Flashback: The Strokes and Elvis Costello perform “Taken for a Fool” @ MSG April 1, 2011

This will be my last ever post for 2bitmonkey.

Just kidding!!  Today is April 1, i.e. April Fool’s Day. With the release of the Strokes’ new album Comedown Machine, I am reminded of one of the best concert experiences I’ve ever had, 2 years ago tonight at Madison Square Garden.  The Strokes performed that night for the first time in many years (not including a few Festival appearances they’d made prior to releasing their long-awaited 4th album Angles) and I had VIP tickets to the show, which gave me access to the floor where I stood as close as possible to the stage, at many points a mere foot away from Julian Casablancas as he rocked.  One of the shocks of the night was an opening unbilled performance by the great Elvis Costello, who got the night started with a bang, a 3-song explosion consisting of “Pump It Up,” “Radio Radio,” and “(What’s So Funny ’bout) Peace, Love and Understanding?”  As if that wasn’t enough, after the Strokes delighted the crowd with 14 of their fantastic hits (setlist here), Casablancas teased the crowd by saying Costello would join him onstage … only to say “April Fool’s!” and sing on his own … but then less than a minute into the set closer “Taken for a Fool” Costello snuck up on him and the crowd and began singing along! The Strokes and Costello wowed everyone and then left the stage, which would have been enough for me.  Of course, this being the Strokes performing in the their hometown for the first time in at least 5 years, they had a 5-song encore still in them, culminating in a powerful version of “Take It or Leave It” that left me thrilled and exhausted all at once.

Here’s a video of Costello joining the Strokes on stage for “Taken for a Fool” … one of those live concert moments that can never be duplicated by listening to an album or mp3.  And here’s a link to another video of the same as well as “Take It or Leave It.”  Finally, here are my photos from the show.  Enjoy!