What to expect at The Strokes’ Reality Awaits Tour: Setlist, start time and more

The Strokes have never been the kind of band where you can look up one setlist and know exactly what you are getting.

Songs move in and out. A deep cut can suddenly show up. An intro might turn into a jam. And Julian Casablancas is still Julian Casablancas, which means there is usually room for something unexpected between the songs, too.

That has carried right into the Reality Awaits era.

If you are catching The Strokes on the rest of the “Reality Awaits” Tour, here is what recent shows tell us about the setlist, openers, stage time, show length and what the night is actually like.

Ultimate guide to The Strokes' "Reality Awaits" Tour

The “Reality Awaits” Tour supports The Strokes’ seventh studio album and includes headline shows at arenas, amphitheaters and other large venues across North America before continuing internationally.

The album follows The New Abnormal, which earned the band its first Grammy Award for Best Rock Album.

There is also a notable lineup change. Founding guitarist Nick Valensi is currently taking a temporary break from touring, with Longwave's Steve Schiltz filling in on guitar at recent performances.

Upcoming “Reality Awaits” Tour dates

The remaining North American dates include arena and amphitheater shows before finishing with a special outdoor performance in Queens.

The Queens finale is a little different from the rest of the tour, with Beach House, TV on the Radio and Fcukers joining The Strokes for an outdoor show.

Where else can fans see The Strokes perform?

In addition to the remaining “Reality Awaits” Tour dates, The Strokes are scheduled to headline two major U.S. music festivals in September.

These are festival appearances rather than stops on the “Reality Awaits” Tour, so expect a different format from a standard Strokes headline show. Festival sets can be shorter and have to fit within a fixed stage schedule.

The Strokes are currently scheduled to perform at 9:30 p.m. at Shaky Knees and 9 p.m. at Sea.Hear.Now. Festival schedules can change, so check the latest daily lineup before attending.

Who is opening for The Strokes?

The supporting lineup changes by city, and the openers cover a pretty wide range of sounds.

The Garden are scheduled for Vancouver and Seattle. The Orange County duo of twin brothers Wyatt and Fletcher Shears bring an experimental mix of punk, jagged electronics and theatrical live energy that fits comfortably on a Strokes bill without sounding much like the headliner.

ÖLÜM is also listed for Seattle after opening the recent Bend show. The Los Angeles-based group takes inspiration from the golden age of Anatolian psychedelic rock, combining Turkish folk material with fuzzed-out guitars, analog synths and percussion.

Geordie Greep is scheduled for Tampa, Hollywood and Charlotte. The former Black Midi frontman is the most musically unpredictable of the supporting acts, moving between prog rock, jazz, art rock and even Brazilian and Latin influences on his solo material.

Promiseland also appears on parts of the Southeast run. The project from Johann Rashid mixes punk vocals and driving electronic beats with a chaotic, performance-art-heavy live show. There is also a direct Strokes connection: Julian Casablancas signed Promiseland to Cult Records.

The Queens show is closer to a one-day mini festival than a traditional opener-headliner setup. Beach House bring dreamy, atmospheric indie pop; Brooklyn's TV on the Radio add a more explosive mix of art rock, post-punk and electronics; and New York duo Fcukers lean into house beats, '90s electronic sounds and dance-pop energy.

What time do The Strokes go on stage?

Most recent headline dates have put The Strokes onstage around 9 to 9:30 p.m.

That has been the most consistent pattern across recent arena and amphitheater shows, although earlier starts can happen when the venue schedule or supporting lineup is different. Bend was a notable exception, with the band starting around 8:05 p.m. after an unusually early schedule built around the venue’s 10 p.m. curfew.

The safest move is to treat 9 p.m. as a useful benchmark, not a guaranteed start time. If you want to see the openers, arrive before the listed show time rather than trying to time your entrance around The Strokes.

How long is a Strokes concert?

A full Strokes headline show on this tour typically lasts about 95 to 105 minutes, or roughly an hour and 40 minutes.

That range has held pretty consistently across recent “Reality Awaits” dates, with some shows stretching closer to 110 minutes or more.

Festival sets are usually shorter because The Strokes are working within a fixed time slot. Recent festival performances have generally landed closer to 75 to 90 minutes.

What is The Strokes’ “Reality Awaits” setlist?

The Strokes do not play the exact same set every night, but the “Reality Awaits” Tour has developed a clear group of songs that show up much more often than others.

Across the first 20 tour performances, seven songs have been played at every show: “Going Shopping,” “Hard to Explain,” “Juicebox,” “Reptilia,” “Someday,” “Take It or Leave It” and “The Adults Are Talking.”

Here are the songs that have appeared at least 10 times through the first 20 reported tour shows.

Do The Strokes play older hits?

Yes. Older songs still make up the foundation of the show.

Several of the most consistent songs on the “Reality Awaits” Tour come from The Strokes’ early albums. “Hard to Explain,” “Someday” and “Take It or Leave It” have appeared at all 20 reported shows, while “Last Nite” has been played at 19.

“Reptilia” has also been played every night, and “Juicebox,” “You Only Live Once” and “Ize of the World” have been nearly as common.

The set reaches well beyond the biggest hits, too. Songs from Angles, Comedown Machine and The New Abnormal have been regular parts of the set, while deeper cuts rotate in and out from night to night.

What fans should not expect is every major song at the same show. The core is pretty consistent, but there is still plenty of room for The Strokes to change things around.

Is there an encore at a Strokes concert?

Usually, yes.

Most full headline shows on the “Reality Awaits” Tour have included an encore, but the number of songs can change from night to night. Recent shows have ranged from shorter two-song encores to longer four-song finishes.

The encore is also one of the least predictable parts of the set. “Last Nite,” “Selfless,” “Going to Babble On” and “Threat of Joy” have all appeared there recently, but there is no fixed closing sequence.

What is a Strokes concert like?

A Strokes show feels a little different every night.

Songs can stretch out, intros can turn into jams and Julian Casablancas tends to leave plenty of room for random comments and unexpected moments between tracks.

There is still plenty of production for an arena or amphitheater, but the night never feels built around giant effects or perfectly timed transitions. The band is still the whole point.

That is what makes seeing The Strokes live fun. You know a lot of the songs going in, but you never quite know how the night is going to unfold.

When should you arrive for The Strokes’ concert?

If you want to see the openers, getting there by the listed show time is the safest move.

For most headline dates, arriving about 60 to 90 minutes early should give you enough time to get through security, grab merch and find your spot without rushing.

It matters even more for general-admission floors and amphitheater lawns, where showing up later can mean settling for whatever space is left.

Seattle has two supporting acts, so fans who want the full bill should plan to be there around doors.

Queens is a different kind of day altogether. Gates open at 3 p.m., the event starts at 4 p.m. and Beach House, TV on the Radio and Fcukers are all playing before The Strokes.

What should you bring to a Strokes concert?

Start with the obvious stuff: your mobile ticket, a charged phone and whatever ID or payment method you might need inside.

A portable charger is a smart add, especially for Queens or one of the festival dates where you could be out for most of the day. Earplugs are worth bringing too if you are planning to be close to the stage or speakers.

Wear shoes you will actually want to stand in for a few hours. That matters most on general-admission floors, amphitheater lawns and festival grounds.

For outdoor shows, check the forecast before you leave. Queens is in early October, so it could feel very different by the time The Strokes come on than it did when the gates opened.

Before you pack a bag, check the venue rules. Bag sizes and prohibited items can vary quite a bit from one stop to the next.

What should you wear to The Strokes’ “Reality Awaits” Tour?

You do not need to overthink it. A Strokes crowd is an easy place for band tees, jeans, leather or denim jackets, boots and sneakers.

You will also see plenty of fans in older Strokes merch alongside shirts from the Reality Awaits era, including the Bull Rider Tee.

The main thing is to wear something you will actually be comfortable in for a few hours, especially if you have a general-admission ticket or are heading to one of the outdoor shows.

How to get The Strokes tickets on SeatGeek

A Strokes show can feel unpredictable once the band gets onstage, but buying your ticket should be the easy part.

1. Go to The Strokes’ ticket page on SeatGeek's website or open the SeatGeek app.

2. Choose the “Reality Awaits” date and city you want to attend.

3. Use the interactive map to compare sections, rows and prices. For reserved-seat shows, check available View From Seat images to get a better idea of the sightline.

4. Check Deal Score to compare listings based on factors such as price, seat location, expected view, historical pricing and other available tickets.

5. Use filters to narrow the options by price, ticket quantity, section or other preferences.

6. Review the event date, venue, ticket type, delivery details and displayed price before checkout. SeatGeek uses All-In Pricing, so mandatory ticket fees are included in the price you see while shopping.

7. Complete your purchase and follow the delivery instructions in your SeatGeek account. Eligible purchases are backed by the SeatGeek Buyer Guarantee, including protections for valid entry, timely ticket delivery and receiving the tickets you ordered.

The fun of seeing The Strokes is that the night can still get weird in the best way. You might get the song you came for. You might get the deep cut you had already given up on. You might get Julian going completely off-script for 90 seconds.

Either way, if the encore starts, do not be the person already halfway to the parking lot.