Monday, hours after the Strokes shared a brief teaser for their new album Reality Awaits, it became apparent that the band had mailed cassettes featuring new single "Going Shopping" to 100 fans. Because this campaign was coordinated by someone who knows what they're doing, the Strokes also had a show Monday night in San Francisco at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium ahead of the band's Coachella appearance this Saturday. This gave the Strokes the chance to perform "Going Shopping" in public for the first time.
Check out footage of that moment from multiple angles below, and ponder what Julian Casablancas means when he sings, "Solidarity can be difficult/ When you've got cool stuff to lose." (UPDATE: They've now detailed the album and shared official audio for "Going Shopping" too.)
Do you think the Strokes will collaborate with last-minute Coachella addition Jack White, who will also be on the premises Saturday? My teenage self (and my present self!) would enjoy that.
