In the music world, radio station-sponsored concerts featuring stacked lineups of bands have become a cherished holiday tradition. This year's X107.5 Holiday Havoc—which is headlined by eclectic, genre-busting U.K. group The 1975—boasts a particularly strong selection of both alternative upstarts and established acts. Here's a rundown on why it's worth taking a break from holiday stress and heading to the show.
The 1975
The 1975 are tough to summarize, since the English band—led by charismatic vocalist Matty Healy—covers a lot of pop ground. The band has dabbled in '80s New Wave, fuzzed-out rock, lo-fi indie and sinewy electro-soul. And although Healy is adamant that The 1975 isn't a rock band, 2018 single "Give Yourself a Try" was just nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Song—in no small part because it embodies the band's sense of sincerity-meets-self-awareness, with lyrics such as, "I was 25 and afraid to go outside/A millennial that baby-boomers like."
Judah & The Lion
Over the past decade, the alternative world has embraced bands with a folk edge, including The Lumineers, Mumford & Sons and, more recently, Judah & The Lion. During moments on this year's Pep Talks, the Nashville trio certainly fits that role; for example, Kacey Musgraves' cameo on the album's best song, the heartbreak lament "Pictures." Elsewhere on the album, however, Judah & The Lion try on other guises: anthemic, Arcade Fire-reminiscent indie rockers; straight-up mainstream country troubadours and even Imagine Dragons-caliber pop chameleons.
White Reaper
One of the year's buzziest rock bands—and a group known for its must-see live show—White Reaper made the leap from an indie label to the majors this year and didn't miss a beat. Hailing from Louisville, the act pairs '70s arena-rock posturing with fuzzy riffage and influences from classic rockers who embrace power-pop, such as The Cars and Cheap Trick. Crank up the keyboard-perforated, hook-heavy "1F" and blast it with the car windows down.
Joywave
Back in 2013, Joywave teamed up with Big Data for the synth-pop trifle "Dangerous," one of the best modern rock singles of the decade, with its rubbery bassline, strutting tempo and falsetto vocals. The rest of the Rochester, New York, band's catalog—including 2019's stellar single "Blank Slate," a song the band has said sounds like "dancing skeletons" is just as exuberant, hewing toward well-crafted electro-pop that should please fans of Tame Impala.
IDKHOW
The retro-leaning duo I Don't Know How But They Found Me—abbreviated to IDKHOW—has Vegas ties: Drummer Ryan Seaman is a former member of Falling in Reverse, while vocalist/bassist Dallon Weekes spent eight years in Panic! At the Disco. Together, those two are crafting earnest throwback tunes brimming with quirky New Wave flair. Appropriately, IDKHOW also just released a holiday EP, Christmas Drag, with an original tune and a spin on the Slade classic "Merry Xmas Everybody."
X107.5's HOLIDAY HAVOC December 3, 5:30 p.m., $35-$65. The Chelsea, 702-698-7000.
