Former New Kid on the Block Jordan Knight is continuing his comeback career, but he’s hit a few snags.

A self-titled release in 1999 yielded the number-10 hit “Give It to You,” 2004’s collection of New Kids re-recordings and remixes was spotty at best and 2005’s The Fix was an adult-contemporary move.

And last year’s Love Songs, a collection of originals and rock-era classics such as “Waiting for a Girl Like You,” “She’s Got a Way” and “One More Night,” got hit with a double whammy.

Executive producer Lou Pearlman left the country shortly after the album was released. He was arrested in Indonesia a couple of months ago and charged with bank fraud. Told that it must have been a shame from Knight’s perspective, he says, “It’s kind of a shame. It’s kind of a blessing in disguise. . . . He’s done a lot of great things for people, but it comes at a price.”

And Knight became a father for the second time this February. Since then, he’s put heavy touring on hold. “I’ve been laying low, hanging with the family and not sleeping too much.”

The New Kids paved the way for the boy-bad craze of the ’90s by dominating the pop world in the late ’80s and early ’90s with hits such as “You Got It (The Right Stuff),” “Hangin’ Tough” and “I’ll Be Loving You (Forever)” on the way to selling 70 million albums worldwide. Knight recalls his time in the group as “All types of highs, lows, sidewayses. It was definitely a roller coaster.”

Fortunately, he says, they had good lawyers and got “old-school” financial advice, so unlike some teen acts, they made money off their fame, and when the hits dried up and the group split in 1994, no one was desperate. “My only regret on the money is we could have tightened up the budgets on the tours and not wasted so much, but we all came out OK.”

In the making of a solo career, Knight’s fame worked both ways, he says.

“I’ll always be Jordan Knight from the New Kids. Which is good, because the New Kids made me famous, so doors automatically opened. But you also get pigeonholed.” He says that he recorded the Jordan Knight record, with songs by stars such as Robin Thicke and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, in 1996, but had to wait until 1999 for Interscope to release it with the growth of the new boy-bands such as Backstreet and ’NSync – inspired by Knight’s own success with the New Kids.

Talking to Knight gives the impression of someone who, adult-contemporary albums and reality-TV appearances aside, isn’t afraid to tell the truth and to stand outside the showbiz game. He’s honest about Love Songs. Pearlman picked the producer, and “I would have gone for different styles and different tastes. I went for songs that would kind of match him and kind of match me, and I made the best of it. It’s pretty good. . . . There are some moments on there that I’m proud of, and there are some that — you know …

“I don’t think I hit it right on the money, though. I got another one coming.”

This is the first summer he’s done festivals, including the new Summerfest Providence this weekend, and in an accent that is still total Boston, he says he likes the change. “You get people’s attention who may have not bought a ticket to see Jordan Knight. Maybe win them over. . . .

“I’m just kind of doing it to keep my stage chops up and stay in front of people. But I’m kind of in the lab right now. … I’m kind of dabbling with the band, but right now I’m kind of wide open. I’m really not set on anything. I’m in an experimental mode right now.”

Knight has also kept himself in the public eye through reality TV, most notably the third season of VH1’s Surreal Life. “I was squirming when I did that show,” Knight says now. “And after I watched it, I couldn’t help but laugh.”

Knight was in the cast that included Flavor Flav and Brigitte Nielsen. Their flamboyance put him “in the supporting cast,” which he didn’t mind. He also says he noticed an uptick in attendance at his shows after the show was on the air. “It was a learning experience. I don’t know if I’d do it again, though.”

So you’re still as committed to this as ever?

“Pretty much.

“Obviously, I still like going on stage and entertaining people. . . . I’m looking for a new twist on it, absolutely.”

Jordan Knight headlines on Sunday, the second day of the first-ever Summerfest Providence, at Providence Piers, 200 Allens Ave., Providence, at 6 p.m. Also on the bill are Soulshot, Emily Smith & Synergy and more.

Saturday’s bill, topped by The Fabulous Thunderbirds, also includes the excellent local Latin band Santa Mamba.

The music starts at 11 a.m. both days, and runs until 10 p.m. on Saturday and 8 on Sunday. Tickets are $10 each day; call (401) 846-1600 or go to www.newportfestivals.com.

 Originally posted at http://www.projo.com/music/content/wk-pop16_08-16-07_4G6OADI.1c1e2ee.html

Former New Kid on the Block Jordan Knight is continuing his comeback career, but he’s hit a few snags.

A self-titled release in 1999 yielded the number-10 hit “Give It to You,” 2004’s collection of New Kids re-recordings and remixes was spotty at best and 2005’s The Fix was an adult-contemporary move.

And last year’s Love Songs, a collection of originals and rock-era classics such as “Waiting for a Girl Like You,” “She’s Got a Way” and “One More Night,” got hit with a double whammy.

Executive producer Lou Pearlman left the country shortly after the album was released. He was arrested in Indonesia a couple of months ago and charged with bank fraud. Told that it must have been a shame from Knight’s perspective, he says, “It’s kind of a shame. It’s kind of a blessing in disguise. . . . He’s done a lot of great things for people, but it comes at a price.”

And Knight became a father for the second time this February. Since then, he’s put heavy touring on hold. “I’ve been laying low, hanging with the family and not sleeping too much.”

The New Kids paved the way for the boy-bad craze of the ’90s by dominating the pop world in the late ’80s and early ’90s with hits such as “You Got It (The Right Stuff),” “Hangin’ Tough” and “I’ll Be Loving You (Forever)” on the way to selling 70 million albums worldwide. Knight recalls his time in the group as “All types of highs, lows, sidewayses. It was definitely a roller coaster.”

Fortunately, he says, they had good lawyers and got “old-school” financial advice, so unlike some teen acts, they made money off their fame, and when the hits dried up and the group split in 1994, no one was desperate. “My only regret on the money is we could have tightened up the budgets on the tours and not wasted so much, but we all came out OK.”

In the making of a solo career, Knight’s fame worked both ways, he says.

“I’ll always be Jordan Knight from the New Kids. Which is good, because the New Kids made me famous, so doors automatically opened. But you also get pigeonholed.” He says that he recorded the Jordan Knight record, with songs by stars such as Robin Thicke and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, in 1996, but had to wait until 1999 for Interscope to release it with the growth of the new boy-bands such as Backstreet and ’NSync – inspired by Knight’s own success with the New Kids.

Talking to Knight gives the impression of someone who, adult-contemporary albums and reality-TV appearances aside, isn’t afraid to tell the truth and to stand outside the showbiz game. He’s honest about Love Songs. Pearlman picked the producer, and “I would have gone for different styles and different tastes. I went for songs that would kind of match him and kind of match me, and I made the best of it. It’s pretty good. . . . There are some moments on there that I’m proud of, and there are some that — you know …

“I don’t think I hit it right on the money, though. I got another one coming.”

This is the first summer he’s done festivals, including the new Summerfest Providence this weekend, and in an accent that is still total Boston, he says he likes the change. “You get people’s attention who may have not bought a ticket to see Jordan Knight. Maybe win them over. . . .

“I’m just kind of doing it to keep my stage chops up and stay in front of people. But I’m kind of in the lab right now. … I’m kind of dabbling with the band, but right now I’m kind of wide open. I’m really not set on anything. I’m in an experimental mode right now.”

Knight has also kept himself in the public eye through reality TV, most notably the third season of VH1’s Surreal Life. “I was squirming when I did that show,” Knight says now. “And after I watched it, I couldn’t help but laugh.”

Knight was in the cast that included Flavor Flav and Brigitte Nielsen. Their flamboyance put him “in the supporting cast,” which he didn’t mind. He also says he noticed an uptick in attendance at his shows after the show was on the air. “It was a learning experience. I don’t know if I’d do it again, though.”

So you’re still as committed to this as ever?

“Pretty much.

“Obviously, I still like going on stage and entertaining people. . . . I’m looking for a new twist on it, absolutely.”

Jordan Knight headlines on Sunday, the second day of the first-ever Summerfest Providence, at Providence Piers, 200 Allens Ave., Providence, at 6 p.m. Also on the bill are Soulshot, Emily Smith & Synergy and more.

Saturday’s bill, topped by The Fabulous Thunderbirds, also includes the excellent local Latin band Santa Mamba.

The music starts at 11 a.m. both days, and runs until 10 p.m. on Saturday and 8 on Sunday. Tickets are $10 each day; call (401) 846-1600 or go to www.newportfestivals.com.

 Originally posted at http://www.projo.com/music/content/wk-pop16_08-16-07_4G6OADI.1c1e2ee.html