by Jake McKenzie
photo by Pooneh Ghana
In the late ‘90s, as the radio was assaulting our ears with a boy band invasion on one channel and Limp Bizkit, Mudvayne, and the rest of the nü-metal mob on another, Julian Casablancas and The Strokes were busy in New York City reinventing rock and roll. Almost single-handedly igniting the great garage rock revival of the early 2000s, The Strokes’ now classic 2001 debut Is This It quickly became a certified platinum record in both the U.S. and U.K. Now almost 20 years after their debut, this NYC five-piece continues to sell out shows around the world with their guitar-forward, charismatic rock sound. Even after 20 years, at a live show it’s clear that The Strokes still enjoy each other’s company and are capable of having fun on stage. Feel the electricity and nostalgia pulse through the crowd as the iconic repeated chords of “Last Nite” fill the air on Thursday night.