Surprise Performance Given By Paul McCartney in New York City’s Times Square

Paul McCartney thrilled a lunchtime crowd in the heart of New York City on Thursday afternoon when he played a surprise mini concert in Times Square.  The former Beatle delivered an energetic four-song set that featured only tunes from his about-to-be-released album, NEW.

Playing on a makeshift stage set up in a converted trailer, Sir Paul and his longtime backing band performed rousing renditions of NEW's title track, lead song "Save Us," "Everybody Out There" and the particularly Beatles-like "Queenie Eye."  Before kicking into the final tune, McCartney thanked the crowd for being a lovely audience and then revealed apologetically that that he'd only been given 15 minutes to perform.

The fans who caught the performance ranged from children to senior citizens, and while some seemed disappointed that McCartney didn't play any of his classic Beatles songs, there was a general feeling of excitement about the rock legend playing an impromptu set in the middle of the Big Apple.

The show comes just a day after Macca and his group took part in another surprise New York City event, a 90-minute Q&A session and concert at Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in Queens.  That event will be streamed Monday on Yahoo.com at 9 p.m. ET.  NEW will be released on Tuesday.