GIG REVIEWS

The Strokes
@ The Brixton Academy, London
28th March 2002
www.vanguard-online.co.uk

 With regard to this performance and maybe my expectations were at fault for being too high, after playing' to death' what I believe to be a unique album, in an age of mediocre dross pumped to us by the machine of commercial rock and pop on a daily basis.

Not truly unique in the big scheme of rock culture, I understand, and I realise in saying that some of us have seen and heard this heavy lidded, sleepy swagger and slurred introspect before is an understatement. Back to last night's 'tired' performance which sadly for me held no real substance or consideration for the British fans whom the band have claimed to have so much respect for. After all, winning 3 Brats, the Best Newcomer at the Brits and riding high on the crest of a No 1 Album, has this country not rocketed the band unexpectedly into the fourth dimension since their debut release in January 2001?

Casblancas has said previously that he expected to continue having to 'work' alongside being in the band, where is his gratitude and commitment we may ask? As well as the eleven album tracks the band introduced three new songs to an excited, responsive and heaving crowd....Only one problem....You could not hear a word or lyric that came out of a seemingly exhausted JC's mouth!!!

WHERE WERE THE SOUND ENGINEERS...before, after or during the gig, sleeping? comatosed? bored? or under the influence of Soma? Some twiddling with the appropriate dials would have meant the vocal was not submerged heavily by the guitar and baseline ,which thankfully WAS distinguishable therefore enabling us to at least know which songs were being played! I also shifted position frustratedly a number of times during the gig, hoping it may be the structural implications of the venue that was causing the base trap, but to no avail. Maybe the rumours are true and The Strokes have peaked? Either that, or the last few dates of the UK tour were too much for these New Yorkers, burnt out in under 18 months?? Its possible ..It was hard to know whether they ran or slid off the stage after just 50 minutes which ended with the furious b-side of 'last nite', leaving us to wonder whether these guys really meant for us to 'Take it or leave it'....

Michaela W