Ever since The Strokes redefined the meaning of indie rock with their explosive debut album Is This It back in 2001, I have had my heart set on being graced with their majestic presence at a live show. Many sleepless nights and Strokes-soundtracked bus rides were spent agonizing over the shows I somehow missed, and the idea that I may not ever get the opportunity to see them live before they broke up, a seemingly inevitable fate for a band of such epic magnitude. Fortunately, last Friday I was given what some might call a chance at redemption, when The Strokes, following the release of their fourth and (supposedly) final album Angles, returned to their roots to play NYC’s Madison Square Garden.
While the sold out venue was infinitely larger than the original grungy bars in which they got their start as carelessly brilliant party boys, their wild energy and enthusiasm made it clear that, after a long hiatus, they were glad to be home. I was pleasantly surprised to find that in spite of the clean, overproduced sounds of their new album, and the new “mainstream,” sober-and-settled-down image seen in their latest video for “Under Cover of Darkness,” the group still knows how to put on a mind-blowingly raw and dirty show. Opening Act Devendra Banhart lulled the audience as the calm before the storm, followed by a special “April Fools” surprise appearance by the legendary Elvis Costello, who played a brief but epic set.
Before anyone could catch their breath, The Strokes got on stage. Relief washed over old fans like myself when they opened with their very first single “Is This It,” sticking it to anyone who believed that they would be playing only their new hits, or anyone who doubted whether lead singer Julian Casablancas has still “got it.” His signature soulfully bellowing croon, which was almost muted in the recording of their new album, echoed through the enormous crowd along with their dopamine-stimulating guitar riffs as the band pumped out new hits and old classics alike. By the time they had played finished playing “Reptilia,” “Under Cover of Darkness,” “Hard to Explain,” “Last Nite,” and their new 80s-influenced “Life Is Simple In The Moonlight,” it’s safe to say that everyone was feeling intoxicated on the music—or maybe it was the varying types of smoke drifting through the air, such an anomaly in a venue such as MSG that one can only assume that the security guards turned the other way in commemoration of The Strokes’ wild legacy (somehow the debauchery remained undisturbed during “New York City Cops,” where Julian adds, “They ain’t too smart!”).
The charismatic lead singer interspersed witty remarks between the songs, playfully mocking himself for botching the intro to “Last Nite,” as well as the audience for their absurd enthusiasm. The cherry on the cake was when they played “Taken for a Fool,” before which Casablancas invited Elvis Costello, whose influence is apparent in the song, to join them onstage, then shouted “April Fools!” to the briefly embarrassed crowd, only to trick us again by having Costello join them midway through in a moment that is sure to make rock n’ roll history.
After a short break the band played a chilling five-song encore, which consisted of “Ask Me Anything,” “The Modern Age,” “Gratisfaction,” “I Can’t Win,” and “Take It or Leave It.” As elated audience members of all sorts streamed out of the gigantic arena, they smiled at each other knowingly, as if having just shared a religious experience. Leave it to The Strokes to create solidarity between teeny boppers, jazzy parents, and hipster music snobs. Personally, though I doubt anything can compare to the divinity of their first two albums, after seeing their show, I am more than willing to give “Angles” (which I must give props for its experimentation) another shot.
