At the point, they’re hardly new or, for that matter, kids.
New Kids on the Block first got together 31 years ago — perhaps why they mostly go by the acronym NKOTB now. Nonetheless, the act is headed back to the Northwest, playing the Tacoma Dome on its “Main Event” tour at 7 p.m. May 6.
NKOTB released a string of hits, including “Hangin’ Tough” and “Step by Step,” in the late 1980s and early 1990s, seeing two albums in a row bow at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
The grunge rock explosion, however, wasn’t kind to the polished image of the band, which broke up in the mid-1990s. But never underestimate the value of nostalgia — the band reunited in 2008 and has been touring on and off since then, making an unlikely return to the stadiums it once filled with screaming teenagers.
The group’s Tacoma Dome stop will feature openers TLC and Nelly.
Tickets are $29.50 to $91.50 at ticketmaster.com or 800-745-3000.
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A very different act from the 1980s also is headed to Seattle next week.
They Might Be Giants, the quirky alterna-pop act, will headline the Neptune Theatre at 8 p.m. May 7.
The band bills itself as an act that has been “installing and servicing melody since 1982” on its website.
The duo released a series of underground albums in the 1980s, impressing fans with its heady mix of pop melody and off-beat lyricism.
It briefly made it onto the charts in the 1990s thanks to its album “Flood” and the single “Birdhouse In Your Soul,” which reached No. 3 on the rock charts.
Since then, the group has dabbled in children’s music and released other albums for its fervent fan base, including April’s “Glean,” the band’s 17th disc.
The group’s current tour is billed as “an evening with” the band, an effort to highlight the fact that the group is not bringing along any opening act — so fans should plan to arrive on time.
Tickets are $29 at stgpresents.org or 877-784-4849.
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Also May 7, the 1990s indie rock act Sleater-Kinney will kick off a three-night stand at the Showbox with a 9 p.m. show.
The female trio, which got its start in Olympia, became an indie-rock institution, winning accolades from Northwest peers like Pearl Jam.
The band never crossed over into the mainstream, instead going on hiatus a decade ago. During that time, guitarist Carrie Brownstein became famous in her own right thanks to the sketch comedy show “Portlandia.”
Now the group is back with a new album, “No Cities to Love.” Greeted warmly by critics and fans alike, the album was the group’s first to break into the top 20 on the Billboard 200, debuting at No. 18.
Tickets are $30 at showboxonline.com or 888-929-7849.
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All Time Low, meanwhile, will head to the Showbox SoDo at 6 p.m. May 6.
The emo-rock group from Baltimore got its start in 2003 and quickly made a name for itself thanks to steady touring, including spots on the punk-heavy Warped Tour. The group saw its third, fourth and fifth albums all crack the top 10 on the Billboard 200.
Now, it’s gearing up for another success. The group released in April its sixth album, “Future Hearts,” which included the single “Kids in the Dark,” a hit on the rock charts.
Tickets are $29.50 at showboxonline.com or 888-929-7849.
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Finally, Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready will host his annual benefit for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis with a two-night stand at the Showbox.
The concerts are at 9 p.m. May 1 and 2. Both shows will find McCready playing with Flight to Mars, his rock tribute to the 1970s act UFO. Both nights also are expected to feature “special guests,” which, given McCready’s longstanding ties to the Seattle music scene, could be pretty much anyone.
Tickets are $25 to $30 at showboxonline.com or 888-929-7849.
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