Kevin & Bean interview Sublime With Rome at Almost Acoustic Christmas

“ You've made me blush, now I'm not gonna bring it tonight.
” Cage The Elephant to Kevin & Bean This past weekend was a wild one, with some of the biggest bands around performing to SOLD OUT crowds both nights at the Gibson Amphitheatre. Not only did each band dish out an incredible performance, but they also sat down with some of our KROQ DJs for exclusive interviews.

Just a little taste of what’s ahead: Blink and their sense of humor, Sublime With Rome make a big announcement, Kat makes out with Dave Navarro, Cage The Elephant perform a special Christmas song for Kevin & Bean and much, much more.

See all the amazing interviews here.

Joanne, Miss Double D-cember 2012 and friend

From Joanna:

“ Dear Mike Ness, please excuse the double gesture you received from me.
” Joanna - Miss DD 2012 Let me first say THANK YOU to everyone who made this weekend happen. Watching Acoustic Christmas online is one thing, perfect angles, great shots, good lighting, sound-impeccable. But in person, I was astounded at the amount of effort and synchronization that had to have gone into such an incredibly fun, smooth, and bitchin’ event.

I am SO glad I was chosen to be a part of the experience. And I am sorry to say that everything I saw and experienced was not even a tenth of what was happening around me. I am going to have to watch all the highlights to see what I missed when I was mingling on the patio and in line for cocktails and (thank you bartender) chips and skittles, yum!

Night one, as some may know, started off like a train wreck at someone’s funeral…

Read more about my Almost Acoustic Christmas experience.

KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas Night 2…

Photo: Alex Rauch @deadspacebeyondbelief

Tom and Mark make a Nicole Alvarez sandwich

“ A job in urology, I can see myself having that job.
” Tom DeLonge When Nicole sat down with Mark & Tom from Blink-182, there was little chance that she expected the onslaught of potty humor. Yes, we’re always prepared for Blink’s patented banter, but this particular interview has to be one of the funniest they’ve done in a while. The boys were relaxed, comfortable and yet, on fire. It’s incredible how the pair writes songs that have moved teens for a decade yet they can turn on their faucet of comedy at a moment’s notice.

The interview was going along fine till Nicole asked them what jobs they’d have if their music career had never taken off. They’re answers are classic Blink-182.

Watch Mark and Tom talk about genitals.

Mumford & Sons (Photo: Alex Rauch)

KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas Night 2…

11:31pm

Thank you for coming to the 22nd Annual KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas! You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here. Or, well, we guess you could. How often do you think they check to see if someone is shacked up in the Bates Motel?

We’ve lived with creepier people. 

Best 6 hours of my life!! #KROQXMAS—
Kristina Turcios (@TheSeventhDevil) December 12, 2011

11:30pm

Dave Navarro with Kat Corbett

“Yeah, I saw Jane’s Addiction. It was a f**king good year. And if you’re having trouble getting gifts you can do what I do: you can f**king steal them,” Perry Farrell exclaimed before launching into the eternally sonically-forward funk-rock tune “Been Caught Stealing.” Her even threw a little scat in their to up the ante, although his fingerless leather gloves, neck bling, and their present-throwing babes in black lingerie were really enough.

“ Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and all those other religious things that I never really think about.
” Perry Farrell Of course, there is always more so while Farrell quipped that he “always like this time of year; I hope up and get fucked up. Because no one is calling, what else am I gonna do?,” Dave Navarro loomed mysteriously in the background, and Stephen Perkins requested that they do “this right” while playing “Irresistible Force,” Jane’s Addiction brought out a miniature laser show followed by the funky “Stop!”

Jane's Addiction (Photo: Alex Rauch)

They ended the night on a high note by playing “Jane Says” and with Farrell vocalizing his feelings on the holidays: “Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and all those other religious things that I never really think about. I just like the holidays because I get to give presents. I also like the holidays because I get to get presents. C’mon ladies.”

Ladies and gentlemen @janesaddiction img.ly/bqbZ #kroqxmas—
Kat Corbett (@KatCorbett) December 12, 2011

Get your Night 2 stocking stuffed here!

KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas Night 1…

Photos – Alex Rauch @deadspacebeyond

[UPDATE] This morning, Cheez, the band’s manager, phoned Kevin & Bean to discuss Bud’s departure and the band’s future.

*

While Kevin & Bean sat and chatted with the members of Sublime With Rome out in front of the Gibson Amphitheatre this evening, they broke some news to fans and listeners everywhere – drummer Bud Gaugh will be leaving the band and tonight will the the band’s final show together (as the trio).

Wilson said he’s expecting a baby and is planning to focus his time on his family and their newest addition. Congratulations to Bud, we wish him the best. As for the future of the band, drummer Josh Freese (who’s worked with A Perfect Circle, Devo, Nine Inch Nails, and several more) will be taking over the drumming responsibilities.Watch Bud break the news.

Blink-182

KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas Night 1…11:20pm

“All these demons, they keep me up all night,” Blink-182 sings while they lay heavy into their guitars, metal-ish riffs, different, but somehow just as musically-comforting as their early happy-go-lucky pop songs. It’s hard to remind oneself that Blink-182 aren’t a young band anymore when they play songs like “The Rock Show” and “What’s My Age Again?”

But when they are headlining KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas and giving props to “younger” bands like Young The Giant and Chevelle (whom they “fell” in love with), it’s clear that Blink-182 are “old” pros. Probably why they dedicated a song to all the “old people.” 

But beyond being musically-tight, incredibly comfortable on stage, and hilariously charming, Blink-182 don’t show their age.

Between getting thrown a “36-B” bra onstage, saying said stage reminded them of the “Fibonacci Code,” asking audience members if they are going to “f**k,” and “setting the mood” for some “reverse cowgirl with strobe lights,” Blink-182 played songs like “Feelin’ This,” “Up All Night,” “I Miss You,” “After Midnight,” “First Date,” ”All The Small Things,” “Josie,” and “Dumpweed.” 

Their rollicking sound, their playful attitudes, their aggressive Christmas tune “Happy Holidays, You Bastard,” and their crude jokes about Travis’ bedroom demeanor (“The way that Travis plays drums is exactly how he f**ks.”) show that Blink really stick to their over a decade-old exclamation of “I never want to act my age. What’s my age again?” 

But, “I Guess This Is Growing Up.” 

Dammit #blink182 live on #KROQXMAS Well i guess this Is growing up !!!—
Hernan Galvez (@hgb2431) December 11, 2011

10:28pm

Blinkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk.

@311 was awesome. Follow me ( @cyrusbolooki ) @newfoundglory . Time for @blink182 . @markhoppus @tomdelongeslegs ? @travisbarker #KROQXMAS—
KROQ (@kroq) December 11, 2011

10:21pm

Nicole Bonding With Mike Ness

10:20pm

With lyrical entreaties like “I said before/I’ll say it once more/Knew you would make me feel so good/Wanna do you right/Can’t get enough” and ethnic-infused reggae-electro-funk-rap (yes, so many apt descriptors), it’s hard not to be one of those “positive people” that Nick Hexum says 311 makes music for.

The fact that many people haven’t seen 311 since their high school days playing hacky sack, going to drum circles, and smoking lots of ganja with friends is unfortunate because 311 is seriously an amazing, talented, wave-of-the-future, hyper-mind-altering sort of band that can truly turn your negative energy “Amber.” 

The audience was treated to old (and new) favorites like “Beautiful Disaster,” “All Mixed Up,” “Come Original,” “Amber,” “Happy Slam Dance Song,” “Applied Science,” and “Don’t Stay Home.” Mid-set the group began a funky-tribal percussive set with Japanese taiko drumming.

311 truly taps into the primordial subconscious while expanding the mind as reflected best in their song “Creatures (For A While)” where they encourage you, conscientiously, to “make a mess,” “blow off stress,” “stoke the fire, and be “just creatures for a while.” We are definitely “Down” to get a little crazy.

So…in closing! Happy Holidays! Much love! ! As we all know…"Stay Positive! Love YOUR LIFE! ( #kroqxmas live at ustre.am/FxZr)—
Ella M. (@brodElla311) December 11, 2011

Get yer sleigh bells jinglin’ at Acoustic Xmas.

KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas 2011…

Photos by Alex Rauch / @deadspacebeyond

[Gallery] ‘Twas The Night Before…

Photos from around the Gibson Amphitheatre as we prepare for the 22nd Annual Almost Acoustic Christmas. Photos by Cody Black.

The Naked & Famous

“Young Blood” is one of those songs that instantly raises the tiny hairs on the back of your arm. The chord progressions, the tiny bit of echo on the synth keys, the heart-stopping pound of the beat — it all harkens back to the first time MGMT‘s “Time To Pretend” came on. It brings waves of nostalgia, hope and most importantly — it just rocks.

“ I think every band has one of those songs, where the song just writes itself. I wish that happened to us all the time.
”

The Naked And Famous have taken the alternative rock world by storm in the last year-and-a-half. The New Zealand five-piece has soared up the KROQ charts and is now a must-see act at Night 2 of Almost Acoustic Christmas.

Their success stateside is largely in part to “Young Blood”, but I like to think this group of twenty somethings has touched a nerve with our collective conscious even deeper. They make music that directly reflects the times we live in — the emotions we feel going into 2012 and beyond.

I got a chance to hang out with the band before their first show on the West Coast this time last year. They had just come from a huge “buzz band” whirlwind in London and two well-received shows in New York City, and were clearly still trying to process their new-found stardom.

Read the interview with the band!

If you’re looking for set times, live webcast details, Gibson Amphitheatre dos and don’ts, broadcast info and more then you’re in luck!

Tweeting about the show? Use the hashtag #KROQXMAS.

Get all the details here.

Photos by Cody Black

“ We are very sorry that we will not be able to perform at this year's KROQ Acoustic Xmas show. Acoustic Xmas has always been one of our favorite shows to play.
” Incubus Earlier this morning, Incubus front man Brandon Boyd called in to The Kevin & Bean Show with some disappointing news – Incubus will not be performing at night 1 of this year’s Almost Acoustic Christmas. Guitarist Mike Einziger “became ill on the band’s recent European tour and the band had to cancel 3 shows. After returning to the US, doctors have recommended that he take some additional time off to recover so the band will not be able to perform as scheduled,” says the band’s Facebook page.

About an hour after that call, Rome Ramirez called in to Kevin & Bean to break the news that Sublime With Rome would be filling in for Incubus. We wish Mike a speedy recovery and are stoked to have Sublime With Rome on board for the 22nd Annual Almost Acoustic Christmas.

Listen to the phone calls from Brandon and Rome.