It was party central at House of Blues last Friday night, as popstars Joey Fatone and AJ McLean took Boston by storm on what would indeed be “A Legendary Night”. The prominently millennial crowd made their way down Lansdowne early in the evening, with a long line that went around the corner just as doors opened. DJ Reg West greeted the fans with a 30 minute set, jam packed with some of the greatest hits of all time, from Whitney Houston to Journey. He would also scout the crowd for four lucky fans that would get couch passes, joining the duo on stage later in the evening.
As the set started to wind down, the band and backup singers took their spots, and the lights slowly went down. Wearing the now iconic DunKings outfits, Fatone would emerge from the shadows, igniting the crowd with NSYNC’s “Pop”, as McLean walked through the audience from the back of the room. The two singers joined forces and went into Backstreet Boys’ “Larger Than Life”, giving us a taste of the unique versions they had prepared of some of the groups’ most beloved hits. McLean left the stage briefly, allowing Fatone to perform a Sinatra-style version of “Tearin’ Up My Heart”. After a much needed outfit change, McLean was now on his own on stage, presenting the first of three unreleased solo tracks. Fatone would soon join, and they’d start sharing memories of their youth, as they sat on a large couch that decorated the center of the stage.
The evening went on like a pop culture variety show, with an engaging format that was entertaining, unpredictable and hilarious. The duo had a few games under their sleeve to incorporate the audience, the first one involving attempts to stomp the keyboard player as they threw tv theme songs back and forth: from the Golden Girls to Duck Tales, the pair had everyone in the room singing along and taking a fond walk down memory lane. The stage pass winners then joined the show, sitting on the couch and enjoying a string of BSB/NSYNC hits. One of the most special aspects of the show is how both AJ and Joey take turns to perform the other’s song, a unique opportunity to hear the classics in the voice of the “rival” in the 90s boyband wars.
After another hilarious game that involved a giant dice being thrown around to pick what song would be performed next, McLean was on his own once again, this time to share a heartwarming moment with fans as he got candid about his mental health struggles, noting Boston as a pivotal city for his awakening and recovery journey. After two more unreleased tracks, Joey returned and the shenanigans continued: the duo brought a few more iconic hits that had the crowd going wild, from Dropkick Murphys’ “I’m Shipping Up To Boston,” to Marky Mark’s “Good Vibrations”. The evening was coming to a close, with NSYNC’s “Space Cowboy” and Backstreet Boys’ “Everybody”; the duo left the stage for a few moments that allowed the guitarist to take the lead and introduce “I Want It That Way”, and the room exploded. There was only one song left, and in their own words, the only way to say goodbye is with the mega hit “Bye Bye Bye”, a fitting ending to an evening packed with nostalgia, fun and unexpected turns.
PHOTO GALLERY BY: Maria Alejandra Mata
