Live
The Strokes
Roundhouse, London
February 19 2020
Words: Izzy Butler
Despite tickets having sold out in quick-fast time, hoards of expectant fans were still to be seen congregating around Chalk Farm Road in the vain hope of getting into The Strokes intimate Roundhouse show that was announced just a week before. Given that, plus the fact there was new material to be heard, from their forthcoming album 'The New Abnormal', and that this was their first small venue gig in almost a decade, anticipation was high.
The New York five-piece take to the stage and set off with ‘Someday', ‘Heart In A Cage’ and 'Take It Or Leave It’. Julian Casablancas lets rip amidst the frenzied approbation from the packed auditorium. Airing three songs from their forthcoming album, including the upbeat single cut 'Bad Decisions', the familiar such as 'Juicebox' and 'You Only Live Once', are balanced with four songs from 'Is This It', their 19-year-old debut album that still sounds as fresh and alive as ever, and it is these that really ignite the crowd.
“I am having a selfishly good time,” Casablancas tells the crowd at one point, and when fan favourite ‘Last Nite’ closes the set, you only had to look around at the looks on faces to see the feeling was mutual. Ending with 'Reptilia', as part of a three-song encore, gives one last hurrah for fans to salute these American rock gods.
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