For me, certain memories are associated with the song I was listening to at that moment. That's my relationship with the band, The Strokes.
Whenever I listen to "Someday” I am transported back to my first day in Paris, getting lost in Montmartre looking for my hostel and falling irrevocably in love with the city. "You Only Live Once" brings me to the morning after a crazy night in Barcelona, lying on the beach, unwilling to move ever again. Listening to "Reptilia" became a tradition before every exam, getting amped up for an exam was never easier. "Last Nite" reminds me of the friend who first introduced me to the band. I could go on and on, their music has become intimately entangled with my life.
However, I never thought I'd get to see The Strokes live. For a while it seemed that they had broken up, each member pursuing solo acts, until last year when they started playing together at gigs. So when I learnt they were headlining a new music festival in Washington D.C I was beyond ecstatic, right until the moment I realised it was on the same weekend as my brother's wedding in Detroit. As luck would have it, the wedding was on a Saturday and The Strokes were playing on the second day of the festival (Sunday), which was a relief since I had no idea how I was going to tell my brother that I couldn't make it for his wedding.
So fast forward through a month of travelling through Canada and the U.S, followed by an amazing wedding and after party, which was still going strong as I sleepwalked my way to the Landmark Music Festival and The Strokes.
The festival had 5 stages spread across the West Potomac Park. There were some brilliant bands and artists playing throughout the day. I was lucky to see Houndmouth, The Suffers, TV on the Radio, Chromeo, George Ezra, Chvrches, Alt-J, Red Baraat. I was really excited to see George Ezra and Alt-J and they did not disappoint. But finally, it was time for the band I came for.
So there we were, all intently staring at the stage waiting for them to come on. Waiting to hear the sound of a guitar being tuned, drums being tested, anything betraying their presence on the blacked out stage. Looking at the Blood Moon the camerapersons had put up on the big screen. Still waiting. Impatiently.
Suddenly, the intro for 80's comedown machine started playing softly over the restless mutterings of the crowd. They were here! As one, the entire mass of people pushed ahead to get as close as possible to the stage. All exhaustion forgotten as the lights came on and they started with, “Is this It?" from their first album. Julian Casablancas with his silly red mullet at his best behind the mic, Albert Hammond Jr on the rhythm guitar, Nick Valensi on the lead guitar, Nikolai Fraiture with the bass and Fabrizio Moretti on the drums.
The next hour was beautiful. It lived up to all my expectations. The band was perfectly in sync dispelling all the rumours of a rift between its members. Every now and then, Julian would go on one of his tangential rants - he called it his "fake frontman routine". At one point mid rant he pointed to the sign language interpreter and said, “I don't understand what I’m saying, I don’t know how she does!". He didn't even miss a beat while messing up the lyrics for "Someday", instead he just went on to explain why while sticking to the notes of the song. My favourite moment of the day was when Julian announced they were back in the studio recording their next album. I think we all went a bit nuts right then and there.
Now every time I hear "Take it or Leave it", I'll be jumping and shouting with complete strangers watching my favourite band with a backdrop of the total Lunar Eclipse of a Super moon. Pretty good day I'd say.
The Strokes, Landmark Music Festival.