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R.E.M. comes to Babeland!
You didn’t read that title incorrectly, I promise. R.E.M. - as in Michael Stipe/Everybody Hurts/Losing My Religion came to our Rivington Street store this week! I wasn’t there (I can’t believe I missed this) but Jamye Waxman was and she’s here to tell you all about it:
It’s not every day that you can call up your friends and say “So I was
working at Babeland yesterday when Michael Stipe and the rest of
R.E.M. stopped by to sing for us,” but
yesterday, that was totally something I could, and did say. Yes it’s
true, R.E.M., the band that feels like they may have gone bye-bye just
a few years ago, is back, and if the single from last night is any
indication of the future of their music, let me just say I’m hooked.It all started yesterday afternoon, when I got a call from a location
scout asking if Babeland would be interested in (possibly) being part
of a video shoot for R.E.M. Call me easy, but the obvious answer was
hell, yes! I was then told that it wasn’t definite, but if R.E.M. came
into Babeland to play, it was going to happen that night, as in mere
hours from then. We spent some time straightening up and pondering if
indeed R.E.M. would really stop by, and several hours later we got the
answer we’d been hoping for. As we eagerly anticipated their arrival,
we watched the crowd gathering outside. Basically, as part of their
video shoot, R.E.M. was playing the first single off their soon-to-be
released album in a number of different locations on the LES (that’s
Lower East Side for you non-NY types), and the first stop was our next
door neighbor, the restaurant Inoteca.With bated breath we waited for Michael and the R.E.M. gang to make
their grand entrance. And that they did. Two cameras, some lighting
and a gaggle of other important behind-the-scenes folk piled into our
store, picked out a prime location towards the front by the books, and
began to play. It was our own private serenade and it was so cool.
When they were done we gave the band shirts and asked them to play our
15th anniversary party (sadly, they said they were busy).Regardless of their unavailability to perform for us in the future,
their performance last night rocked Rivington Street. I can definitely
say that I’m looking forward to hearing the rest of the album, and I
know that the band and the crew all got a kick out of performing in
our store, and one of the band members even told me it was the best
sex shop he’s ever been in. How’s that for awesome?R.E.M. came back to sign an autograph for Babeland so next time you’re
in the Rivington location be sure to check it out.Thanks R.E.M. Come again anytime!
January 24th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
What toys did Stipe play with?!!
January 26th, 2008 at 8:17 am
Wow, what an experience-I wish I lived there:( I’m in Ireland but heard the new stuff when they were here for a week in July, and that was one of my fave songs.
Aren’t they lovely guys though? So polite and down to Earth, I’ve been lucky enough to meet them a few times. And, lol, I’m guessing it was Mike Mills who said it was best sex shop he was ever in!! That’s his style-lovely guy though.
All the best for the future, I do hope to visit New York one day, so I may just pop in and treat myself!!
I’m glad you got to meet the best band on the planet!!
best wishes
Sharon, Tralee, Co Kerry
January 27th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
[…] To film a video! At a sex shop. Brooklyn Vegan points us to a blog post put up by the toys in Babeland: It’s not every day that you can call up your friends and say “So I was working at Babeland yesterday [Editor’s Note: Monday 1/21] when Michael Stipe and the rest of R.E.M. stopped by to sing for us,” but yesterday, that was totally something I could, and did say. Yes it’s true, R.E.M., the band that feels like they may have gone bye-bye just a few years ago, is back, and if the single from last night is any indication of the future of their music, let me just say I’m hooked. […]
February 14th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
[…] Remember how REM came to Babeland and we all freaked out? Well, the video is up and we’re in it. I have to say, REM looks like they’re having a ton of fun in the store. Take a look: […]
February 17th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
[…] In case you still needed new R.E.M. in your life, they are trying to get your attention before the release of their new record Accelerate, which comes out April 4th. They’ve visited sex toy shop Babeland in NYC to film a video. Online, the band has been releasing brief HD vids available for download and encouraging fans to edit and submit. Since the sight is called ninety nine nights, and today is night forty eight, well you do the math. The catch is that the vids are only available for 1 day. You can stream the archives, though. Have fun! Maybe, they won’t disappoint the crap out of me this time…again. […]