U2 Surprises NYC Subway Riders With Free Concert

[www.msn.com]

New York City is full of surprises! Like when you realize those street performers in the subway aren't just random musicians trying to scrape together some change but are, in fact, U2.

Bono, rocking a blue cowboy hat, and the whole band appeared, unannounced, at a subway stop underneath Grand Central Terminal where they played "Angel of Harlem."

But the band wasn't alone. Joining them -- and dressed in some super casual street performer clothes -- was "Tonight Show" host Jimmy Fallon.

U2 is taking over Jimmy's show on Friday -- as they will be the night's only booking -- and it looks like this magic metro moment is likely part of a pre-taped segment for the band's special episode.

The band was originally supposed to appear for a special U2 episode of "The Tonight Show" in November, but Bono's devastating bike accident -- which required extensive medical treatment and surgery -- postponed those plans.

It should be interesting to see what Jimmy and the boys of U2 have planned for the momentous episode.

After Bono's painful accident in November, he was unable to perform with the band for several months. At a concert for World AIDS Day in New York, Chris Martin and Bruce Springsteen filled in for Bono, and the band was billed as "U2 Minus 1."

You simply are nowhere safe from these guys. They surprise you on your itunes, they surprise you on the subway, next they'll surprise you in your attic when you're looking for your camping stuff.

Not worth missing your train for.

Awesome!

Quote
Nikkei
You simply are nowhere safe from these guys. They surprise you on your itunes, they surprise you on the subway, next they'll surprise you in your attic when you're looking for your camping stuff.

LOL! ><

Hey I think this is very cool. Angel of Harlem is definitely one of their best tunes...although the subway performance probably wasn't their best....guess the Edge couldn't bring his rack of tricks..





peace

I would have thought they can afford to take a cab...

They have been in Vancouver the past couple weeks rehearsing for their tour which opens here next week. They were using the Pacific Coliseum, which is where the Stones started their 72 tour.

Quote
DGA35
They have been in Vancouver the past couple weeks rehearsing for their tour which opens here next week. They were using the Pacific Coliseum, which is where the Stones started their 72 tour.

Must be nice to be able to rent a coliseum for rehearsal.

peace

I may not agree with everything they do... but thats pretty cool. Sure its just for promotion, but anything you can do these days to be spontaneous and surprising is really cool. And come on, if you were one of those people there you would be telling people about it constantly! Very cool on their part.

good stunt...I didn't even know they were in Vancouver though, forgot they were starting the tour here.

although the subway performance probably wasn't their best....guess the Edge couldn't bring his rack of tricks...

...or any of their extra backing tracks...
or extra performers under the stage... or...

I'd rather have them just hand out free subway tokens,
say "Hi I'm the edge from U2", but not play anything...

Or maybe they could do the flat bad truck thing,
to give people rides, but not play anything.

Quote
Leonioid
although the subway performance probably wasn't their best....guess the Edge couldn't bring his rack of tricks...

...or any of their extra backing tracks...
or extra performers under the stage... or...

I'd rather have them just hand out free subway tokens,
say "Hi I'm the edge from U2", but not play anything...

Or maybe they could do the flat bad truck thing,
to give people rides, but not play anything.

lol. Yeah, you get the feeling a U2 unplugged thing would never work.

It looks like they didn't draw much of a crowd...less that 100 people. In LA in the late 80's when they played a liquor store rooftop they were expecting 30,000 but only got about 1,000. The video of the event dramatized it based on what I heard from friends who were there and they actually played quite a few tunes before getting shut down. The draw for me would have been to see Jimmy Fallon play, I recently realized just how talented that guy is....

I've told this story before but it's so good and OT it's worth repeating. When I was touring with the Horde tour in 1997, Neil Young used to set up alone on the lawn when they were starting to let people in to the venues with just his acoustic. People would walk by, take about 3 or 4 steps and realize what they were seeing and hearing, turn around and sit their butts down with huge friggin' smiles right in front of Neil. The crowd would grow pretty quickly and as soon as it started getting too big Neil would quit and head back to his bus. Great memories.

peace

^^^ Too cool Neil story,
He really is one the coolest dudes ever, on so many levels.

Quote
Naturalust

Quote
DGA35
They have been in Vancouver the past couple weeks rehearsing for their tour which opens here next week. They were using the Pacific Coliseum, which is where the Stones started their 72 tour.

Must be nice to be able to rent a coliseum for rehearsal.

peace

It is.

In August of 1989, Nassau Coliseum staged the Rolling Stones "Steel Wheels" tour rehearsal for the entire month.

[www.nassaucoliseum.com]

Blah blah blah. So much hate for U2. We get it. But guess what, there are plenty of U2 fans and I'm sure they really enjoyed what they did. Would the Stones do anything like this? I highly doubt it.

Quote
Boognish
Would the Stones do anything like this? I highly doubt it.

Do kings take their cue from butlers? I highly doubt it.

Quote
Naturalust

Quote
Leonioid
although the subway performance probably wasn't their best....guess the Edge couldn't bring his rack of tricks...

...or any of their extra backing tracks...
or extra performers under the stage... or...

I'd rather have them just hand out free subway tokens,
say "Hi I'm the edge from U2", but not play anything...

Or maybe they could do the flat bad truck thing,
to give people rides, but not play anything.

lol. Yeah, you get the feeling a U2 unplugged thing would never work.

It looks like they didn't draw much of a crowd...less that 100 people. In LA in the late 80's when they played a liquor store rooftop they were expecting 30,000 but only got about 1,000. The video of the event dramatized it based on what I heard from friends who were there and they actually played quite a few tunes before getting shut down. The draw for me would have been to see Jimmy Fallon play, I recently realized just how talented that guy is....

I've told this story before but it's so good and OT it's worth repeating. When I was touring with the Horde tour in 1997, Neil Young used to set up alone on the lawn when they were starting to let people in to the venues with just his acoustic. People would walk by, take about 3 or 4 steps and realize what they were seeing and hearing, turn around and sit their butts down with huge friggin' smiles right in front of Neil. The crowd would grow pretty quickly and as soon as it started getting too big Neil would quit and head back to his bus. Great memories.

peace

Nice story, Naturalust.
BTW, it reminded me of this:

Love it. Love U2, love what they do. It must have been a blast both for the band and the passers by.

Quote
dcba

Quote
Boognish
Would the Stones do anything like this? I highly doubt it.

Do kings take their cue from butlers? I highly doubt it.

Sometimes kings can learn from the common man

Um, flat bed truck

Quote
Nikkei
You simply are nowhere safe from these guys ... they'll surprise you in your ATTIC

Uh-oh...

Quote
Naturalust
Hey I think this is very cool. Angel of Harlem is definitely one of their best tunes...although the subway performance probably wasn't their best....guess the Edge couldn't bring his rack of tricks..





peace

They look bloody stupid, but what to expect...

As if riding the subway wasn't an unpleasant enough experience already ...

I saw them again tonight... they were on the M14 crosstown bus.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015-05-09 03:29 by schillid.

Quote
schillid
I saw them again tonight... they were on the M14 crosstown bus.

I was on that bus today, to Essex and Grand.

Quote
schillid
I saw them again tonight... they were on the M14 crosstown bus.

I imagine Bono was hard to miss with that blue cowboy hat.

peace

Longer video :

Is it just me or do those guys sound awful?

peace