Casablancas Performs Christmas Song at London Gig

The Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas brought a seasonal mood to his first of two solo shows at London's HMV Forum on Tuesday night (Dec. 15), performing his forthcoming Christmas single 'I Wish It Was Christmas Today'.

The single, which gets a UK release on Dec.21 on limited edition 7", first emerged on Casablancas's MySpace page in early November.

The show saw him perform songs from his solo album 'Phrazes for theYoung,' as well as a notable piano version of the Strokes' 'I'll Try Anything Once'. Casablancas was joined by Strokes guitar 'guru' and former member of the Cardinals JP Bowersock, as part of his band.

'I Wish It Was Christmas Today' was performed as part of a three-song encore, Casablancas greeting the warm applause for his festive song with a mocking "Jesus, don't yell at me."

He also said of the song, "I like the holidays, but they make me play it. Yes, it's that one. I already regret it."

Casablancas also got in his fair share of stage dives during songs '11th Dimensionm,' 'Out Of The Blue' and '4 Chords of the Apocalypse.'

The London shows are his only UK dates before two shows at New York's Terminal 5 on Jan. 14 and 15.