their seasoned audience - now adults andparents just like they are - are welcoming their second go-aroundout of nostalgia more than anything else.
So, the Boston-bred quintet peppered their sentimental show atToronto's Air Canada Centre with some good-natured kitsch,culminating in an outrageously flamboyant solo by poster boy JordanKnight in which he ripped open his white dress shirt while ablowing fan sent it billowing around his toned torso.
It resulted in what was simultaneously the most inspired andcringe-worthy moment of the night, and the sheer absurdity of ithelped elevate what was otherwise a slightly rocky return toyesteryear.
Overall, it was an oddly paced show with some inconsistentperformances, but the male posing seemed more than enough for thelargely female audience that screamed non-stop through the concert.With many wearing New Kids concert T-shirts, or homemade fanshirts, they emitted especially high shrieks whenever baby-facedJoey McIntyre took a step towards them, or bad boy Donnie Wahlbergpointed to the rafters.
"Toronto, Toronto, Toronto, Toronto," Wahlberg said towards the endof a nearly two-hour set as women roared back at the nearly fullarena.
"I don't know how we're going to leave, I don't know how we'regoing to go to another city after this weekend."
The quintet kicked things off with a new song, "Single" and endedit with their comeback song, "Summertime," off their recent releaseof all-new material, "The Block."
Blasts from the past came early in the night, including "MyFavourite Girl," "You Got It (The Right Stuff)" and "Didn't I (BlowYour Mind)", but they saved their 1991 hit "Step By Step" for theencore.
Again, the screams were ear-splitting as the men replicated dancemoves nearly 17 years old.
Now pushing middle age, it's been roughly 20 years since McIntyre,Wahlberg, Knight, Jonathan Knight and Danny Wood helped define asugary pop era with monster puppy love-themed hits.
But the passage of time seemed to mean little to the group's ardentfemale fans, many of whom appeared to be in their late 20s and 30sand some accompanied by kids of their own.
"Not too bad for 15 years later, right?" said the 35-year-oldMcIntyre, who went solo and then launched a Broadway career afterthe group split in 1994.
Since the breakup, each of the band members took different paths.Wahlberg, 39, pursued acting while Wood, 39, and Jordan Knight, 38,each released solo projects. Jonathan Knight, 39, who battled panicattacks in his early days with the group, became a real estatedeveloper.
Of all the Kids, the elder Knight seemed the most awkward on stage,occasionally flubbing the choreography and staring blankly at thecrowd.
Meanwhile, intermittent costume breaks halted momentum severaltimes during the show, during which time the multi-level stagesimply went dark.
Video screens and a grid of lights adorned the sparse setup, with arevolving satellite stage allowing some up-close contact for thoseseated further back in the arena.
Friday's show was the second of a three-night stand at Toronto'sAir Canada Centre, with the final show set for Sunday.
The New Kids on the Block head to Montreal on Saturday and visitEdmonton, Calgary and Vancouver in mid-to-late November.
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On the Net: http://www.nkotb.com/