Delivering a career-spanning set of hits and fan favorites, the iconic group closed the night with “Ode To The Mets,” fittingly situated just steps away from the team’s stadium. To honor their roots, the band also treated fans to a spirited cover of “This Is Not” by fellow New York legends Blonde Redhead.
The evening carried a distinct political and cultural weight with surprise stage introductions from Vermont senator Bernie Sanders and New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Sanders praised the group for championing economic justice and basic human rights, while labor organizer Chris Smalls and commentator Lee Camp later joined the stage to encourage civic engagement. Earlier in the day, frontman Julian Casablancas moderated an on-site S.O.S. – Earth Is A Mess panel featuring the prominent activists and strategist Maya Rupert.
Following their milestone NYC triumph, The Strokes are taking their acclaimed new record, Reality Awaits—their first album in six years, recorded alongside legendary producer Rick Rubin—on a completely sold-out European tour. The international trek kicks off with a two-night residency at London’s O2 Arena, before heading across Amsterdam, Paris, Berlin, and beyond, followed by major dates in South America and Australia.
With fresh momentum, a critically praised new album, and unforgettable live spectacles, The Strokes continue to prove why they remain one of the defining alternative rock acts of the 21st century.