The Strokes perform on Saturday Night Live

The New York rock band The Strokes made their fifth musical appearance on Saturday Night Live, performing two tracks from their latest nine-track album, Reality Awaits. The band opened their set with “Lonely in the Future” and followed with “Going Shopping,” which featured actor Walton Goggins playing the bongo drums.

Produced by Rick Rubin, the new album was partially recorded in 2022 in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Rubin described the recording process as a unique experience where the band performed outdoors on a mountaintop. Additional recording sessions were held at Rubin’s studios in Southern California, including Shangri-La and The Mansion.

The performance is part of a broader promotional cycle for the Reality Awaits the World Tour. Following legs in North America and Europe, the band is scheduled to perform in Mexico and South America, with an upcoming trip to Australia in February. Future U.S. appearances include the Innings Festival in Arizona and the Kilby Block Party in Salt Lake City.