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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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’.

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

Multi-layered musical perfection. What a band.

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

They play the outro in loop in heaven

That piano bit at 1:43 gets me everytime. Tear jerker

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.

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

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

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

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

This is a masterpiece.

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

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

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!!!!!

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

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.

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

actually brings tears to my eyes

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.

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".

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

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

it would have been such a hit a few decades ago

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"!!!!

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

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

Just wow.. Goosebumps!😮

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.

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

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 !!

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

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

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

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

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... 😢

This is pure MAGIC!

This is the greatest music ever made.

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

My soul gets teleported to outer space @ 3:33

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"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.

Unbelievable.

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

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.

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

I didn't know a song could be this good

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

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.

what a magical blend of sound. genius

Adam is amazing....

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.

One of the best songs.. Ever.

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

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

SUCH A GREAT BAND

*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]

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

what a wonderful performance!! simply powerfull!!

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

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

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

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

Amazing, emotions so strong :)

Best track on the album. Bloody love it.

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

This song is everything.. the solo @4.26 👏👏👏👏👏

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

Magical song.

¡Me encantan! :)

Cuánta belleza! 🖤

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.....

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

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.

A little sax goes a long way , guitar tone, and a little Dylan whine to his voice. Good sounds!

Beautiful.....underrated band

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

Outstanding music and performance

Love these dudes

Breathtaking

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

Therapy

great song, you're great Adam G.

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

My favorite band by far!

So good! These dudes are the best.