It was long, but it certainly wasn’t dull. KISS Concert 2008 proved to be nearly nine hours worth of radio hits, hometown reunions, shout-outs to the Boston Celtics [team stats] and search parties for fine young ladies in the house.
The annual music marathon was heavy on hysterics and short sets that kept fans dancing or at least reasonably interested despite a couple of transportation mishaps that kept rapper Flo Rida from taking the stage and delayed Sean Kingston’s set.
Hometown heartthrobs New Kids on the Block unveiled what Donnie Wahlberg deemed the official start of their much-anticipated reunion yesterday, and fans welcomed them with flailing arms.
Anyone who saw the Kids’ performance on Friday’s “Today” show got a virtual repeat on Sunday, as the men mixed up back-in-the-day hits including “Step By Step” with their new single, “Summertime.”
They wore five variations on a black suit, re-emerged in Celtics jerseys after a wardrobe change and danced in synchronicity. Jonathan Knight looked like a banker out of his element, but other than that the fivesome seemed into it. And yes, they still do the side-to-side swinging legs dance.
Fellow hometown heroes Boys Like Girls also took the KISS stage yesterday, breaking out hits including the frantic “Great Escape,” then engaging in the night’s edgiest moment when lead singer Martin Johnson smashed his guitar to pieces.
The sold-out show was friendly to teens, tweens and their adult escorts, with virtually no inappropriate moments and songs that parents could bounce along to and still maintain their dignity, including Natasha Bedingfield’s “Unwritten” and the slinky sounds of Maroon 5, whose funk-soul undertones were a nice counterpoint to much of the sugary pop yesterday.
Former teen sensation Jesse McCartney did his best Justin Timberlake impression after the super-sweet “Beautiful Soul,” while sets from Eurodance sensation Cascada and former Fugee Wyclef Jean - who appeared sans his signature dreadlocks and spent the majority of his time in the crowd - helped to keep fans warm.
Nearly every artist was well-received, but the Jonas Brothers appeared to be the main attraction, at least in terms of screams. Songs such as “Hold On,” “Year 3000” and “S.O.S.” were almost afterthoughts beneath all the shrieking for the impossibly cute trio. True, if youre not a die-hard Jonas fan, then the brothers’ bounce-friendly brand of pop feels a little like torture. Otherwise, you’re pretty much in heaven.
