The Strokes and Charli XCX commemorated the coincidental simultaneous release of their new albums—Reality Awaits and Music, Fashion, Film—with a live collaboration at San Francisco’s Outside Lands music festival.
During The Strokes’ Saturday night headlining set, the “Guess” singer and former Maxim cover star received a sassy intro from Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas: “We’ve got a special little guest. A big guest—well, a superstar,” Casablancas said before alluding to the runaway success of Charli XCX’s first chart-topping album. “Congratulations, you have defeated us in the album sales. Your new queen of everything, Charli XCX.”
Apparently unaware of what she was to perform, Casablancas then asked, “Which song you wanna do?” as Charli XCX began intoning a wonderfully eerie rendition of the “Take It or Leave It” bridge melody up the octave—notably, the track was first released when she was 8 years old. “Ooo, I know this one,” Casablancas said before the duo traded phrases and sections throughout the driving Is This It? classic.
“Charli motherfucking XCX!” Casablancas said after the pair shared a handshake and a hug. “Yep, she won. She won by a lot. She’s a giant pop star, in our defense.” Watch the fan-shot moment below:
Music, Fashion, Film—led by singles “Rock Music,” “SS26,” “Wink Wink,” and “Camera”—debuted at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Top Album Sales chart after its July 24 release, marking her career-best record performance to date after Brat and Crash both topped out at No. 2. According to Billboard, its release encapsulated 15 vinyl variants (including three signed editions), four CD variants (including two signed editions), four digital download editions (including one with three additional B-sides), and one cassette. The record also took No. 1 on Billboard‘s Vinyl Albums and Indie Store Album Sales charts, No. 2 on Top Alternative Albums and Top Rock & Alternative Albums, and No. 3 on the Billboard 200.
Reality Awaits peaked at No. 2 on the Top Album Sales chart and No. 13 on the Billboard 200 before exiting both after a single week. However, the Strokes’ latest Rick Rubin-produced LP secured the No. 2 spot on the Vinyl Albums and Indie Store Album Sales charts, as well as No. 5 on the Top Alternative Albums and Top Rock & Alternative Albums charts.
While the two artists have attained differing levels of popularity, Charli XCX’s fandom of the Strokes is well-documented. In one recent interview with W Mag, she cited the deep-cut B-side “I’ll Try Anything Once”—a stripped-down demo of the First Impressions of Earth single “You Only Live Once”—as a favorite tear jerker, saying, “It’s really a heartbreaking song.” Casablancas also featured on a version of Charli XCX’s track “Mean Girls” included on her Brat remix album, 2024’s Brat and It’s Completely Different.
Casablancas spoke about his Brat collab shortly after its release, saying, “I feel like fame has never hit someone at a better time, ’cause she’s been around a long time,” per NME. “She’s aware of the moment, this huge social moment, but also not taking herself too seriously, she handles it well, but also is humble… that’s why I wanted to do it. She was so cool.”
Check out the Strokes’ and Charli XCX’s upcoming tour dates below:
The Strokes’ Upcoming 2026 Tour Dates
Aug 14-16, 2026 – Tokyo/Osaka, Japan – Summer Sonic
Aug 22, 2026 – Pasadena, CA – Just Like Heaven Fest
Aug 25, 2026 – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater
Aug 27, 2026 – Vancouver, Canada – Rogers Arena
Aug 28, 2026 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena
Sep 12, 2026 – Tampa, FL – Benchmark International Arena
Sep 13, 2026 – Hollywood, FL – Hard Rock Live
Sep 17, 2026 – Charlotte, NC – Truliant Amphitheater
Sep 18-20, 2026 – Atlanta, GA – Shaky Knees Music Festival
Sep 19-20, 2026 – Asbury Park, NJ – Sea.Hear.Now Festival
Oct 6, 2026 – London, UK – The O2
Oct 7, 2026 – London, UK – The O2
Oct 11, 2026 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Ziggo Dome
Oct 13, 2026 – Düsseldorf, Germany – PSD Bank Dome
Oct 15, 2026 – Berlin, Germany – Uber Arena
Oct 17, 2026 – Casalecchio di Reno, Italy – Unipol Arena
Oct 20, 2026 – Barcelona, Spain – Palau Sant Jordi
Oct 25, 2026 – Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK – Utilita Arena Newcastle
Oct 26, 2026 – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
Oct 28, 2026 – Dublin, Ireland – 3Arena
Nov 20, 2026 – Lima, Peru – Estadio San Marcos
Nov 20-22, 2026 – Mexico City, Mexico – Corona Capital
Nov 26-28, 2026 – Santiago, Chile – Fauna Primavera
Nov 28-29, 2026 – Buenos Aires, Argentina – Primavera Sound Buenos Aires
Dec 5-6, 2026 – São Paulo, Brazil – Primavera Sound São Paulo
Charli XCX’s Upcoming 2026 Dates
Aug 28, 2026 – Reading, UK – Reading Festival
Aug 29, 2026 – Leeds, UK – Leeds Festival
Sep 11, 2026 – Philadelphia, PA – Xfinity Mobile Arena
Sep 14, 2026 – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center
Sep 15, 2026 – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center
Sep 21, 2026 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
Sep 24, 2026 – Boston, MA – TD Garden
Sep 28, 2026 – Washington, DC – Capital One Arena
Oct 2, 2026 – Austin, TX – Austin City Limits Music Festival
Oct 6, 2026 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena
Oct 9, 2026 – Austin, TX – Austin City Limits Music Festival
Oct 14, 2026 – San Diego, CA – Viejas Arena
Oct 17, 2026 – Los Angeles, CA – The Kia Forum
Oct 18, 2026 – Los Angeles, CA – The Kia Forum
Oct 21, 2026 – Glendale, AZ – Desert Diamond Arena
Oct 23, 2026 – Las Vegas, NV – MGM Grand Garden Arena