Finally, Stipe makes up his mind to say something; he approaches the microphone, hesitates yet again, and then just started to talk to the crowd. He explained that he didn't know what to say, and that he still didn't, and that he was just going to let the music do the talking, and talked about the healing power of music and a good pop song, which brought us into "Losing My Religion." Obviously, this is a big crowd favorite, requiring much energy and performance from the frontman, and it didn't seem like he had his heart in it - not that he was bored or complacent, just that it was "a strange Thursday night," as Michael kept reminding us.

They seemed much happier to careen straight into "Walk Unafraid," a great song from Up; it's muted and understated on the record, but live has taken on a life of its own. And then, lone spotlight on Peter Buck, someone nearby yells, "Play it, Peter!" and he hits the opening chords the anthemic "Life And How To Live It." In the early days, this song was always an frantic highlight of their main set (usually the set closer, too) and while they're clearly 20 years older than that now, the song was played with the same kind of driven exuberence you would have seen in 1986.

Returning for the encore, the crowd is treated to "What's The Frequency, Kenneth." Steve Wynn (ex-Dream Syndicate, contemporaries of R.E.M. and former support act) joined the band for "Permanent Vacation." The final song is dedicated to the audience, and is a cheery "Man On The Moon," complete with requisite singalong. For some reason, towards the end of the song - which had Stipe moving back and forth between Buck and Mike Mills, singing verses at them, making eye contact, and seemingly trying to crack them up - he drops his pants in front of all of Madison Square Garden, and stands there with his boxer shorts on, before god and everybody. Why? Your guess is probably as good as mine.

The house wasn't full, it was a "very strange Thursday night", and the new album, Around The Sun is a quiet, subdued, electronic-based set of songs, so it's a challenging record to tour behind, especially in a large venue. I can't blame the band for not delivering the celebratory performance most band's Madison Square Garden stands are known for; on the other hand, it was hardly a performance unworthy of R.E.M. Frankly, after this week, they're entitled to a little humanity right now.