When you think of New Kids On The Block, it’s hard to get past the visions of screaming mobs of fans and sugary pop goodness, but what happens when the madness fades? For some child stars, it’s tough to handle, but for others, it’s merely the beginning of a long, bright, career. After shedding his boyband cocoon Joey McIntyre was free to fly, and fly he did..in fact, he’s still soaring high. He’s jumped right from teen heartthrob to releasing solo albums, to Broadway star, to television actor, to reality show favorite. I guess you could say he likes to try new things, it’s hard to imagine what could possibly be next!
He’s gearing up to hit the road promoting his fifth solo album “Talk To Me”. This album is a compilation of old classics that he enjoyed throughout his life. He’s recreated them and recorded them in his own unique way. The songs span from “Come Dance With Me” to “The Way You Look Tonight”. Joey was kind enough to take some time to talk to TWRY about the past, the future, and all things Joey Mac.
Even with all of that success and talent under his belt, it’s hard not to fall back into a screaming teen when talking to him. Let’s face it, he may have grown up, but we never said we did!!
Interviewed by: Stacie Caddick-Dowty | March 2007
I’m good, I’m good. Busy, but good.
I’m in L.A.
I live out here in LA. Yes, I officially sold out and moved here.
Sure, it’s a CD/album that I’ve wanted to make for a long time. I guess I always sort of felt like I had a connection to this music. I’ve sung a lot of these songs throughout my career, but then, to actually record it, I had some trepidation. These songs are really special. I was really lucky to have a great producer, Doug Petty. who had a vision of making these songs modern and pop but still respecting the integrity of the song. We had great musicians like Vinnie Colaiuta who is the drummer who is one of the best in the world and certainly a first call when it comes to recordings here in LA. We had Brain Bromberg on bass and he is a GOD when it comes to bass players
Yeah, and I’m just really happy with the vibe. In making a CD the creative process is sometimes a mystery. I mean you can put your heart and soul into a project and the final product can be different from what you expected. I wanted to make the album still sexy and cool.
It’s something that I’ve always wanted to do and being on Dancing With The Stars it sort of went hand in hand with the standard classics and the singing and dancing. So it all came together in a timely manner and it just happened. After I left The New Kids I wrote a couple of pop rock tunes and Donnie Wahlberg and Danny Wood were like “Yeah you should record a pop album!” and so that is where that started. But, I’ve always wanted to do this.
I hope so! Well we are going to radio. There is a format called Adult Standard. We are just going to radio and promoting. It’s all a building process and it’s in the plan. I certainly believe you can hear these on the adult contemporary stations. Mix 98.5, stuff like that. I feel like this music has its own journey. Getting out there and sharing it.
Certainly! I believe that getting out there and performing these songs is important. The live performance of these songs is a big part of sharing these songs and getting them out there. That is why I wanted to get right out on tour.
I don’t know about a fedora… it’s a little bit of everything as far as that influence goes. You think of standards and you think of fedoras or the black and white and all that good stuff. I think it can still be hip and young. At the heart of it, it will be this music and this record. I’ll do a couple of songs from my past. A lot of these songs are from Broadway shows, I’ve had a theater career as well, so some of that will be infused into the shows. It’s a quartet and me, so I don’t want people coming and expecting my old R&B, Rock and Roll, Pop stuff.
Wow, that sweet. That’s the benefit of having cool fans that are excited to see the new stuff.
Advice… I could say a million different things but they are just going to get thrown into the fox hole and have to fight for themselves. You can have fun, but it’s very stressful. I think that is what makes the show exciting for people to watch. It’s genuinely challenging for the contestants and it’s going to be fun to watch. Every year you go “Hmmm, how is this going to work out?” I’m sure once again it’s going to be very entertaining.
Yeah… that’s a little… Ah, I’m sure it’ll be a good challenge for her cause you know she’s with one and half legs and all. I don’t know. She’s not that popular now that she kicked Paul McCartney to the curb. I don’t know that she’ll be getting a lot of support.
I hope so! I would love to tour Europe and Asia and we’ve been talking about that for a while. Tell them to keep hope alive.
Last spring yeah, It was a lot of fun and really crazy for me. Dave McLaughlin who is a writer from Boston, actually we had a lot of Boston people come out. Having them be a part of it was really cool.
I think it is going to debut at the Boston Film Festival at the end of April.
I didn’t hear about that! Oh well, Maurice is a talented guy, I’ve always respected him. He’s a very entertaining guy. I’m sure it’ll be fun.
I like to be involved in any organization that is enthusiastic with what they can do and can touch people’s lives. That organization is really called the HELP group. They are building these schools for these kids and it’s not only amazing to see these people come together but also building schools. That is something that you can actually see and feel. A friend of mine was involved and I heard the stories. You can learn so much from these kids and I was just happy to be involved.
That’s alright!!
Go see Joey on Tour!
20-Mar Hartford, CT Foxwoods
21-Mar Hartford, CT Foxwoods
24-Mar Vienna, VA Jammin Java
25-Mar Annapolis Ram’s Head-matinee
27-Mar Boston Paradise
28-Mar Buffalo, NY The Tralf
29-Mar Binghampton, NY Magic City Music Hall
30-Mar Allentown, PA Crocodile Café
31-Mar Lancaster, PA The Chameleon
02-Apr New York BBKing’s
03-Apr Cleveland, OH House of Blues
05-Apr Pittsburgh, PA Hard Rock Café
06-Apr Toronto, Ont Hard Rock Café
09-Apr Philadelphia, PA Tin Angel
11-Apr Toledo, OH Gator’z
12-Apr Nashville, TN 3rd & Lindsley
15-Apr Detroit, MI St. Andrews Hall
22-Apr Madison, WI Stage Door
