Concert Review
The Mixtape Tour 2022
New Kids On The Block
Salt-N-Pepa
Rick Astley
En Vogue
Sunday July 17, 2022
KeyBank Center
Buffalo, NY
Review/Photos: Joseph Suto
It was all about the nostalgia for the crowd of mainly female fans Sunday evening in KeyBank Center. The one thing in common all the artists on the bill had were they were born during the mid to late eighties and achieved great mainstream success. It was good to see a variety of ages in the crowd as there were many in attendance who were not even born when these artists were in their heyday.
Headliners New Kids On The Block or NKOTB for short, achieved success right out of the gate in 1986 having their debut go triple platinum. The follow-up Hangin’ Tough proved to be their biggest album ultimately selling 8 million copies in the US. The group still consists of Donnie Wahlberg, Jordan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Danny Wood and Jonathan Knight.
Joining NKOTB also were Salt-N-Pepa who seem like regulars now having appeared on many NKOTB recent tour excursions. Comprised of Cheryl James (Salt) and Sandra Denton (Pepa), they are known as The First Ladies of Rap and Hip Hop. Also joining the bill were the funky divas known as En Vogue. En Vogue currently consists of Terry Ellis, Cindy Herron and Rhona Bennett. All the artists played their biggest hits.
The bill also featured Rick Astley. Astley has not toured the US much during his tenure but he drew an arousing response especially during mega hits “Never Gonna Give You Up” and “Together Forever”. It was good to see when all the acts came out to close out the night they chose “Never Gonna Give You Up” to be the final song of the evening.
The overall concept of the Mix Tape tour is ingenious. It keeps the audience in tune with the show by really spicing up the variety. The downside was if you really enjoy instruments like guitars, basses and drums, this was not a show for you as there were no bands for any of the acts as they all sang to backing tapes. But that did not deter the fans from flocking to the KeyBank Center, they came for the nostalgia and all the acts delivered as advertised.
The Mammoth Set List
NKOB
Block Party
My Favorite Girl
Dirty Dancing
Summertime
Cover Girl
You Got It (The Right Stuff)
The Whisper / Shout
En Vogue
My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It)
Free Your Mind
Rick Astley
Together Forever
It Would Take a Strong Strong Man
New Kids on the Block
House Party / New Kids on the Block / Hold On / Full Service / Return of the Mack / Call It What You Want
Sweet Dreams (Are Made of These) / Twisted
Remix (I Like the)
Salt-n-Pepa
None of Your Business
Expression
Let’s Talk About Sex
Shake Your Thang
Whatta Man
En Vogue
Don’t Let Go
New Kids on the Block
Please Don’t Go Girl
Games
Tonight
80’s records
Rick Astley
Never Gonna Give You Up
Cry for Help
Salt-n-Pepa
Shoop (With Donnie Wahlberg)
New Kids on the Block
Baby, I Believe in You
Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time) / Valentine Girl / If You Go Away
I’ll Be Loving You (Forever)
En Vogue
Hold On
New Kids on the Block
Step by Step
Salt-n-Pepa
Push It
New Kids on the Block
Hangin’ Tough / We Will Rock You
All
Bring Back the Time
Never Gonna Give You Up
