The Strokes drop bombshell visuals, call out US policy, Gaza genocide at Coachella

THE Strokes closed their second weekend set at Coachella with a bold political statement, projecting a video montage criticising United States foreign policy and Israel’s actions in Gaza.

The indie rock band performed “Oblivius” for the first time since 2016 on Saturday night, turning the rare set into commentary on global conflict and power structures.

During the song, visuals on massive LED screens accused the CIA of orchestrating regime change and political violence, referencing figures such as Omar Torrijos, Jacobo Árbenz and Jaime Roldós Aguilera.

The montage also touched on claims surrounding the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., suggesting a broader pattern of US intervention.

The visuals later shifted to the Middle East, showing footage of bombings with captions including “Over 30 universities destroyed in Iran” and “Last university standing in Gaza,” highlighting the civilian toll of ongoing conflicts.

Frontman Julian Casablancas repeatedly sang, “What side are you standing on?” reinforcing the confrontational tone.

The segment ended with an image of a fighter jet before fading to black, as the band left the stage without an encore.

The performance had marked a sharper escalation from their first weekend set, where Casablancas had already hinted at political tensions by mocking the prospect of a military draft in the United States amid the Iran conflict.

“You guys excited about the draft? Oh, wait, not the NFL draft,” he had said, in a satirical remark that drew mixed reactions.

Despite speculation online, there was no indication the montage was cut short, with the full segment broadcast on the festival’s official livestream.

The moment also drew comparisons to Irish group Kneecap, who previously sparked backlash at the festival after condemning Israel’s actions in Gaza during their performance.

Online reaction to The Strokes’ set had been largely supportive among fans, with many praising the band for using their platform to highlight issues in Gaza, Iran and Latin America.

One viewer said the band had done “what few artists have ever done” on the festival’s main stage, while others described the finale as a powerful reality check.

User @mason__808 said, “This is why we love The Strokes.”

@kimberlyp14 added, “This is what courage looks like.”

@humbertocoli said the message came through “clear and loud.”

However, the performance also drew criticism from some quarters, highlighting growing divisions over political expression in music spaces.

Held annually in California, Coachella is one of the world’s biggest music festivals, spanning two weekends with three-day line-ups and featuring hundreds of artists across multiple stages.

Formed in New York City in 1998, The Strokes are widely regarded as one of the defining bands of the early-2000s garage rock revival.

Fronted by Casablancas alongside Nick Valensi, Albert Hammond Jr., Nikolai Fraiture and Fabrizio Moretti, the band rose to prominence with their debut album “Is This It,” which helped reshape modern rock.

With hits such as “Last Nite” and “Reptilia,” the group went on to influence a generation of bands, cementing their place as one of the most important acts of their era.

They later earned their first Grammy Award for Best Rock Album with “The New Abnormal” in 2021, nearly two decades into their career.