New Kids On The Block's The Main Event Tour with Nelly and TLC stopped at the Forum in Los Angeles, CA for a near sold-out show. For four hours, the audience was treated with great songs. The stage was made to look like a boxing match in the round with a big arena-type screen hanging overhead as well as a girl with a card announcing the rounds
Opening the show was Nelly along with two other rappers and backing dancers, performing his hits “Ride With Me,” “Hot In Here” and “Where The Party At.”
T-Boz and Chilli reunited once again as TLC. Rather than having someone to fill in for Lisa “Left Eye” Lopez, her vocal track was used in her place since she's irreplaceable. For a full hour—start to finish—they gave a great performance. It felt like the ‘90s again from their outfits to the backup dancers in overalls. The stage was set up in three parts with a smaller stage on each end connected to the main stage in the middle. Each singer worked separate parts of the stage, and they crossed over in the main part. The big songs of the night for TLC were “Waterfalls,” “No Scrubs,” “Unpretty” and “Creep.”
New Kids On the Block took the stage as four members, because earlier in the day, Jonathan Knight had a facial injury, which prevented him from performing. Up on screen showed famous boxing announcer Michael Buffer reciting the most famous line in sports: "Let's get ready to rumble!" Before they took the stage, the Forum rolled a clip from of Donnie Wahlberg and Methodman on Blue Bloods.
NKOTB took the stage dressed in boxing robes with low lights, and a spotlight shined on each member as they took their robe hood off. The opening song was "Block Party." Early in the set confetti blew and streamers came down from the ceiling. TLC and Nelly both used up all parts of the stage, but NKOTB did something different. The stage raised like an elevator throughout different formations throughout their set. A few hits NKOTB performed were "My Favorite Girl," "(You Got It) The Right Stuff," "We Own Tonight” and "Remix (I Like The),” along with covers of Marky Mark's "Good Vibrations," Tupac's "California Love," Biz Markie's “Just A Friend" and Joey McIntyre gave a solo performance of the Eurythmics’ "Sweet Dreams."
NKOTB closed with three of their biggest hits starting with "Step By Step," which incorporated the same dance moves from the music video. "I'll Be Loving You (Forever)” featuring Jordan Knight and his great falsetto voice. The closing song was "Hangin' Tough" mixed with Queen's "We Will Rock You."
Text and photos by Alex Kluft
*Disclaimer: The words expressed in photo blog reviews do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Music Connection Magazine.
