Smashing Pumpkins, AFI, The Interrupters, Thirty Seconds to Mars and more got KROQ fans in the holiday spirit on Saturday night.<\/b>
\nIt\u2019s that time of year again, when the Fabulous Forum in Inglewood becomes even more magical as its exterior is shrouded with brilliant red and green light and a towering Christmas tree greets patrons in the parking lot.
Thousands of fans filed into the venue Saturday night,, Dec. 8 for the sold-out night one of the 29th annual KROQ 106.7\/FM Almost Acoustic Christmas which featured sets by the Smashing Pumpkins, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Third Eye Blind, Greta Van Fleet, Bad Religion, AFI, The Interrupters, AJR, Badflower and KROQ\u2019s own DJ Jeremiah Red.
Here are five highlights from the show, which continues on Sunday with performances by Florence + The Machine, Death Cab For Cutie, Bastille, Mike Shinoda, Billie Eilish, Young the Giant, Chvrches, Mike Posner and Lovelytheband.
THE INTERRUPTERS RISE UP
The Los Angeles-based ska\/punk band has had a phenomenal year and the quartet celebrated its success during its quick seven-song set. \u201cWe\u2019re from L.A. so this means everything,\u201d guitarist Kevin Bivona said, clearly relishing in the milestone moment. The band thanked KROQ for adding its single, \u201cShe\u2019s Kerosene\u201d into regular rotation and got the crowd pumped early on in the evening with songs such as \u201cA Friend Like Me\u201d and \u201cTake Back the Power.\u201d The group brought out friend, producer and Rancid vocalist-guitarist Tim Armstrong for a cover of Rancid\u2019s \u201cTime Bomb.\u201d He even stuck around for \u201cFamily.\u201d
GRETA VAN FLEET STEAL THE SHOW
This throwback rock quartet from Michigan has had a very interesting year. Despite a lot of critics completely destroying the band\u2019s album, \u201cAnthem of the Peaceful Army,\u201d the group managed to earn four Grammy nominations this week. The members really don\u2019t seem to care at all about the criticism or the barrage of complaints that they\u2019re directly ripping off Led Zeppelin. Honestly, the crowd Saturday night didn\u2019t give a care either. The guys came out roaring and ready to go with \u201cThe Cold Wind\u201d and had the audience on its feet, dancing, clapping and singing along through \u201cWhen the Curtain Falls\u201d and \u201cEdge of Darkness.\u201d It was definitely one of the more high-energy sets of the event.
During the band\u2019s backstage interview with KROQ DJ Megan Holiday, vocalist Josh Kiszka talked about the fact that fans went and toilet papered the house of the Pitchfork critic that skewered their album, noting that it\u2019s a good thing the fans are \u201ca peaceful army\u201d \u2014 otherwise it could have been \u201cmore than just toilet paper.\u201d
RELIABLE KROQ ACTS
AFI is always a good time at the KROQ events. The band came out fast and ferocious with \u201cMiss Murder\u201d and the crowd screamed along to \u201cLove Like Winter.\u201d Vocalist Davey Havok passionately delivered \u201cI Hope You Suffer\u201d and leapt into the audience for \u201cGirl\u2019s Not Grey.\u201d The band also live debuted its latest single, \u201cGet Dark,\u201d off of its new EP, \u201cThe Missing Man.\u201d
It was also a treat to have L.A. punk band Bad Religion back on the bill. The group too debuted new music live with the single \u201cMy Sanity\u201d and even played an actual Christmas song, \u201cWhat Child Is This?\u201d off of its 2013 \u201cChristmas Songs\u201d album. Of course, everyone sang along as the band tore through \u201cAmerican Jesus,\u201d \u201cInfected\u201d and \u201cSorrow.\u201d
Third Eye Blind was curiously high up on the bill, but vocalist Stephan Jenkins admitted that the band was just there for the party. He shared that the group is currently in Los Angeles recording a new album before launching into a series of hits from the \u201990s including \u201cSemi-Charmed Life,\u201d \u201cJumper\u201d and \u201cNever Let You Go.\u201d Jenkins also took a moment to thank KROQ. \u201cThey started playing our music 20 years ago and never stopped,\u201d he said.
THE SMASHING PUMPKINS SMASHED
Back in August, the Smashing Pumpkins performed three-hour sets at The Forum ahead of the release of their \u201cShiny and Oh So Bright, Vol. 1\/ LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun.\u201d The recently reunited group boiled down its set to a bunch of hits and covers for its headlining set Saturday night. They covered \u201cNever Let Me Down Again\u201d by Depeche Mode and guitarist James Iha took over on vocals for The Cure\u2019s \u201cFriday I\u2019m in Love.\u201d
Since the evening also served as a benefit for those affected by the recent California wildfires, vocalist Billy Corgan introduced and brought out musician Michael Garson, who has notably worked with artists such as David Bowie and Nine Inch Nails. Garson\u2019s home and recording studio burned down in the fires and as a longtime friend of the band, Corgan wanted to lift his spirits and thank him for his contributions to music by having him play keys on \u201cDisarm.\u201d
CELEBRATING 29 YEARS OF HOLIDAY FUN
The KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas itself is just such a fun event and an opportunity to see a lot of music in one evening thanks to the rotating stage. The acts are all playing for free since the proceeds from the show always go to local charities \u2014 which this year included a fund for victims of the California wildfires. It\u2019s the kind of show where everyone just cuts loose and has a good time.
Most of the sets are short but sweet, there\u2019s always a surprise or two, Santa Claus is usually hanging out somewhere in the venue, patrons dress up in holiday-themed outfits and ugly Christmas sweaters and, of course, there\u2019s always a fan or two that attempts to drink their weight in alcohol. It\u2019s a holly jolly good time and with next year being the 30th anniversary, it should be pretty epic.
When: Saturday, Dec., 8
Where: The Forum, Inglewood
Also: 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9 at The Forum, 3900 W. Manchester Blvd., Inglewood. Tickets are $40-$155 at 800-745-3000 or Ticketmaster.com .<\/p>\n