Not So Silent Night (NSSN) is Live 105’s “Annual Holiday Rock Show”, with 2015 bringing it back from a two-night event to a one night show. As I’ve mentioned in the past, I tend to avoid the massive outdoor Summer-style festivals (too hot, dirty, sweaty and crowded, though I did cover Live 105’s BFD this year – see Part 1 & Part 2), so I really enjoy these indoor ones that happen in the colder weather. With this one being an annual event, they are extremely well organized and somehow improve upon their formula year after year. The night kicked off early at about 5:30 and ran up towards midnight, so it was a very long evening of excellent artists doing their thing (with scant 5-minute breaks in-between as the did quick stage rotations). It was also an interesting mix of artists, with newer bands as well as some that have put in a lot more years, with Weezer topping the billing. All in all, it was a great line-up that flowed well and all performers seemed to step up and deliver to their own fans as well as making some new ones.

Who: Weezer
Who: Death Cab For Cutie
Who: Bastille
Who: Silversun Pickups
Who: Halsey
Who: Chvrches
Who: Foals
Who: X Ambassadors
Venue: Oracle Arena
Where: Oakland, California
Promoter: Live 105 & Live Nation
When: December 11, 2015
Seating: Photo Pass First Three Songs (Last Three for Foals; First Two for Halsey); otherwise backstage/sidestage

I arrived prior to doors and found a long, winding line-up of fans waiting to fill the standing room only floor in the large sports arena.

This particular event is handled differently from most that I cover (in that I do double duty in photographing these shows as well as writing about them). As a photographer, I shot the first three (except in the case of Foals, which was the last three) songs of each set, then I and the other photogs were taken backstage, so I missed more than half of the show, which handicaps my ability to fully write about each set (and even what I did see, I was focused primarily on photography). So my thoughts about the show itself will be limited for this feature, since I did not see a lot of it. So this is more of a review in photos than in-depth discussion of each set.

Since there are so many bands to cover, I’m doing things in reverse of my usual chronological order, instead beginning with the headliner and working backwards…

Weezer

Members

Rivers Cuomo (lead vocals, lead guitar)
Patrick Wilson (drums)
Brian Bell (rhythm guitar, backing vocals, keyboards)
Scott Shriner (bass, backing vocals)

With a few non-American bands on the bill Friday night, Weezer is most definitely homegrown, formed in Los Angeles in 1992, at the beginning of a real shift in music (wherein Nirvana closed the door on the 80s and propelled music in an entirely different direction around the time Weezer was formed).

Weezer had found tremendous success themselves, selling over 17 million albums worldwide.

Their self-titled (AKA The Blue Album), triple-platinum debut was released in 1994, and it featured many hit songs that have endured over a few decades now, including “Say It Ain’t So”, “Buddy Holly”, and “Undone (The Sweater Song)”.

The band went on a break following their second album, Pinkerton, which was released in 1996.

They came back with another eponymous release (AKA The Green Album) in 2001. Hits included “Hash Pipe” and “Island in the Sun”. After two bass players came and went, current bassist Scott Shriner joined up for 2002’s Maladroit and 2005’s Make Believe. The latter included the hit “Beverly Hills”. 2008 saw the release of their third self-titled album (AKA The Red Album), and included the popular track “Pork and Beans”.

In 2009 and 2010, they released Raditude and Hurley respectively, and then Everything Will Be Alright in the End came out late last year.

This October, Weezer released an all-new single, “Thank God for Girls” and a second, “Do You Wanna Get High?” a week later, but have not announced that a new album is coming.

I’m a fan of Weezer and this appearance definitely has inspired me to turn out for their next headlining appearance that I have a chance to turn out for next year. They sounded great and have a real authentic connection between their on stage personas and their music. Their catchy and infectious tunes endure, though they also performed the two new songs as well.

Below is the setlist for Weezer at Not So Silent Night 2015:

Set List:

My Name Is Jonas
Hash Pipe
Back to the Shack
Do You Wanna Get High?
Pork and Beans
(If You’re Wondering if I Want You To) I Want You To
Thank God for Girls
Say it Ain’t So
The Good Life
Perfect Situation
Island in the Sun
Undone – The Sweater Song

Encore:

Beverly Hills
Buddy Holly

Below are some photos of Weezer performing on stage (click any image to open a virtual lightroom with higher resolution versions of each photo):

Death Cab For Cutie

Members

Benjamin Gibbard (vocals, guitar, piano)
Nicholas Harmer (bass)
Jason McGerr (drums)

Death Cab For Cutie are another American band (Seattle) from the 90s (post-Weezer in 1997). It began as a Ben Gibbard solo project that developed into a band, with the debut, Something About Airplanes, coming out in 1998.

2000 brought We Have the Facts and We’re Voting Yes and The Photo Album came in 2001. A prolific band, they released Transatlanticism in 2003, Plans in 2005, Narrow Stairs in 2008, and Codes and Keys in 2011. The latter featured their first number one single, “You Are a Tourist”.

Founding guitarist Chris Walla left the band following completion of their last album, Kintsugi, which came out earlier this year.

This was actually my first exposure to the popular band, and I came away impressed. They have such a distinct style and consistency (and intensity) with their music I can see how they’ve amassed such a loyal following.

Below is the setlist for Death Cab For Cutie at Not So Silent Night 2015:

Set List:

The New Year
Crooked Teeth
Doors Unlocked and Open
The Ghosts of Beverly Drive
Black Sun
Little Wanderer
I Will Possess Your Heart
You Are a Tourist
Cath…
Soul Meets Body
Bixby Canyon Bridge

Below are some photos of Death Cab For Cutie performing on stage (click any image to open a virtual lightroom with higher resolution versions of each photo):

Bastille (BΔSTILLE)

Members

Daniel Smith (lead vocals, keyboards, piano, percussion)
Kyle Simmons (keyboards, percussion, bass, backing vocals)
William Farquarson (bass, keyboards, guitar, backing vocals)
Chris ‘Woody’ Wood (drums, percussion, programming, backing vocals)
Charlie Barnes (touring member on guitar, keyboards, synthesizers, percussion, bass, backing vocals)

Bastille is the one band that I’d seen live previously, having photographed and reviewed the special charity concert “Crisis Presents…” in London at the Eventim Apollo Hammersmith in 2013.

Bastille is an English alternative group that started as a solo project by singer-songwriter Dan Smith and evolved into a band, forming in 2010 with Chris Wood, William Farquarson, and Kyle Simmons.

Their award-winning debut album, Bad Blood, was released in 2013 and they’ve sold millions of albums and toured with Muse.

They released a new single, “Hangin'”, in September and have a song on the Kill Your Friends soundtrack. Their second album is expected next year.

It was interesting seeing them two years after my first show shooting them in London… they’ve come a long way (and look older) and Dan Smith has really come into his own as a front man.

Below is the setlist for Bastille at Not So Silent Night 2015:

Set List:

Flaws
Things We Lost in the Fire
Blame
Icarus
Bad Blood
Laura Palmer
Hangin’
Weight of Living, Pt. II
Pompeii

Below are some photos of Bastille performing on stage (click any image to open a virtual lightroom with higher resolution versions of each photo):

Silversun Pickups

Members

Brian Aubert (guitar, lead vocals)
Christopher Guanlao (drums)
Joe Lester (sound manipulation, keyboards, samples)
Nikki Monninger (bass, backing vocals)

Like Weezer, Silversun Pickups hail from Los Angeles, though formed in 2002. The band saw half of their line-up change following the original inception.

They released their first EP Pikul in 2005 and their debut studio album, Carnavas, the following year. Their second (Swoon) and third (Neck of the Woods) came out in 2009 and 2012 respectively.

This past September saw the release of their latest work, Better Nature.

I was unfamiliar with the band prior to this show, and really loved their sound and music. They also seemed to have the most fun of any of the artists to perform Friday night. I’ll definitely continue to follow them – awesome band.

Below is the setlist for Silversun Pickups at Not So Silent Night 2015:

Set List:

Nightlight
The Pit
Circadian Rhythm (Last Dance)
Panic Switch
Friendly Fires
Lazy Eye

Below are some photos of Silversun Pickups performing on stage (click any image to open a virtual lightroom with higher resolution versions of each photo):

Halsey

Born Ashely Nicolette Frangipane, the American singer-songwriter is known by her stage name, Halsey. She released her debut EP, Room 93, last year with her debut studio album, Badlands, coming out in August.

Working and recording in the electropop genre, her music … She broke into the music industry by publishing cover songs on YouTube and then recording an original song, “Ghost”, and posting it on SoundCloud, which resulted in a contract with Astralwerks.

Since, she has toured with The Kooks and Imagine Dragons and got a lot of attention from her SXSW appearance.

There were a definitely a lot of Halset fans in attendance (judging by the ongoing screams from the audience leading up to, during, and following her appearance on the stage). She was sporting her newly shaved head and though young, had a lot of confidence on stage; a natural performer. Definitely one to watch, and I expect that she will get bigger and bigger in 2016.

Below is the setlist for Halsey at Not So Silent Night 2015:

Set List:

Gasoline
Hold Me Down
Castle
Colors
Haunting
Roman Holiday
Hurricane
New Americana

Below are some photos of Halsey performing on stage (click any image to open a virtual lightroom with higher resolution versions of each photo):

Chvrches (CHVRCHΞS)

Members

Lauren Mayberry (lead vocals, synthesizers, samplers)
Iain Cook (synthesizers, guitar, bass, vocals)
Martin Doherty (synthesizers, samplers, vocals)

Chvrches is an electronic trio formed in Glasgow in 2011.

Both their debut EP, Recover, and their debut album, The Bones of What You Believe, came out in 2013. Their follow-up studio album, Every Open Eye, was released in September.

They have released three singles from the new album, “Leave a Trace”, “Never Ending Circles”, and “Clearest Blue”.

I’d been a fan of Chvrches for a few years now, but never managed to get approved to shoot one of their shows, so this was my first time seeing them live, and they did not disappoint. They have such a unique sound and it translated beautifully into their live set. They will definitely continue on with their upward trajectory in the music business.

Below is the setlist for Chvrches at Not So Silent Night 2015:

Set List:

Never Ending Circles
Gun
Recover
Bury It
Leave a Trace
Clearest Blue
The Mother We Share

Below are some photos of Chvrches performing on stage (click any image to open a virtual lightroom with higher resolution versions of each photo):

Foals

Members

Yannis Philippakis (lead vocals, lead guitar)
Jack Bevan (drums, percussion)
Jimmy Smith (rhythm guitar, rhodes, synthesizer, backing vocals)
Walter Gervers (bass, sampler, percussion, backing vocals)
Edwin Congreave (keyboards, synthesizer, backing vocals)

Foals were formed in 2005 in Oxford, England. They’ve release four studio albums to date: 2008’s Antidotes, 2010’s Total Life Forever, 2013’s Holy Fire, and this year’s What Went Down.

They’ve found tremendous critical and fan success with all of their work to date, with Holy Fire attracting Flood and Alam Moulder as the producing team.

Foals put on one of the most electric performances Friday night, culminating with Yannis’ dive into the crowd at the end of their set.

Like Imagine Dragons in 2013, Foals is one of the early slot bands that are likely to come back to headline the event in a future line-up.

Below is the setlist for Foals at Not So Silent Night 2015:

Set List:

Snake Oil
Mountain at My Gates
My Number
Inhaler
Two Steps, Twice

Below are some photos of Foals performing on stage (click any image to open a virtual lightroom with higher resolution versions of each photo):

X Ambassadors (XA)

Members

Sam Harris (lead vocals, guitar, saxophone)
Casey Harris (keyboards)
Noah Feldshuh (guitar)
Adam Levin (drums)

X Ambassadors are an alternative/indie rock band from Ithaca, New York who formed in 2009. Their first major label debut EP Love Songs Drug Songs was released in 2013 after Imagine Dragons’ Dan Reynolds got Interscope to sign the band, and they supported them on their tour that year. 2014 saw the release of their second EP The Reason and they took on a supporting role with Panic! at the Disco as well as Imagine Dragons.

This year saw the release of their debut studio album, VHS.

As the first band out onto the stage on Friday night, they immediately set a high bar for all that followed.

Below is the setlist for X Ambassadors at Not So Silent Night 2015:

Set List:

Loveless
Love Songs Drug Songs
Unsteady
Renegades
Jungle

Below are some photos of X Ambassadors performing on stage (click any image to open a virtual lightroom with higher resolution versions of each photo):

Jason DeBord