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Video: Death Metal Subway Busking Is The Best Kind Of Subway Music
By
Ben Yakas
Published Apr 18, 2019
Modified Apr 18, 2019
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By
Ben Yakas
Published Apr 18, 2019
Modified Apr 18, 2019
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The most memorable musical moments on the subway are the least expected—think butt bongos, sax battles, hardcore harpists and the roving gang of recorder-playing children. We've all passed by a million anonymous, interchangeable acoustic guitar strummers putting their stamp on "Yesterday," and even the good versions are pretty forgettable. But death metal subway busking? You've got our attention.
Greg Burgess and Riley McShane of metal band Allegaeon surprised subway riders with some extreme death metal on their evening commute. In the video below, first you'll see them perform a relatively gentle cover of The Supremes classic "You Can't Hurry Love," which doesn't quite prepare you for what happens around the 1:35 mark.
At that point, they switch modes to perform an original song titled "Desecrate The Wound," which they introduce in the video at different locations as a favorite Bruce Springsteen song, a reinterpretation of Elton John's "Tiny Dancer" (how it was really meant to sound), and a deep cut from Bono's secret solo album no one knows about.
This happily reminded us of some other beloved metal subway moments. Who could forget this air drummer on the B train?
And my favorite: the happiest headbanger in the five boroughs.
My grandparents would approve:
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busking
death metal
headbanger
metal
subway
subway video
train
we the commuters
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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