5 Bros and A Million Sisters

New Kids on the Block

The Palladium -- Hollywood, CA

Saturday, April 18, 2009

When the tickets for this venue were made available, I had decided that I didn't want to spend the money to stand for hours without an assigned seat.  The week, came, though, and Donnie asked why any CA people were not attending the Palladium show, since it was the last one on this tour.  Then they also announced an after-party at House of Blues.  So I checked my account, saw that I could spare the $, and bought the ticket on Thursday.  Because I'm insane.

The day came and I was exhausted by noon.  I had worked overtime in Hollywood for our sister department, still needed to sing in church, then make my way back to Hollywood for the show.  I was still tired by the time I reached Hollywood in the evening, but as soon as I saw the buses, I perked up.  It's amazing what adrenaline can do.  The Jabbawockees were just going into the theater from the stage door entrance as I walked toward the front entrance.  Well, not the front entrance: that was actually the exit.  The actual entrance for patrons was on the west side of the building, where there was another parking lot.  I had never been in the Palladium before (at least not that I can remember), but had read reviews that it was much nicer after the remodel.  I wasn't disappointed.  

The Jabbawockees took the stage and I tried to find a place where I could see.  I had worn flat-heeled shoes so that I wouldn't kill my feet from all of the standing, but this also meant that I was still my 5'2" self, and had to stand on my tip toes to see anything for awhile.  Eventually, I was able to find a place where I could see over someone's shoulders.  I was situated House Right near one of the steps that led to the floor area, so there was movement from time to time.  I kept hoping that the guys would get on those stairs so that I could see them up close, but that didn't happen.  From what I could see of the Jabbawockees, they had a great show.  The crowd went crazy when they did they did their 80's medley, which included NKOTB's "The Right Stuff."  I especially liked seeing them do Beyonce's "Single Ladies" dance.

It took a long time for the stage to be set up for NKOTB, but I didn't want to walk around for fear that I'd lose my spot.  So I just stood there, looked around at all the people, and texted.  At one point, I had a flashback to the Intersection from Hell on Inauguration Day because there were people all around me in close proximity.  It wasn't as bad as that day, of course, because I was indoors and warm, but still, I grinned and thought of Liz and Marg.

NKOTB took the stage and I was happy.  I could have done without the really loud gals in back of me that sang along (off pitch) and screamed everything to each other, but I was able to see during most of the show.  Since the show is from the same tour as the other two I attended, and since I didn't take any notes, I don't have song-by-song details, but I do have some pictures/videos and some thoughts.

• Jon and Jordan didn't seem to be ill anymore, as they had been in Fresno (per Aura).  Jordan sounded fantastic on his falsetto notes, although he did mention that he was getting too old to go jumping around for the "Click" freeze moment.  I think that he was just tired.
• Jon and Donnie disappeared for a little bit before "Summertime," and Joe said that Jon was probably out smoking a cigarette and he didn't know where Donnie was, but he trusted that he was in the vicinity and started the song anyway.  No, Donnie did not miss a beat.
• Danny was wearing a tank shirt with a picture of him with his mom.  
• Joe played the piano and sang a new song that he wrote.  I'm not sure of the title, but for now I'll call it "Thank You," as it was dedicated to the guys and the fans, mentioning both in the refrain as "5 brothers and a million sisters."  I really liked it.
• The security guy by the stairs did a good job of fending off all of the people who wanted to go to the floor area.  When he was replaced, though, and the guys started "Tonight," and began to walk toward the floor area, the replacement was so busy trying to stop certain people that a bunch of people were able to get around him.  No, I didn't try.  I figured I'd take the place that one of them left, which I did.
• No "Baby, I Believe In You."  I was sad about that, because that's my favorite Jordan song.  I was all ready with the camera and everything, but I didn't have the greatest vantage point anyway, so I guess it's OK.  It might have been because the stage was small and there was no higher place to stand than on top of the piano.
• Donnie said, "About a month and a half from now, these 5 guys are going to be back in L.A."  Screaming.  "Another 5 guys are going to be in L.A., too."  Boos from the Lakers fans who knew that he was referring to the Boston Celtics.  I hissed at him.  He said, "I didn't say that they'd be victorious."  Lakers fans somewhat appeased.  "But THESE 5 guys will be victorious!"  Screaming again.
• So when the guys did "Hangin' Tough" while wearing their Celtics jerseys, they got booed again.  I was glad that I wasn't on the floor because the show ended with green/white/black confetti.  A LOT of it.  I would've been quite pissed.  Yet I have video of them in their jerseys anyway, because the lighting was better at the time.
• OK, Danny was wearing the track jacket with "NKOTB 09" on it this time. I still want that jacket!
• The instrumentalists were NOT all from Texas this time, as they were when I went to the Dallas show.
• Saw a lot of underwear being thrown on to the stage.  Did not see if the people throwing it were taking it off right then and there.
• Joe has been trying to get everyone to say "Let's Get This" on the tour.  Tonight, he saw someone's sign, and they handed it over to him.  He had the audience yelling "Let's F**king Get This!"  One of the gals in back of me said that she didn't appreciate the profanity coming from the stage.  Yeah, well I don't appreciate your off-key obnoxious singing, but you decided to share that with all of the people around you.  Get over it.

I was too tired afterward to go to the after party.  My back was killing me from the standing, and I didn't know anyone else, anyway.  I'm sorry that I missed seeing Jordan there, though.  Jon had other plans, so he wasn't there, so I wouldn't have been able to get a pic of him for Aura, so at least I didn't go through all the hassle.

Aura and I already have tickets for the next tour, and they'll be playing at the Irvine Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre.  I'm looking forward to whatever "Full Service" that the tour is going to hold for all of us!  Meanwhile, I'll just follow them on twitter and be a happy girl whenever I see Jordan's icon. :)