The Strokes
Madison Square Garden, Manhattan
April 1, 2011
Forget all that you’ve read. Julian Casablancas, Albert Hammond Jr., Nikolai Fraiture, Nick Valensi, and Fabrizio Moretti are boxing in the title fight of a lifetime. Weighing in at (most likely) a collective 800 pounds of unwashed hair, Fender equipment, and general insanity, The Strokes tore Madison Square Garden down to the ground and built it up again. Like a bruised fighter who gets battered for a few bloody rounds only to rise up and win with an impassioned blow, New York’s garage rock kings just sent a massive “Fuck You” to every spiritless critic who has scorned them since their return to the spotlight. The Strokes belong to New York City and we belong to them, with all of our night owls, bar rats, starving artists, and party girls. They make their music for us. The same blood runs through our veins. With that, tonight was as much of a “Thank You” as it was a “Fuck You”. Oh, and Elvis Costello was there, too. Continue reading
