ALL POINTS EAST 2023 - THE STROKES // VICTORIA PARK, LONDON
New York's Indie Icons deliver a great set, marred by technical problems
★★★☆☆ (3/5)
THE STROKES HEADLINING ALL POINTS EAST 2023 AT VICTORIA PARK, LONDON
Opening the second weekend of All Points East, The Strokes headline a day that presents a buffet of various rock genres. Many of which list the Strokes as a formative influence. For a band that produced 2001's genre-defining album "Is This It", this is an accolade that is not only believable but incredibly common.
Australian punk rockers Amyl and the Sniffers served as a shot of adrenaline early in the day. Demanding attention with their powerful guitar-thrashing sound and howling vocals. As the set thundered along, a different type of thunder saw heavy showers soak the crowd and send them running for shelter from the element. This did little to slow the band as they relished the challenge.
The range of rock talent on display showed a day that not only looked to greatest hits but also paid tribute to experimentation and innovation. Fresh from supporting Taylor Swift on the Era's Tour, Girl in Red played the first of two All Points East sets. Overcoming illness to deliver indie pop anthems to a devoted crowd. While experimental rock band Black Midi brought soundscapes and experimentation to the Cupra Arena. Delighting fans with genre-dabbling sounds that provided the most esoteric offering of the day.
Preceding the headliner, New York natives, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs closed the West stage. Furthering the 2000's indie pedigree of the day. The band played to a very receptive audience, readying them with a crowd-pleasing tour of hits. "Maps" elicits one of the most somber yet triumphant moments of the entire day, while "Heads Will Roll" still sounds futuristic 14 years after its release. Songs from 2022's "Cool It Down" sounded very well placed against the classics.
With only ten minutes between the end of the Yeah Yeah Yeah's set and the start of the Strokes, there was a noticeable rush to make it to the East stage in time. However, once assembled the excitement was palpable as the lights dimmed and the band took to the stage.
Starting with a series of well-received songs from the start of their career proved a good choice as the audience danced to the likes of "Last Night, which shows the enduring power of their early material and provided a jolt of energy. Eliciting a joyous singalong from the collected thousands.
Tonight's setlist covers various entries in the band's discography and treats dedicated fans to a smattering of deep cuts alongside the crowd-pleasers. Tracks such as "Soma" and "What Ever Happened?" still deliver the raw energy from the studio recordings.
During the middle of the set, there is a definite lull in energy, which drew attention to one of the most prevalent complaints of the night, the sound quality. Vocals are rendered into inaudible mumblings as the drum-heavy mix drowns out significant moments, and the songs blend into each other, which further contributes to the soggy middle of the performance.
There are still bright spots in the set. The wistfulness of "Someday" hushes the crowd, beautifully contrasting the heavier and upbeat tracks. Closing the main set "Reptilia" delivers the impressive build and release that keeps the song in indie playlists today. It helps to enthuse the crowd despite the audio issues.
Returning for an encore the band perform "Hard to Explain" and "Is This It". The latter of the two provides a fantastic bookend to a career-spanning set.
Many of the fans in attendance were enamored by The Strokes and their indie rock performance, however, there was a noticeable amount that began to make their way to the back of the crowd or left early. It is a shame that a band with such a strong live show was impacted by their technical issues. Regardless, the Strokes at All Points East provided a fantastic representation of why people are still so engaged with guitar music.