Live review: The Strokes weather storm as venue repeatedly falls on Bad Decisions

There was an eerie, chaotic magnetism blowing through Newcastle long before the headliners even set foot onto the Toon stage and it wasn't even the clamorous winds of Storm Boelo crashing against the breezeblocks of the city’s Utilita Arena.

Setting an already strange precedent, The Strokes and their supports ambushed the Geordie crowd by strolling out earlier than their advertised set times - ultimately a rare move for the rock royalty, but one that immediately shifted the night into an irregular hyperdrive.

Before the main event, the support bill served up a gloriously obscene double-header of raw absurdity.

Australian showman Alex Cameron dazzled with his strangely unique bongo solos, while Fat White Family, with their Algerian roots, unleashed sporadic, frantic movements.

Their frontman spent the evening physically hurling himself into the Newcastle crowd on practically every song. Both openers were obscenely absurd yet entirely spellbinding.

When the New Yorkers took over, Julian Casablancas and company were in absolute top form.

Drenched in dry wit, Casablancas bantered effortlessly with the crowd early on, as Lonely In The Future kicked off the set, boasting an extended intro that outshone its studio sibling.

The hard-hitting visceral thrust of Reptilia fell next, provoking a deafening wall of sound as the adoring audience screamed every word of the shouty chorus back to the Big Apple favourites.

The momentum never wavered through Hard To Explain and Babble On, while moody anthems like Dine N'Dash and Juicebox showcased their grunge-laced Manhattan hooks that still carry a bite, as every lyric bit with the prowess of a primal predator.

Heavy hitter The Adults Are Talking sent fans hoisting each other onto shoulders, complete with the alternative improvised ending Casablancas has been testing on the Reality Awaits tour - certainly a fan-favourite improv from everyone’s favourite improv rockstar.

Action-packed renditions of Heart In A Cage and One Way Trigger followed, though the latter had to be abruptly restarted when security reportedly barged into the crowd to chase someone down.

It wouldn't be the last time venue staff made questionable calls.

But ever the professionals, the five-piece regathered themselves and charged forward with the punchy You Only Live Once and an aptly titled Under Control.

"Cops around the world, security around the world ain't too smart..."

— Julian Casablancas, improvising mid-encore.

New single Going Shopping drew a buzzing response as the arena devoured its jangly guitars and anti-consumerism lyricism.

Heading into the home stretch, looking visibly and audibly annoyed at the venue's handling of security, the band kept delivering: the nostalgia-inducing Someday, the emotionally reverberating Tyrants of The Mellow Moon, and a lethal one-two garage-rock punch of Take It Or Leave It and Last Nite.

A quarter-century on from their release, those Is This It anthems sounded every bit as innovative, urgent, and fresh as the day they were born.

The drama hit its peak during the encore.

After a noticeably prolonged absence offstage, presumably trying to combat the chaos unfolding around them, The Strokes returned for just one final song, despite three more being clearly printed on the setlist.

Ending early with a defiant New York City Cops, a clearly riled-up Casablancas took a direct swipe, ad-libbing: "Cops around the world, security around the world ain't too smart."

Audible boos concluded the night as the lights above drove the audience out the arena.

Addressing the fallout, Newcastle Arena offered up standard damage control, stating: "We're sorry to hear some experiences didn't meet expectations, and we appreciate all who have took the time to share feedback.

"We'd like to clarify that all show timings are approximate and may be subject to change, as is the nature of live events.

"Our venue curfew is 11pm.

"We're proud to have hosted this distinctive live show in Newcastle and would like to thank the band and their team for bringing this show to our city. We remain committed to providing live experiences for our audiences and appreciate your understanding."

Even with the arena's official statement, in my opinion, that defence simply doesn't hold water.

Pointing to an 11pm curfew and reminding fans that show timings are "subject to change" fails to explain why the set was chopped short, robbing us as the fans from the likes of Threat of Joy, emotional heavyweight Ode to the Mets and the beautifully hand-woven lyrics of Selfless, as the band were ultimately nowhere near that 11pm limit, still having half an hour left on the clock.

The venue was certainly the threat of the joy during this performance.

This mismanagement may well have blown Newcastle’s chances of ever hosting the band again.

In an era where international acts routinely restrict UK tour legs to a single London date, an increasingly unfeasible trip for Northern fans, it pains the soul to watch a venue handed a golden opportunity only to seemingly screw it up in one night.

Here’s hoping it doesn't discourage The Strokes from touring multiple shows across the UK in the future.

On a night that seemed to completely fall out of their control, Manhattan's finest weathered the storm outside and within, while rising above the calamity of noise, and dispensed a set that remained razorblade sharp until the very last chord of Albert Hammond Jr.’s all-encompassing guitar melodies reverberated off the bewildered Newcastle walls.