Live Review: NKOTBSB - Burswood Dome

For some people, this night had been a long time coming; finally getting to see their favourite childhood band/s in the flesh. It has been quite a while, over a decade in fact since New Kids On The Block had been to Australia, and also a while since Backstreet Boys had resurfaced over here. But tonight, the wait was over as they joined forces to become NKOTBSB.

After local Perth boy Johnny Ruffo opened up the night's entertainment, excitement levels were peaking amongst the largely female crowd as they waited for NKOTBSB to take to the stage. The stage itself was reflective of the over-the-top styling of the show, with screens either side of a large stage with the special addition of a large catwalk.

As the lights dimmed, the screens filled with images of the boys and after going through all nine members of NKOTBSB, the images then moved to a large white backdrop on the stage which dropped with a flash of pyrotechnics to reveal the boys standing on stage. And from there the screams hardly stopped. Opening with a medley of NKOTB's Single and BSB's The One, which was strangely set to the music of Coldplay's Viva la Vida, the night was filled with hits of yore. Taking it in turns to sing, it was like a rotating stage, with NKOTB singing a few tracks, leaving, and BSB coming and having their go.

Despite the odd and somewhat off-putting vision of seeing 40-year-old men thrusting, grinding and twirling in time together, the similarities of the two bands are quite prominent in their synchronized dance moves, matching costumes and love of sequined clothing, but it was quite clear that BSB definitely had the upper hand in their performance, with much stronger vocals. That isn't to say that NKOTB's Jordan Knight and Joey McIntyre have lost their ability to belt out a tune, with Knight's trademark falsetto still showing off his talents. With Step By Step, Covergirl, You Got It and Tonight being the winners for NKOTB, BSB took it out with I Want It That Way, Incomplete, Shape Of My Heart and As Long As You Love Me. As Nick Carter charmed the ladies throughout the show, it was his appearance in some white extra short shorts for the show's closing medley of Everybody and Hangin' Tough that showed just how much fun these guys must all be having being back on the road, even if they are singing songs from when they were teenagers. Because quite simply, they still all have 'the right stuff'.