Star Tribune photo by Leah Millis

The evening started and ended as NKOTBSB but, in between, it was mostly New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys by themselves, typically alternating songs (allowing for lots of outfit changes) though there was a stretch of a few ballads back to back by each group.


All the boys have aged remarkably well, with the New Kids noticeably buff (which was evident when they wore matching black tank tops). As I stated in my review, the harmonies are stronger than the solo vocalists, which was the case back in the day. The coolest outfits of the night came near the end when the Boston-reared New Kids wore glittery Celtics jerseys (Jordan Knight wore Kevin Garnett's No. 5 in KG's old arena) and the Orlando-based Backstreet wore sparkly Magic jerseys.


Although well conceived and choreographed, the show was far from flawless. The sound — both the singing and the four-man band — was too loud, sounding brassy with too much treble. Another weak point was taking too much time for guys from one group to introduce a buddy from the other boy-band.


Still, as I pointed out in my review, it was a better experience than anyone bargained for.


Here's the set list:

Viva La Vida>Single>The One (NKOTBSB)/ Summertime (NKOTB)/ The Call (BSB)/ Dirty Dancing (N)/ Get Down (B)/ You Got It (The Right Stuff) (N)/ Larger Than Life (B)/ Didn't I (N)/ Valentine Girl (N)/ If You Go Away (N)/ Please Don't Go Girl (N)/ Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely (B)/ 10,000 Promises (B)/ I'll Never Break Your Heart (B)/ Drowning (B)/ Incomplete (B)/ Step by Step (N)/ Cover Girl (N)/ My Favorite Girl (N)/ Games (N)/ Click Click Click (N)/ Tonight (N)/ Shape of My Heart (B)/ As Long as You Love Me (B)/ All I Have to Give (B)/ Raspberry Beret>If You Stay (B)/ Quit Playing Games with My Heart (B)/ I'll Be Loving You (N)/ I Want It That Way (B)/ Don't Turn Out the Lights (NKOTBSB) ENCORE Everybody (B)/ Hangin' Tough (N)/ We Will Rock You (NKOTBSB)/ Everybody/Hangin' Tough (NKOTBSB)