Are They It?

Valensi and the band don't want to get too caught up in that kind of praise. Only now are they beginning to find their way in the chaos that has surrounded them since the release of The Modern Age. Only now are they returning to normal, though normal now has a new meaning. It's been a difficult process, progressing from kids handing out fliers in front of venues to musicians handing out their time to starry-eyed journalists. But they're still the same five friends they were when this all started. As Valensi says, nothing's changed. And everything's changed.

"As far as our relationships with each other, and like, the way we communicate with each other, it's all very, very much the same, and it hasn't, like, changed at all. I think especially for Julian, in terms of being creative and stuff, and writing new songs, and as a band, working on new shit and being creative together, that's sort of taken a toll, due to the excessive touring and excessive talking to journalists." He laughs, knowing what that sounds like during an interview. "I think we're still new to this. We're just sort of, like, falling into place now, and realizing what works for us. How we can sort of, like, still feel normal while we're on the road and, like, playing for people, you know? I mean, like, at first, we thought we could just sort of...we were of the opinion of, 'Yeah, we can play, like, 21 shows in a row. Like, sure, no problem.' And still, like, do interviews every day, and take photos every day. But it turns out that that's just impossible. At a point, it was taking toll on us creatively; we didn't have a new song for, like, a couple of months there. And that hadn't happened for years. Right now, we're just sort of in the process of, like, cutting down a lot on press, because it sucks at your soul." He waits a beat. "No offense."

Different Strokes: "I would hate us too without ever having heard us," guitarist Nick Valensi says.

Even with all the hype generated by their debut, the members of The Strokes still see themselves as five drinking buddies.

Details

October 22

Gypsy Tea Room

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More About

• Nick Valensi
• The Strokes
• Julian Casablancas
• Nikolai Fraiture
• John Casablancas

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