The Strokes
by: Johnny K. - www.the-fly.co.uk

Strokes in attendance today are Julian and guitarist Albert. Their haphazard trains of thought collide continuously, sentences often ending with lines like "you know what I mean."

Readying themselves for their second single release are the best new band in the world. Last time they were in England they sent audiences at The Astoria and The Monarch into convulsions of ecstatic astonishment, this time round The Fly have caught up with the five piece in advance, in an attempt to prepare you for quite how this band have gotten to be the triumph that they already are. A word of warning to all those who think good music is a thing of bygone days: don't listen to The Strokes, the shock might kill you.

From their names (Julian Casablancas, Albert Hammond Jr., Nick Valensi, Nikolai Fraiture and Fab Moretti) to their clothes (seventies leather and lapels), from their songs (a less stoned Velvet Undergound) to the New York streets they obviously come from, The Strokes are as completely cool as rock 'n' roll was once reputed to be. Their stage show is the swaggering epitome of chic and wild abandon, the ultimate live ride for those who were still but figments of lovers' imaginations when Jim Morrison or Lou Reed were snaking their way through the slippery cities of fame, fortune and scantily clad groupies. So how and why do The Strokes work so well? "Unity, friendship..." reckons Julian, before bursting into laughter; "no, I'm kidding... not a hundred per cent kidding you know... you know what I mean." Uh, yeah. "It's tough," the vocalist continues, adopting a more serious note, "being with the same people every day, you've really got to communicate well and make sure you're all on the same page or else it all falls apart."

Strokes in attendance today are Julian and guitarist Albert. Their haphazard trains of thought collide continuously, sentences often ending with lines like "you know what I mean" or "I'm rambling now, so I'll stop!" But the pair's humble bumblings and half-conscious humour only adds to the feeling that this is a band built for world domination. And if such a point was reached, Albert is pondering how he'd celebrate. "I think I'd do my little jig, I would dance! How would I dress? In tight clothing, I'd wear a David Bowie full on seventies one piece suit, and then I'd come out and I'd be like 'I'm gay!'" Laughing loudly, he checks himself, and pouting, adds, "No, I shouldn't have said that, I'm not got going to get any more girls!"

Lifestyle-wise, Julian reckons he wants to, no matter whether they're number one in a trillion dimensions or not, "Stay away from all that rock 'n' roll clich?bullshit. I think I want to do something a little more interesting, I know when we're on stage we're like 'yeah, rocking out', but I think it would be more interesting to offer something a bit different." So, no nights lying in the gutter with one hand wrapped around an empty bottle of Jack Daniels then? "Well, we might do that as well, but against our will!"

Similarities between The Strokes and The Velvet Underground have been drawn more than once, and although there is something just a little more perky and melodic about this lot, there is a certain validity to such comparisons. Certainly such opinions shouldn't be viewed negatively though. Not that there's much chance of any down trodden vibes making their way into the conversation this afternoon. "We are The Velvet Underground," shrieks Julian, "Lou Reed writes all our songs!" Reasoning with the issue, Albert accepts, "The whole late seventies thing, it's cool you know, I dig it; but I think people compare us to that for the attitude, and just the way music was created."

Recent tours in America with Doves and Guided By Voices are bound to have done The Strokes no harm at all, the foundation of Fab on drums, Nick on the other guitar and Nikolai on bass being just as addictive as the two madcap personalities of Hammond Jr. and Casablancas. As they themselves admit, they haven't quite managed to quite capture their live sound on record yet, but that shouldn't be too much of a surprise since they haven't been able to work with the top producers yet as (at time of print) the band haven't even been signed yet. Ridiculous as that may seem, the situation is reminiscent of the New York scene a quarter of a century ago when bands like The Ramones were trawling the same clubs Casablancas and co. are now and still managing not to get a deal. If it weren't for bands like The Junket in the same unsigned situation in England, you'd think it impossible that bands so undeniably amazing could manage to pass right beneath the corporates' noses without them even noticing. Still, not even the major labels can ignore the sound of a band who will surely make bundles of cash in the future for too long. Fortunately, you have a chance to get a glimpse of the future before the big boys do. Don't waste the opportunity.