As roadies rolled a grand piano onto the stage midway through Evanescence‘s set, singer Amy Lee smiled at the fans that packed the Kia Forum for KROQ‘s 34th annual Almost Acoustic Christmas show and let slip her other reason to celebrate on Saturday.
“It’s my birthday,” said Lee, born 44 years ago in Riverside. “And on my birthday, I get to do whatever I want.”
What she apparently wanted to do was sing her heart out during a 45-minute headlining set that wrapped up nearly six hours of music for a night that benefits the youth organizations Para Los Niños and the Al Wooten Jr. Youth Center.
Evanescence, like most of the bands on the bill this year, broke out in the late ’90s or early aughts in part thanks to heavy play on KROQ’s airwaves. Thanks in large part to Lee’s powerful mezzo-soprano, classical piano chops, and its mix of alternative metal with a touch of goth, Evanescence always stood out.
That continued on Saturday with a set that mixed the heavy, somber music with lyrics that offered hope amid hardship. “I just want to say, ‘Here’s to embracing the darkness,’” Lee offered by way of introduction to the piano ballad “Lithium.” “Because you can’t have the light without the dark.”
Other highlights of their performance included “Fight Like a Girl,” which included a surprise appearance by K.Flay, her duet partner on the song; “End of the Dream,” which opened with a low drone and tinkling chimes before the band kicked in, and “My Immortal,” another gorgeous piano-driven song.
“Wake Me Up Inside,” one of the band’s biggest hits, wrapped things up, with singer Jacoby Shaddix of Papa Roach, who played its own strong set just before Evanescence, joining Lee on stage.
We’re going to award yearbook-style superlatives for other highlights of Almost Acoustic Christmas, and Lee is hands-down the winner of the Biggest and Best Rock Vocals award.
Now let’s see who else went home with a trophy, shall we?
Living Legend: Mike Ness and Social Distortion represented old-school KROQ. How old? Let Mike answer that.
“First time I heard one of my songs on the radio, I was 19 years old,” the 63-year-old told the crowd between “Reach For the Sky” and his set-closer “Story of My Life.” “I had a job. I worked in a porno shop in Fullerton. The manager wasn’t there on Sunday nights.
“So on Sunday nights, I’d get a six-pack in the refrigerator and get a pizza delivered, and listen to Rodney on the Roq. He played ‘1945,’ and that was the first time I heard myself on the radio,”
Ness and the band sounded great as they tore through songs including “Born to Kill” and “Mommy’s Little Monster.” Looked great, too. As my friend Kelli texted from the pit, Ness has “gone full Springsteen,” and with his hair greased back, a dark-blue work shirt, and a bit more gray in his hair, he does look a bit like the Boss of Southern California punk-and-roots rock.
Best Surprise: To be clear, 4 Non Blondes would have won this even if they weren’t the only surprise act of the night. In the band’s brief original run from 1989 to 1994, they had a huge hit with “What’s Up?” with its irresistible singalong melodies. Singer Linda Perry left during the recording of the second album to go solo, and has focused on producing other artists for years now.
But earlier this year, the band got back together just to play and have some fun from time to time. Saturday was 4 Non Blondes’ first show in the greater Los Angeles area in 21 years, and it came in advance of a pair of shows at the Roxy in West Hollywood on Monday, Dec. 15 and Tuesday, Dec. 16.
The band, which Perry noted was the only one playing acoustic all night, performed just a pair of songs. A cover of Cristina Aguilera’s “Beautiful” (which Perry wrote) was as lovely as the title. A performance of “What’s Up?” – recently adapted into a viral TikTok trend – followed in its original form with the audience joining in lustily on the choruses.
Sharpest Political Bite: The Chicago punk act Rise Against has long worn its socio-political heart on its sleeves, and just because it was a holiday show didn’t mean that singer Tim McIlrath wasn’t going to say and sing what he wanted.
“They told me we have played the KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas eight (bleepin’) times,” McIllrath said at the close of “Reeducation (Through Labor).” “That feels good, and I tell you what, the only reason they invite you back eight (bleepin’) times is because of you.”
The audience roared.
“No matter where you’re from, what color your skin is, we all come from somewhere,” he continued as the cheers grew louder. “They’re trying to rip up that ideal, but we all come from somewhere.”
“Prayer of the Refugee” followed with a powerful blast of rock and roll energy, followed by McIllrath performing “Swing Life Away” mostly to his own acoustic guitar accompaniment before the rest of the band joined for the final verse and chorus.
“They will use the word ‘freedom’ and they will take away a woman’s right to choose,” McIllrath announced as he introduced a cover of Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World.” “They will use the word ‘freedom’ and they will take away our hard-working neighbors [who are immigrants].”
“Savior,” which wrapped up Rise Against’s fast and furious set, was terrific, and dropping in the instantly recognizable riff from Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man” in tribute to the late Ozzie Osbourne made it perfect.
Best Banter: The All-American Rejects could also have been named Best Comeback. The band had gone dormant for about a decade until the announcement of a new album, “Sandbox,” in March. In May, it played a series of unexpected pop-up shows: In people’s backyards, a barn, a bowling alley, and college campuses, going viral for the random fun it generated.
And the work seems to have clearly reinvigorated the band, formed in Stillwater, Oklahoma in 1999. On songs such as the glammy punk of “Swing, Swing” and “Easy Come, Easy Go,” they sounded sharp and fresh.
But singer Tyson Ritter’s between-song banter, sometimes snarky, sometimes sincere, made the performance that much more.
“I wore a (bleepin’) Christmas sweater, and I’m regretting every moment of it,” he announced after discovering the sweat in sweaters after just two songs.
“Oh, come all ye faithful,” he started to sing at another point, before pausing, and then announcing, “I quit listening in church after that part.”
“We never knew that this band could ever have a (bleepin’) breath of life again,” Ritter said before “Easy Come, Easy Go.” “We just threw a horseshoe, and people opened their doors to us to play their backyards for free last year.
“Gives You Hell,” which closed out the set, started out great before Ritter called a sudden halt to it when a young woman directly in front him at near the front barrier appeared to faint.
“Let’s get you out of there,” he said, calling for EMTs, water and something sweet to boost her blood-sugar level.
“We need Twinkies, some sugar,” Ritter said to fans in the pit. “Anybody got any gumdrops? It’s Christmas time. You got any candy? Pieces of gingerbread houses?”
As medical staff helped the woman out of the arena to be checked out, Ritter noticed a sign and started to read.
“‘Hey Tyson, this is Baby Tyson Emery’ – that’s the baby from (bleepin’) Warped tour?” he said, referring to a man who’d come to a show earlier this year with a similar sign.
“That’s the baby that’s named after me,” he continued as the kid’s father held the ear protector-wearing infant over his head. “That’s not my son, but I will treat him as my kin!
And now, the speed round:
Biggest Mosh Pit: Papa Roach‘s aggressive alternative metal had the mosh pit that circled most of the night even later. When singer Jacoby Shaddix called for a Wall of Death – fans lined up across from each other, racing to crash into each other at his count – the pit exploded.
Sweetest Melodies: Third Eye Blind’s 1997 self-titled debut was huge, and the three biggest singles off it all made the Top 10 thanks to the terrific melodies that supported the lyrics. On Saturday, singer Stephan Jenkins and the band had the crowd singing along loudly as they closed their set with those hits: “Jumper,” “Semi-Charmed Life,” and “How’s It Going to Be?”
Best Shorts: Wet Leg singer Rhian Teasdale arrived on stage in shiny gold hot pants for the indie rock band from the Isle of Wight’s early set on Saturday. Songs from their two albums, including “Catch These Fists,” “Chaise Longue,” and “CPR” had the crowd dancing throughout, but the wardrobe choice left a lasting impression on one legendary KROQ personality.
“I’m known for wearing shorts,” said Kevin Ryder, who returned to his longtime radio home in April, and was, in fact, wearing shorts as he came out to introduce Yellowcard’s performance.” “But Wet Leg, those are shorts!”
Best Band Van Memories: Yellowcard had a fun, energetic set, which closed with the band’s biggest hit, “Ocean Avenue.” The new album’s title is “Better Days,” and before performing the title track, singer Ryan Key shared his memories of listening to KROQ 25 years ago when Yellowcard was in town to make its first record.
“When we moved out here 25 years ago, we listened to KROQ every day in our van, driving around playing our shows,” he said. “Then we got a song on the radio.”
The crowd cheered, as he mentioned that this year, Yellowcard got its first No. 1 song on the alternative radio charts, thanks in part to their support and that of stations like KROQ.
“I’m not saying it to brag,” he added. “I’m saying it because rock and roll is alive and we’re glad to be part of it.”