NKOTB – Mixtape Tour 2019 // Columbus, OH // 06.22.2019

New Kids On The Block
with Debbie Gibson, Tiffany, Salt-N-Peppa and Naughty By Nature
Schottenstein Center, Columbus, OH
June 22nd 2019

Words & Photos by Steffi Wegewitz

NKOTB are still ‘Hanging Tough‘ in 2019 and brought their highly anticipated Mixtape Tour to the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, OH last weekend. Getting out in my car, I was surrounded by middle-aged women with their girlfriends, dressed in their best 80s outfits. I already knew it was going to be a fun night right then and there.

Who would have thought back in 1986 that 33 years later the band would still sell out arenas? Not me! But here we are at the almost sold out Schottenstein Center waiting for the show to start.

Promptly at 8pm a DJ started playing the “Best of 80s Music” to warm up the crowd and everyone was singing along and dancing. You could tell that everyone in the arena was there to have a great time.

40 minutes later, the lights went out and Jordan, Joey, Donnie, Dannie, and Jonathan opened the show with “The Way”, which I could barely hear due to all the screaming in the arena. Everyone was out of their seats immediately, dancing and singing.

Their performances were split between the main stage, as well as a B-Stage towards the back of the arena. They also spent a good amount of time in the crowd singing, dancing, shaking hands and taking the occasional selfie with some lucky fans.

In between their sets, just like on a regular mixtape, the other acts came on stage to perform a few songs. The crowd seemed to enjoy them just as much as they did NKOTB.

Finishing the night, the boys were joined on stage by all the other bands performing “80s Baby“.

Setlist:

The Way
My Favorite Girl
Dirty Dancing
Summertime
You Got It (The Right Stuff)
Remix (I Like the)
Block Party
Games

(Tiffany and Debbie Gibson sets)