Pitchfork: Strokes Touring U.S., Mexico In March and April

Strokes Touring U.S., Mexico In March and April
Fab keeps having to explain to Nikolai "maracas" not really euphemism for tits

The Strokes take off March 9th on a great and wide tour, spanning our nation from coast to coast to Minneapolis, in support of their latest incarnation of Is This It, last year's self-derivative Room on Fire (that's not a bad thing, by the way. Though both Strokes albums sound like they came from the exact same recording session, they remain quite good, regardless of what your jaded girlfriend or that record store pussy with the mod hair says). These hunks broke enough new ground on the first record (placing C.W. McCall's citizen band over the mouth of Lou Reed was an inspired schtick) to earn some sophomore slack. And they don't take much, so don't hate. Congratulate.

I saw the Strokes in person on their first American tour. Though the Moldy Peaches opened--erased from my mind like an uncle's touch-- and the Strokes' played only 35 minutes, I dug their set. It was an excercise in perfection. Really. For the first time in my life I got to see a band play its record flawlessly and to a tee: syncopated beats, implied denim jacket openings/closings and everything. No fuckups. Commendable, really. These kids were the real deal. The merch table looked like a goddamn Chinese cockfight. Bills in the air, lunchboxes lying everywhere.

Haven't seen the boys since. Might be nice to check them out again this time. See if the booze and overall drudgery of touring have set in a bit; left my old Showbiz Pizza Bear more a Crazy Horse. Truth: Anyone who hangs out with Guns 'n' Roses-- even if Duff is on the clock-- is cool. Scream loud enough; Nikolai might've learnt to spit n' ketch it:

03-09 Washington, DC - Nation
03-10 Norfolk, Va. - NorVa
03-12 North Myrtle Beach, SC - House of Blues
03-13 Charlotte, NC - Grady Cole Center
03-15 Lake Buena Vista, FL - House of Blues
03-16 Miami Beach, FL - Mansion
03-19 Mexico City, Mexico - Palacio De Los Deportes
03-21 Houston, TX - Verizon Wireless Theater
03-23 Austin, TX - Austin Music Hall
03-24 Oklahoma City, OK - Coca Cola Bricktown Event Center
03-26 El Paso, TX - Club Xcape
03-28 Tempe, AZ - Marquee Theatre
03-30 San Diego, CA - Soma
04-01 Universal City, CA - Universal Amphitheatre
04-02 Universal City, CA - Universal Amphitheatre
04-12 Seattle, WA - Paramount Theatre
04-15 Portland, OR - Roseland Theatre
04-20 Denver, CO - Fillmore Auditorium
04-22 Madison, WI - Orpheum Theatre
04-23 Chicago, IL - Aragon Ballroom
04-25 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue