DETROIT - It was like popping in a mixtape into your boombox, pressing play and just going along for the ride. It was a nonstop night of nostalgia at “The Mixtape Tour” 2022 at Little Caesars Arena on Friday, June 24 with New Kids on The Block, Rick Astley, Salt-N-Pepa and En Vogue. This was their third Michigan concert this month (Grand Rapids, Mount Pleasant).
There were no openers at this two and a half hour fast-paced concert. Once NKOTB took the stage at 8:20 p.m., the music never stopped. Two stages, one on each end of the arena made for seamless pacing, allowing for one group to leave while another one immediately took over.
The New Kids got things going with seven songs in a row which included “Block Party,” “My Favorite Girl,” “Dirty Dancing” and “Cover Girl.”
Then they did something we’ve never seen them do in recent years with “You Got It” (The Right Stuff). They performed their modern, updated version of the song, then showed the old music video from 1988 and performed part of the song exactly like it was 34 years ago.
Fans next heard some of the most ear-pleasing harmonies of the night with En Vogue’s signature “Ooh, bop” on “My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It). The “funky divas” then went into another one of their biggest hits with “Free Your Mind” before more nostalgia as Rick Astley took the stage and went right into two of his biggest hits with “Together Forever” and “It Would Take a Strong Strong Man.”
The show wasn’t even halfway over yet as the New Kids returned with a remix-themed set of songs which featured “House Party,” “Hold On,” “Full Service,” “Return of the Mack,” “Call It What You Want,” “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This), “Twisted” and “Remix” (I Like The).
Before fans could take a breath, Salt-N-Pepa appeared on stage with a number of their old school hits with “None of Your Business,” “Expression,” “Let’s Talk About Sex,” “Shake Your Thang” and “Whatta Man.”
En Vogue returned to show off their vocal harmonies with one of their biggest hits, “Don’t Let Go” before a signature NKOTB moment in the show as Joey McIntyre performed his most popular song, “Please Don’t Go Girl” with help from Jordan, Donnie, Danny and Jonathan.
The guys then went into the crowd for another big hit, “Tonight” before returning to the stage and dancing to a medley of 80s hits as they introduced another huge 80s throwback with “Never Gonna Give You Up” with Astley taking the stage to rickroll the crowd. He also performed “Cry For Help” before Salt-N-Pepa returned with “Shoop.”
The show continued with one song after another with no pause and there were still 10 more to go as the New Kids returned for some of their most famous ballads with “Didn’t I” (Blow Your Mind This Time), “Valentine Girl,” “If You Go Away” and “I’ll Be Loving You” (Forever).
Everyone had one more big moment as the show was coming to a close as En Vogue performed “Hold On,” followed by NKOTB with “Step by Step” and Salt-N-Pepa with “Push It.”
Per tradition at their shows, the New Kids then sported their Boston Celtic jerseys to close the night with “Hangin’ Tough” before everyone took the stage for “Bring Back the Time” followed by all of them partying to another round of “Never Gonna Give You Up.”
You won’t go to too many concerts where there’s more than 30 songs with numerous music groups and absolutely no breaks in the action. This was truly one of those mixtape compilations fans can play any time, any place and sing along to every single song.
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