Back in May, English rockers Arctic Monkeys released their sixth studio album, Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino. Prior to the album’s announcement, it had been five years since we last heard from the Arctic Monkeys. The band held the material from this new album particularly close to the chest, choosing not to release any singles prior to the album drop—controlling the anticipation around their new studio effort to the highest degree. Now that the album is officially on shelves, the band is touring with the material during select dates in the U.S. and Canada.

Last night, Arctic Monkeys played Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, New York. In the second song slot of the encore, frontman Alex Turner said to the crowd, “And since we couldn’t think of a tennis song, we’re gonna try this.” From the opening notes, it was clear the band was going into their debut cover of The Strokes‘ “Is This It”.

As Consequence of Sound points out, the Arctic Monkeys’ admiration for The Strokes dates way back. In a 2011 interview with NME, Turner said about the album Is This It,

I remember I used to play the album in college all the time when our band was first starting. … Loads of people were into them, so loads of bands coming out sounded like them. And I remember consciously trying not to sound like The Strokes, deliberately taking bits out of songs that sounded too much like them, but I still loved that album.

Turner continued, “As much as they probably hate hearing this as well, they were the band that encouraged me to rip the knees of my jeans and write on them in marker pen. I wrote on them in red ink, ‘I’ve got soul and I’m superbad.'”

On their latest album, Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino, the opening lyrics of the opening track “Star Treatment” are “I just wanted to be one of The Strokes”.

So, the rare cover doesn’t come at all as much surprise. Watch Arctic Monkeys cover The Strokes in the fan-shot video below:

[Video: Deborah Fontenele]

Setlist: Arctic Monkeys | Forest Hills Tennis Stadium | New York, NY | 7/24/18

Four Out of Five, Brainstorm, Don’t Sit Down ‘Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair, Crying Lightning, Teddy Picker, 505, Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino, One Point Perspective, Do Me A Favor, Cornerstone, Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High?, The Ultracheese, Do I Wanna Know?, I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor, Knee Socks, Pretty Visitors, Arabella

E: Star Treatment, Is This It (The Strokes), R U Mine?

[H/T CoS]