On Friday, October 16, Canadian tribute band The Brokes made their return to New York City, performing The Strokes sixth studio album The New Abnormal in its entirety, along with a collection of fan favorites at Greenwich Village’s (Le) Poisson Rouge.

As a longtime Strokes fanboy, I will consume just about anything with a hint of The Strokes in it (no shame). So, when Marlon and the boys announced their return to New York, I was pumped. Having attended several of their shows over the years, I knew I was in for a night.

Taking a trip down memory lane, I owe The Brokes quite a bit when it comes to kickstarting my concert photography career. Back in 2024, knee deep in my Strokes fandom and eager to scratch the itch of hearing their music live, I stumbled upon a Canadian tribute band making its way to NYC. At the time, I had recently purchased a Fujifilm X-T3 for a trip to Thailand, and the camera had been collecting dust ever since. On a whim…I reached out to The Brokes via Instagram and asked if they’d let me photograph their upcoming show at Arlene’s Grocery. Thankfully, they agreed.

Two years later, I’ve photographed their performances at Arlene’s Grocery and Mercury Lounge, followed them across the Northeast during their 2025 fall tour with stops in Philadelphia, Washington, D.C, Albany and captured one of their most notable NYC performances, a sold out night at the Bowery Ballroom in 2025.

Safe to say, I’ve had a front row seat watching Marlon Chaplin, Brandon Wall, Tony Czologosz, Daniel Bedard, and Connor MacArthur grow a dedicated following of fellow Strokers through their spot on renditions of our favorite Strokes songs. What began as an opportunity to photograph a band (and shamefully, score free tickets to dance to some Strokes tunes) has turned into two years of watching these guys grow into something much bigger. It’s been fun watching them do their thing.

Fast forward to 2026 and The Brokes are back on the road with their Too Broke to Stroke? Fall 2026 Tour, making stops across the United States and Canada. For their return to NYC, the boys had something special planned. The night was divided into two sets, with the first dedicated entirely to The New Abnormal, The Strokes Grammy winning 2020 album. Unlike most tribute bands traditional Greatest Hits performance, playing an album from beginning to end gives fans the opportunity to experience its full range, from the infectious guitar riffs of “The Adults Are Talking” to the melancholic closing track, “Ode to the Mets.”

The Strokes are known for their early 2000s indie garage rock sound, The New Abnormal however, showcases a different side of the band, blending their guitar work with synthesizer driven melodies and a classic display of Julian’s reflective approach to songwriting. Recreating that sound live seems like an impossible task. I’d say it’s the kind of challenge that makes The Brokes worth seeing.

One of the most mesmerizing moments of the evening came during the band’s performance of “The Adults Are Talking.” The song allowed each member to showcase their individual talents. Marlon’s vocals float effortlessly throughout the track, guitarists Brandon and Tony going back and forth during the song’s guitar duel, while Dan’s smooth basslines filled the spaces in between as well as Connor keeping it all together on drums, delivering the upbeat rhythm that tied everything together.

The second set shifted gears featuring a curated collection of iconic bangers, deep cuts, and a couple of sweet treats for longtime Stokers. One personal highlight was “Lonely in the Future,” a new favorite of mine of The Strokes latest record Reality Awaits.

What made this particular show extra special was having my sisters along for the ride. After years of telling them about The Brokes and sharing mutual love for The Strokes, it was awesome to finally have them catch the band live for themselves. There was something especially rewarding about having my sisters there to watch their big bro do his thing behind the camera. It was a full circle moment for me, getting to share two things I love with people who mean so much to me.

For a group dedicated to celebrating another band’s music, The Brokes have managed to create something of their own, a community of fans who show up, sing along, and celebrate the music that brought us altogether in the first place.

Having watched their journey from the intimate stage of Arlene’s Grocery in Brooklyn to a sold out Bowery Ballroom and now another memorable night at (Le) Poisson Rouge, it’s been rewarding to witness their growth both as performers and as a band. As someone who first showed up to their concert in 2024 with a camera and a love for The Strokes, I couldn’t be happier to still be along for the ride.

For those who have yet to experience The Brokes live, there’s still plenty of time to catch the boys on the road! Their Too Broke to Stroke? Fall 2026 Tour continues with upcoming stops in Buffalo, Columbus, Cleveland, Ottawa, Montreal, Kingston, and a hometown show in Toronto on December 4. Whether you’re a diehard Strokes fan or simply looking for a night of good old fashioned rock and roll, The Brokes are worth checking out. For the full list of tour dates and tickets, visit thebrokes.com/shows.