Nearby, two brothers and their friend, who brought guitars with them from New Jersey, lead a rendition of “I Saw Her Standing There.” Several people are pacing up and down the crowd muttering a headcount to themselves to figure out their number in line. Others are offering money to cut ahead and are harshly rebuffed.

Feb. 12 (UPI) -- Paul McCartney surprised fans with a pop-up New York City performance on Tuesday. The iconic musician and former member of The Beatles announced "Paul McCartney Rocks the Bowery" hours before he was to take the Bowery Ballroom stage. Fans snatched up all available tickets in under an hour, CBS News reports.

Paul McCartney’s previous New York-area performance took place three years ago at MetLife Stadium, capacity 82,500. His surprise show Tuesday night at the Bowery Ballroom fit, at most, 575. It was probably less than that since McCartney’s sound board and gear — too much to fit backstage — occupied a portion of the floor space at