On the second day of Bilbao BBK Live 2019, The Strokes brought back their greatest hits in a nostalgic indie rock show. The Spanish festival provided the perfect surroundings, making it an unforgettable experience. Here are the main reasons you should definitely see them this summer.

1. The Strokes Setlist

Last Nite, as expected, the American rock band delighted us with sick indie tunes. Classic hits from The Strokes turned Mount Cobetas into a time machine that took us back to the early 2000s. We can only imagine that the new songs will be great too.

2. Music

When you say The Strokes you immediately think about catchy guitar riffs and rock and roll revival. Even though there were no new songs added to the playlist, everything was well thought. The pre-show playlist included hand picked songs like Frank Sinatra’s I love you Baby or Julie Andrew’s My Favorite Things, all building up the crowd’s excitement before Casablancas appeared on the stage. The band’s greatest hits, played one after another, never lose their charm and they always animate even the dullest crowd.

3. A trip down memory lane

The Strokes bring back everything we loved about the 2000s. Yes, it’s true, we can’t stop thinking of what could be the next move of the band that was supposed to save rock and roll. But most of the times we enjoy a roller coaster of nostalgia that makes us feel like time has stopped, like we’re still in high school and we just discovered this super cool band no one knows about.

4. The crowd for The Strokes

the crowd last nite before @thestrokes at @bilbaobbklive proving that pre show playlists are very important. ? pic.twitter.com/M30cKTPC2x — Ioana (@indieioa) July 13, 2019

The Bilbao BBK Live crowd was a very diverse one. From old die-hard fans, to indie teenagers and parents with kids, they all enjoyed the The Strokes and sang along the lyrics of their favourite tunes. We all know that extreme crowds can ruin the experience, but this was not the case. The American rock band provided the perfect context for music lovers to enjoy a rare indie rock show.

5. Stage performance

Photo: Tom Hagen

“We joke because we love, but we don’t love because we joke…we love because we dream”. In an effortless manner Julian Casablancas plays around with both the band and the crowd, telling jokes or declaring his love. You can easily understand why everybody loves him. We can now quote Alex Turner and say “I just wanted to be one of The Strokes…”. Julian’s coolness cannot be easily surpassed. From his leather vest and all black and white outfits, to the rock moves and crowd interaction, every piece of the rock and roll puzzle falls in its place.

6. A piece of rock and roll history

Photo: Ioana Maftei

To sum it up, the Bilbao BBK Live performance was a rare one. Having The Strokes headlining one of Europe’s most beloved festivals means a lot for the indie world. In a scene full of mainstream pop songs and solo artists, The Strokes showed us that rock and roll is still alive and kicking. No matter what others may say, some indie bands will never lose their magic.

How did you enjoy Bilbao BBK 2019?

Were you at Bilbao BBK 2019 as well? We would like to know how you experienced the festival. Below, you can rate the festival in seven different categories. In September, we conclude which festivals were the best during the Festileaks Festival Awards. Participation is voluntary and anonymous.

The Strokes

[awards poll=”festileaks-festival-awards-2019″ festival=”bilbao-bbk-live”]

The Strokes are an American band formed in 1998 in New York City. Loved by the public, the band was also critically acclaimed. Five studio albums were enough for The Strokes to become indie rock icons.

Their debut album, Is This It, which was released in 2001, made it on the Rolling Stone’s Best 100 Debut Album Of All Time. The band performed at several festivals around the world over the years. Still, in 2017, they decided to take a break.

Albert Hammond Jr., the rhythm guitarist, worked on his solo projects while Julian Casablancas, the lead singer, started touring with The Voidz. It was Casablancas who announced that The Strokes were planning a “global comeback” in 2019.

Bilbao BBK 2019

Photo: Javi Munoz, Bilbao BBK Live 2018

Bilbao BBK Live started in 2006. The Spanish festival exceeded 100,000 visitors and was nominated for Best Medium-Sized European Festival three consecutive times between 2009 and 2011. In 2019, the festival is headlined by The Strokes, Liam Gallagher, Weezer and many more.

For more information, visit the official website.