Julian Casablancas performing on stage with a microphone
Music

Julian Casablancas Dubs James Murphy the 'Brett Favre of Indie Rock'

The Strokes singer delivered some bizarre onstage banter during a festival headlining set.

By Dee AlvarezPublished Updated 2 min read

Indie rock royalty had a hilarious and bizarre moment of onstage banter recently, courtesy of Julian Casablancas. The unfiltered frontman for The Strokes was taking the stage during a headlining festival slot when he decided to toss out a truly bizarre sports analogy aimed at another alternative music icon. While addressing the crowd during the Just Like Heaven festival set on a Saturday night, Casablancas turned his attention toward LCD Soundsystem frontman James Murphy. Without holding back, the rocker unexpectedly dubbed Murphy the "Brett Favre of indie rock" right in the middle of the show.

What did Julian Casablancas say about James Murphy?

The random comparison instantly sparked chatter among alternative music fans trying to decode the joke. Equating a legendary electronic-rock visionary to a legendary NFL quarterback known for his dramatic retirements and back-and-forth career moves definitely ranks among the weirdest festival shout-outs of the year. According to reports from the show, the comment came as part of the singer's classic ranting between songs. Casablancas reportedly expressed a mix of shock and humor during the moment, telling the audience, "What a pleasant surprise," while working through his thought process on stage.

Julian Casablancas performing on stage with a microphone
Julian Casablancas performing on stage with a microphone

Why did Julian Casablancas call himself a silly goose?

The James Murphy jab was not the only funny comment Casablancas made during the headlining performance. Before shifting his focus to the LCD Soundsystem star, the singer openly poked fun at his own presence and mood on stage. Casablancas admitted to the crowd that he felt like a "silly fucking goose" during the set. His self-deprecating humor set a playful, loose tone for the rest of The Strokes' performance as they powered through their festival appearance. Festival crowds have come to expect the unexpected whenever Casablancas has a microphone in his hand between songs. Known for his casual demeanor and spontaneous tangents, the singer once again proved that his mid-show chatter is just as unpredictable as his setlists. It remains unclear whether Murphy has heard about the gridiron comparison or if he plans to hurl any banter back at The Strokes frontman. Either way, the festival crowd got double the entertainment value with a hit-filled rock show paired with prime Casablancas observational comedy.

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People also ask

What did Julian Casablancas call James Murphy?
Julian Casablancas called LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy the 'Brett Favre of indie rock' during an onstage rant.
Where did Julian Casablancas make the comment?
The Strokes singer made the remark during the band's headlining performance at the Just Like Heaven festival.