It's not every day that you can call up your friends and say "So I wasworking at Babeland yesterday when Michael Stipe and the rest ofR.E.M. stopped by to sing for us," butyesterday, that was totally something I could, and did say. Yes it'strue, R.E.M., the band that feels like they may have gone bye-bye justa few years ago, is back, and if the single from last night is anyindication 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 locationscout asking if Babeland would be interested in (possibly) being partof a video shoot for R.E.M. Call me easy, but the obvious answer washell, yes! I was then told that it wasn't definite, but if R.E.M. cameinto Babeland to play, it was going to happen that night, as in merehours from then. We spent some time straightening up and pondering ifindeed R.E.M. would really stop by, and several hours later we got theanswer we'd been hoping for. As we eagerly anticipated their arrival,we watched the crowd gathering outside. Basically, as part of theirvideo shoot, R.E.M. was playing the first single off their soon-to-bereleased album in a number of different locations on the LES (that'sLower East Side for you non-NY types), and the first stop was our nextdoor neighbor, the restaurant Inoteca.With bated breath we waited for Michael and the R.E.M. gang to maketheir grand entrance. And that they did. Two cameras, some lightingand a gaggle of other important behind-the-scenes folk piled into ourstore, picked out a prime location towards the front by the books, andbegan 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 our15th 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 definitelysay that I'm looking forward to hearing the rest of the album, and Iknow that the band and the crew all got a kick out of performing inour store, and one of the band members even told me it was the bestsex 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'rein the Rivington location be sure to check it out.Thanks R.E.M. Come again anytime!