If you love R.E.M. and weren't at Carnegie Hall last night, you should probably do a better job at loving R.E.M. The evening was billed as a tribute to the Athenian eye-smilers, which meant career-spanning covers by everyone from Kyp Malone with Jolie Holland, to Elf Power, to Hootie (the Blowfish were initially an R.E.M. cover band, you'll remember)(no you won't). Like the Boss's similar party in '07, the guests of honor couldn't help but make a "surprise" appearance to close the show. This wasn't a Springsteen-styled superjam, though; after Patti Smith presented her version of "New Test Leper," she recreated her original backing vocals on a very special "E-Bow The Letter" with Stipe, Mills, and Buck. Looks far away but sounds OK:Continue reading R.E.M. Joins Patti Smith's R.E.M. Tribute...