A promotional band photograph showing British pop group BBMak. Captured in a dynamic medium shot against a seamless light-gray studio backdrop, the three band members pose closely with arms around each other's shoulders, smiling while wearing dark sunglasses. On the left, a member in a rust-red t-shirt and blue jeans points directly toward the camera. In the center, a member wears a light blue denim jacket over an "ILLINOIS" collegiate graphic t-shirt and light jeans. On the right, a member in an unbuttoned white short-sleeved collared shirt and tan trousers also points toward the lens, illuminated by bright, clean studio lighting. — BBMak Credit: Press Photo

The New Kids On The Block may have a Last Vegas residency but BBMak is coming to an Ybor City restaurant venue this week as it cashes in on the nostalgia craze of the 2020s with a Florida tour that hits five different cities including Tampa.

The British outfit is one of those wonderfully-kitschy 90’s boy bands that music lovers may not remember by name, but have definitely heard in a Walgreens. That is not to say that the trio’s discography isn’t made up of bangers. And that certainly does not mean that it doesn’t have die-hard fans (the Orlando show on Nov. 11 is already sold-out).

During what was arguably the band’s busiest era (1999-2003), each member proved to be much more than just a teenybopper with the ability to harmonize. The members met while playing in different bands as they grew up alongside one another in Northern England. Each started making music at a young age, though it wasn’t until their music was discovered in America that the ‘Mak really began to skyrocket.

After opening for Britney Spears, the group climbed the ladder of mainstream success but didn’t necessarily cater to the same vibe that the music industry was so desperately looking to push at the time. Its television appearances and music videos are totally devoid of matching outfits and over-the-top lip syncing. Instead the clips feature the band members playing instruments in a successful attempt to cultivate genuine feeling behind each song.

BBMak—going on three decades of building a loyal fandom—may have lacked the polished look and sound that other pop singers and boy bands were creating during the early-2000s but that could be exactly why the American audience ate it up (“Back Here” hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary Chart in 2000).

After a 15-year hiatus, BBMAK reunited in 2018 and has been touring since, even releasing a new LP The Lost Tapes in 2021 proving that the band really is back here, baby.

Tickets to see BBMak play The Bricks in Ybor City on Tuesday, Nov. 10 are still available and start at $42.13.