This month, we will take a trip to the Lower East Side and deep dive into the 2001 album āIs This Itā by The Strokes.
Emerging from New York City at a time when mainstream rock was dominated by polished post-grunge and nu metal. The band consisted of members Julian Casablancas, Nick Valensi, Albert Hammond Jr., Nikolai Fraiture, and Fabrizio Moretti, building momentum through energetic club shows and an EP before being signed to RCA Records. The album captured the mood of urban youth with lyrics about boredom, nightlife, relationships, and alienation, all delivered with a detached attitude that became central to the bandās image.
The sound of āIs This Itā is defined by clean but gritty guitar riffs, tight rhythm sections, minimalist production, and catchy melodies with vocals recorded through guitar amps heavily inspired by bands like The Velvet Underground, Television, and Ramones. The albumās influence was enormous: it helped spark the garage rock revival and paved the way for bands like Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand, and Bloc Party. Today, āIs This Itā is widely considered one of the most influential and acclaimed rock albums of the 21st century.
We will also be conducting a DOUBLE-FEATURE late-show listening session included with each ticket of the 2002 album āTurn On The Bright Lightsā by Interpol. Another album near just as influential-emerging from the same NYC clubs & rock scene. Although people have speculated a rivalry, both bands have acknowledged they both catapulted eachothers success/lore of this iconic time & scene. Very well documented in the 2022 documentary film āMeet Me In The Bathroomā.
We will be listening to both albums on vinyl at the peak of our evening on our Hi-Fi Sound System.
This will be accompanied by all-vinyl DJ sets by
@marsqo &
@london.guzman , both pioneers of the Long Beach music scene dropping classics from the early 2000ās & the roots of what is now called Indie Sleaze.
As well, we will have
@softfury doing album-inspired flash tattoos in the patio!
May 26th, 6PM.
+21
Each ticket includes an album-inspired cocktail presented by
@doloreslbc
$15. Link in bio.