Photo Gallery: The Strokes at Metro • Chicago

Brassneck | June 19, 2022

The Strokes
Metro
Chicago, IL
June 17, 2022

Recap and photos by Curt Baran

“I was at a party in New York, and I met a tall guy named Julian.” Congressional candidate Kina Collins mentions this in front of a sold-out crowd with all the nonchalance of spotting your postal worker on your block. But her obvious enthusiasm is completely inferred. The “Julian” in question is Julian Casablancas, lead singer of The Strokes. The two got to talking, and Collins mentioned that she would be running for office back in her hometown of Chicago. Fast forward to this past weekend, and the politically active Casablancas’ arrived with his band in tow for a political fundraiser to help Collins in a primary election to unseat the two-plus decades incumbent in her 7th Congressional district.

Lucky concertgoers paid a premium to see the acclaimed Brooklyn band in a small venue AND fundraise for a grassroots candidate who is refusing to accept corporate PAC donations.

After leaving Metro, a stroll past a still illuminated Wrigley Field, one could see the “W” flag still flying over the historic scoreboard from earlier in the day (The Cubs had broken a ten-game losing streak hours earlier). Many would be completely oblivious to the fact that another victory had just occurred down the street.