Blockheads were out in full force on Monday, July 31st, when Joey McIntyre, youngest member and the second lead vocalist of pop icons New Kids on The Block, performed at The Birchmere in Alexandria, VA. McIntyre previously had a successful Vegas Residency with Debbie Gibson, and following the success of his Carnegie Hall appearance earlier this year, Joe decided to take his show on the road.
The concert, known as “Solo Joe,” began on time at 7:40, with Joe appearing in a casual black ensemble. Guitarist Sean Thomas accompanied him. Joe started his performance with a rendition of “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson & Bruno Mars, which he seamlessly merged into U2’s “Where the Streets Have No Name.” He then proceeded to perform “Here We Go Again” from his 2009 EP of the same name.
During the night, McIntyre interacted with the audience by sharing stories and acknowledging Blockheads who had attended his previous shows. I commend Joey for understanding his audience, which helped him choose the right songs for his set list. Although McIntyre has released five solo albums, they did not sell well. Therefore, his set list mainly consisted of covers from popular artists like Elton John, George Michael, and The Eagles.
McIntyre has always had a strong voice, allowing him to make the covers his own while keeping the vibes of the original song. McIntyre also took time to show off his piano skills which was a treat. Naturally, McIntyre found time to dip into the New Kids catalog, performing “Tonight,” “Where Do I Go From Here,” “Single,” an energetic take on “You Got It (The Right Stuff),” and, of course, the sentimental “Please Don’t Go Girl.”
For the most part, it was a great night out. However, I did have one minor gripe. The Blockhead nation is one of the strongest fandoms around, so I would’ve loved to hear Joe do snippets of the deep album cuts like “I’ll Still Be Loving You,” “Funny Feeling,” and “Close To You.” Given how many Blockheads were in attendance, those songs would’ve gone over like gangbusters.
Nevertheless, Solo Joe is a nostalgic trip down memory lane from a highly underrated vocalist. Dabbling in movies, music, and an active social media presence, McIntyre shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon, and I recommend seeing his show when it’s in your town.
Final Grade: B+
For their second single, the group presented a ballad entitled “Feels Like The First Time.” Once again, Greene handles the lyrics, while Neville Hodge is responsible for production duties. Greene begins the song with robust energy, proclaiming his love for the lady. Greene’s group members provide stellar work on the background vocals, and the songs eschew nineties R&B without going into crass vulgarity.
The ballad was composed by Michael Masser and lyricist Gerry Goffin, and it was first recorded by Dionne Warwick in 1981. Eight years later, Natalie Cole covered the song, shortening the title. It became the fourth single from her twelfth album, “Good to Be Back.”
Braxton’s vocal talent is perfect on the standards “Christmas Time Is Here,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” and “The Christmas Song.” However, like any good R&B Christmas album, it is the soulful yuletide bops where Braxton truly shines. The album’s first single, “Snowflakes of Love,” is instrumental of Earl Klugh’s “Now We’re One”. Braxton’s lush vocals encapsulate the warmth and joy of romantic love amidst a wintery backdrop.