Yeah, finally, here are all the videos on the site. They’re all labeled, so if you’d like to vote for any, comment on the bottom. Remember, the votes are a measure of the quality of the video as well as the music.

Thoth

What you can’t say about Central Parks oddest street performer, Thoth, is wtf is he on? I mean, the guy is either some kind of genius or a “life-on-mars” oddity that we can only hope one day to understand. Actually, no, scratch that. I never want to understand Thoth. It’s much better this way. However, there has been a lot of talk about what he does, even a full documentary in his name. And remember; he’s not actually a street performer, a busker, a pan handler or a crack-head. He’s a prayformer. And he’s quick to tell you he doesn’t do this for the cash – he really digs this. Anyway, the video isn’t the best quality, but the sound is still fairly stunning. Next time I’m going to place the recorder a little closer to him, and put the wind block on it. I give this a 3/5 (but only because my recording isn’t that good). Thoth.

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Juan Castillo

“One, two, three, four…” and we’re off. Bidle-idle-ing de dingle-ling ding ding… Okay, so I can’t write music. But that refrain is the theme to this piece, the sound of the Andes. One of the videos highlights is that I actually plucked up the courage to film a close-up, definitely invading his personal space. But I don’t think he minded too much. Not so much a showman, Castillo, your more relaxed of subway musicians, lets his Charango speak for itself. Can anyone count the strings? 2/5. Juan.

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Fernando and Otto

They were literally sitting there, just two buskers hanging out on some down time, and I went up to them, introduced myself, and asked if they’d play for me. It’s definitely the only time I’ve ever actually asked for a subway performance. They were more than happy to oblige. For that simple fact, and the huge smile the singer puts on at the end of this video, I have a little place in my heart for this video. However, thanks to the shortness of the video and background noise, I can only give this a 1/5

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Mecca Bodega

Such an amazing quality, this ephemeral rhythmic thing bouncing and echoing off the walls, I’m already entranced by the time the credits at the beginning have ended. Also, for some reason the couple at 1:06 gives me a smile. I guess it’s because the music creates such an atmosphere. Here, Mark is playing the “hammered-dulcimer,” the ancestor of the piano. I think he said it was from Iran. Anyway, really good stuff, and a very professional subway performance. 3/5. Mecca Bodega

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Curtis J

Okay, the sound quality is off, far too loud, and the music itself isn’t great, but you’ve gotta love the personality of Curtis J. I just wish I could have gotten it more on film. He’s not a subway musician, he’s an artist – trained in the art of pleasing people. 1/5

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Bayo Iribhogbe

Yeah, this is an interview with a street artist. And we don’t go into anything that fundamental, but this guy is deep. His paintings are full of people, perhaps dozens of interrelationships that mean different things depending on how you look at it. You invent your own stories when seeing his work. Actually, for a street artist he also does pretty damn well. However, this relaxed, Confucian guy, entirely retiring, walked over to the tape recorder and… 2/5. Bayo

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Yogi Laser

Jesus Christ. Could not have bended in the same way. Although Yogi might be Adam (didn’t he have one of his ribs removed?). Gives me the willies every time I see it. Contortionist, tiger and street performer, Yogi Laser is Union Square’s most usual suspect, and has been there for years. 2/5. Yogi

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Ralph U. Williams

Talking of being there for years, Ralph probably trumps all these guys. I’m going to give him a 3/5 for this one, but to agree you’re going to have to like edgy saxophones. Still, after two decades, Ralph is Central Park’s longest standing busker, and I should know – I watched him stand for ages. And a little into this video you’ll see him get interrupted by the boys in blue. 3/5. Ralph

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New York City Float Committee

Okay, before I go any further, I want to say that I have, once, seen one of these groups that I liked more than these guys. But only slightly. And, considering the king of pop is dead, shouldn’t we be clapping along to a breakdancing troupe that has a M.J. impersonator and child labor? Think of the children! And save them by donating cash. And just for the kids, I’m going to give these funny, talented and extremely well-chiseled street performers 4/5. NYC Float Committee

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Acapella Soul

The only way you could complain about the rating I’m going to give these guys, is if you don’t have proper speakers hooked up to your computer. It’s not the same if you can’t hear the bass (which my laptop completely ignores). But this was just beautiful. Everything was right about it. The sun was out, and these five large guys in dark suits were singing for the rain in four of the most beautiful voices I’ve hear on the streets of New York. These aren’t street performers, they’re vocal street magicians. And I can’t stop listening to them). Easily 5/5. Acapella Soul

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Nick, Michelle and Collin

Okay, this was the first time I ever saw Appalachian Old-Time music performed, and I’m glad it was in Union Square, 14th Street, next to a fountain, with one Asian girl and two young’uns who looked greener than a corn leaf. Shut up, I have no idea about how people come out with those American-sounding phrases. And the only ones I can remember, word-for-word, I can’t print here. So greener than a corn leaf I’m sticking with. For the sheer uniqueness of the act, and the fact that it looked at the beginning like this was the first time that they were playing the song together (winging it like good buskers) 3.5/5. Michelle, Nick, Collin

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Chen Cong

This guy lived with my grandmother for 14 years, but it doesn’t stop me giving one of these videos 5/5. You’ll see what I mean if you watch the whole thing. Close your eyes, enjoy the moment… Anyway, I won’t go on about him, you can read my article here. Just a completely fantastic person and subway musician – in fact, he’s the standard by which I measure ALL subway musicians. He’s been on the 57th Street F Stop Subway for a long, long time (and does pretty well). Chen

Fritz Kreisler’s Sch√∂n Rosmarin, 1/5

Vittorio Monti’s Czardas, 3/5

Debussy’s Claire de Lune, 5/5

Pachelbel’s Cannon, 1/5

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Ashkenazy Collective

I’m getting a little frustrated that this is the only real jazz band I’ve got on my site. For that reason alone, I’m going to have to bump up there score a little. However, the solo’s pretty decent, and they’re fantastic street musicians. I certainly enjoyed watching them…next time I’ll have to go out and get some proper audio. 3/5 Ashkenazy Collective

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P.K. Dwyer

Okay, not the best stuff. But he brings “subway musician” and “subway performer” together, here, as one. Guitar and harmonica. And silly shoes. And hat. And, well, I just like the footage, framed by subways. I suppose it’s to be expected. This was the first video of a subway performer I ever shot for the website. 1/5. P.K. Dwyer

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May 17th

This is more of a bonus video, really. I shot it on May 17th, 2007, on the day that inspired me to build this website. I wouldn’t have set Undercover New York up had it not been for this day. Rocker, singer, dixieland, the New York City Tumblers, bike riding, Chinese delivery, baton throwing, and bocce. All in one trip. What a day! As it’s number one, and still sends shivers down me, 5/5

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That’s it for now, and I hope you liked them. Check out the videos, and comment below. Remember, I’m not just rating the street performers or artists, I’m also rating the videos as a whole, which can suck if I did a bad job. Which ones do you like? What’s your favorite – street performers, subway musicians, or what? What would you like to see more of?