Don't let their appearances, reputations, or Hollywood girlfriends fool you. The Strokes make up one of the hardest working quintets in rock and roll, and the proof is in the live show. Where others of their ilk seem to fall flat outside of the studio (yes, Sam Endicott, I am looking at you), The Strokes flourish, dominating the audience through a tremendously well-paced and tightly performed show, with a great selection of songs from all three albums. Do whatever you can to see these guys live, because they do not disappoint.
Personal highlights? "Reptilia," still the song to beat in a live show. "Juicebox" gave it a run for its money, however. I'm quite sure that opening bassline damaged something vital, played to an even more heart-poundingly frenetic rhythm than the album (which was nothing to shake a stick at, I assure you). "You Only Live Once" was another high point, excellent on its own, but made into something completely endearing by Julian Casablancas's fistpump/airkick combo. "The End Has No End" is always great live, and Tuesday night's performance was no exception. And finally, to round out my top five, I think I'd have to go with "Heart in a Cage," which opened the show with a bang.
My one and only complaint came at the end of the show, when members from opener, Eagles of Death Metal, joined the band on stage, and demonstrated a surprising unfamiliarity with The Strokes' work, stumbling over the simple and well-known choruses of "The Modern Age" and "Take It or Leave It". From what I could hear in the hall (I arrived late so didn't head inside), Eagles of Death Metal were competent enough musicians, but in the future, I'd rather they left The Strokes tunes to The Strokes themselves.
Setlist below the cut, and check back soon for some blurry pictures off of my phone.
Setlist:
Heart In a Cage
Red Light
Juicebox
The End Has No End
12:51
You Only Live Once
Ize of the World
Electricityscape
Soma
Alone Together
Someday
Last Nite
Hard to Explain
Trying Your Luck
Barely Legal
Ask Me Anything
Vision of Division
Reptilia
Encore (yes, kids, they did an encore! I was as surprised as you are)
The Modern Age
New York City Cops
Take It or Leave It
Unrelatedly, as I was making my way to the show, I happened to walk by the tourbusses parked outside of the theater. Through an open window, I made an interesting discovery. Julian Casablancas prepares for a show by watching Pride & Predjudice. Yes kids, you heard it here first.*
Also, the guy sitting two rows ahead of me in the theater looked just like Haywire from Prison Break.
* Disclaimer: I don't actually know whose bus it was, and I can't actually prove that it was Pride & Predjudice rather than some other costume drama. But I'd like to think it was the way I tell it.
Julian Casablancas is purdy. And !!! when did you go to a concert?
*points to the title*
I'm seriously keeping all these music recomendations written down so on my next music spree I can can scoop them up!
And concerts are fun, although if I saw Haywire...I would be nervous and/or scared. ;D
Sounds like you had so much fun! While I'm totally jealous, you absolutely deserve to treat yourself and more often at that! ;-)