The Strokes’ Julian Casablancas gets festive at London gig – video

Singer airs his Christmas single at first night of residency

Julian Casablancas treated London to a festive solo show last night (December 15), as he performed his Christmas single at the HMV Forum.

Playing the first of two shows at the venue with his band – which includes The Strokes’ guitar “guru” JP Bowersock – the singer performed ‘I Wish It Was Christmas Today’, which is released in the UK on December 21.

Before the song Casablancas joked to the crowd he is beginning to reconsider his decision to record a festive song, before admitting he had said the same thing on most nights of the UK tour.

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“This is the part of the show when I say my little piece. People who come every night will say, ‘He says the same shit every night’,” he joked, before addressing his Christmas song. “I like the holidays, but they make me play it, yes it’s that one. I already regret it.”

With the crowd roaring approval for ‘I Wish It Was Christmas Today’, the singer mockingly replied, “Jesus, don’t yell at me!” before launching into the song. Watch fan footage of the song below.

The show saw Casablancas play songs from his solo record ‘Phrazes For The Young’, as well as a stripped-down, piano-only version of The Strokes‘I’ll Try Anything Once’ – an alternative B-side version of ‘First Impressions Of Earth’ track ‘You Only Live Once’.

The singer, watched by Strokes bandmate Nikolai Fraiture, The CribsRyan Jarman, Kate Nash, Bernard Butler and labelmates The Mystery Jets, frequently dived into the crowd as he performed the likes of ’11th Dimension’, ‘Out Of The Blue’ and set closer ‘4 Chords Of The Apocalypse’.

He then returned for a brief encore which included ‘Ludlow Street’, his Christmas song and final song ‘Glass’.

Julian Casablancas played:

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’11th Dimension’
‘River of Brakelights’
‘Out Of The Blue’
‘New One’
‘Left And Right In The Dark’
‘I’ll Try Anything Once’
’30 Minute Boyfriend’
‘4 Chords Of The Apocalypse’
‘Ludlow Street’
‘I Wish It Was Christmas Today’
‘Glass’

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