Charli XCX Joins The Strokes for 'Take It Or Leave It' at Outside Lands

The Strokes brought out Charli XCX as a surprise guest during their headlining set at the Outside Lands festival in San Francisco on Saturday, August 8, 2026. The British pop star joined the New York rock band for a performance of their 2001 song "Take It Or Leave It" at Golden Gate Park, one night after she had headlined the festival herself.

The collaboration came just weeks after both artists released new albums on the same day, July 24. The Strokes' latest record is titled "Reality Awaits," while Charli XCX's new album is "Music, Fashion, Film." Before bringing her onstage, Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas acknowledged their shared release date and the subsequent sales competition. "We had a great battle. Congratulations, you defeated us," he told the crowd. "You're the new queen of everything, Charli XCX."

The performance marked a reunion for the two artists, who previously collaborated when Casablancas appeared on a reworking of Charli XCX's song "Mean Girls" for her 2024 remix album. Casablancas has spoken about his admiration for how Charli XCX has handled her fame, describing her as "aware of the moment" and "humble." Charli XCX has also expressed her appreciation...