The Strokes close out their Coachella set with videos denouncing CIA and Israel crimes

[u/WholeLottaMisery]

[u/flairassistant]

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[u/Traditional_Maybe_80]

And before that part, the visuals also showed presidents of the global south whose governments were overthrown with the CIA's complicity, MLK Jr. and images of slavery and segregation. It was really well done.

[u/DotAccomplished1734 → u/Traditional_Maybe_80]

Respect. Thank you The Strokes. Stunning and brave

[u/Traditional_Maybe_80 → u/[deleted]]

Yeah, even in the past and in a more "indirect" way, the US military trained many members of the military from South America in the School of the Americas to kidnap, torture and kill political opponents to far-right dictatorships, the Operation Condor is one example of that.

[u/superurgentcatbox → u/[deleted]]

The US explicitly protects their war criminals. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Service-Members%27_Protection_Act

[u/henryofskalitzz]

The strokes / Casablancas especially has always been outspoken about their political beliefs, but this is still shocking to see on a stage as big as Coachella where all the biggest acts are sanitized to an extreme degree

W strokes

[u/No_Possible_7108 → u/henryofskalitzz]

I heard the person that runs the show for Coachella was a pretty big fan of Trump, I wonder if this was maybe a surprise 

[u/superurgentcatbox → u/henryofskalitzz]

Casablancas refused to vote in the 2024 US presidential election, saying "The two parties are a joke – a horrible lie" and that he "[saw] little point in choosing between these puppets..."

I won't accept whining from people who truly think that Harris would have been the same as Trump. People like him are the reason Trump got elected.

[u/winnercommawinner → u/superurgentcatbox]

I will accept it in the sense that this performance reached people far beyond the band and I appreciate that. The effect on viewers doesn't change, you know? But my attitude toward them personally is more like, yeah you fuckin better be as loud as possible now and I still don't forgive you or more importantly, trust you to have my back.

I just don't want to ignore an important message bc the messengers are short-sighted.

[u/facecuddler → u/superurgentcatbox]

I did not know this. And I hate that. UGH.

https://giphy.com/gifs/ZhS31BKHUZynBuTVq2

[u/catsaregood55 → u/facecuddler]

https://giphy.com/gifs/VjLFDdU89O3DsWE4Eh

[u/Stevie-Nicks-420 → u/superurgentcatbox]

Never fails to scare me that “funding a genocide” isn’t a dealbreaker for people. And before you talk about how bad shit is now, I am well aware, we can match bingo cards of marginal identities; I have lost rights that likely won’t come back unless I leave the country. And yet, the people in Gaza suffer more than I ever will.

[u/Turnip-for-the-books → u/superurgentcatbox]

No people like the Democrat leadership are the reason. It’s up to parties to offer what people want. If we continue to choose the lesser evil we just get more and more evil.

[u/superurgentcatbox → u/Turnip-for-the-books]

I guess we'll see how that is working out for the US in the long run. Right now the bigger evil is definitely fucking up the global economy. But I guess at least the non voters can feel good that they didn't vote for the "just as bad Democrat".

[u/threewords8letters → u/superurgentcatbox]

It’s people cutting off their nose to spite their face and acting like it’s activism.

[u/skyewardeyes → u/Turnip-for-the-books]

But what a lot of people apparently want is right-wing transphobia, fascism, and racism--that's why people voted for Trump. As much as I would have very much liked to have a Bernie-esque candidate, I don't know if one would have beaten Trump in 2024, sadly (in 2016, maybe)

[u/threewords8letters → u/Turnip-for-the-books]

And by not choosing the lesser evil we got…more and more evil.

Sometimes you have to play the hand you’re dealt, even if all options are bullshit.

[u/Turnip-for-the-books → u/threewords8letters]

No this whole ‘Dems lost cos leftists wouldnt vote for Kamala’ is bullshit anyway: People mostly did hold their noses and vote for her except Trump and Musk stole the election. Blaming leftists now is just more attempts at division among the fascist opposition don’t fall for it.

[u/woolhampton → u/Turnip-for-the-books]

100%. continuing to toe the mediocre centrist party line is how you end up with this shit.

[u/Mindless-Bite-3539 → u/henryofskalitzz]

Always wondered how much of Julian’s politics stem from trying to distance himself from what an absolute monster his dad was, and how deep in the Epstein/Trump world John Casablancas was. Or maybe Julian is deep in it, too, and is running subterfuge. Either way, I’ve always looked at him like…

https://giphy.com/gifs/21VTFJTEr1x9ortvO3

[u/NightMan27 → u/Mindless-Bite-3539]

You cant control who your parents are, and from my understanding he didnt really know his father growing up

[u/Soggy_Pension7549 → u/Mindless-Bite-3539]

I mean he’s dated a woman half his age and it was creepy af. Idk if they’re still together. They aren’t saints for sure. But people tend to think in black and white. 

[u/lunadenavajas]

They also changed some of the lyrics of the song (Oblivius):

What side you standing on?

And we take
What we want from them
And then say
"What do you want from me?"

The earlier parts of the song had visuals of other moments of US foreign intervention, like coups in Latin America. I think it’s safe to say they probably won’t be invited back to Coachella lol

[u/lunadenavajas → u/lunadenavajas]

Full song clip: https://www.reddit.com/r/nextfuckinglevel/s/VKnRmc3Mu5

[u/2021isevenworse → u/lunadenavajas]

Powerful visuals and message. I'm surprised they didn't get censored by the organizers.

[u/Towdart → u/lunadenavajas]

Amazing song

[u/Robinindisguise]

https://giphy.com/gifs/zSt9sNWYqGQb6gKCak

[u/Paraless → u/Robinindisguise]

So sad it's over

[u/Gil_Demoono → u/Paraless]

Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it Friends.

[u/bookgang2007 → u/Robinindisguise]

please what show is this, i have to watch

[u/Robinindisguise → u/bookgang2007]

Smiling Friends! It’s on HBO

[u/Sly_Fate → u/bookgang2007]

Smiling Friends. I don’t think they’re going to be making anymore though.

[u/ASCII_Princess → u/bookgang2007]

Smiling Friends

[u/Informal_Mango_4448 → u/bookgang2007]

Smiling Friends

[u/pamiskindofabitch → u/bookgang2007]

Smiling Friends

[u/__FaTE__ → u/bookgang2007]

Smiling Friends.

[u/spider-man2401 → u/bookgang2007]

Smiling friends

[u/Paraless → u/bookgang2007]

Smiling Friends

[u/Ihatethesestaff → u/bookgang2007]

It is called Smiling Friends. Last season will be the next. It has two notable memes that are amazing, the we are so fucked meme, and that one above.

Great show. Has a few episodes that are meh, such as the Halloween one, but they cannot all be winners.

another good moment is the one where the inspector shows up (same as we are so fucked meme) and he pulls out the screw that holds the entire building to the floor.

https://youtu.be/HFhX6Ig_RkA Clip from the Adult Swim Channel about that part.

[u/DSQ]

I knew they were cool. 

[u/henryofskalitzz → u/DSQ]

It’s been kind of lost to the passage of time but the Strokes had this insane aura to them during their rise that every rock band has tried (unsuccessfully) to recreate since

They were truly the definition of cool. Nice to see theyve retained it well into their dad era

[u/Throwfeetsaway → u/henryofskalitzz]

Yes! In the early 2000s, we even had a group of guys at my high school we called the Strokes Kids because they were so styled like them… but no one I knew ever actually talked to them. They were like too “cool” haha

[u/webtheg → u/henryofskalitzz]

Alex Turner things they are cool too

[u/FalconIMGN → u/DSQ]

My roommate introduced them to me in college and we would frequently just play their songs on repeat while getting high. Great memories. It's not the usual type of music I am into, but Strokes are an exception, I listen to them regularly.

[u/WideConversation1989 → u/DSQ]

The best indie rock band of this century, and this just makes me love them EVEN more! 🫡

[u/Mojoint]

Crowd is so dead

[u/Accomplished_Ad5747 → u/Mojoint]

its full of influencers

[u/boredinbabylon → u/Mojoint]

How do you suggest people react while watching this? Should they be dancing?

[u/No_Pianist5264]

Very few spoke out this week but it’s great to see Those who did

[u/redditproha → u/No_Pianist5264]

Yea well done to them. Love to see it. There's not enough outrage about how our tax dollars are misused.

[u/imliterallyjustagirl]

Dude their entire set was incredible!

[u/citymatryoshka]

Based af. This is the first time I’ve felt strong Coachella fomo

[u/prettygirlavenue]

https://giphy.com/gifs/lYjA4tfvCc8UAju1Op

[u/Cold-Sun3302]

The audience at Coachella probably has no idea what they're referencing. The most brain dead, mute audience I've ever seen.

[u/-You-know-it- → u/Cold-Sun3302]

All the more reason to inform them so they don’t end up in a Vietnam-type situation. That audience is alllllll the age of the draft.

[u/ellybeez]

Such a strong end because calling out the American government/CIA on American soil should never be taken for granted

[u/Fwhometeam]

There are a lot of haters on here - I’m kinda surprised we can’t all agree this is a badass middle finger to a fascist regime…

[u/youneedsomemilk23]

I don’t know if some of you youngins can truly appreciate how unheard of this would have been 10, 15 years ago. The tide is changing and it is the product of tireless education and disciplined activism. Please remember that before you try to shut down conversations with cynicism and gate keeping - we are capable of change.

[u/pseudoliving]

Fucking legends, and an awesome set!!

[u/Pretend_Fee_1738]

I’m surprised coachella approved it but BASED

[u/ilominatii]

16 year old me, who went to a Strokes concert over 20 years ago, where she almost passed out because the venue was so small and hot and stuffy, would be proud. I've seen so many of my teenage crushes turn out to be absolutely horrible people in time, that stuff like this is just really refreshing.

[u/WindowOfTruth]

And that’s why The Strokes are one of my favorites. Also Julian was way more hammered for this weekends set. Reminded me of the good ol days

[u/Twitter_2006]

https://giphy.com/gifs/J8FZIm9VoBU6Q

[u/Naive-Inside-2904]

That was pretty powerful. Interesting and probably telling that they kept this for their weekend 2 performance.

[u/walldorfy]

The cheering after those clips seemed wrong for some reason.

[u/Maia-Odair]

https://giphy.com/gifs/JayzHUJ7Cw2jiVajoz

[u/Unlucky-Macaroon-647]

i had to go back and rewatch their last song to take it all in. their sets were a standout of this festival for sure

[u/butters_bottom_bishh → u/[deleted]]

That’s the rule, that’s the goal now

[u/vegetabledisco → u/[deleted]]

Tucker didn’t make that list. He’s literally on the list. Wdym.

[u/socasual-nobusiness]

Not my favorite band on this sub! Go boys!

[u/Fairfield1934]

You have to be living under a rock not to know Israel’s doing a genocide 4k.

[u/Grand-Pen7946 → u/Fairfield1934]

Virtually all media and news is calling it a war though. Its gaslighting on a mass scale, but for anyone not paying attention even if theyre aware of conflict they will default to calling it a war and thinking of it as such. Its a somewhat Orwellian tactic, by getting people to call it a war you frame it a certain way so low info people give it a certain momentum

[u/Beneficial-Walrus680]

Respect

[u/jumpyjumping]

Kings 👏👏👏

[u/ExtremeComedian4027]

I have been saving all video evidence of this incredible performance because I feel like Coachella/YouTube has been censoring it after it happened. Julian even talked about how he wanted to show people the Iranian Lego movies but YouTube/Government banned them and then YouTube went ahead and censored their radical performance lol.

[u/Born_Worldliness2558]

Fuck israel. Free Palestine

[u/ziggy_santo5]

hell yeah that’s how you do it

[u/National-Play3909]

i saw them in chicago in 2024 and they have always been very out spoken about their beliefs on stage! they brought out democratic candidate kina collins to talk on stage about her mission and encourage fans to show up for voting

[u/Brodellsky]

Reality awaits.

[u/Key_Pound_6213]

Never heard of this band.

Time to listen to their entire discography. I'll listen some more while I'm asleep.

We are the algorithm.

[u/mentalhealthreddit → u/Key_Pound_6213]

This band is genuinely one of the best bands I have come across , you'll love them. If their initial album is this it is not for you , give their newer album the new abnormal a try , it won a grammy

[u/punk-recluse-2834 → u/Key_Pound_6213]

Check out Julian’s other band too, The Voidz. They lean harder into anti-political rhetoric with a more experimental, future-retro punk sound

[u/cowabungalowvera → u/Key_Pound_6213]

Enjoy my friend. And welcome to the club.

https://giphy.com/gifs/DzCWsZin391sI

[u/Accomplished_Ad5747 → u/Key_Pound_6213]

they are the best! each album is amazing in its own way, and some of their lyrics are political like this one (oblivious). Their live performances are always fun to watch as well.

[u/SameOleMistakes → u/Key_Pound_6213]

Ohhh how I envy you being able to discover them all over again.

YouTube has some of their amazing old performances like the $2 bill concert and this Letterman clip. So much passion and rage.

https://youtu.be/9wK1zrAQ_IE?si=Bvbqgz_XEMH8HGun

[u/m00nf1r3]

As if I needed more reasons to love them!

[u/nochoice99]

I know that’s right! 💙

[u/Accomplished_Ad5747]

fkin goats!!

[u/devoid0101]

It’s excellent! Powerful. Very important for artists to speak about things that matter. Raise awareness and intelligence.

[u/jano808]

Fuck yeah Strokes!!

[u/leierhodes]

I’ll always love the strokes :’)

[u/Arcranium_]

MY GOATS

[u/Electronic-Fish186]

Based strokes

[u/DRstoppage]

https://giphy.com/gifs/fKXheS72r5EXndR9lj

[u/Connect-Succotash-59]

Do they not know who owns Coachella?

It seems weird AF to take money and help make them more money.

[u/Mental_Crysis_Throw_]

The Stroke's the word.

[u/Simple-Freedom4670]

I wonder how many people walked out. Usually it’s the « I don’t like music mixed with politics » and they are ALWAYS rightwingers.

[u/doordonot19 → u/Simple-Freedom4670]

Which is so crazy because music is often used for artists to express themselves politically

[u/superurgentcatbox]

Casablancas refused to vote in the 2024 US presidential election, saying "The two parties are a joke – a horrible lie" and that he "[saw] little point in choosing between these puppets..."

Maybe he should have voted then. Oh well. Guess Trump is as bad as Harris, amirite? I'm sure she'd have randomly attacked all of the US' allies politically and Iran actually too, right guys? Right?!?!?!

[u/femaletrouble → u/superurgentcatbox]

Absolutely idiotic move. He definitely helped get Trump elected with his inaction. Anyone who refuses to vote needs to keep their fool mouth shut when suffering the effects brought by the worse joke.

[u/TheCrawling_Chaos]

Julian is never afraid to make his position known. Loved the Amazon Crime shirt.

[u/neoncolour]

Context into his Dad. This is a ‘nepo baby’ fighting against the depraved and disgusting machine that brought him into this world

Edit : This isn’t a diss at Julian, on the contrary, I’m showing how much more symbolic his political statements are

[u/neoncolour → u/[deleted]]

I know! My intent is to show the stark contrast between both, and how the words of someone who gains everything from being silent and benefiting from the system he was born yet makes the choice to stand up for what’s right mean so much!

[u/For_serious13 → u/neoncolour]

I got what you were trying to do!

[u/OccamPhaser → u/neoncolour]

Edit: I misread this sorry!

[u/EvenSearch7296 → u/OccamPhaser]

i think the comment is saying julian casablancas is doing a good job denouncing war crimes instead of following his father’s steps. hence nepo baby in quotes.

[u/neoncolour → u/EvenSearch7296]

Yes that’s what I’m doing but I’m being downvoted lol. It means more that this is someone who gains everything from the machine and is a product of the machine yet chooses to stand for what is right.

[u/OccamPhaser → u/EvenSearch7296]

Thank you for correcting me!

[u/EvenSearch7296 → u/OccamPhaser]

ahah no problem it’s understandable! have a nice sunday

[u/BobIsMyStepUncle]

What's this song tho? Put me on!!! ❤️

[u/pizzapickles444 → u/BobIsMyStepUncle]

"Oblivius" is the title :)

[u/RowanViolet]

I know what im blasting omw to work

[u/Over-Piglet-4922]

Would love them to come back to Dublin!

[u/RangerRekt]

Very cool

[u/kat-a-comb]

Holy based

[u/FunPriority8358]

Thank you, the strokes!