Steve Martin Surprises Tourists, Fans With Bluegrass Concert

Steve Martin is playing bluegrass with the Boston Pops this week, but on Monday afternoon the comedian and his band dropped by the Paul Revere House in Boston's North End for a surprise concert.

Television crews and photographers circled the stage before the performance, causing Martin to hoot and yell, "We made the news!"

An intimate audience of tourists and fans laughed. Most of them stumbled onto the pop-up show, or caught wind of it earlier in the afternoon via Twitter and other social media. Some were longtime fans of Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers, others remembered the comedian from films like "The Jerk," "Roxanne" or "The Muppet Movie." Regardless of their connection, all were giddy to hear the highly accomplished musicians play the song, "Me and Paul Revere," right at the Paul Revere House.

The lyrics tell Revere's story from the point of view of his trusty horse. Martin says he and the other musicians decided to play it in the North End at the last minute.

"You know it just occurred to me that we were going to be here, and thought 'Oh, the Paul Revere House!' You know I just have this romance with it, and the history of Boston"

The bluegrass band will be jamming at a much larger venue through Thursday — Boston's Symphony Hall.