New Kids On The Block
Scottrade Center
St. Louis, MO
November 10, 2008


In July, Dad said he would take me to see New Kids while I was on my vacation in Memphis. He knew how bad I wanted to see them. After the mayhem at the Ohio State Fair on August 5, 1989, I was never able to see them or get tickets to see them back in the day. When I was finally able to get tickets, they broke up.

We left for St. Louis in the morning. The ride didn't seem like it took a long time. I was very tired but I wasn't able to sleep for some reason. I was probably excited. We listened to the radio most of the way there. Dad has that satellite radio XM radio. We listened to a station that played radio classics. Radio shows they did back before there was tv. I think? We listened to Dr. Jeckle and Mr. Hyde. Then after that was over, we listened to CNN Headline News. Dad stopped off for gas and a map of St. Louis when we were 10 miles away. 

We got to St. Louis about 12:30. Took Truman Parkway to downtown. We saw Scottrade Center from Truman. We drove past our hotel at Sheraton City Center without realizing it. As we were driving behind Scottrade Center, we drove by this one street and I saw some tour buses. We drove around the block and found our hotel which was very close to Scottrade Center. I should have taken a picture to show the closeness. Dad wanted to try some St. Louis style pizza at Imo's PIzza. It was very bad. The crust was what I like but we didn't like the three kinds of cheese. I wish we could have gone to Hard Rock Cafe but I wasn't sure if we could have gotten there on time or not. We weren't even sure how to find it. (we ended up finding it later when we tried to eat dinner there but I was tired and couldn't find anything so we went to Houlihans.)

After lunch, we drove by the street with the tour buses again. I saw a good spot (on the corner of the street we were on and the street the buses were on) to take a picture of the Arch. We parked at a meter close by and walked to the corner where I wanted to take pictures of the Arch. I took a couple of pictures then walked down the street where the tour buses were parked. There were two girls taking pictures with the buses. I started down the street on the same side as the tour buses. I walked past a security guard for the arena. He asked if I was doing okay and I said I was. I heard him tell the girls they are not allowed to stand by the buses so I walked back over to my Dad and told me we couldn't hang out down here. 

We walked over to where all of the other girls were waiting by the buses. I waited a awhile to see what was going to happen. (it turns out these buses were the crew's New Kids' were underground.) I was telling Dad who rides on the buses together. I told him one has his own with his wife and baby. He asked which one was that and I told him it was Joe and immediately my Dad asks, "McIntyre?" I was shocked he knew. "How did you know?" I asked. He said he heard my sister and I talk about all of the New Kids for years how could he not know their names lol. One girl asked how long I had been waiting. I told her I had just got there. She asked me where I was from. I told her I was from Columbus, Ohio but I came from Memphis. She was like, "Wow, you deserve some face time." I told her how I saw Joe during his solo tour in 99. She had seen him then too. I told her I never got to see New Kids back in the day. She said I deserve face time after all that. Dad told me he was going to get more cigarettes and he would be right back. A little while later one of the girls waiting said we should sing New Kids songs to get them to come out. Someone videotaped it so I am probably on YouTube. I was shaking too hard from the cold to see though.

I overheard someone say the 5* started at 4:30 so I waited a while longer. Robo came out and fans were taking pics of him. I didn't hear much what he said. I did hear him say it was too cold and the guys would get sick coming out into the cold and going back into the warm. He told everyone to go get some Starbucks and pour a little "something" in it then get ready for the show. 

Dad said it was time to go. He was out of change for the meter and we had to check into our hotel. This was at 3:30 and I knew 5* was at 4:30 so I knew it was safe to leave. I was needing to find a bathroom anyway. We checked into Sheraton City Center. While Dad was checking in, I went to find the bathroom. After I got back, Dad was talking about New Kids to someone behind the desk. She gave Dad directions to our room. We found our room which turned out to be a suite. There was a living room, hall to the bathroom and bedroom. It was awesome. The window had a view of the Arch :) Huge beds. 

I laid on the bed for a minute which was a bad idea because I didn't want to get up. Dad was on his cell talking to my sister. She was worried about me going inside alone. She was telling Dad to tell me to make sure I don't talk to strangers and to pick a place to meet and all that. Dad said he had it covered and not to worry. After he was done talking to her, he said he was going outside for a minute for a smoke. Shortly after that, we went to find dinner. We started out at Hard Rock Cafe but I couldn't figure out something to eat. Probably because I was already worn out. 

We ended up at Houlihans. I really didn't care for any of the entrees so I settled for a plain baked potato. The only veggies they had was asparagus and green beans. I remembered I had a granola bar back at the hotel. Dad got a baked potato and french onion soup. There were a ton of New Kids fans there eating dinner. They had New Kids playing. They were enjoying themselves being loud and singing to the music. 

We finished dinner and walked back to the hotel. Since I didn't get that much to eat, I had a granola bar I had brought with me from Memphis. Sheraton wanted $3 for theirs that the had set out with the snacks. 

We left for Scottrade @7. I was nervous about going alone but I did anyway. I should have gotten there sooner because there were a ton of people at the merchandise table. It didn't seem like a long wait but I looked at my phone for the time at one point and it was 7:30. I picked out the black and white splatter t-shirt in a large. It turned out to be too big (of course). I will have to order a smaller size online and use the large as a sleep shirt.

The lines for drinks were too long. I should have sneaked in a water. I found my seat with no problem. It was very close. Section C, Row 13, Seat 6. As I was taking off my coat, I accidently bumped the girl next to me on my right. "Oh. Sorry." I said. "No problem. Are you here by yourself?" She asked. I told her I was. She said, "Wow. You are so brave. That girl is here by herself too." She told her friend I was there alone too. I told her I hoped I was in the right seat because the way they had the seats marked was confusing. She told me she was in seat 5 so I was in the right place. She told me they were reading the sign with the texting contests. I had a hard time seeing them so I didn't enter.

Lady GaGa came on first. I never heard of her but I liked the Just Dance song they played while Jon was taping the fans dancing. Natasha Bedingfield was on next. I love her songs Pocketful of Sunshine and Unwritten. She did a song and before she sang it she said this was our night, have fun and wear our New Kids t-shirtss proud. I wish I remembered what it was. 

New Kids On The Block!! They started with the video at the beginning that read, "15 years ago. They walked away. Tonight ... You ... It's Time." They emerged from underneath the stage. It was awesome. They opened with Single. 

I took a few pictures of them coming up from under the stage. I tried to take some pictures throughout the concert but I didn't go overboard in case they didn't turn out & and I didn't want to miss anything. Just my luck none of them turned out. :(

The concert was amazing. I cannot wait for the summer tour. 


Here are a few highlights:

Donnie said St. Louis was "this close" to being the loudest concert ever and of course everyone screamed louder. He also yelled, "Let's bring this mother fucking place down!!" Loud screams again :P Later on, he asked if his ass looked good as it beemed up on the big screen. He tugged at his belt. more screams again and after that he shook his finger at us. Cover Girl was Awesome! Amazing! Incredible! Hot! Great! Outstanding!

Joe was awesome with Please Don't Go Girl and Stay the Same. I still can't listen to that song without crying. At one point he dropped to his knees and sang. He was awesome.

Grown Man was way better in concert than on the CD.

They did 2 in the Morning, Dirty Dancing, and Tonight on the B Stage. They started to sing Tonight and we were singing along. Donnie stops singing and says, "Oh my word. You still know the words."

At one point during the concert, Donnie said something like it was sounding like we were ready to go home. Everyone booed. He asked, "Should we pack up and got o the next city?" Everyone booed again. He said, "We are not leaving yet. You won't be leaving for another 5 minutes .... 10 minutes ... 15 minutes ... 20 minutes." The 2 girls next to me rolled their eyes. I wasn't sure of that. Maybe they were bored .. I was so tired but I toughed it out. I had been up since 5:30 am and hardly had anything to eat. But I toughed it out because I had waited so long to see them.




Set List

Single

My Favorite Girl

You Got It (The Right Stuff)

Didn't I Blow Your Mind

Valentine Girl

Please Don't Go Girl

Grown Man

If You Go Away


B-Stage

2 in the Morning

Dirty Dancing

Tonight




Back to the main stage

Jon films fans dancing to Just Dance by Lady GaGa

Twisted

Baby I Believe in You/Give It To You

Stay the Same

Cover Girl

I'll Be Loving You Forever

Click, Click, Click

Summertime

Encore:

Step by Step, Hangin' Tough

We Will Rock You

I had to miss part of Step by Step/Hangin' Tough because I had to text Dad and tell him the concert was almost over so he could walk over and meet me to walk back to the hotel. It turns out I didn't have to miss part of the songs because there was a way to start a text message and save it as a draft to send it later. I also could have waited to text him because it took me a while to get out of the arena since I was on the floor. By the time I made it up, I noticed the merchandise table was still open. I debated on getting more things but then I remembered Dad would be waiting for me. I could order them online anyway and also I needed the money for things to buy my week in Memphis. 

I met Dad outside by the Information sign in front of Scottrade Center & we walked back to our hotel. I told Dad what took me so long to get outside. Our hotel was right across the street so many many many many fans were walking back there. I think most of them were on the 8th floor. Dad and I were on the 7th. When we got in the elevator, Dad inserted out key card in the slot in the elevator. It looked like no one else did because the elevator wouldn't open at any of the floors. Finally, we made it to our floor and once we got into our room I changed in to my pjs right away since I was so tired. I took some Tylenol for the aches and pains that were going to come later. I climbed into my bed and looked at my New Kids poster book/program until I couldn't keep my eyes open. I fell asleep shortly after that. I remember having a lot of New Kids dreams that night.

I still cannot believe I finally got to see New Kids in concert. It was so amazing. I hope I get to see them in my hometown: Columbus, Ohio this summer. They have not been to Columbus since August 5, 1989 at the Ohio State Fair. They even changed the history of concerts at the Ohio State Fair. After all the mayhem when the gates were opened to the newly arranged seating area and all those people got hurt, Ohio State Fair officials made every concert after that be ticketed. So all concerts after that people had to purchase tickets to concerts at the Ohio State Fair. But, when New Kids were there, we just had to pay to get into the Ohio State Fair and the concert was free. They were not expecting the turnout and were totally unprepared for what happened. I didn't even get to go then. I was hurt in all the mayhem when the new seating area was opened.

New Kids on the Block are amazing. I have very glad I was FINALLY able to see them in concert. I wanted to see them ever since I was 16!