KROQ’s 33rd annual Almost Acoustic Christmas returned to the Kia Forum in Los Angeles on Saturday, December 14, bringing fans an early dose of holiday cheer with epic performances from The Smashing Pumpkins, Beck, 311, and more during the sold out event.
While backstage, Audacy’s Klein.Ally.Show, and hosts Megan Holiday, Nicole Alvarez, and Kevan Kenney got a chance to talk with this year’s performers The Smashing Pumpkins, Beck, 311, Sublime, Jimmy Eat World, Franz Ferdinand, AWOLNATION, The Linda Lindas, and BBY.
The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins' Jimmy Chamberlain, Billy Corgan, and James Iha sat down with KROQ host Nicole Alvarez to discuss their recent journey into the past while working on their latest release, 2024's Aghori Mhori Mei. "It's curious," says frontman Billy Corgan, "because we sort of abandoned the way we worked mid-'90s, so to try to go back to the old way we worked was a curious thought. But I think it worked out pretty well. It feels good."
"For me, at least from an internal ideology standpoint," adds drummer Jimmy Chamberlain, "it's reignited the Rock focus of the band. I think when we play now we're more on the balls of our feet rocking, as opposed to a tentative kind of calculus. Now we're just trying to rock again." Billy adds, "Yeah, we're definitely back to the Rock," followed by guitarist James Iha, who says simply, "Rock feels good, yes." Touching on the state of the genre, Billy admits, "I think Rock is about to have an explosive comeback. First of all, we've erased the gatekeepers that told everybody the hipster stuff in the basement was where music was going. If you look at who goes to see concerts in large numbers -- look at the tour we just did with Green Day, the tour sold over 800,000 tickets -- people want to hear music played by bands, young or old, and Rock is always at the foundational spirit of that."
"Of course, there's Rock in every other genre," Billy continues, "but Rock is very specific to a specific audience for a specific set of reasons and we've had to hear for 25 years a bunch of hipsters tell everyone that Rock is not as meaningful as what somebody is doing in their basement. I'm sorry. So, now we're back to the point where the business has finally woken up and realized that the sleeping giant they've been looking for is at KROQ and is with the great Rock bands."
Beck
Hosts Megan Holiday and Nicole Alvarez teamed up to talk with Beck first looking back at his experiences in Los Angeles when getting his start. “The first show was probably at like a little coffee shop or a bar downtown or something like that,” he remembers. Born and raised in L A., Beck is the perfect person to act as a tour guide on this double date scenario he’s been thrust into. “I'll have to pull up in my Hyundai first,” he explains, “take you up to Glendale for a real good meal. You know, in L.A., the party doesn't really start until 11:30 at night, we could maybe grab a late dinner." As far as how the night ends, “it could go five different ways,” he says but “sitting by the fireplace here with you guys with a melted disco ball,” is just perfect.
Curious as to what exactly Beck does to keep his brain in check, while staying mentally fit and well, he tells us, “A good friend of mine got me some TM (Transcendental Meditation) classes, which I did but I haven't been doing it so I have not transcended unfortunately. But I really would like to. I don't know. I'm probably a bit of a nature person… you know, just being with my friends."
Finally, looking ahead Beck has been making music and will be hitting the road as well, however he admits if he were to lay down the guitar for another venture outside of music, “I would love to make a movie. I wish I was a painter. I'm not, I can't do that. I think you're born with that talent… I'm not making a film, but I'm scared of the idea of making a film,” he adds, “because I have friends who are filmmakers and they see, it takes a little piece of their body and soul. It's a lot of work.”
Jimmy Eat World
8X Almost Acoustic Christmas performers Jimmy Eat World dropped by with Audacy host Kevan Kenney backstage in the Forum Club, just a couple of months after the band was honored with their very own Jimmy Eat World Day in their hometown of Phoenix, AZ on October 17. “We were presented by the mayor of Phoenix with an official proclamation declaring that day, Jimmy World Day,” explains frontman Jim Adkins.
“It's for the municipality of Phoenix. I mean, if other cities want to follow suit, that's kind of up to them right now.” Drummer Zach Lind adds, “I'm gonna treat it as like the Second Father's Day… I'm the only person in our house that's in the band, right? So, it's like, well, I don't have to do any chores today.”
Sublime
Kevan Kenney also got a chance to catch up with Sublime's Eric Wilson, Bud Gaugh, and Jakob Nowell at the end of a massive year for the newly reunited group. Finally being given a chance to look back, Jakob says it’s “actually a year since we did the HR benefit, like to the day." Bud adds, "It was December 10th. We did the HR show at the Terra Grand Ballroom and just looking back, I mean, it's been an amazing journey that we've done thus far and the things that we have set up for next year are just even that much more amazing.”
311
Nicole Alvarez joined host Megan Holiday to sit down with close friends of the KROQ family, 311, quickly getting into their brand new album Full Bloom. "We really feel like we put our best foot forward," says frontman Nick Hexum of the new record, which features "old school elements, with some new school sprinkles on it, and some exciting new production techniques." The band, he says, is "really happy with the songs, the reaction's been great." Revealing their plans for the festive season, Nick tells Megan the band is all planning on being home for the holiday. "I've got a ski trip planned with my girls, and it's just a great time to reset and just be at home with the family."
The band's next 311 Cruise will be taking place at the end of March 2025. "We've got some exciting bands, there's just always fun activities," says Hexum. "Everyone says it's the best vacation they've had. We go to new destinations every time. We've got new ones planned down in the Caribbean... it's super fun."
Franz Ferdinand
Before their set, host Megan Holiday was joined backstage by frontman Alex Kapranos and bassist Bob Hardy of Franz Ferdinand, whose sixth studio album, The Human Fear, is set for release in the new year on January 10. While the title may sound a bit intense, Alex asks us to “think about fear,” and how “all the good things that you have to do in life usually entail overcoming fear in some way. Think of asking somebody out on a date. You know, you've got to overcome the fear of rejection. But whenever you overcome fear, you always feel good. You feel like your heart beats faster, you feel like you're alive, the blood runs hot in your veins. So I feel like the album gives you that kind of energy.”
Taking the stage, Alex says he still feels the nerves, “but you get such a good buzz when you do it, and like all the good things in life require you to overcome fear to get that good buzz to do the good thing.” When it comes to keeping his mental health in check, Alex admits that it’s his “friends that really keep me together. I think we're very lucky being in a band with people who we get on with, people who we trust, and, you know, people who you can open up to as well.”
AWOLNATION
This year, L.A.'s own AWOLNATION rocked the stage for KROQ fans, which had frontman Aaron Bruno feeling nostalgic with the Klein.Ally.Show, reflecting on listening to the station throughout his Southern California upbringing. “This is probably the eighth time we played here [The Forum] and anytime we get invited [it’s an honor]. On top of that, KROQ is where I discovered, you know, the Metallica Black album, Nirvana Nevermind, Soundgarden, and that whole era of music, so it's always an honor to be a part of the station."
Turning the focus to his own band, Bruno responded to rumors that AWOLNATION’s latest album, Phantom Five, would be their last. “We'll see, who knows?" he shared. “Five seems really good. I put my heart and soul into all these records and songs and we'll see. Let's say it's not, it was a fun dramatic little side note [to] cause more demand.”
The Linda Lindas
The Linda Lindas made their Almost Acoustic Christmas debut this year and credited their appearance for getting them in the holiday spirit. “We feel so festive and spirited for the holidays,” they shared with the Klein.Ally.Show ahead of taking the stage. It’s been a record year for the band who started playing together at the age of 2 and now range in age from 12-18. A highlight for them was touring with Green Day and not only playing to the largest crowds of their career but also entering an intense prank war with GD (which The Linda Lindas claim they won). “We made this like big banner and we taped it onto their inflatable… It said ‘Linda Linda's rule’ and we drew a cat that has the one-eyed bastard on it.” Green Day weren’t the only icons the band got to spend time with this year — they also got to meet some of their biggest role models, including The Talking Heads and Jawbreaker.
BBY
New London-based band, BBY, made their first trip to America for this year's Almost Acoustic Christmas, and appropriately had the honor of opening the entire show. “I think you guys are weird, but a good kind of weird,” the guys told KROQ's Klein.Ally.Show in response to their first impression of the Los Angeles crowd.
The band is currently promoting their current single, “Kinky,” which they explain is all about keeping things fresh in long-standing relationships. “Everyone always thinks it's about just kinky sex,” said member Benjy Gibson. “But it's actually about, I've been with my girlfriend for like seven years now, and it's about keeping that s*** kinky, because that's the sexiest thing you can do.”
Check out our full conversations above with all of this year's KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas performers, and thank you to everyone who attended... Happy holidays -- and we'll see you next year!