Julian Casablancas + The Voidz played Hammerstein, did a Strokes song w/ Dev Hynes (pics, video, setlist)
photos by Dana (distortion) Yavin
Julian / Blood Orange (via Jeanette Diaz)
Julian Casablancas + The Voidz brought their tour to the Strokes frontman’s former hometown of NYC at Hammerstein Ballroom last night (11/25) in support of their zany debut album, Tyranny. While Julian’s most known (and most loved) for his Velvet Underground/Television-inspired leather jacket rockers, and has since also ventured into synth pop and new wave, his new album with The Voidz has him making weirdo out-there psychedelic pop that has more in common with Ariel Pink than Lou Reed. They played most of the album, but did dip into Julian’s solo career for “River of Brakelights” and into The Strokes’ catalog for two off 2005’s First Impressions of Earth, “Ize of the World” and “You Only Live Once,” the latter of which saw Dev Hynes joining the band on vocals (video below).
Dev also opened the show with his Blood Orange project, and was sporting a shirt emblazoned with “BLACK LIVES MATTER,” the hashtag that’s been trending since the Ferguson case ruling was announced. Julian mentioned Ferguson on stage too, and after the show Dev took to Twitter to reflect:
Tonight I got to sing with a hero onstage in the city I love on a day I woke up alive and well. This is luck. It’s all luck. We are told that our lives don’t matter. Daily. Not just in situations like this that bring it to light. Let’s look after ourselves. Let’s look after each other. We are all we have and we have to stand up for ourselves & our neighbors. All lives matter. DO NOT FORGET. I know some of you feel this deep sadness. Like a fist pushing you down. Others may just feel bummed out for a day, but to those who have lived with this constant scrutiny & lack of importance in these eyes of others, it’s more than a news story to us. Keep that in mind.
Shabazz Palaces, who have been on tour with Julian, played after Blood Orange, adding a dose of hip hop to the bill. They’ve also got a new album to support, and mixed stuff off that with stuff off their 2011 debut Black Up. Shabazz also joined Julian as guest musicians on “Father Electricity” during his set, but SP’s Ishmael Butler didn’t take over on lead vocals this time like he did in Montreal.
Unfortunately our photographer missed the openers, but more pictures of The Voidz, plus video of the Julian/Dev collab, a few other Voidz videos and their setlist, below…
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Julian Casablancas – “You Only Live Once” w/ Dev Hynes
Julian Casablancas – “Human Sadness”
Julian Casablancas – “Where No Eagles Fly”
Julian Casablancas – “I’ll Try Anything Once”