LOS ANGELES, CA- A lineup of early aughts rock shook the Kia Forum on Dec. 13 during Audacy’s KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas, the 34th holiday charity gig from the seminal LA rock and alternative radio station. Rise Against, Papa Roach, Evanescence and Social Distortion brought loud, heavy riffs to the Forum stage, while Third Eye Blind, Yellowcard, The All American Rejects, Wet Leg and newcomers The Paradox brought melodic energy and a bevy of hits. While the lineup featured many staples of the KROQ ecosystem, this year nodded more to a millennial catalog.
A lineup of early aughts rock shook the Kia Forum on Dec. 13 during Audacy’s KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas, the 34th holiday charity gig from the seminal LA rock and alternative radio station. Rise Against, Papa Roach, Evanescence, and Social Distortion brought loud, heavy riffs to the Forum stage, while Third Eye Blind, Yellowcard, The All-American Rejects, Wet Leg, and newcomers The Paradox brought melodic energy and a bevy of hits. While the lineup featured many staples of the KROQ ecosystem, this year nodded more to a millennial catalog.
As always, the event benefited Para Los Niños and Al Wooten Jr. Youth Center, which support local youth education. And for the first time in years, the event featured a special guest by way of 4 Non Blondes, whose hit “What’s Up?” would provide the night’s best singalong moment. The song, always an anthem, has become a resurgent hit, thanks this year in part to a viral TikTok mashup of the song with Nicki Minaj’s “Beez in the Trap,” drawing participation from everyone from Sabrina Carpenter to Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai.
First on the event’s trademark rotating stage was The Paradox, a pop-punk quartet from Atlanta whose viral success skyrocketed them to major stages virtually overnight, opening for Green Day and making fans of Jack White and Travis Barker, among others. They set the bar for the night with a high-energy blend of songs that was reminiscent of their early-aughts inspiration.
CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT OUR INTERVIEW AND PHOTOS OF THE PARADOX
Indie rock darlings Wet Leg made their second AAC appearance, featuring tracks from their latest record, Moisturizer, along with songs from their Grammy-winning debut album. Lead singer Rhian Teasdale’s command of the stage is something to behold, from crawling across it to almost feral dance moves that never take things too seriously. AAC has a history of including newcomers and tastemakers, like Lorde and Billie Eilish before they exploded, so it was a fitting choice to have Wet Leg bring alternative flair to a lineup heavy on rock.
After a nine-year hiatus, Yellowcard triumphed through their set, bringing nostalgic hits like “Ocean Avenue” and the new track “Better Days,” a nod to the difficult period that almost saw the group completely disbanded. After 25 years as a group, Yellowcard played with the vigor of a band just getting started.
Crowd singalongs hit fever pitch as Third Eye Blind performed a set of enduring hits like “Graduate,” “Semi-Charmed Life,” and “Jumper,” inciting nostalgia while also connecting with a new generation of listeners. Balancing ballads and high-energy rock numbers, their set was emotional and electric. Lead singer Stephan Jenkins thanked KROQ for their unending support and for continuing to play their music, which after almost 30 years still feels fresh and vital.
CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT OUR INTERVIEW WITH STEPHAN JENKINS OF THIRD EYE BLIND
One of the evening’s most anticipated groups was The All-American Rejects, who thundered through danceable hits like “Move Along” and “Gives You Hell,” peppered with lead singer Tyson Ritter’s humorous musings. When a distressed fan needed help, the band stopped their entire set to ensure they were okay, even offering to have them watch the rest of the performance from the safety of the stage. “Does anyone have a protein bar?” Ritter asked. Much to his surprise, someone threw one onstage. “It’s not organic, but I’d fuck with it!” he joked. Ritter even recognized a baby in the audience. “Is that the baby from Warped Tour?” he asked, and was elated to learn it was.
After their set, a montage of iconic Almost Acoustic Christmas moments played on the screen as the stage was set for surprise guests 4 Non Blondes, who first played AAC in 1993. Singer and perennial hitmaker Linda Perry opened the set with “Beautiful,” a track she wrote for Christina Aguilera. From the opening chords of “What’s Up?,” the energy at the Forum shifted to a rousing chorus of voices screaming “Hey, what’s going on?” in unison. Refreshingly, 4NB was the only band to deliver a fully acoustic set.
SoCal royalty Social Distortion followed, bringing their high-octane blend of punk, rock, and melodic earworms. In between hits like “Story of My Life” and their cover of “Ring of Fire,” singer Mike Ness talked about how he made music simply because he enjoyed it, never realizing it would connect with an audience over such a long career. After Ness was diagnosed with tonsil cancer in 2023, tours and work on a new album were postponed, but much to the joy of the crowd, the band debuted a new song from their upcoming record. Social Distortion is woven into the fabric of KROQ and Southern California culture. Though they have played this event countless times, their appearance is always a crowd favorite, never wearing out their welcome, with Ness’s trademark vocals sounding more alive than ever.
CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT OUR INTERVIEW AND PHOTOS OF SOCIAL DISTORTION
The night took a heavier turn with Rise Against, uniting headbangers and crowd surfers and featuring a cover of Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World.” Fans were treated to a climactic final chorus of “Swing Life Away,” with the whole band joining in. It was a more tender moment in an otherwise raucous set.
Continuing the heavy energy was Papa Roach, whose set was easily the loudest and most incendiary of the night. Frontman Jacoby Shaddix came out swinging from the opening number, clad in a studded jacket with “Blood Brothers” emblazoned on the back. His energy and showmanship, along with riffs on memorable songs such as “Scars” and “Last Resort,” brought out circle pits and moshing.
Evanescence may have been an unexpected choice of headliner, but they did nothing if not steal the show. Their debut record remains one of the best-selling albums of the 21st century, and their set was packed with Grammy-winning songs. Celebrating her birthday on the day of the show, singer Amy Lee displayed her powerhouse vocals and range on songs like “Going Under,” “Lithium,” and the haunting ballad “My Immortal.” Jacoby Shaddix joined the band for their final song of the evening, “Bring Me to Life,” missing his cues but making up for it with blistering energy. If you missed this performance, the band announced a 2026 world tour.
The 34th edition of this event hearkened back to the years when nu metal and pop punk’s golden age took hold, but it will be remembered most for the way it connected generations of listeners to the heart of LA’s rock and alternative scene, whose landscape owes so much to KROQ. As generations shift, one thing remains consistent, and that is KROQ’s imprint on the soundtrack to so many lives.
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LIVE CLIPS
KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas 2025 Unites LA’s Rock Community at the Kia Forum
