It’s been a pretty big week when it comes to major bands making long overdue returns. Just five days after Arcade Fire delivered its first live performance in three years, The Strokes followed in toe, playing live for the first since 2006 at a semi-surprise concert at Dingwalls in London earlier tonight.
The Strokes performed an 18-song set, consisting entirely of material from their previous three albums — sorry kids, no new stuff just yet. “New York City Cops” kick things off, classics like “Reptilia” and “Is This It” were played mid-way through, and “Last Night” capped off the main set. The encore proved particularly awesome, featuring “12:51” into “Juicebox” into “Heart in a Cage” into “Take It or Leave It”.
And despite it being its first gig in four years, by all accounts the band didn’t miss a step. A search through Twitter finds the following choice comments:
— @jameswjlewis: Without a shadow of a doubt, the single best gig I’ve ever been to. The Strokes are fucking back.
— @Lis_Roberts: The Strokes are back. Close to soiling myself in my excitement. I wouldn’t actually do that mind.
— @jamesendeacott: The whole night is Hard to Explain….the strokes reclaim their crown…xx
— @chapmanjosh: The strokes were brilliant, so hot in there they had to mop the celing above the mixing desk with a towel on a stick
We’ll post video from the video as soon as it becomes available. So check back soon for updates and/or follow us on Twitter. First video is of “Last Night”, via Zane Lowe. Update: We added semi-good clips of “New York City Cops”, “Heart in a Cage”, and “Juicebox”
“Last Night”
“New York City Cops”
“Heart in a Cage”
“Juicebox”
As for your next opportunities to see The Strokes, the band is set to headline the UK based Isle of Wight Festival and Rock Ness. They’ll then makes stops across Europe and Australia before arriving stateside in August for an appearance at Lollpalooza in Chicago.
Setlist:
New York City Cops
Modern Age
Hard to Explain
Reptilia
Whatever Happened
You Only Live Once
Soma
Vision of Division
I Can’t Win
Is This It
Someday
Red Light
Last Night
—
Under Control
12:51
Juicebox
Heart in a Cage
Take It Or Leave It
The Strokes 2010 Tour Dates:
06/12 – Isle of Wight, UK @ Isle of Wight Festival
06/13 – Iverness, UK @ Rock Ness
06/18 – Neuhausen ob Eck, DE @ Southside Festival
06/20 – Scheeßel, DE @ Hurricane Festival
06/25 – St. Gallen, CH @ OpenAir St.Gallen
07/27 – Perth, AU @ On the Bright Side Festival
07/29 – Sydney, AU @ Hordern Pavilion
07/30 – Melbourne, AU @ Festival Hall
07/31 – Woodford, AU @ Splendour in the Grass
08/06 – Chicago, IL @ Lollpalooza
08/14 – San Francisco, CA @ Outside Lands Festival
10/08 – Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits
