The War On Drugs - Strangest Thing (Live on KEXP)

[@micaharlon9998]

The War on Drugs pulled me through a REALLY rough time, the death of Tommy B. Harlon, my father, the hero of my life. Thank you, Adam and Company.

[@cryptovc]

It is very possible that this is the greatest song ever written.

[@majortom8990]

Maybe more cowbell? In all seriousness, I absolutely agree. 'I Can't Make You Love Me' sung by Bonnie Raitt is a contender, though. I don't know you, but I wish you everything good in life. ✌❤🍺

[@majortom8990]

That's a difficult feat, but I agree with your sentiment. Cheers.

[@mrhoffame]

All joking aside...I will easily give it one of the top 25 in the past 20 years!

[@charmedprince]

​@@mrhoffameof all time i dare say!

[@Willhomes71]

“Be the writer of your own story.” Amen to that.

[@D_B_Cooper]

I want to find a girl that I love as much as I love this song

[@radkid06]

AMEN TO THAT!!!

[@Kaos77girl]

Hello, you found me! :D

[@7eventhirty344]

DB Cooper don't go missing again! Come back, you have Gina now!

[@arshedfazal]

Word! Now that's a proper comment

[@D_B_Cooper]

After being heartbroken tonight I remembered this comment for some reason. No relationship can be worth how badly I feel now.

[@pauld205]

The melody. The tension and release. The melancholy. This song is both precious and devastating. The sax has a blade runner/vangelis vibe.

[@mrhoffame]

Yes, yes, yes, and yes!!

[@wolfpack1211]

I’m so mad at myself for how long it took me to discover the greatness of this band. This is legit one of the best songs ever made

[@griptears]

every now and then I realise its been several months since I last heard it, and when i listen again i cant help but break down and cry at its beauty. I am so glad you have found it as well.

[@jamesredbow6346]

Yes

[@KC8EWU]

Same here! Nobody plays them near me! Discovered them on Pandora.

[@theNeathBoy]

This guy is a class act. Writes from the heart, plays from the heart. When I recommend this to my friends I sum it up as ‘the best band you never heard of’.

[@johnford2661]

Your summary is close, but I believe Steven Wilson and Porcupine Tree take that title.

[@nishantadas5937]

I watched them live in December 2023 It was a 75 minutes show I was so mesmerized by them that I couldn’t even take out my phone to take a picture or make a video. I was taken into some other planet, I was just not there.

[@jshiner9719]

Had the pleasure of seeing them live in LA this week. Holy god did they steal the show. Mindblowing live band. Incredible.

[@ryckjunior9911]

I can't even count the amount of times I've listened to this song these past 2 years. It has taken me away from all this shit so many times. Pure bliss.

[@rockandrolldigit84]

I echo your wirds wholeheartedly. A beautiful piece from perhaps the greatest band ever from Philadelphia.

[@cameronbrown5134]

Amen

[@mikemike1477]

"the sky is painted in a wash of indigo", followed by the sax... what a lyric.....

[@ryckjunior9911]

With that gorgeous piano part to carry it.❤

[@danielmorales7232]

Best song of the album, and best album of the year!

[@xerxesalmighty9444]

Amen. Epic!

[@dannyboi87]

I keep changing between this, pain and thinking of a place as the best. All equally phenomenal tunes

[@user-sm5wp4uj1q]

Multi-layered musical perfection. What a band.

[@rudyb.gutierrezc.1083]

This song gives me goosebumps every time I listen to it.

[@tonyjamesr116]

Caught between the beauty and the pain, goosebumps! What a great line

[@jamesredbow6346]

God dsmmit i know I’ve commented before but this is actually the best song I’ve ever heard in life. This song is the goat. God it makes me feel.

[@mountainmanwannabe9495]

If in 20 years I shall need hearing aids due to listening to that solo while wearing headphones; then it will be well worth it.

[@poppafalcon5846]

Hearing this song for the first time, and realizing that I had no idea as to how much I NEEDED THIS TRACK IN MY LIFE.

[@adrianr108]

I'm always amazed by the KEXP's sound engineering. Thanks for doing these and other bands justice. Feels like we're living in the space between with this lockdown. Gonna need some kind of releasing back into the wild rehab. But for now, listen to the music, Woah, oh listen to the music All the time

[@southernsaintjamie]

Amen!

[@Sterlingx11]

This is a breathtaking performance. Leaves you hanging on every chord until the explosion of guitars

[@jamesredbow6346]

This song breaks my heart every time I hear it. But it is simply one of the most beautiful things I have ever heard.

[@mrhoffame]

If you didn't know who this band was you would TOTALLY believe me if I said this is a song written by Bruce Springsteen and covered by Bob Dylan with Prince making a guest appearance on the guitar solo at the end. Like those artist or not....if you are conjuring up what they have brought to music over 5+ decades...you are TRULY making music!!!!!

[@XoXo475]

Absolutely spot on buddy ❤

[@KC8EWU]

You just nailed the perfect description!

[@samrsmiley]

Never thought of this and it’s absolutely brilliant!

[@libano90]

what a beautiful guitar solo, what a beautiful song, what a beautiful album

[@elryangoslingdelosfeos]

I have been following this band for a few years due to a recommendation, i have said it before and I will say it again now, this band saved my life on many occasions, i always return to their music when I am looking for peace and harmony, it is a pleasure to see that they make music so beautiful that it has the power to save lives, that is what this band is for me, a salvation, a pat for the soul, thank you guys, i only have to give you my thanks and my deep gratitude for healing my soul and my heart, thank you for helping me with your music to follow the path of light, thank you for getting me out of that dark place that is depression, much love for you guys.

[@hughnunez7331]

Fuuuuck I'm still crying. This is music for the Soul

[@slockyboy]

I'm living in the space between, the beauty and the pain.

[@mrhoffame]

I stepped around this band for so, so long and never gave them a chance...then I was in a record store, heard this playing and bought the album. I remember coming home, listening to it, and LITERALLY saying "Thank God Music is back in Music"!!!!

[@katebadley2765]

mrhoffame I did the same thing, i.e., ‘stepped around this band for so long” - - but you know, I think you have to be in a certain headspace to let this music in. You have to have logged some miles, earning it. As I age I find that my musical choices are more subtle, but heck if they don’t bring big waves of emotion. Maybe it’s counter-intuitive to most, but I love going there. Big feels, a solid cry-a spiritual bloodletting. I feel like the right music forces you to confront latent emotion that’s formed an albatross around your neck.

[@blagger42]

Well said Sir. You are so right. I love that guitar solo

[@ORLOSTguy]

@@katebadley2765 What a perfect description of being true to the music. A phrase I originally heard back in 1978 from the late drummer Jeff Porcaro.

[@mrhoffame]

@@katebadley2765 Could not agree with you more!!

[@KC8EWU]

Until a few years ago I never knew about them till they came across on Pandora, what a song! Nobody in my area even plays them or only a few indie charts on one station now. So much great quality music! Better then mainstream who may have one or two songs of an album hit the charts, with the rest as just fillers, or makes it on the charts years after the album came out, which is sad.

[@GuitarDad5150]

Yep. There was Pink Floyd. Now there is The War on Drugs. Damn beautiful. Music that will transcend generations.

[@alexanderwiser2711]

The man, the myth, Charlie Hall on Drums taught me how to play and is still a great friend today. This song kicks total ass.

[@lcrooks69]

The melody of Coldplay, the lyrics of The National, the soul of Bruce Springsteen. Thank you so much for this brilliant ethereal music.

[@bobbyaxelrod5893]

Coldplay??? GTFOH

[@Ultraviolencari]

lcrooks69 TF COLDPLAY ?!?

[@danielespinoza6569]

lcrooks69 Don’t forget Dylan at the vocals

[@jimrollins7160]

The War on Drugs sound like....The War on Drugs.

[@pimpleneck79]

More like don Henley and U2

[@terciopelomulticolor]

He looks like Neil Young and sings like a 1975 Bob Dylan! Amazing band, and the best song of the album in my opinion.

[@danielespinoza6569]

Gustavo Parada Gacitúa Concuerdo. Además, los solos son muy parecidos a los de Young por eso del 4:30

[@frankeinstein1570]

When I first heard that song (didn't know the band) I said, dude that sounds like Dylan singing, is it Dylan? No?

[@peterhermans5433]

Same guitar ”belt”as Neil on Old Black I think .....

[@kevkevdj]

And a little bit of Bryan Adams

[@Mufalucker]

Whether you're focused on lyrics or focused on the music, this song...this band, had all the bases covered!

[@Macattack1338]

This is possibly the best live performance I've ever seen.

[@PhantomLordOG]

Band of gypsies live album by Jimi Hendrix. Filmore East live album by the Allman Brothers in particular whipping post

[@AldoXLC]

Everytime I'm feeling down I just return to this great song. You'll always find a place in music.

[@StayBlur]

Really man, I did not know of this band and I just listened and then 3:33 came.. what an unbelievable good tune!! WOW!

[@TerryR67]

actually brings tears to my eyes

[@sjice69]

Yep, it also hit me deeply.

[@WoundedEgo]

They have found a sweet spot... There's no sadness, just some kind of sense of defiance without malice. Whispers of "There's more and the door is opening".

[@sergioival84]

I don't know, it's not sadness, it never has been, but they can hit such a big range of emotions, it's melancholy, it's an urge for better things to come, it's that little hope that those better things will come. What an amazing band.

[@mjordan8432]

Epic performance of this song. THANK YOU!✌️❤️

[@ChrisTombstone82]

So this song takes me back to 2017 and 2018 and now thats 7 and 8 years ago. That was two of the best years of my life and there was a lot of ups and there was a lot of downs but it was truly the last great period of my life where I actually felt like I was something like I was someone like I had a meeting and a purpose and I was part of something and I had something to live for and there was something to achieve. And it was magical and it was a moment of my life I will never forget and this song and this band was a huge part of the soundtrack of that time. I'm listening to this tears are pouring out of my eyes. This is one of the most beautiful pieces of music I have ever heard. One of the greatest guitar solos ever the way the way he makes that thing sing to you is just absolutely magnificent. If only I could go back. Damn it because now life doesn't mean anything anymore. But thanks to songs like this I can close my eyes and take myself back.

[@ryckjunior9911]

This KEXP version is so much better than the official release... just perfect

[@3rdLamar]

No comment can do this song justice. It’s that perfect.

[@chefjonsf]

"If I'm just living in the space between The beauty and the pain It's the strangest thing" there is no space. there is nothing between beauty and pain. and that is something.

[@DriesDhont]

Laying here alone in bed without my girlfriend who has been in hospital for a few days now. Praying tears to my eyes, praying for her that she will get better soon... 😢

[@ssssssarahhhhhhvz]

Dries Dhont breathtaking. I really got Lucky to have you by my side. You saved me before, in any possible way a woman can be saved. It will be allright aslong as we got each other. I love you so much 💕❤️💖

[@homosexualpanic]

So are you two married yet or what?

[@terranloudenback2102]

@@homosexualpanic She died.

[@Rocks4You97]

it would have been such a hit a few decades ago

[@RV-rz7tv]

I am so touched I even get teary thinking of what I just heard. Finding this band by accident on SoundCloud before the last record got out still got me feeling lucky and blessed. So Much love to all of you !!

[@KC8EWU]

Same with me on Pandora

[@shaunoakford9272]

Apart from every other fantastic thing going on with this brilliant KEXP recording... That drummer.. that drummer... that's a man in the zone.. on point.. and in command.. very, very nice

[@meowmix2731]

So beautiful. Beyond words ❤

[@chandrashekhermishra5847]

They play the outro in loop in heaven

[@crabsackmccringle1687]

Simplistic music, done with quality instruments, and precise structure. And it sounds amazing

[@melissabrattoni]

This performance gave me goosebumps and tears simultaneously! LOVE IT!

[@sylvainletourneau9541]

We are not listening we feel it.... i'm like wowyess 😇💙

[@kihunipunk]

Hands down one of the best songs I've ever heard. Everything about this band is absolutely incredible.

[@babelD]

This song always makes me cry, so much emotion in it. gorgeous

[@chrisk7082]

Adam G is one talented individual! Great singer songwriter and a virtuoso guitarist 🎸 ❤

[@jjclaws]

God that feedback at 3:39 makes my hair stand on end. Amazing solo. This band produce such a layered wall of sound. Just incredible

[@Grymbleidd]

If there is life out there, somewhere, I truly hope they'll know us by music such as this.

[@nickschenck770]

This is a masterpiece.

[@lyndaframe2088]

❤ I am loving every track of TWOD especially live versions❤🙏🎶🎧

[@christianborris6754]

So their live album, Live Drugs, came out last week. Its a fantastic album with great quality audio. I can say now that KEXP has THE BEST recording of this song out there.

[@christianborris6754]

@DJ Protegent They did, and it's great, but this is still better.

[@Sarlomac]

I agree. I think this is the best version of that song. It’s beautiful.

[@richarddurocher2605]

Incredible! ... I must also say... amazing work by the KEXP audio guys... that's 2 songs of War on Drugs from KEXP that have topped their respective versions on the studio albums (IMO - Ocean Between the Waves and Strangest Thing-)... both in play and sound. Thanks so much to everyone in this video! Have a nice day.

[@lnsarto2404]

I hope "Eyes to the wind" isn't that far in your top list :)

[@daithelowis]

Seriously, Eyes to the Wind on KEXP was 100000x better than album version, and the album version is still my favorite song on the album!!

[@sapodilla25]

Eyes to the Wind is also so so so beautiful on KEXP.

[@darktrain1971]

Just wow.. Goosebumps!😮

[@dmoneyrepresent7024]

The quality of all aspects of this are incredible…the set, the audio and the camera work…simply beautiful. Thank You for the time and energy that went into this

[@a1d795]

Summer ride on a beach And howl at the day I've been hiding out so long I gotta find another way Late at night I wanna see you Well my eyes, they begin to fade Am I just living in the space between The beauty and the pain And the real thing Now the sky is painted In a wash of indigo I've been holding on too long In the howling of this cold Recognize every face But I ain't got everything I need If I'm just living in the space between The beauty and the pain It's the strangest thing Yeah, should-haves surrounding me Surrounded by the whole Surrounded by no other I wanna ride home Yeah, be the writer of your own story Let it turn into you into love again Yeah, be the writer of your own story Let it turn into you into love again Yeah, I can run slowly Don't run away again Yeah, I can run the stones Don't run away again I wanna run, I wanna run Yeah, I can run the stones Run the stones

[@charlesstover1520]

This is the greatest music ever made.

[@timothywagner8798]

Absolutely dig this dog. It’s a go to for me. I find it mesmerizing, uplifting and emotional. Love TWOD

[@allenroy1638]

Charlie Hall nailed it at 4:23! And then an amazing guitar! Wow just wow!

[@AleksandarGospic]

Amazing! Just discovered The War On Drug, what a treasure to find!

[@joaocordeiro2036]

This is pure MAGIC!

[@helenesuss4606]

Am I living in the space between the beauty and the pain

[@peoplevsradio317]

Helene Suss just like dave mathews

[@JosjeR]

This band is so important to me

[@winchoschaferofficial6252]

This music is just beautiful. And this band is something else 💜💜💜⏯

[@philiphyndman3583]

The second half of this performance is even better than the album version. So dreamy with 3 chords looping until the end.

[@radkid06]

There are so many lines in their songs that just hit home for me. What an incredible band.

[@SpeedyJetson]

My soul gets teleported to outer space @ 3:33

[@jacksonwolf6123]

No at 4:57

[@kynes99]

It sounds even better on the album version I think

[@kevinvalde]

Lyrics Summer ride on a beach And howl at the day I've been hiding out so long I gotta find another way Late at night I wanna see you Well my eyes, they begin to fade Am I just living in the space between The beauty and the pain And the real thing Now the sky is painted In a wash of indigo I've been holding on too long In the howling of this cold Recognize every face But I ain't got everything I need If I'm just living in the space between The beauty and the pain It's the strangest thing Yeah, should-haves surrounding me Surrounded by the whole Surrounded by no other I wanna ride home Yeah, I can run slowly Don't run away again Yeah, I can run the stones Don't run away again I wanna run, I wanna run Yeah, I can run the stones Run the stones

[@santiagoarias50]

4:25 solo could fill the Great Canyon.

[@cesartorres3835]

This music is just too magnificent for words to do it justice. Audio euphoria that transcends dimensions.

[@NeonPixels81]

*note*: These lyrics are for _this version_ of the song as performed. [Verse 1] Some are right underneath And "how I look today?" I've been hiding out so long, yeah... I gotta find another way [Chorus] Late at night, I wanna see you Well, my eyes, they begin to fade Am I livin' in the space between The beauty and the pain And the real thing? [Verse 2] Now the sky is painted In a wash of indigo I've been hidin' out so long, yeah... That I hardly know the score [Chorus] I recognize every face But I still got everything I need Am I livin' in the space between The beauty and the pain? ...it's the strangest thing [Instrumental Break] [Bridge] Yeah, should I survive the night... Surrounded by the whole... Surrounded by no other... ...I wanna ride it home [Instrumental Solo] [Outro] Yeah, be the writer of your own story Let it turn into your heart again Yeah, be the writer of your own story Turn it to... I wanna run... [Instrumental Solo]

[@hyrumnielsen4390]

Thanks. Get some weird lyrics elsewhere for the first couple and last few lines.

[@NeonPixels81]

@@hyrumnielsen4390 Part of the issue is he has peformed it differently here and there, for example the line "I've been hiding out so long", sometime's he's performed it as "I've been holding out so long...", and the line "Should-have's surrounding me..." he sometimes seems to switch to "...so should I survive the night", making the lyrics on Google and Spotify are a bit messy. It seems like he has a bit of a Dylan / Van Morrison thing going on.

[@radkid06]

Best performance I can find of this one...what a masterpiece.

[@mikemike1477]

why are there not 20x the views for this? Puts all the pop/rap/hip hop crap so far in the rear view mirror... breaks my heart for music today.....

[@Gedsparrow81]

What a band, what a songwriting, what a sound. Magnificent.

[@cbyam1300]

30 dislikes.... Now that's the strangest thing !!

[@Jelle528]

Probably my favourite song off the new album, excellent sound mixing as well

[@BeeEmEcks]

I didn't know a song could be this good

[@michaelarmstrong2625]

This is the best band on the planet…. And it’s not even close anymore!

[@lonankeane4241]

what a magical blend of sound. genius

[@nobodyisperfect49]

Verdammte Axt...was für ein Song. Brutal gut. Was wäre die Welt ohne Musik

[@demomictlan]

what a wonderful performance!! simply powerfull!!

[@Alex-dz2oi]

3:33 is that moment when you’ve been acting strong, holding your emotions back and you hit a breaking point where your voice shudders and it all comes pouring out at once.

[@blagger42]

This is a perfect song. It brings an ache to my heart of a place that was lost but with this song a glimpse. Outstanding performance

[@Joni_H8]

One of the best songs.. Ever.

[@ANMEOM]

This song is just perfect, thank you for this.

[@winchoschaferofficial6252]

Guitar solo at the end. Sounds beautiful 👌

[@Aureliants]

Their songs are out of this world, love them so much

[@Ben180173]

Stunning. I love when a person knows how to really play a Gretsch.

[@RonaldvanHoveUITH]

What a beautiful song!!!! Can't wait to see you here in Amsterdam in November!

[@nancynsalazar]

¡Me encantan! :)

[@kevinurban1963]

SUCH A GREAT BAND

[@strictlynorton]

Adam is amazing....

[@shorya28]

♥

[@fireflysean]

Best track on the album. Bloody love it.

[@jonathansosa1781]

Unbelievable.