The Strokes

The Strokes are unquestionably one of the best bands out there, and you can really tell that they have been influenced by The Doors. I love The Doors and so I love The Strokes.

Just like Jim Morrison, the lead singer of The Strokes (Julian Casablancas) has an element of shyness to him. The band works together very well and they just look like they belong together: if you watch Fab Moretti (the drummer), he's always looking up and watching the other players really intensely. I really enjoy watching them play together and I love to see them live. They don’t talk to the audience much, and mainly just focus on playing, but they do make some contact with the audience. You can tell that their fans really love them and their concerts are always filled with good people.

Due to the fact that they are so popular they usually play for really large crowds, but if you are very lucky you can catch one of their smaller more intimate performances. I've only ever managed to see them with a large crowd, but I have to say it was still really fun. You get a much bigger atmosphere when there are more people; everyone is so excited, but Julian looks so cool and reserved in his leather coat and sunglasses.

Since I've been a fan of theirs (for more than 10 years), I really think that The Strokes are getting better over time and that is good because I want them to be around for a long time!

Having post Valentines day blues, I chose instead to express my love by gathering all my friends that would follow me on a trip to my mecca, Rough Trade, to see Courtney Barnett and the Courtney Barnetts. Despite claims from some that "lunchtime gigs are weird," I think if you love music you love it any time of the day, and clearly I'm in good company as the place is packed! So much so they had to lock the doors!
Not really sure what to expect from Courtney live, I was happily surprised to find she rocks. And despite 2.5 years in London, transforming me from my pastels of the first visit, to Londonite greys and blacks, I still like to express myself with more than the hipster head nod, and its hard not to, getting caught up in their shared smiles which each other, as they are clearly enjoying the gig and the turn out. With beautifully crafted stories of mundanely simple everyday life, it's difficult not to smile as well. "Are you eating? You sound so thin" and "I got drunk and fell asleep atop the sheets but luckily i left the heater on." The highlight for me was her new song, "Depreston". Inspired by a town in Melbourne called Preston, which she says "really isn't that bad... it has a dumping ground... and a post office." The lyrics are even better and despite the sweet melody most of the crowd is cracking a smile.
I love her lyrics so much, I'm inspired to buy my first record in years. I stay around to get her to sign it, on the inside where there is a picture of a washing line and its says, "Nobody knew whose socks they were, but they had been hanging there for weeks." Watching everyone get cheesy photos with her, I suggest instead we should get them to join us in the Rough Trade photo booth. And my friend is brave enough to ask. Score!