Local News
“You got to think outside the box as a band now.”
Most concerts happen in clubs, theaters, or other venues. But for Boston rock band Lazarus, the stage this weekend was the MBTA.
Lazarus hosted an “MBTA Tour” from Friday to Sunday, performing aboard Green, Red, and Orange Line trains. Passengers got a loud, energetic soundtrack for their journeys — and in some cases, an unexpected mosh pit.
“We want to be the loudest, most provocative band in this city,” said frontman André Lazarus, a theater major at Emerson College. “We want people to know us and know our energy.”
Back in July, the band went viral on social media after trying out an impromptu concert on the Red Line.
“We realized this is going to piss some people off and make some people happy,” Lazarus said. “And it’s the perfect thing that we want to do because that’s what rock and roll is about — just continuing to cause conversation.”
Lazarus said the weekend performances drew large crowds despite the nor’easter. He described the attention as “unbelievable.”
Setting up is relatively simple, Lazarus said. The band brings its equipment in a cart, finds a spot on the train, and gets everything ready in less than 10 minutes.
“It’s just boom, ready to go,” he said.
But, performing on moving trains is technically not part of the MBTA’s formal Subway Performers Program, which requires performers to have a permit and badge. The MTBA designates specific areas for performances, and moving cars are not listed among those locations.
Lazarus said the band did not seek permission from the MBTA before the weekend tour. Instead, “we just show up,” he said.
The band did run into a minor obstacle Friday night on the Green Line.
After playing for about 30 minutes, a conductor politely told the group to stop, Lazarus said. The band expected that playing a concert on the Green Line would be more challenging because a conductor is on board each car, Lazarus added.
The interaction was captured on video. In it, the conductor tells the band and audience, “Party’s over,” prompting the crowd to plead for one more song.
That interruption did not deter the band, as they kept the tour alive for the rest of the weekend. Lazarus said they may consider holding another “MBTA Tour,” though they have many other “crazy ideas” in store.
“You got to think outside the box as a band now,” Lazarus said.
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