NKOTB-New Kids Concert Review (sort of)

I think this is another one of those humbling moments that you just have to laugh at in life. Donnie Wahlberg who I have known since my radio youth in Boston, when I was known as Kidd Valentine at 94.5 WZOU, invited me to introduce the band Friday night in concert.

It was a nightmare getting there with traffic and they went on at 8:30 PM , I arrived at 8:07. I immediately went to the will call to get my backstage pass and head on in. Oddly there was no ticket or pass waiting for me. Hmm....Jilted schoolgirl on prom night ?

I called the manager who said my backstage pass was waiting for me "backstage" and all I had to do was get there-I'm thinking what is this Amazing Race ? Where is my ticket to even get in ? Well some sweet young lady at will call realized I was not some 40 year old goofy looking Irish guy New Kids had always feared would become a crazed stalker who believed "Hangin Tough" was his personal anthem and inspiration to meet them BUT rather some 40 year old goofy looking Irish guy that was introducing them.

As I entered the venue I realized at 8:17 that there was no way I could get to the backstage by 8:30 with the crowds and the 1/2 mile walk through fairgrounds to get there. With a stroke of luck I spotted a gentleman giving attractive Mom's a ride on a golf cart to the venue. Upon approaching him I am sure he thought I was some 40 year old goofy looking Irish guy New Kids had always feared would become a crazed stalker who believed "Hangin Tough" was his personal anthem and inspiration to meet them BUT then realized I was just some 40 year old goofy looking Irish guy introducing the band. So with his rocket of a golf cart I made it. I found the manager got my pass went up on stage and waited for my cue. Jesse McCartney was still singing when I got there so I was good. (Sidenote: there is a story about drinking Yellowtail with Jesse's Mom and his record producer that has to be shared one day-pretty funny)

Then it was my turn to go on stage and bring out the band. Clearly this is not my first concert I have been asked to do this at :) I did my act-my shout outs-my jokes-and my plug for Twitter @Go4Valentine and walked off. The stage manager quickly grabbed me and said"Donnie wants to see you before they go on", so like a dutiful 12 year old girl from the late eighties I raced up the steps to see my friend Donnie ( it had been years) We chatted for a while had some laughs, got some stuff for me to give out on twitter and then it was time for him to go....did not realize my chat was holding up the show-oops!

I had not seen the guys perform in years so I watched from backstage on the tech monitors that control what you see on the jumbotron out front. Well about 2 minutes into the show a huge guy maybe 6'13" comes up to me and says "Who you with?" ......um...like a dutiful 12 year old schoolgirl I quickly replied "I am a friend of Donnie's and I introduced the band" and with a sharp tongue came "Well no one is allowed backstage you have to go NOW " and with increasing sternness I might add, BUT no fear I was not going to leave without watching the opening of my friends show. So I said "just give me a few minutes no worries". Three songs later as I am tapping my foot and enjoying the energy of the guys that are my age but bringing down the house he came back. The first thing I heard from the darkness behind me was "You lied to me!" As I spun to counter this accusation from the night my face fell flat into his chest, a behemoth of a man (6'13" lol). Oddly though, he had back up with him now, four venue security officers. "You lied to me, you said you were leaving!" I tried to explain again who I thought I was, to no avail, as this physical specimen of the Neolithic age was not planning on communicating but rather smashing pottery on my head. He then in tandem (a sign of communicative skill) with his security buddies began physically moving me off the loading dock of the stage and threw me out into the parking lot. Alone, lost, and perhaps somewhat frightened I realized something.

He DID THINK I WAS some 40 year old goofy looking Irish guy New Kids had always feared would become a crazed stalker who believed "Hangin Tough" was his personal anthem and inspiration to meet them.

So I began my walk of shame, longing over my shoulder as if maybe Donnie saw out of the corner of his eye and would yell "Wait he is OK, that's my friend I want to put him in my next Band of Brother's movie"

No moment of such grace was born. I walked to my car humming in my head "Step by Step" as I approached my vehicle knowing I did "Have the Right Stuff" and "If you go away" it is OK, because "I'll be loving you forever".

....but then reality roared to the surface again. I was a 40 year old man kicked out of a New Kids on the Block concert- it may be a small fraternity but I am a member :)

So with a nod to a favorite author who would no doubt desire anonymity upon reading the aforementioned tragedy "Let us draw the curtain of charity over the rest of the scene."