KROQ-FM 106.7 and Audacy reminded fans at the 33rd annual Almost Acoustic Christmas concert at the Kia Forum on Saturday, Dec. 14, that the spirit of rock ‘n’ roll holiday cheer is still very much alive and well.
Seas of concertgoers packed the venue, many of them still embracing the festive spirit with Santa hats, red chrome outfits, and the occasional ugly Christmas sweater. The sold-out, single-day event featured standout performances from The Smashing Pumpkins, Beck, 311, Sublime, Jimmy Eat World, Franz Ferdinand, Royel Otis, AWOLNATION, The Linda Lindas, and bby.
Here are fan-favorite highlights from the show.
Franz Ferdinand’s evolution
When Franz Ferdinand took the stage at KROQ’s Almost Acoustic Christmas, it was clear the Scottish rockers were ready to make an impact. The crew ran onstage, encouraging the crowd to get loud as the opening notes of “Bar Lonely” rang out. As the fourth band of the evening, following AWOLNATION, their performance was a high-energy celebration of rock, mixing timeless hits with a fresh twist that captured the essence of the night.
Moments after their set, I spoke with lead singer Alex Kapranos, who shared how the band’s audience continues to evolve. “It’s been amazing to see how much things have surged in the last few years,” Alex said, still energized from the performance. “A lot of much younger people are discovering our music these days. Fans often share stories like, ‘Oh, you were my dad’s favorite band,’ which is pretty surreal.”
For Alex, this growing connection with younger fans brings back memories of his own musical influences. “What’s really cool is that, like me growing up, not everyone sticks to contemporary bands. I loved artists like David Bowie and The Beatles, even though their music was around before I was born. It’s humbling to think we might now be that kind of band for some people.”
The band’s performance at Almost Acoustic Christmas was a flawless blend of their iconic…
Read the full article here
