The Beastie Boys at The Academy, NYC ‘94
Music is very much the soundtrack of our lives.
On May 27, 1994, my buddy Owen called me on the phone and asked me if I wanted to go in to the City to see a show. He explained that the Beastie Boys would be playing at the Academy under a false name. I don’t remember what the false name was, maybe Polly Wog Stew? This might make sense since Polly Wog Stew was the name of the Beasties’ first album. But it doesn’t matter.
I was skeptical. I told Owen that I didn’t want to go all the way in just to find out it was a hoax.
“You got anything better to do?”
I admitted that I didn’t and met him at the train station.
When we arrived at the Academy box office, the place was already mobbed. An energy like five thousand kids keeping a secret was buzzing on that Manhattan sidewalk.
Eye witness reports skipped around like nut-hunting squirrels. Who saw MCA at a diner down the street? Who saw Adrock at the corner store? Who saw Mike D slip into the back door of The Academy? Who was a friend of a friend of a friend of Kate Shellenbach who all but admitted Luscious Jackson would be playing with the Boys? The legend grew: The Beasties were in town.
