The Strokes made their fifth musical guest appearance on Saturday Night Live this weekend, delivering performances of “Lonely in the Future” and “Going Shopping” from their latest studio album, Reality Awaits, as reported by rollingstone.com.
The Strokes Return to the SNL Stage
- The New York rock band marked their fifth appearance on the late-night sketch comedy show, having previously performed in 2020 to promote The New Abnormal.
- Producer Rick Rubin helmed the nine-track LP, continuing a creative partnership that brought the group to Guanacaste, Costa Rica, in 2022.
- Actor Walton Goggins made a surprise live appearance on stage during the second song, playing bongo drums after previously starring in the official music video for “Going Shopping.”
Recording in Costa Rica and California
The nine-track record follows the sonic path of its predecessor, with production duties once again handled by Rick Rubin. Speaking on Joe Rogan’s podcast in October 2022, Rubin detailed the unusual, open-air setup the band used while tracking in Central America. “We rented this house up on the top of a mountain and set the band up outside,” Rubin said, noting that they essentially performed a daily concert for the ocean. Guitarist Albert Hammond Jr. echoed that sentiment, calling the project his favorite and praising the unique, magical environment of those sessions. Additional tracking for the album took place closer to home at Rubin’s Southern California facilities, Shangri-La and The Mansion.
Guitarist Misses Television Performance During World Tour
Saturday night’s television slot arrived right on the heels of the North American and European legs of the Reality Awaits World Tour. According to rollingstone.com, the band is slated to head to Mexico and South America in a couple of weeks, followed by an Australian tour in February. Guitarist Nick Valensi did not join his bandmates on the Studio 8H stage for the live broadcast, having taken a temporary break from the summer touring roster—where he was substituted by Steve Schiltz of Longwave. Valensi remains actively performing elsewhere, having recently joined Duran on stage in Paris to play “Rio.”
| Event / Milestone | Year / Date | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Previous SNL Appearance | 2020 | Promoted the album The New Abnormal |
| Costa Rica Recording Sessions | 2022 | Began recording outdoors with Rick Rubin |
| Latest SNL Performance | Weekend | Performed “Lonely in the Future” and “Going Shopping” |
| Upcoming U.S. Dates | February & May | Innings Festival in Arizona and Kilby Block Party in Salt Lake City |
Future Live Dates Ahead
Domestic fans won’t have to wait indefinitely to catch the band live on home turf following their international routing. Their next scheduled U.S. festival appearances include the Innings Festival in Arizona this coming February, followed by a performance at Salt Lake City’s Kilby Block Party in May.
