BITE ME! KROQ Almost Acoustic Xmas night 2 Live

KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas

Night #2

So, here I am queued up with thousands of others awaiting the doors to open and full of anticipation and X-mas cheer. The second night presented a more hardcore billing than last night beginning with one of my new faves to rave about My Chemical Romance, who were a total powerhouse. Singer Gerard Way, decked in red tinsel, has a fine set of pipes and great presence on stage - he's a natural. Big buddy of the band Bert of The Used join the group onstage. He traded verses with Gerard on the song "You Know What They Do to Guys Like Us in Prison?" out screaming one another as the rest of the band exploded around them. It was a great start to the evening.

Then, in just a couple minutes, it was time for The Used themselves, who showed that their constant touring has made them tight as a wound spring. The group opened with "Take It Away" from the new album In Love and Death, which was then followed by a short, sharp set which included "Taste of Ink" and an impassioned "On My Own" that had the kids screaming to the rafters. All in all, the band was mind blowing. When Bert was lit by a single spotlight on the big stage, we stared in awe as he recited lines to his own glimpse of hell prior to the ballistic final song "I’m A Fake". Sadly, there was no time for "Boxful of Sharp Objects," but it’s ok because the band announced that they will be seeing us again in February. I, for one, can't wait.

After that hard act to follow we got Good Charlotte. From the moment the band is introduced it’s obvious there isn't a lot of GC love in the room, and I almost feel sorry for them...almost. Good Charlotte played a song called "I Just Wanna Live", which was like ugly Duran Duran with falsetto backing vocals. I dunno I’m sure they are nice guys and maybe being surrounded by people giving them the finger swayed my opinion, but it’s hard not to think of a fat boy band with guitars. Trouble is, to be mean to them is toooo easy. The song "Ghost of You" has some Muse like keyboards, and it’s obvious the guys are trying too hard to sell their Made stuff to the Hot Topic kids as they strive for some new goth credibility, but it’s gonna take more than new hair and a few Jack Skeleton tattoos for me to give a toss.

Next up Papa Roach set fire to the stage like a team of arsonists on crack. I had seen them once before, but I still had no idea of their power. The human enthusiasm that is Jacoby Shaddix is a star - a demon with crazy eyes. He was infectious as he towered above the pit on his rock shaped podium, fists pounding the air, whilst he ploughed through all the Roach songs we know and love.

Incubus was great! Right from the opening of "Wish You Were Here" to the closing "Meglomaniac," they owned the stage and most of the audience. But, special mention has to go to their special guests Andy Sumner and Stewart Copeland, of the freakin’ Police, who along with Incubus played a sweet as a nut three song set, which included "Message in a Bottle" and "Roxanne". Brandon did his best Sting impression, and the whole bloody place sang to what must have been his personal wet dream.

Not coming from Cali, or the US for that matter, I was, until this night, a live Social D virgin. But, I know they garner a lot of respect in these parts, (they recently did a 6 or 7 night residency at The Wiltern) so I decided to check ‘em out. As they opened things up the band looked like they meant business. Mike Ness sported a big plaid shirt, buttoned at the top only, gangsta style. I quickly got the feeling that when you see them live you know exactly what you are gonna get - no b.s., no frills, no fancy stage show, just honest punk ‘n’ roll. I enjoyed the first few songs, but then the Corona bladder meant I needed to pee. Whilst leaving the bathroom this guy came up to me, hugged me, and repeatedly thanked me for an awesome show! Not wanting to burst his bubble I backslapped him and said "Anytime man." (Wonder who he thought I was?) [That’s f’in funny! – NIN]

I arrived back to my seat in time for a "Burning Ring of Fire," a punked up "Under My Thumb", and the killer team of "Ball and Chain" and "Story of My Life" which had everyone standing and singing with a lot of love, honesty, and grit.

After a standing ovation we welcomed three fifths of G ‘n’ R, a single STP, and their rehab officer. It is 1988 again for a bit as big glam rock moves take over the stage. It is kind of cool, but it is also hard not to feel that you are watching something that is a bit dated and, dare I say it, clichéd, as singer Scott dips into his frontman handbook and pulls out another Jagger and a couple of Bowies for good measure. Velvet Revolver did balls out version of "It’s so easy" and a heavy as fuck "Big Machine" and by the end everyone on stage was shirtless and sweaty like a metal version Chippendales, but by now I’m way past caring.

The night ended with everyone’s favorite Armani suit wearing punkers Green Day, who have found a new respect and credibility with pretty much everyone I know. On stage they were a revelation and were brave enough to perform a concept album to a radio fest crowd. Braver still was for a beaming Billy Joe to call for about 200 people to fill the pit floor and stir up the exhausted people who were still standing at which he then dived into and later got a little kid to do the same. Talk about a life changing moment! Fuelled by way too much lime tainted beer I managed to leg it from the back of the hall to the pit entrance, duck under a security guards arm, avoided being yanked out by the scruff of my neck, and before I knew it I was at the front of the stage. Freakin’ Sweet! We were then treated to the whole American Idiot album straight through, in order, in what was a special gig. We sang along and pogoed to “Tales of St. Jimmy” and “Jesus of Suburbia” while the moshpit kept exploding. Billy stopped the show as the powers that be felt they were losing control and tried to stop the fun and only restarted when the big guys in yellow were booed out of the pit. After the epic punk opera the second guitarist left the stage to the original three members, who then blasted through the classic "Welcome to Paradise" and then it was over. Crowds of buzzing people shuffled out knowing how great it was too see 2004's best album performed just for them.

So there we have it, another awesome line up from KROQ. They may be losing fans aplenty to the celeb laden Indie 103, but they still know how to put on one hell of a show. -Glen