The Strokes’ Albert Hammond Jr. performing solo in New York (Photo: Paul Bachmann for Live4ever Media)
Isn’t it always the way with these rock bands? You wait years for some new songs and then three turn up all at once.
By yesterday evening The Strokes had two of the three original songs due to feature on their ‘Future Present Past‘ EP out in the open; Julian Casablancas played ‘Oblivius‘ on his Sirius XMU radio show and Zane Lowe aired ‘Drag Queen‘ on Beats 1. ‘Threat Of Joy‘ followed soon after, it can be heard below as premiered by Annie Mac on BBC Radio 1.
It’s the first time in a long time that The Strokes have felt it appropriate to indulge in the well worn theme of releasing new music and touring simultaneously; both 2011’s ‘Angles‘ and 2013’s ‘Comedown Machine‘ had no consistent live outings behind them, while the slight increase in onstage activity since Governors Ball of 2014 has until now not been married with any fresh tracks.
They’ll finally have new songs to play though when they return to Governors Ball in New York next week, neatly coinciding with this EP’s release on June 3rd.