Watch Michael Stipe Play A Surprise Solo Set, Cover The Doors

There are lots of good reasons to go see Patti Smith play a New York show if you get a chance, but here’s an extra one: There’s a pretty high probability that Michael Stipe will play a surprise solo set at the show. Last year, Stipe played his first-ever solo set, which included a Perfume Genius cover, when he served as the surprise opener for a Patti Smith show at Webster Hall. And last night, as Pitchfork reports, Stipe did it again, serving as Smith’s surprise opener at the Beacon Theatre. He did an acoustic all-covers set with a tiny backing band. According to Pitchfork, Stipe’s set included covers of Boy George’s “The Crying Game” and John Lennon’s “Imagine.”