And if you try to keep us down we're gonna come right back!

And come back they did, after 15 long years. Back to all the women who loved them in elementary school, like me. Back to pop radio, with infectious songs like "Summertime" and "Single." And back to their hometown, Boston.

In a dream come true, I got to see them! Yes, internet, I went to the New Kids on the Block concert at the TD Banknorth Garden on Friday night (Boston Herald article here). The sold-out crowd at the Garden was electric. You could feel the giddiness in the air. When the first opener, Colby O'Donis, came on stage, we cheered--it was finally starting! When second opener Natasha Bedingfield (who has a powerhouse of a voice, I realized) came on stage, we cheered louder. When New Kids on the Block's video intro started, we screamed (you can watch video of the beginning here and here). When the boys rose up to the stage on a platform, we SCREAMED. And that's how it was all evening: screaming, screaming, and more screaming, like the little girls we all were 20 years ago when we all thought we were going to marry a New Kid (my favorite was, and still is, Jordan). I was hoarse by the end of the night and had a sore throat all weekend. I didn't care.

The whole night was amazing. I feel like I experienced a little piece of history--the "boy[s] from the city" making their triumphant return to where it all started. I think they felt that way, too: Donnie was nearly speechless when he took a moment to talk to the crowd (here and here), and had to pause to collect himself. Joey got choked up, too. They sang and danced their hearts out all night, and seemed so proud and excited to share their music with their fans again. We were just as proud and excited to be able to share it with them.

Some highlights:

• Danny breakdancing--boy's got skills, and hot tattooed arms (not shown in the video, though)!
• Jordan performing "Baby I Believe In You" and his song "Give It To You" with his shirt unbuttoned and blowing like this--and yes, he still has those washboard abs. Oh. My. God. It is so hard to refrain from talking about how sexy he is in front of my husband (who is also very sexy, and does somewhat resemble Jordan). Video of the actual performance is here.
• When they ran out into the crowd and performed on a turntable in the middle of the floor seats (video here and here).
• Their encore--performing "Hangin' Tough" with a bit from "We Will Rock You" while Paul Pierce from the Boston Celtics strutted around the stage carrying the NBA championship trophy (video here).

More on this tomorrow.

New Kids fans, feel free to commence screaming like little girls as you go watch all the lovely clips I linked. And if you went to one of the Boston concerts (or have been/are going to any of the other tour dates), how did you like it?