Was That It? It's Hard To Explain (The Strokes Live)

Member Name: GodToldMeTo

Product:	The Strokes Live
Date:	26/03/02 (62 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: strokes were amazing, stereo-total were really entertaining, quite cheap

Disadvantages: set list short, longwave were too long

Correct me if I’m wrong but the job of a support act is to liven up the audience, getting them in the mood for the night to come and thus making the headlining act better received, is it not?

If this is the case and I’m right, then The Strokes need a firm talking to whoever booked Longwave to play with them on their European tour. They then need to go out and find and shake the hand of the person who suggested Stereo-Total.

The New Yorkers, Longwave were so incredibly boring on stage that it wouldn't surprise me if some of the audience missed The Strokes after intentionally choking on their own vomit. They played an incredibly long set, practically an hour and a quarter as opposed to The Strokes 45 minutes.

The only thing appropriate with this band playing on the same bill as The Strokes is the fact they look like them, and for that matter sound like them too only take the speed and sheer enjoyment of The Strokes and reduce it ten-fold. With their shaggy hair and i-don't-give-a-damn-attuitude, both traits that Julian Casablanca has to a tee, were quite a significant part of Longwave, and probably about every other underground New York influenced band’s act expect The Strokes do it better.

Their music was good. It was melodic and really I enjoyed it but I could have enjoyed it more listening to it at home on the toilet. Their stage presence, or lack of it was somewhat disappointing and just resulted in my mind wandering off and imagining what it would be like to leap from the balcony onto the standing crowd below.

When they left the stage, the guitarist did however throw his guitar to the floor, it would have been cool if he didn’t create a five-minute, migraine-inducing feedback echo.

Following Longwave came Stereo-Total and with Stereo-Total came their introduction. “’Ello, we are Stereo-Total, we are French, we play la electronica music.” My instant reaction was
, “what the f**k.” Why would a French electronic two-piece band, which are obviously the furthest thing from The Strokes, be allowed to support what the NME rates as the saviours of music and a band that has the Noel Gallagher seal of approval (not that its hard to come by).

Then it became apparent that they would do what Longwave could not. Liven up the now near suicidal crowd. Featuring a small French woman on drums and a large French man on keyboards and guitar, they were like The White Stripes gone wrong. Their music could only be described as ‘funny’ although their Sid Vicious-esqe ‘My Way’ was actually quite impressive, I would have definitely sang along if it had not been for it being sung in French. Their set was just right, not too long but long enough to make a lasting impression that if they come ‘My Way’ (sorry) again, I will definitely and undoubtedly think about buying a ticket, if its not too expensive.

The Strokes took to the stage about ten o’clock and predictably played for about 45 minutes, with only having released one album its understandable and they’re hardly likely to play covers. Playing pretty much the entire album ‘Is This It’ the sound was fantastic and Casablanca’s vocals were superb if not a little rough, but it worked to his advantage. Rough guitars, rough voice a combination made in heaven.

They had a definite ‘coolness’ about them; occasionally talking to the crowd and crediting Manchester with having some of the best bands ever, they won over the crowd standing and sitting as soon as opening their mouths.

Fabrizio Moretti, drummer of the Strokes was amazing and challenged Casablanca as the most memorable member. Sitting behind his drums on a small stage some 5 ft above the rest of the band he introduced such songs as Last Nite with only a drum beat and he was rock n roll at its finest.

The set finish
ed with ‘Take It Or Leave It’ Casablanca telling the crowd, to their dismay, there wouldn’t be an encore as it’s not their style, he left them on a buzz that only The Strokes could deliver.

Summary: