Strokes Get Shut Down by Fire Marshal at Corporate Beverly Hills Gig

When the Strokes played Coachella this past weekend, they had to compete for audience attention with PJ Harvey, Chromeo, Leftfield, Ratatat and more. On Wednesday night, they faced another array of distractions when they performed at a private Beverly Hills gig to celebrate the launch of the new T-Mobile Sidekick 4G.

The New York quintet, who recently released their 'Angles' album, had to vie with laser tag, '80s arcade games, pinball machines, air hockey, basketball, an on-site ice cream parlor, a photo booth, open bar and a sushi stand at a particularly over-the-top party.

But the band, who took the stage at just after 11:30PM in front of hundreds of fans pressed to the edge of the stage, was up to the challenge. In fact, they did something Spinner has only witnessed Foo Fighters and Iggy Pop accomplish at corporate gigs – they got a mosh pit started. Rocking hits like 'Last Night,' 'Juicebox,' Reptilia' and 'Under Cover of Darkness' during a sweaty, six-song set, the quintet turned a Hollywood party that included Nicky Hilton and John Stamos into a full-on club show.

Unfortunately, the show was cut short after the sixth song when the city of Beverly Hills said they were being too loud (the tent show took place in a lot adjacent to the Beverly Hilton and across the street from a posh residential neighborhood). While frontman Julian Casablancas walked offstage, he muttered something about hoping they would get paid, and guitarist Albert Hammond Jr. later tweeted, "fire marshall bill shut us down. i was hoping they would drag us off or cut all the power mid song. i wonder who called??"

It wasn't us, that's for sure.

The Strokes' 'Under Cover of Darkness' Video

Watch Spinner's Video Interview With Julian Casablancas

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