Rick Astley at Webster Hall
photo by Em Grey

listen to Webster Hall sing along with Rick Astley (pics, video)

Give him this: Rick Astley‘s a survivor, having gone from bland ’80s pop star, to a punchline in the ’90s, to having his worldwide 1987 hit “Never Gonna Give You Up” become part of a massive online prank that put “Rickrolling” into the public lexicon and is still being pulled on people today. His good humor about it all, and the unstoppable popularity of Rickrolling, has also reignited his career a bit, hence the current North American tour he’s on — his first since 1989 — which hit NYC’s Webster Hall on Friday, February 17. Looking pretty much like he did in 1987, coif and all, Rick saved you-know-what for the last song of the encore, as he usually does. Listen to the loud joy it elicited, in the video below.

Rick’s other hits, like “Together Forever” (another worldwide #1), were also played, and he threw in some covers, like “Uptown Funk”… and AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell” where he played drums. Video of that is below as well, and pictures from the show (including ones of opener Harrison Kipner) are in the gallery above.

photos by Em Grey