The Stray Cats Bring “Rock This Town” to Fallon for First TV Performance in Three Decades: Watch

The Stray Cats stopped by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to play “Rock This Town,” serving as their first TV performance in 36 years.

The band’s Tonight Show appearance came on the heels of their summer 2026 tour, which marked frontman Brian Setzer’s return to the road after suffering from an autoimmune disease that temporarily affected his ability to play guitar. As their rendition of “Rock This Town” suggested, though, Setzer has returned to peak powers and provided some rippin’ rockabilly guitar work. The tour-ready trio were locked in for their turn on Fallon, with drummer Slim Jim Phantom performing in his usual standing setup and double bassist Lee Rocker plucking the strings of his instrument with audible force. Check out the band’s rollicking  performance of “Rock This Town” below.

Get The Stray Cats Tickets Here

Stray Cats’ last appearance on late-night TV arrived in 1990, guesting on Letterman to perform their ode to rockabilly heroes Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran, “Gene and Eddie.” They recently honored Cochran once again by recording a cover of his song “Teenage Heaven,” which arrived in 2025 alongside a new track called “Stampede.” The pair of tracks marked the band’s first new music since 2019.

Meanwhile, the Cats are back on the road this fall for the next leg of their 2026 tour. The run kicks off in San Antonio on November 10th and runs through December 6th; see their tour dates below and get tickets to see The Stray Cats here.

The Stray Cats 2026 Tour Dates:
11/09 – Grand Prairie, TX @ Texas Trust CU Theatre
11/10 – San Antonio, TX @ Majestic Theatre
11/12 – Sugar Land, TX @ Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land
11/13 – Biloxi, MS @ Beau Rivage Resort & Casino
11/15 – Memphis, TN @ Orpheum Theatre
11/17 – Louisville, KY @ The Louisville Palace
11/18 – Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium
11/20 – Charlotte, NC @ Ovens Auditorium
11/21 – Danville, VA @ Caesars Virginia
11/23 – Orlando, FL @ Hard Rock Live Orlando
11/24 – Clearwater, FL @ Ruth Eckerd Hall
11/25 – Jacksonville, FL @ Florida Theatre
11/27 – Atlanta, GA @ Fox Theatre
11/28 – Cherokee, NC @ Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort
11/29 – Virginia Beach, VA @ The Dome by Rutter Mills
12/01 – Red Bank, NJ @ Count Basie Center for the Arts
12/02 – Greensburg, PA @ The Palace Theatre
12/04 – Bethlehem, PA @ Wind Creek Event Center
12/06 – Mashantucket, CT @ Premier Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino