The Strokes Deliver Dynamic Saturday Night Live Performance Featuring Walton Goggins
The New York rock icons showcased tracks from their latest album, Reality Awaits, on SNL.
1Fifth SNL Musical Appearance
New York rock band The Strokes returned to Saturday Night Live for their fifth musical guest appearance. Hosted by comedian Druski, the band performed two tracks from their seventh studio album, Reality Awaits. This appearance follows their previous SNL stint in 2020, which promoted their earlier record, The New Abnormal.
2Live Performance Highlights
The band opened their set with the track Lonely in the Future. Later in the episode, they returned to perform Going Shopping. For this second song, actor Walton Goggins joined the group on stage playing bongo drums, reprising his role from the song's official music video released earlier this year.
3Creative Recording Process
The album Reality Awaits was produced by Rick Rubin, with recording sessions beginning in 2022 in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Rubin described the unique experience of recording the band outdoors on a mountain top. Additional studio work for the nine-track record took place at Rubin’s Shangri-La and The Mansion facilities in California.
4Guitarist Absence Continues
Longtime guitarist Nick Valensi remained absent from the stage during this performance. Valensi announced a temporary break from the band in May, with Steve Schiltz of Longwave currently filling in for tour dates. Despite his absence from the band, Valensi recently performed with Duran Duran during a show in Paris.
5Global Tour Trajectory
The SNL appearance follows the North American and European legs of the Reality Awaits world tour. The band is scheduled to perform in Mexico and South America in the coming weeks, followed by an Australian tour in February. Upcoming U.S. dates include the Innings Festival and the Kilby Block Party.
6Music Video Homage
The music video for Going Shopping, directed by Johann Rashid, pays tribute to Paul Simon’s 1986 video for You Can Call Me Al. Walton Goggins takes on the role originally performed by Chevy Chase in the classic clip. Goggins has publicly described his involvement with the band as a dream.
7Critical Reception Context
The band’s latest album, Reality Awaits, arrived in July and marks their first full-length release in six years. Critics have praised the group's willingness to experiment on this record. Recent live reviews suggest the band currently feels more locked in and vital than they have in many years of performing.
8Future Show Programming
Following this episode, SNL continues its season with upcoming musical guest Phoebe Bridgers, scheduled to perform on November 14. John Mulaney is set to host that specific broadcast. The Strokes remain focused on their ongoing international tour schedule, maintaining their momentum after the successful release of their latest studio project.