New Kids on the Block: Live was the fifth concert tour by American band New Kids on the Block and the first in 14 years since the group broke up after their last tour in 1994. In April 2008, the group reunited on The Today Show, announcing a new album and tour. The tour visited North America and Europe. The tour took place from the fall of 2008 through the summer of 2010. Each year, the tour was revamped with new staging, setlist and tour name. In 2009, the tour was acknowledged as The "Full Service Tour" and in 2010, the tour was known as the "Casi-NO Tour".
The New Kids on the Block: Live tour marked Gaga’s first role as an opening act, as well as her debut on a major arena tour. She would go on to headline her own first solo tour, The Fame Ball, in the spring of 2009, performing in theaters and clubs worldwide. While the initial version of The Monster Ball later that year still played some theaters and smaller arenas, the revamped version—which launched on February 18, 2010—is generally regarded as her first full-scale arena tour, due to its expanded production and staging.
Background[]
The Block standard edition.
Fourth of July Spectacular poster.
The band released their reunion album, The Block, on September 2, 2008—their first studio album in fourteen years, following Face the Music (1994). As their label, Interscope Records encouraged collaborations with contemporary artists, including The Pussycat Dolls, Ne-Yo, and Akon, as well as producers like RedOne, Fernando Garibay, and Teddy Riley. Notably, RedOne and Garibay would go on to work closely with Lady Gaga on her subsequent albums, The Fame Monster (2009) and Born This Way (2011). Through RedOne’s involvement in the project, Gaga was brought in and co-wrote two tracks with Donnie Wahlberg for the album.
The New Kids on the Block: Live tour launched less than three weeks later to promote The Block, as well as a revised reissue of New Kids on the Block: Greatest Hits (originally released in 1999), now with updated artwork and a refreshed track list. While Natasha Bedingfield was selected as the main opening act due to her recent commercial success, Gaga, Colby O'Donis, and Tami Chynn were also brought on board—all of whom were rising artists signed to Akon’s Konvict-affiliated labels: Kon Live Distribution (Gaga and O'Donis) and Konvict Muzik (Chynn). Although Gaga had already collaborated with Wahlberg in the recording studio, he personally chose her as an opening act after seeing her perform live at the Perez Hilton's Fourth of July Spectacular! in Las Vegas in 2008.
Production[]
Stage and lighting[]
The stage
Alternative animated (not shown) visual for select club shows.
For the first time, the Haus of Gaga created a series of backdrops and interlude videos for the show. They opted to display them on three large rectangular LCD screens on wheels, which could be moved across the stage by the dancers during the show. All the new costumes and stage elements exceeded the budget the label had provided, so they had to book shows outside of the tour schedule in order to pay for them.
Depending on the venue’s equipment and size, the stage setup varied. Club shows, for example, typically did not feature the full three-screen configuration. In these cases, visuals were either omitted entirely or replaced with a video loop of a white female mannequin featuring a lightning bolt across its body. The name "Lady Gaga" appeared in an avant-garde–inspired font, matching the typography used on the artwork for "Just Dance".
Music and performance[]
Gaga with the four male dancers on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
The revised US artwork for The Fame with "LADY|GAGA" in crimson red instead of the original pastel blue used to write "The Fame".
For the set list, it was similar to the Just Dance Promo Tour, "Beautiful, Dirty, Rich", "LoveGame", "Paparazzi", and "Just Dance" returned, while "Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)" was cut and replaced with the newly selected second single and live debut of "Poker Face", using choreography from the music video. "Starstruck" also debuted live after elements of it were used in an interlude during the previous tour. "Starstruck" would also be included on the U.S. revised edition of The Fame, released on October 28, 2008.
Similarly to the Just Dance Promo Tour, the show was divided into three parts, with each segment preceded by an interlude: an introduction, a second interlude after the second song, and one before the final track. The main difference for this tour was the use of short films as interludes and visuals as backdrop during the songs performance. Notably, this was also the last Gaga tour structured in three acts.
The NKOTB shows also featured Space Cowboy on the DJ table—a setup that continued for most performances through the end of the North American leg of the The Fame Ball. By that point, Gaga transitioned to a full live band, dubbed "The Kidz", allowing her to adapt the show for larger venues and festival stages.
They held an open audition in September for four male dancers to replace the original duo of female dancers. The new Haus collaborators were: Michael Silas (known as "Mikey Mugler"), Ian McKenzie ("Louis Lagerfeld"), Asiel Hardison ("Duke Jones"), and Anthony Lofendo ("Tonny Ferris"). Each alias combined the dancer’s nickname with a fashion icon: Mikey Mugler (Thierry Mugler), Louis Lagerfeld (Karl Lagerfeld), and Duke Jones (Grace Jones). They first collaboration was on the music video for "Poker Face", shot on October 3, 2008 that would be released on October 29, 2008. Aside from Anthony, who left after the tour, the remaining three continued performing with Gaga through 2009, until seven additional dancers (three male, four female) joined them for The Monster Ball.
Fashion[]
The geometric dress from Mugler Spring/Summer 2008 that inspired the Haus's origami dresses.
Although the Just Dance Promo Tour took inspiration from vintage styles, the creative vision for this show leaned toward avant-garde and couture. Due to budget constraints and limited access to high fashion designers, the Haus recreated looks inspired by recent fashion shows. This tour marked the debut of Gaga’s now-signature live costume changes. Due to stage limitations, she would make outfit changes—often removing pieces—while hidden behind the LCD screens during interludes.
The main outfit was a pair of “origami” dresses—one in white, the other resembling black leather with metallic gold origami-style crystals. The origami dress was inspired by a green dress from Thierry Mugler Spring/Summer 2008 “Thierry Mugler Edition” RTW collection designed by Rosemary Rodriguez, itself a modern take on a piece from Mugler’s Fall/Winter 1991 RTW collection. The origami dresses were also used during the Doll Domination Tour, and a more direct reinterpretation appeared in the revamped The Monster Ball (2010–2011).
Accessories included Jacqueline opera gloves by Gaspar Gloves and beige ankle booties from the Fall/Winter 2008 ready-to-wear collection by Christian Louboutin. Dancers wore grey suits with exaggerated shoulder pads with a black rectangle of makeup on their eyes. In addition to new wardrobe elements, props made with Tom Talmon Studio were reused, including the Haus Headset, Disco Stick, and iPod Glasses, all first introduced during the Just Dance Promo Tour in the spring to summer of 2008. Whenever possible, Gaga used the Haus Headset; otherwise, she performed with a Shure microphone.
For all New Kids on the Block shows, as well as performances outside of the official tour schedule, she typically wore the white origami dress, gradually alternating more frequently with the black and gold version starting in December. During after-shows (or a second performance on the same day), she usually wore an electric blue bodysuit from the, at the time unreleased, music video for "Poker Face". After the video’s premiere on October 29, 2008, Gaga began switching between a black or gold version of the bodysuit throughout late October and November. By December, she returned to wearing one of the origami dresses exclusively.
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- New Kids shows — Origami dress by Haus of Gaga, grey panties, beige ankle boots by Christian Louboutin
- White dress — October 8 to November 24, 29, December 6–7, 9–12, 15, and 21 of 2008.
- Black & gold dress — November 26, 30, December 2–5, 8, 13–14, 16–20, and 31 of 2008.
- After-shows — Bodysuit by Haus of Gaga x Muto-Little Costumes, ankle boots by Givenchy
- Electric blue version — October 13–19, 2008.
- Black version — October 29–31, 2008.
- Gold version — November 2, 21, 2008.
- Dancers
- Grey suits by Haus of Gaga — October 8 to December 8, 2008.
- Vest, black T-shirt with LED by Haus of Gaga x Tom Talmon Studio — December 11 to 30, 2008.
Set List[]
Gaga typically opened the show with a 15-minute set, followed by a performance from Natasha Bedingfield, before New Kids on the Block took the stage as the headlining act. On select dates, Gaga also joined the group onstage to perform "Big Girl Now" during their set.
- Pop Heart (Video Introduction)
- "Beautiful, Dirty, Rich"
- Pop Ate My Heart (Video Interlude)
- "LoveGame"
- "Paparazzi"
- "Starstruck"
- Phantom (Video Interlude)
- "Poker Face"
- "Just Dance"
Concert synopsis[]
- For the general fashion credits, refer to the fashion section above.
Intro Film[]
The stage layout typically placed Space Cowboy and his DJ table on the left, with the moveable LCD screen positioned center stage. The show opened with the "Haus Intro" (also referred to as "Pop Heart"), projected across the three moveable screens. The accompanying audio was composed by Space Cowboy, who later reworked the track into "Devastated", released on his album Digital Rock Star (2009).
In the film, Gaga appears wearing a black hood, her trademark Versace sunglasses, and bright orange lipstick. Some scenes also feature her iPod LCD Glasses. Shot in early October 2008, the footage was digitally modified for a stylized aesthetic by raising contrast levels and applying a vintage CRT TV effect to enhance the retro-futurist look.
Recorded vocals
I need m-m-m-more, to feed my pop heart
Give me more!
I want: The future, Gaga, Fashion, T-t-technology, Dance, New York, Music, Pop Culture!
I want The Fame
I can hear you! Can you hear me?
The revolution is coming
And I want
W-w-we want, you deserve. The future
My name is Lady Gaga and this is my Haus!
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- 1. Lady Gaga wears a black hood and bodysuit by Haus of Gaga x Muto-Little Costumes, sunglasses by Versace and eyelashes by Shu Uemura.
- 1.1 Lady Gaga wears iPod LCD Glasses by Haus of Gaga x Tom Talmon Studio.
"Beautiful, Dirty, Rich"[]
When the intro film ended, the left and right screens began to move outward, and the center screen flipped vertically, revealing Gaga behind it. She launched into a shortened version of "Beautiful, Dirty, Rich," with the performance running approximately 1:40 instead of the full 2:50 album cut.
The visual backdrop consisted of two white side screens displaying occasional film strip artifacts, while the center screen was saturated in red-orange flames set against a red background. Just before the chorus, all three screens faded to black, followed by flickering white "flash" effects across each panel. During the chorus, the lyrics were animated in sync with the visuals:
- "Beautiful" appeared in large type across all screens.
- "Dir", "ty", and "Rich" were then displayed on the left, center, and right screens respectively, in staggered timing.
Following the chorus, the color scheme of the screens was inverted—white in the middle and red panels on each side—marking a shift in atmosphere as the song concluded.
Pop Ate My Heart Interlude[]
Then, Gaga is lifted by the dancers during the "Pop Ate My Heart" interlude. The video opens with a close-up of a hand holding a revolver, firing a shot that shatters mirrored glass. It then cuts to Gaga, crying and clutching her chest wound. She wears a white tank top, visibly bleeding pink blood. Throughout the interlude, black birds are seen flying toward her wound.
The accompanying music features dramatic gothic synths, layered with eerie church-like choral elements. Shortly after Gaga first utters "He ate my heart," the phrase is echoed and extended by Space Cowboy, who slowly chants the line over the instrumental. The phrase would later become central to the chorus of "Monster."
The silhouetted birds in the interlude may be a visual reference to Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds (1963). Coincidentally, or perhaps intentionally, a visual interlude featuring raven wing flapping was introduced during the The Monster Ball 1.0, immediately preceding "Monster" in the setlist. Gaga also wore a taxidermied raven headpiece on the single artwork for "Alejandro." The recurring motif of birds of prey, particularly ravens, may symbolize themes of vulnerability, emotional consumption, or creeping darkness. In folklore and literature, ravens are often associated with death, decay, and opportunistic scavenging—possibly mirroring the way Gaga explores fame and love as consuming, parasitic forces. While unconfirmed, the "Pop Ate My Heart" interlude could be viewed as an early conceptual predecessor to The Fame Monster (2009), where such themes became fully realized both visually and sonically.
The concept of having her heart "eaten" by pop culture was later expanded into a more developed narrative just two months later through the Crevettes Films, a series of Andy Warhol–inspired pop art vignettes that were integrated into the Doll Domination Tour and The Fame Ball in 2009.
Recorded Vocals
I really don't remember when. But it was quick and then was dead.
Before I knew the thing inside, I felt something was gone, I cried.
He ate my heart, he a-a-ate my heart. Pop ate my heart
and I became a slave, to what? To his LoveGame...
- Lady Gaga wears an uncredited tank top and eyelashes by Shu Uemura.
"LoveGame"[]
After Pop Ate My Heart, she performed a shortened version of "LoveGame", running approximately 2:10 instead of the full 3:33 album version. During some shows, near the end of "LoveGame", a remixed intro of "Starstruck" was mixed in, while Gaga appeared on the backdrop drawing the word "pop" across a man's chest. For the screen visuals, Gaga is shown making out with a man on satin sheets, wearing a black bra, bodysuit, fishnet stockings, and a gold chain necklace. he footage was processed with an icy blue tint, giving it a dreamlike and seductive atmosphere.
Returning from the Just Dance Promo Tour, Gaga also brought back the Disco Stick featuring its signature long black sheath tube as a prop during the performance.
- Lady Gaga uses the Disco Stick by Tom Talmon Studio x Haus of Gaga.
"Paparazzi"[]
A remixed intro by Space Cowboy was used, followed by a shortened 2:30 version of "Paparazzi", distinct from the original album cut of 3:29. On shows where Gaga wore the origami dress, the dancers would remove her skirt at the beginning of the song. In some performances, Space Cowboy played guitar, while others featured Asiel dancing and miming taking photographs of Gaga—emulating paparazzi behavior.
If the venue was a club with no space for the LED screens, the dancers remained onstage with Gaga, playing the role of paparazzi throughout the performance. In full-scale shows, they were positioned behind the LED screens, which were moved across the stage to follow Gaga as she walked from left to right.
Composition with Red, Blue and Yello, 1930. Artwork Piet Mondrian (Left), Yves Saint Laurent, Fall/Winter 1965/66 (Right) from V71: The Asian Issue (Summer 2011)
The white backdrop featured moving primary colors (red, yellow, and blue) squares with a black outline, which transitioned to a black screen before the chorus, simulating bursts of camera flash. The moving squares sequence is probably a reference to Dutch painter Piet Mondrian and his most famous work, Composition with Red, Blue and Yellow (1930).The performance concluded with the Haircutting outro, showing Gaga cutting her hair and crying in a bathroom. This scene may reference public figures such as Princess Diana, who famously adopted a short haircut during a time of personal reinvention, and Britney Spears, who shaved her head in 2007 during a highly publicized breakdown. The act of cutting her hair can be interpreted as a metaphor for emotional release, loss of control, or a symbolic shedding of identity under the pressure of fame. This early exploration of the dark side of fame would go on to be developed further in the "Paparazzi" music video (2009), her theatrical performance at the 2009 VMAs, and subsequent stagings of the song across multiple concert tours.
After the interlude, Gaga and the dancers stood atop the center LCD screen before disappearing behind the others. Space Cowboy then performed a custom segue to transition into the next segment.
"Starstruck"[]
After "Paparazzi", Gaga performed "Starstruck" live onstage with Space Cowboy.
The backdrop featured a pre-recorded visual of Gaga and Space Cowboy singing the verses of the song—excluding the chorus. It began with side close-ups of Gaga singing, later cutting to scenes of both artists posing with a disco ball. During the line "Cherry Cherry Cherry Cherry Boom Boom", a casino-style slot machine animation of cherries played on screen. During the chorus, a moving tunnel of stars was displayed, creating a sense of motion and depth across the screens. A short clip of this backdrop was later reused in a promotional campaign for The Fame in the United States.
As the song ended, Gaga and the dancers disappeared behind the screens, while an instrumental outro played. At the same time, the visuals transitioned to a split-screen close-up of Gaga’s face—taken from The Fame: Part One—displayed in two halves on the side screens, with a white burst of light illuminating the center panel.
- Lady Gaga wears sunglasses by Versace and headphone by Beats by Dr. Dre. x Monster Cable.
"Poker Face"[]
After "Starstruck", Gaga reappeared onstage with the dancers to perform "Poker Face". The backdrop began with three random playing card symbols—hearts, spades, diamonds, and clubs—alternating between red and black, flashing in sync with the beat of the song against a green background. This transitioned into a red swirling animation during the first verse, before cutting to scenes from The Fame: Part One. For the chorus, a burst of alternating flashing colors filled the screens, amplifying the energy of the performance. The visuals returned to the original card symbol sequence timed with the “P-p-p-poker face” refrain, reinforcing the thematic ties to the song's lyrics and title.
"Just Dance"[]
Before "Just Dance" began, an extended orchestral keyboard introduction by Space Cowboy was played. During this segment, Gaga addressed the crowd while wearing her signature iPod LCD Glasses. The 3 large LCD screens displayed Gaga in the same outfit as seen in the Intro Film, now paired with purple lipstick and the iPod Glasses. The visuals on her lenses were mirrored on the stage screens, alternating between the word "Gaga" and the phrase "Pop music will never be low brow". A purple splash of water effect was also shown at the top of the screen, adding to the surreal, high-gloss aesthetic.
During the performance of the song itself, stylized edits of the "Just Dance" music video were projected across the screens. The performance concluded with elements from Richard Vission's remix, giving the finale a more club-oriented, electro-house edge.
- Lady Gaga uses the iPod Glasses and Disco Stick by Haus of Gaga x Tom Talmon Studio.
Tour dates[]
- Only the shows labeled "NKOTB: Live" were part of this official tour; other appearances may have featured shared elements such as setlists or props derived from the tour.
The New Kids on the Block: Live tour began on September 18, 2008, with British-New Zealand artist Natasha Bedingfield and Kon Live Distribution label mate Colby O'Donis as the original opening acts. Lady Gaga joined as a replacement for O'Donis for four shows from October 8 to October 11. She was then succeeded by Tami Chynn, an artist signed to Konvict Muzik, a label founded by Akon, who served as the opening act from October 13 to October 25. Gaga returned on October 27 and remained as an opening act for 22 additional performances through December 4, 2008. On December 2 and December 4, she served as the sole opening act.
Several scheduling changes occurred during the tour:
- The planned show at the Rose Garden Arena in Portland on November 23 was canceled due to a scheduling conflict.
- The Edmonton performance originally scheduled for November 17 was rescheduled to November 18.
- A concert initially set for November 26 at the San Diego Sports Arena was moved to November 25 at the Cox Arena at Aztec Bowl.
- The November 26 show, originally planned at the Staples Center, was relocated to the Nokia Theatre to accommodate a Los Angeles Clippers home game.
- Gaga did not perform at the Auditorio TELMEX on November 30 due to a scheduling conflict with a Canadian engagement.
In total, Gaga performed at 26 of the 49 shows during the first North American leg of the New Kids on the Block: Live tour. To help cover the costs associated with touring and promotion, she also delivered a comparable set—sometimes abbreviated to one or two songs—at approximately 46 additional venues, including club appearances and standalone performances booked around the same timeframe. These performances, alongside her brief association with fellow Akon-supported artists Colby O'Donis and Tami Chynn, reflected a coordinated promotional effort during that period. While all three artists were in the early stages of their careers, Gaga’s extensive live schedule helped accelerate her visibility and promotion of her debut album. This momentum directly led to her next major support role: opening for The Pussycat Dolls on the Doll Domination Tour, which launched in Europe from January to February 2009 and continued in Oceania in May.
October 2008[]
| Date | Location | City | 
|
|---|---|---|---|
| October 8 | NKOTB: Live at Staples Center | Los Angeles, CA | 
|
| October 9 | NKOTB: Live at ARCO Arena | Sacramento, CA | |
| October 10 | NKOTB: Live at HP Pavilion At San Jose | San Jose, CA | |
| Sabor Tapas Bar and Lounge | |||
| October 11 | NKOTB: Live at Mandalay Bay Events Center | Las Vegas, NV | |
| October 14 | Fashion at the Park | Dallas, TX | |
| October 16 | The Crib | San Francisco, CA | |
| October 17 | Boss Nightclub | ||
| City Nights | |||
| October 18 | Adonis | ||
| October 19 | LAX Nightclub | Hollywood, CA | |
| Tia Juana's Long Bar & Gril | Irvine, CA | ||
| October 21 | Cinespace Cinespace | Los Angeles, CA | |
| October 23 | Tiger Heat | Hollywood, CA | |
| October 24 | One Night in New York City | New York, NY | |
| October 25 | Zero Gravity Nightclub | Naperville, IL | |
| The Club | Chicago, IL | ||
| October 27 | Virgin Megastore | New York, NY | |
| NKOTB: Live at Madison Square Garden Arena | |||
| October 28 | The Fame Ball | ||
| October 29 | NKOTB: Live at The Arena at Gwinnett Center | Duluth, GA | |
| BaZzaAr Urban Bar | Atlanta, GA | ||
| October 30 | NKOTB: Live at Time Warner Cable Arena | Charlotte, NC | |
| October 31 | Beautiful Dirty Rich Leather and Latex Halloween Party | Miami Beach, FL |
November[]
| Date | Location | City |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| November 1 | NKOTB: Live at BankAtlantic Center | Ft. Lauderdale, FL |
|
| November 2 | NKOTB: Live at St. Pete Times Forum | Tampa, FL | |
| Green Iguana Bar & Grill | |||
| November 5 | NKOTB: Live at Wachovia Center | Philadelphia, PA | |
| November 6 | NKOTB: Live at Dunkin' Donuts Center Providence | Providence, RI | |
| November 7 | NKOTB: Live at Borgata Hotel & Casino Event Center | Atlantic City, NJ | |
| November 8 | NKOTB: Live at Mohegan Sun Arena | Uncasville, CT | |
| November 10 | NKOTB: Live at Scottrade Center | St. Louis, MO | |
| November 11 | NKOTB: Live at Sprint Center | Kansas City, MO | |
| November 12 | NKOTB: Live at Quest Center Omaha | Omaha, NE | |
| The Max Omaha | |||
| November 14 | NKOTB: Live at Broomfield Event Center | Denver, CO | |
| November 15 | NKOTB: Live at The E Center of West Valley | Salt Lake City, UT | |
| November 17 | Suede Nightclub | Lethbridge, AB | 
|
| November 18 | NKOTB: Live at Rexall Place | Edmonton, AB | |
| Empire Ball Room | |||
| November 19 | NKOTB: Live at Pengrowth Saddledome | Calgary, AB | |
| Tequila Nightclub | |||
| November 20 | Flashback's Nite Club | Kelowna, BC | |
| November 21 | NKOTB: Live at General Motors Place | Vancouver, BC | |
| Richard's on Richards | |||
| November 22 | NKOTB: Live at Tacoma Dome | Tacoma, WA |
|
| The Last Supper Club | Seattle, WA | ||
| November 23 | An Americain Music Award After Party | Hollywood, CA | |
| November 25 | NKOTB: Live at Cox Arena at Aztec Bowl | San Diego, CA | |
| November 26 | NKOTB: Live at Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE | Los Angeles, CA | |
| Apple Lounge | |||
| November 29 | Parliament Ultra Club | Ottawa, ON |
|
| November 30 | Virgin Mobile Presents Lady Gaga | Toronto, ON |
December[]
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Personnel[]
- Creative director — Matthew "Dada" Williams
- Choreographer — Laurieann Gibson
- Costume design — Haus of Gaga
- DJ — Space Cowboy
- Concert video design — Haus of Gaga
- Video — RK Diversified
- Management — Troy Carter
- Dancers — Michael Silas, Ian McKenzie, Asiel Hardison, Anthony Lofendo
| Headlining tours |
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| Co-headlining |
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| Residencies |
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| Promotional concerts |
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| Supporting act |
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| Related articles | Performances |