Local rock stations KROQ and Live 105 put together 3 days worth of fan favorite artists together to bring Christmas early for music lovers. Both stations doing a great job of having both current and vintage acts together for a night a great music that everyone can enjoy.
Live 105 got the weekend going Friday night at the Oracle in Oakland with Young the Giant, Bush, Florence & The Machine, Mumford & Sons and Surprise Guest Green Day (who filled in for Jane’s Addiction due to a family emergency). Billie Joe received the call a little bit over an hour before the actual start of the concert and saving the night. It always helps when you have a big name band that lives 10 minutes away from the venue. Live 105 added a twist personally never seen at a concert before with karaoke from members from the crowd brave enough to sing in front of the entire crowd during intermission.
Young the Giant started the night playing radio favorites. Bush opened their set with “Machinehead” and followed with “The Chemicals Between Us”. They got the crowd rocking with the Beatle cover “Come Together”. Gavin made a trip through the crowd in the seats and pit, and got a nice welcome from the fans around the arena. Florence & The Machine got the crowd dancing with “Dogs Day Are Over”, and she made sure to get everyone involved by running back and forth from the sides of the stage bare foot. She also played hits “Shake It Out”, and “No Light, No Light”. Mumford & Sons kept up the high energy from earlier and was nice enough to play some new music. They opened up with “Roll Away Your Stone” and played hits “Winter Winds”, and “Little Lion Man”. Marcus jumped on the drums for “Lover of The Night”. They left the crowd in a frenzy ending their set with “The Cave”. Green Day ended the night in fashion. Honored to play in front of a hometown crowd, they played a great set as if they were planned to play all along. It was truly a treat for fans that showed up and received the news and got to hear a solid 15 songs. Opening up with “Welcome to Paradise” and closing with “American Idiot”. Billie Joe controlling the entire crowd in chants, and sing a longs, and then stopping everyone just because he could. Green Day is part of a small list of bands that is worth every penny paid for the price of admission and would normally play at least 3 hours for a normal concert. All artists thanked the station for allowing them to perform and the crowd for spending the money and time on a Friday night and it showed in their performance.
KROQ picked up where Live 105 left off the night before and the energy traveled 400 miles from Northern California down south to the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City. Unable to get tickets and travel with the energy I had to settle for watching the show on USTREAM LIVE from the comfort of my home. Though it will never compare to actually being at the show, beggars can’t be choosers sometimes with limited resources and one of the harder concert tickets to get.
Night 1 was jammed packed with local favorites. Young the Giant, New Found Glory, Chevelle, Bush, Sublime with Rome, Social Distortion, and Blink 182. Incubus was forced to cancel due to member illness acquired during European Tour. Local band Sublime with Rome saved the day for the second night of lime up misfortunes.
New Found Glory opened the night playing their hits and paying homage to The Ramones with their cover of “Blitzkrieg Bop”. Young the Giant followed and had a Rob Zombie 2006 Weenie Roast moment getting on the crowd reminding them that they are at a rock concert and that you don’t sit down with your arms crossed. Chevelle turned up the volume and energized the crowd with “Send the Pain Below”. Bush kept the energy level up with opening up with “Machinehead” and “The Chemicals Between Us” like the night before. They gave the locals fans a treat with a partial solo of “Glycerine” until the end when they decided to rock out for the final minute. Sublime with Rome returned to the stage next after a one year absence from Almost Acoustic and played for the last time, at least for a little while due to drummer Bud is taking time to spend with his family. Opening up with “Smoke Two Joint” surprisingly and not “Date Rape” like previous performances. They played the classics with a few new songs and truly enjoying playing in front of a home crowd and having the most fun possible. Giving a rest in peace shot out to Bradley. Social D once again showed why they will forever be Southern California music legends. They are playing their second straight year on Saturday Night. The local band played some of their classic hits and ended their set with the Johnny Cash cover “Ring of Fire”. 311 also returned from a year absence from Almost Acoustic playing both new and old songs. They kept the old school fans happy with “Beautiful Disaster”, “Down”, “All Mixed Up”, “Come Original”, and “Amber”. Blink 182 closed out the night and showed some love for Young the Giant and Chevelle. Finding a way to perform with bras being thrown on the stage and being flashed they took great joy in playing in front of a home crowd and being allowed to play another KROQ concert. Playing hits like “Feeling This”, “All The Small Things”, “Dumpweed”, and “Josie”.
Night 2 had the largest line-up of the 3 nights with a total of 10 artists. Grouplove, The Naked & Famous, Foster the People, Cage The Elephant, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Florence & The Machine, Death Cab For Cutie, Mumford & Sons, The Black Keys, and Jane’s Addiction closed out the 2 Night Almost Acoustic Christmas Concert.
Grouplove opened the night and played a quick set with “Colours”. The Naked & Famous took the stage next and was grateful for playing the show and played their new hit “Young Blood”. Foster of the People followed and started to take the concert to the next level. Opening the set with “Houdini” and ending it with “Pumped Up Kicks”. Cage the Elephant kept the high energy level left from a few mins earlier. Matthew Schultz decided to leave his red dress at home for this southern California performance. Coming a long ways from their 2009 performance and getting better each time I see them. They played hits such as “Aberdeen”, “Shake Me Down”, and “Ain’t No Rest For The Wicked”. Keeping up with tradition and doing his stage dive into the crowd. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds played songs off his new album. He also was kind enough to play an acoustic version of “Wonderwall”. Florence& The Machine took the stage next. Florence enjoying playing back to back years Sunday night was the first artist to get the additional 10 minutes of the night and took advantage of it. Singing singles “Only If For a Night”, “Shake It Out”, “What The Water Gave Me” and “No Light, No Light”. She took off her black heels in middle of the song “Dogs Days Are Over” and looked like a caged animal on the small stage looking for room to run around. Death Cab For Cutie keep the momentum going with hits “Crooked Teeth”, Doors Unlocked and Open”, “You Are a Tourist”, Soul Meets Body”, and “I Will Possess Your Heart”. Mumford & Sons came on next and was welcomed with open arms. Got the crowd going and clapping with “Roll Away Your Stone” which he broke 3 strings, and kept it going with “Little Lion Man”. Marcus jumped on the drums for “Lover of The Night”. They left crowd in a frenzy again ended their set with “The Cave” and with a smaller Gibson the energy was bouncing off the walls and the pit was going nuts. The Black Keys kept it rocking seconds later and opened with “Howlin’ For You”. The sound they produce can only be appreciated and felt at a live performance. Playing their second straight year on Sunday night proved that at ten o’clock on a Sunday night people can still rock out. They played music off their new album. They closed their set with “Tighten Up”, and “Lonely Boy”. Another local band Jane’s Addiction closed out the night for the second straight night. They keep the rock levels high with a fast and heavy version of “Caught Stealing”. Ending with “Stop” while had the crowd chanting the end of the song while confetti fell from the sky and “Jade” with Dave playing acoustic.
All artists appreciative for being asked to perform and it really showed in their performances. For those is California this past weekend and didn’t attend or watch any of the shows you truly missed out on some quality music. If you are a fan of rock, punk rock, alternative rock, and/or indie, I highly suggest trying to make a show in upcoming years. You will definitely get your money’s worth. For additional recaps, videos, and images go to www.kroq.com, www.live105.radio.com, and www.youtube.com.