Even Though It Was Only One Night, It Was Fucking Strange

There was no massive queue outside the Maria, and inside not too many people were hanging out in front of the stage yet, so by about 8pm I was there, with a glass of wine in my hand, standing in a good spot. Me and my friend stood about six rows from the stage, expectant smiles on our faces as we waited. The music on the system was some dreary tuneless noise that I didn’t recognise. It made waiting harder…The band were due to come out and play at 8.30pm but that time-slot came and went, with only a haze of smoke engulfing the stage. I was already in awe. The microphone stand that was only a few feet away seemed to be ten feet tall, and Fabrizzio’s drums appeared to be absolutely massive.. I had this image of a giant sized Julian, Nikolai, Nick, Albert and Fabrizzio taking to the stage and blasting us all away. Last time I saw them was summer 2004 at Oxegen. Memories of that performance filled my head before this show at the Maria.
-Nikolai wearing a groovy ‘70s headband, standing practically offstage, facing to the side for the whole show.
-Julian mumbling incoherently in between songs (and during songs too) inaudible words, so you get confused and can’t sing along properly, and laugh alot.
-Fabrizzio & his red Coke t-shirt.
-Albert tripping over a wire and falling onto his back, but not missing a note and not stopping his playing to get up either.
-Nick, just being cool and gorgeous, leaning back with his foot planted on the amp as he delivers those killer riffs, a skinny rock star vision.
The place filled up, apparently only 350 tickets were sold for this gig, im pretty sure everybody turned up, and then some. Suddenly the music was tuned out, the Strokes came onstage, the crowd erupted into an out of control mess and there was a frenzied surge towards the stage. Myself and Drea managed to get out of it in one piece, but I saw others being dragged out unconscious. People were emerging from the mob looking drained and dazed. Not put off by this, as many as escaped the frenzy went right into it, eager to sacrifice themselves. The energy the Strokes invoked from the crowd was phenomenal, everyone was drenched in sweat and the Maria became steaming hot. People seemed to calm down a bit after the first few songs..but throughout the gig the crowd was just riotous, especially when they played an oldie.

So, Nikolai was all facing the crowd, it was nice to actually see him. Julian was skinny and bedraggled, his singing was the best I’ve ever heard it. Sometimes he was singing with his eyes tight shut and his fingers drumming together frantically. Dude needs a tambourine! I remember his chit chat in between songs was hilarious that time at Oxegen -- I mean, unintentionally so. His mumbling could be percieved as nervousness, but I think he really likes communicating with the crowd, at least showing that the band is aware that all these people have come out to see them. Several times during the gig at the Maria he ran around the stage as if to go over something with the others, they did some unplanned songs; requests that fans were shouting up at them, like Last Night. He said they hadn’t planned to do it, but somebody asked them, so. Once, Julian’s mic stand accidentally fell towards Albert, but with a deft arm movement he was able to deflect it, just as they finished up a song. Their music sounded really bang on tight and dancing to it was irreresistible!
The difference between the old and new songs was so clear to me, although that is probably just because I’m not very familiar with their new material yet. First Impressions of Earth seems to have a new sound that makes a definite break from the similarity that connected their last two albums.The mix of old & new covered “Juicebox”, (which sounded so good live) “Razorblade”, “15 Minutes of Pain”,“Take it Or Leave It”, “Last Night”, “The End Has No End”, “Soma”, “New York City Cops”, “12.51”, “Hard to Explain” (lovelovelove)...and more new songs that I dont know the name of, and some old songs i have left out im sure..it was such a good show. The band came back onstage for an encore and played an extra four songs. Julian thanked Berlin for the warm reception, muttering something about being chased down the street. I think its cool that the band got to spend some time actually hanging out in the city, instead of just arriving to play and then leave. Even if they got chased by crazies.
Practically all the dates of their upcoming European tour have sold out. I’m not interested in that tour anyway -- the Strokes will be playing a lot of major cities in a lot of big, charmless venues – arenas, halls and domes. This gig in the Maria was special.

Photographs soon!