The Strokes Hit SNL Without Valensi, With a Hollywood Guest

The Strokes brought the noise to Saturday Night Live this weekend, rolling through "Lonely in the Future" and "Going Shopping" — two cuts that show the band still got that sharp, angular edge that made them essential. The catch? Guitarist Nick Valensi sat this one out, which is always a weird energy when you're used to seeing the whole unit locked in together.

What made it interesting: actor Walton Goggins pulled up as a special guest for the performance. It's one of those left-field moments that reminds you SNL still knows how to mix things up — celebrity collaborations on a live rock set can go either way, but The Strokes have the confidence to make anything work.

It's unclear why Valensi wasn't there, but the show went on. The band's still touring and pushing new material, so this was a solid platform to remind people why they mattered in the first place and why they still do.

Read the full story at Pitchfork → https://pitchfork.com/story/watch-the-strokes-play-lonely-in-the-future-and-going-shopping-on-snl/