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New Kids on The Block perform during the Much Music Video Awards in Toronto, on Sunday June 15, 2008 (J.P.Moczulski / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

The screams were ear-splitting when The New Kids on the Block launched their reunion tour in front of a largely female audience Friday.

The Boston-bred quintet kicked off their nostalgic-drenched show at Toronto's Air Canada Centre with their new song, `Single', each member striding along to female shrieks as they crossed the multi-level stage.

For many in the audience, the aging boy band appeared to still have `the right stuff,' blending R&B-tinged pop with familiar choreographed moves, coordinating outfits and plenty of cheese.

Now pushing middle-age, it's been roughly 20 years since Joey, Donnie, Jordan, Jonathan and Danny helped define a sugary pop era with monster hits such as `Step By Step' and `You Got It (The Right Stuff)'.

But the passage of time seemed to mean little to the group's ardent female fans, many of whom appeared to be in their late 20s and 30s and some accompanied by kids of their own.

Friday's show was the second of a three-night stand at Toronto's Air Canada Centre, with the final show set for Sunday.

With files from The Canadian Press