Source: [ StuffBoston.com ]

He lives with his wife and kids in LA, but Joey McIntyre remains one beloved Boston boy. At 38, the Jamaica Plain-raised musician makes grown women swoon like the teenage girls who worshipped his poster during New Kids on the Block’s ’80s heyday. That was the scene when he stopped by Woodward at the Ames Hotel to play an intimate set from his new holiday album, Come Home for Christmas, after his public performance for the city’s Christmas tree lighting.

We chatted with him about his busy year touring with the Backstreet Boys (as part of the boy-band super-group NKOTBSB) and recent television work on Psych and CSI. He also has a small role in New Year’s Eve, the new flick starring Sarah Jessica Parker, Ashton Kutcher, and just about everyone else in Hollywood. But NYE is a big day for him off-screen, too. December 31 is McIntyre’s birthday, and this New Kid is counting down to the last year of his 30s.

How was it being back in Boston for the tree lighting?
It was a great way to kick off the season. You appreciate it all so much more when you’re older – especially having kids and wanting them to have Boston in their lives.

What do you miss most about Boston?
Jamaica Pond. And the Golden Temple Mai Tai. You know, that place in Brookline? But not the regular mai tai! The Golden Temple Mai Tai.

Why was this the year for a holiday album?
I got off the road in August from the NKOTBSB tour. It was amazing, loads of fun. Then I came home and jumped into daddy land. But creatively, I got itchy. I had this album on the back burner for a while. . . . So I jumped right into it with Rob Lewis, our musical director from the tour. I decided to do it in October, which is rushing it, but in this digital age I was able to turn it around in time. I’m really proud of it.

Continue reading [ INTERVIEW ] Get Close with … Joey McIntyre →

Source: [ 7NewsWDH.com ]

BOSTON — New Kids on the Block star, Joey Mcintyre, spread holiday spirit at Boston Children’s Hospital on Tuesday when he teamed up with some of the musicians from the Boston Pops for a special concert.

Ella Belanger, one patient at the hospital, was having a four-hour surgery after Mcintyre’s performance — the holiday concert was the perfect distraction for the 6 year old. It helped her forget her inherent bladder defect, if only for a moment.

“First, they’re going to check my breaking and they’re going to fix me up and stuff,” said Ella.

Mcintyre belted out Christmas carols with Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops, which took dozens of children’s minds off cancer, chromes disease and heart conditions.

“If we can put a smile on their face, especially right before surgery, that’s a blessing,” said Mcintyre.

Ella’s parents probably needed the distraction more than she did.

“We weren’t expecting it. We walked in and saw one of the fliers that they were coming and it’s been perfect, rather than just sitting here starring at the fish tank,” said Cyndi Belanger, Ella’s mother.

“Boston and this hospital, I used to come here when I was a kid and nothing — just a broken leg or something like that, or my tonsils out, stuff like that, but there’s a huge connection,” Mcintyre said.