The Strokes brought their Reality Awaits era to Saturday Night Live on November 7, delivering two performances from their latest album during their fifth appearance as musical guests. The New York band performed “Lonely in the Future” and “Going Shopping” on the episode hosted by Druski, with actor Walton Goggins making an unexpected appearance during the second set.
The group opened the broadcast’s musical segment with “Lonely in the Future,” a swaggering track that takes aim at modern music industry trends and the culture surrounding contemporary artists. The performance featured a distinctive stage design, with red brick walls, a white floor, elevated drums and hanging light bulbs creating a stripped-back, almost surreal atmosphere.
Your daily dose of music news, trends, and fresh drops.
InMusic Newsletter
Later in the episode, The Strokes returned for “Going Shopping,” another track from their seventh studio album. This time, they had some additional company: Goggins joined the band onstage to play bongos. The actor previously starred in its music video, released earlier this year as an homage to Paul Simon’s iconic “You Can Call Me Al” visual.
Both performances put the spotlight on Reality Awaits, released July 24, 2026, through RCA and Cult Records. Produced by Rick Rubin, the album marks The Strokes’ first studio effort since 2020’s Grammy-winning The New Abnormal.
The SNL appearance also came with a noticeable lineup change. Guitarist Nick Valensi was absent from the stage, continuing his temporary break from touring that began in May. Steve Schiltz of Longwave has been filling in for him during live dates, although Valensi has remained active outside the band’s touring schedule, including a recent guest appearance with Duran Duran.
For The Strokes, the November 7 broadcast marked their first return to Studio 8H since October 31, 2020, when they performed “The Adults Are Talking” and “Bad Decisions” during John Mulaney’s episode. Their earlier musical guest appearances took place in January 2002, 2006 and 2011, bringing their total to five and placing them in SNL’s informal Five-Timers Club.
The episode was particularly notable for Druski, who made history as the first digital content creator and internet personality to host the NBC institution. Celebrity guests including Emma Stone, Dave Chappelle and Chris Rock also appeared during the goodnights.
Watch The Strokes perform “Lonely in the Future” and “Going Shopping” below.
Photo: SNL / YouTube
Leave a Reply