Strokes frontman's "Alt New York" jab draws immediate boos from Toronto crowd

The Strokes played a sold-out show at RBC Amphitheatre on June 22, drawing roughly 16,000 fans spanning the band's 25-year career. But it was a offhand remark by frontman Julian Casablancas early in the 100-minute set that got the crowd's attention—and not in a good way.

"Here we are, Toronto, Alt New York, as they say," Casablancas said a few songs in, referring to the city with what felt like a backhanded compliment. The remark was met with immediate, audible boos from sections of the crowd—brief but loud enough to cut through the music.

Casablancas, a New York native who rarely talks much on stage beyond mumbling under his trademark sunglasses, appeared to sense he'd misstep. Later in the set, just before playing the new song "Going Shopping," he corrected course: "Toronto is its own place and Toronto has its own vibe." It would have been funnier, the review notes, if he'd said it as a preamble to "Bad Decisions."

Despite the moment, the connection between band and audience remained intact. The Strokes have sustained a career for more than 25 years built on tight, garage-leaning rock and Casablancas' detached, weary vocal style. The set drew heavily from across their discography—from 2001's breakthrough Is This It to their six-album catalogue—with many in the audience discovering the band through their parents, video games like Guitar Hero, and streaming playlists. Tracks like "Reptilia" and "Last Nite" remain staples, and the setlist featured songs spanning from 2006's First Impressions of Earth through 2020's Grammy-winning The New Abnormal, plus two singles from the forthcoming album Reality Awaits, which has been pushed back a month to July 26.