Tuesday, October 19, 2010

All eyes, and ears, on New Kid


The New Kids on the Block perform at...
Photo by Eric Antoniou
The New Kids on the Block perform at the Sense-ations gala.
By Gayle Fee and Laura Raposa
Sunday, October 17, 2010
While one Boston rock ’n’ roll institution battles with its flamboyant frontman, the New Kids on the Block say the vintage boy band is closer than ever.
“When we get together in a room it’s always the same,’’ Donnie Wahlberg told the Track before the band performed at a sold-out benefit for Mass. Eye & Ear Infirmary the other night. “It’s a nice treat to be here because I haven’t laughed like this in weeks.’’
Donnie took the stage at the “Sense-ations!’’ soiree with Jonathan and Jordan Knight and Danny Wood at the behest of bandmate Joey McIntyre, whose 10-month-old son, Rhys, was born with severe hearing loss.
“Just seeing Joey’s maturity and how he’s handled himself (with his son), it’s been profound to share in this,’’ said Wahlberg, who came to Boston from New York where he shoots the CBS cop drama “Blue Bloods.”
“We’ve shared a lot of great nights together, but we haven’t have had to come together for one of our kids,” Donnie continued. “There’s something to be said, after all these years, that we love each other more than ever before.’’
Jonathan Knight, who is a real estate developer by day, chimed in “Minus (Jordan), I’m closer to these three guys than my own brothers.’’
The New Kids wouldn’t say if they would head out on tour again, but they did seem rather excited about their sold-out Caribbean cruise with 250 female fans — and, maybe, a few husbands!
“It’s special,” said Wahlberg, who then took to talking in the third person. “I mean, it’s not like Donnie’s going to grab 15 women and bring them to his room and the rest of the guys will bring girls to their rooms. Maybe when we were 20. But it is a beautiful experience.’’
Before NKOTB did their thing, McIntyre, wife Barrett and sons Griffin, 3, and Rhys took to the stage to talk about Baby Mac’s hearing loss, which was discovered when he was 10 days old.
“Because of the technology and options, Rhys will attend the same school as his brother and will be able to communicate with people he meets,’’ Barrett said.
Her husband reminded the group that the hearing test was developed at Mass. Eye & Ear.
“We have to shine some light on this amazing institution,’’ said Joey Mac, who helped raise $1 million for the cause.
Later, an emotional Joey had to compose himself before belting out his hit single “Stay the Same,’’ backed by a choir.
“I might have to get Jordan to sing this for me,’’ he said.
File Under: The Right Stuff.
Don’t forget to watch ’Track Gals’—the Inside Track’s new TV show—at noon on Sundays on TV38 and at 12:30am Sunday mornings (Saturday night) on WBZ Channel 4. Or watch the latest episode now at

http://www.bostonherald.com/track/inside_track/view.bg?articleid=1289398

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