My First Concert

Twenty years ago, I went to the Ohio State Fair and saw my first live concert.

It was New Kids on the Block. Sis really wanted to see them, of course, and Grandma Kay decided to take her. She took me, too and we made a whole day of it; we ate fair food, played games and spent the rest of the day sitting in the stands waiting for the New Kids.

I wasn't really a fan of NKOTB, just a fan of fair food. I spent most of the concert plugging my ears and waiting for it to be over. I don't know that I had ever heard anything that loud before with the music and the SCREAMING.

Last night, I saw New Kids again!

Nothing's changed much. It was still the loudest thing I've ever heard. I think the screaming was even louder this time around. Older women have stronger lungs.

The concert was in Cleveland and Sis had an extra ticket. Someone backed out on her and it would have meant her driving to and from Cleveland alone. When she called on Wednesday night, I offered Angie up for the show.

Angie said, "Umm, or you could go."

Apparently Angie isn't a fan.

I went.

The arena was packed full of thirty-something women all screaming like 12 year-olds for the New Kids.

The New Kids themselves, put on a great show and even though almost 20 years has passed, it didn't seem too dated. They still have two members too many. Jordan is the one who sings in falsetto, Joey is the one who sings otherwise and Donny's the one who raps. But then there's Danny who ... dances? and Jon who.... umm... doesn't do anything. Really. Nothing.

Even their new stuff sounded pretty good, although Sis assures me that, when you listen to the CD and can actually understand the lyrics, the songs are actually fairly embarrassing.

Having had three sisters who were HUGE New Kids fans in the late '80's, I am very familar with their music and I knew most of the songs and could sing along. It was a good time and I'm glad I went.