Sweatin’ to the Oldies with The Strokes
WTF was up with The Strokes playing almost all old songs during their first night of a 3-night stand at the Hammerstein Ballroom here in NYC? They played nearly every song off of their first album, Is This It, but only 7 songs off the new one, First Impressions of Earth. The whole time I was going “Waahhh?!? This is SO WEIRD!”
Oh and how funny was it when the show first started and all those technicolor light screens blazed, totally shocking the audience? I screamed out, “Holy crap! It’s a Coldplay concert!” It was only later when Kiran shouted at me, “is that Chris Martin?!?!” that I realized that Coldplay (or at least Chris, Will Champion, and Jonny Buckland) were actually present at the show. I guess they were just making sure their lighting equipment was being treated well.
And how nuts was it when midway through the set the crowd started losing their sh-t and no less than 5 people decided to start crowd surfing? It was like I had been transported to 2001. THE KIDS LOVE THE STROKES!
It was awesome when Nick (who was dressed in his homeless “Where’s Waldo? outfit” with a ripped up red and white striped tshirt, skinny black pants and scraggly long hair) sat down at the keyboard and played while Julian sang “Ask Me Anything.” I love that line, “Don’t be a coconut.” Brilliant!
The show length was astonishing! They did a total of 23 songs!!!! That’s up there with a show length like the White Stripes or Ryan Adams. Dear lord.
Oh, and since WHEN do the Strokes do encores?!?
PS- I’m sorry to the guy I punched in the face while wildly pumping my fist in the air. Thanks for being ok with it!
SETLIST
You Only Live Once/ The Modern Age/ Hawaii Aloha/ Juicebox/ The End Has No End/ 12:51/ Heart In a Cage/ Razorblade/ Soma/ I Can’t Win/ Life Is a Gas (Ramones cover)/ Alone Together/ Last Night/ Hard to Explain/ Ize of the World/ Trying Your Luck/ Barely Legal/ Ask Me Anything/ Vision of Division/ Reptilia. ENCORE: New York City Cops/ Someday/ Take It Or Leave It
1. rachel | 9:18 pm on March 1st, 2006
yo l - the ENCORE WAS WONDERFUL. the strokes + encore = my life is better now.
we were in the front row, and i saw the setlist–it was LITERALLY ON THREE DIFFERENT PAGES (cos you know how the strokes write in that massive font?? but back in the day in the massive font it was still only one page)
anyway. i totally noticed jonny DURING the show. shall we call it coldplay radar??? i looked up and was like “it’s jonny!” and then later..i saw him but he disappeared before i could grab him. i wish he could come out from chris’ shadow, cos he’s like, you know, awesome.
omggggg the show waws soooo goooooooooood. ahhhhhhhh
2. rachel | 9:20 pm on March 1st, 2006
p.s. new york city cops tonight was ……. UNBELIEVABLE!!11!1! damn.
3. anon | 9:39 pm on March 1st, 2006
I don’t think they played When It Started. I think it was I Can’t Win instead. And it was actually seven songs from the new record, not five.
4. laura | 9:48 pm on March 1st, 2006
oh maybe it was I Can’t Win… i lost count after a while. which seven? am i having trouble counting??? i need a vacation
5. laura | 9:55 pm on March 1st, 2006
oh snap, yeah i got all 7 now.
you only live once, juicebox, heart in a cage, razorblade, ize of the world, vision of division, ask me anything.
i can’t think anymore. DON’T BE A COCONUT.
6. Jeremy | 9:55 pm on March 1st, 2006
show was great, any afterparties for friday’s show??
7. laura | 9:56 pm on March 1st, 2006
apparently but i’m too old to care.
8. Eddie Jenkins | 11:10 pm on March 1st, 2006
From what a source has told me there is a possiblity that Ryan Adams will be playing at CBGB’s this Saturday. He is not officially on the bill but might be playing with someone else.
Thought you might be interested in that little piece of bidness!
9. Eddie Jenkins | 11:12 pm on March 1st, 2006
Oh and I am going to the Strokes show next week at the historic Ryman Auditorim in Nashville, Tenn to review it. Hopefully the show will be as exciting as the one you attended.
10. jordan | 11:16 pm on March 1st, 2006
i stayed up to wait for your update. why only 3 songs off of room on fire? jeeeesus. i hope this is the set list for the rest of their shows (in other cities).
11. Brandon | 1:30 am on March 2nd, 2006
They probably relied on old material because it was good then. It’s kind of funny because I always thought that a try at new sound would make them better but it ruined the formula and the album came out disappointing. I am sad about the new album, but it’s not hurting to bad because their live show is amazing and will always sell out.
12. Anonymous | 2:30 am on March 2nd, 2006
they have been doing encores well for the whole of the UK and Ireland tour
13. Amira | 5:39 am on March 2nd, 2006
great concert..
i’m in the pics!
14. Fo | 5:41 am on March 2nd, 2006
anybody got an extra for friday night?
i haaaaave to go!
15. hightea | 6:39 am on March 2nd, 2006
I was glad for all the songs off the first album I’m guessing it was 1st night home sort of thing. I would say more like 10 crowd surfers and what was with the flying clothes. Girl in front of me threw her bra on stage next thing I know Nikolai has it on his bass
16. matt | 6:45 am on March 2nd, 2006
laura when did they hit the stage last night?
17. matt | 6:46 am on March 2nd, 2006
oh and was the security nazis about cameras?
18. Tess | 6:47 am on March 2nd, 2006
They better be this fun in Boston.
19. Amy | 7:20 am on March 2nd, 2006
I have seen them a zillion times and I have to say this was one of the best shows I have seen since the early days….(actually, laura i think i have seen you or was standing next to you dancing and singing along at all those show. i am the redhead who wears alot of red, let me introduce myself, i am amy) anyways, I was kinda feeling apathetic about the new album but hearing it live really changed my view on it. Julian voice has gotten so strong. what a range now. (he was only off on one song which is really good for jules) And the rest of the boys (I should say men now….they are all either married, with children or property owners) have become such solid musicians.. it was great seeing nick on the piano… I really happy I decided to tdrag myself out of the sick bed to see them… yeah for having tickets for friday and saturday… i am sure they will only get better….
They really looked good… Ah, I love those boys… They will always have place in my heart as to me they are new york
20. mondo retro | 7:25 am on March 2nd, 2006
although i do like the new stuff, i am psyched to hear that they did almost all of “is this it.” i hope they do that tomorrow night!!!
21. gurple | 7:26 am on March 2nd, 2006
It’s so weird because everyone in my office that saw them last night have said they were awful. And that the lights were ridiculous.
22. Anonymous | 7:51 am on March 2nd, 2006
Found video of it.
The opener ” You only Live Once”
http://youtube.com/watch?v=8shsIdQc3A4&search=the%20strokes%20you%20only%20live%20once
Soma
http://youtube.com/watch?v=PgCPRIjntBA&search=the%20strokes%20soma
23. Crox | 8:00 am on March 2nd, 2006
gurple - The people in your office are morons. I’m not sure what a band has to please some people. I wasn’t a fan of the lights, but the show itself was one of the best they have ever performed. I remember seeing them in Central Park, summer before last and thinking they could be in trouble if they don’t get their crap together. They had it together last night. In a big way.
I thought I saw Ryan Adams at the show last night. Am I mistaken?
24. Anonymous | 9:20 am on March 2nd, 2006
I thought all the songs were well thought out on where they went or how they fit. Ask me anything was a real show stopper.
The lighting was amazing, imagine the feel of a scoreboard ticker/ lightbright like bulbs that gave the songs and the performance a more stadium feel. Out of all the times I have seen them this one was tops. Can’t wait for saturday.
25. Nev Brown | 9:37 am on March 2nd, 2006
Beautiful pics as always Miss Mod - you can check out my pics here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fwyb/sets/
26. kiran | 10:51 am on March 2nd, 2006
as far as strokes shows go i think i’ve got a solid baker’s dozen under my belt and this was their best. i wasn’t at all psyched about seeing them in a mega venue like hammerstein but the energy was so amazing that the screaming masses and 3 levels of balconies just melted away…such high energy and love coming from that stage last night….i didn’t even mind the tweens around me who only knew juicebox lyrics. and yes, closing with Take It or Leave It was all i could ask for. amy, i totally agree with you…to me those boys are new york.
27. Cory | 11:21 am on March 2nd, 2006
I’ve seen them 11 times and I think last night will be the last. The crowd was terrible. It was like being at a frathouse. Crowdsurfing? Are you serious? Though that may not be The Strokes fault they have gotten ‘bigger’ and ‘more aggresive’ with their sound (as the ‘moshing’, yes, MOSHING during Juicebox can attest). I also found it weird they played 10 songs off of Is This It since their newer BIGGER sound and lightshow did not go well at all with those songs. The Room On Fire songs didn’t sound out of place and the new albums songs are absolutely suited to this size but most of the old stuff didn’t seem to go over very well with the crowd. They just came for the ‘hits’ and the way the band started off it sounded like they came to give them to em.
28. thigh master | 12:08 pm on March 2nd, 2006
strokes are so zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
29. gurple | 1:04 pm on March 2nd, 2006
CROX-
Nope not morons at all. People with taste. Yes.
30. Captain Oats | 1:08 pm on March 2nd, 2006
hey, awesome pics. nice to meet ya last night thru kiran. i agree, the show was amazing. however, i also agree with the above that a large portion of the crowd sucked. i believe most were seen afterwards going south on the lincoln and holland tunnels..
31. infomart | 1:11 pm on March 2nd, 2006
sidenote: Drew Barrymore and Lucy Liu were there too
32. Chris | 1:19 pm on March 2nd, 2006
Moshing?? At a rock show??? How very terrible for you Cory. I hope the people having a good time did not interfere with your thoughtful headbobbing.
After the embarrassment that was the YYYs Bowery crowd, it was so much fun to see people actually having a good time moving around to music that gets them off. I’m too much of a wuss to engage in this moshing business, but it’s good to see some energy at last. Don’t wanna mosh - take a step back. Not that hard.
The band killed. The crowd killed. Fantastico!
33. Crox | 1:39 pm on March 2nd, 2006
infomart - I was dancing all up on Lucy Liu. And if she had ever looked down from the first level balcony she was at, she might have enjoyed it as much as me!
34. Mary | 1:47 pm on March 2nd, 2006
They do encores since their show in toronto at the hershey centre on their room on fire tour! Haha.
35. Cory | 2:04 pm on March 2nd, 2006
Chris, uh whatever. ‘The crowd killed’ my enthusiasm for ever seeing my favorite band again live. After seeing the YYY at Maxwells there is a huge difference between a crowd who really appreciates the music and the squishing and dancing that results and a crowd who wants to crush towards the front so they can push each other like they’re seeing Limp Bizkit. I’m serious. Plus like I said, if they want to be a stadium band they should stick with their new stadium ready songs. Most of Is This It just seemed wrong in that venue.
36. Anonymous | 2:13 pm on March 2nd, 2006
Just know when they use to say they don’t do encores, it’s because they didn’t have enough songs. As you can see from this setlist, it has nothing to do with integrity.
37. Dan | 4:15 pm on March 2nd, 2006
Sounds like a great gig. I’m jealous.
38. - | 6:39 pm on March 2nd, 2006
Can anyone tell me what time the Strokes took the stage? Thanks…
39. scott | 7:31 pm on March 2nd, 2006
drs 6:30
eagles 8:840
strokes9:15-11
thats what last nites set times were
40. Tim Fitzgerald | 8:36 pm on March 2nd, 2006
Every Strokes show I have been to since 2001 there have been people moshing and people crowd surfing. I don’t really find this new at all. The Strokes are really loud and have a good beat live, it gets people moving. I would rather be at a concert where people are moving and dancing than at a concert where everyone is “too cool for school.” aka pretentious indie snobs. The more the crowd gets into it, the more the band gets into it.
41. brittany | 9:47 pm on March 2nd, 2006
what time did people start getting in line?
42. cami | 7:05 am on March 3rd, 2006
Anyone that have more videos about this
??? pleeeaseee
43. Crox | 9:11 am on March 3rd, 2006
Brittany - I think there were people in line starting around lunch time. It’s really quite sad. I came out of the train to get some L&L’s Hawaiian BBQ before going to the show around 6:30 and the line was already over a block long.
44. Sevale | 11:04 am on March 3rd, 2006
So if i stand in line at 5:30pm i should be ok?
45. The Modern Age » I’ll Admit It–I Jumped Into a Mosh Pit Tonight at the Strokes Show | 11:39 am on March 4th, 2006
[...] Julian saying, “Yeah, haven’t you heard? We do encores now.” during the encore. [Thanks idioten] SETLIST The Modern Age/ Heart In a Cage/ Red Light/ Juicebox/ The End Has No End/ 12:51/ Whatever Happened/ Hawaii Aloha/ Ize of the World/ Life Is a Gas/ Soma/ I Can’t Win/ Alone Together/ Last Night/ Hard to Explain/ You Only Live Once/ Someday/ Trying Your Luck/ Ask Me Anything/ Vision of Division/ Reptillia. ENCORE: New York City Cops/ Barely Legal/ Take It Or Leave It [...]
46. cst | 2:04 pm on March 5th, 2006
I went to Friday night’s show and it was AMAZING. they sounded incredible, looked great, played awesome…and on top of all that did New York City Cops. it was so worth the hour-plus i spent in the cold, and enduring the mustache of the Eagles of Death Metal lead singer.
47. aion | 4:09 pm on March 5th, 2006
I thought the show was great, as huge as it was with bright lights in my eyes and funny thing too, The Strokes had the lights behind them, were practically in the shadows. It was like a show of the crowd. I get that. I much more enjoyed seeing them first time in a small club in 2004. Though the perfomance on their part was a hundred times better this time. More energy, clear powerful vocals, lots of favourite songs. Guess they are this big now, have grown up. The best was “Ask Me Anything” I actually couldn’t even see Nick there.
It was quite an experience nonetheless.
48. sal | 10:52 am on April 30th, 2006
was anyone at the washington dc april 26th Strokes show?
trying to remember the exact or near exact order of the set list:p
49. The Modern Age » The Modern Age’s Top 10 Albums of 2006 | 11:35 pm on December 27th, 2006
[...] RELATED CONCERT REVIEW: The Strokes at Hammerstein Ballroom, NYC. March 3, 2006 [...]
50. Merideth | 6:51 am on April 7th, 2007
I just want to say thank you for taking the time & effort for put this web page together! Visit my sites, please:
51. Ed Lathrop | 12:54 pm on July 18th, 2007
I thought you meant real oldies, like Chubby Checker or The Cadilacs or somebody like that. These guys you talk about are young.
I still love that 50’s, early 60’s stuff!