AVOID - Kick Ass Christmas

12/21/2024 - SOMA Side Stage - San Diego, California.

December 21, 2024

AVOID - First Annual Kick Ass Christmas

What’s better than a Christmas concert to wrap up the year? How about one that’s loud, chaotic, and absolutely unforgettable? That’s exactly what AVOID from Seattle delivered with the First Annual Kick Ass Christmas at SOMA’s side stage. With about 150 people packed into the intimate venue, it felt like being part of a close-knit holiday mosh pit family. Friends, fans, and even some folks who flew in from as far as Canada showed up to throw down making this more than just a show, it was the start of something special.

Resider

San Diego locals Resider kicked things off with their electrifying mix of metalcore, hard rock, and nu-metal. These guys have been grinding since 2021, and it shows.

From gritty vocals to pounding riffs, they had the crowd shifting from head-bobbing to full-on moshing in no time. Even if you’d never heard them before, their energy was undeniable. Resider set the bar high and warmed everyone up for the chaos to come.

Alternative Citizens

Next up was punk rock powerhouse Alternative Citizens. With dual vocalists and guitarists Zachary John and Mason Ortiz, these guys brought raw punk energy.

They scribbled their setlist on a napkin, but their performance was anything but thrown together. Setlist Highlights, “Bad Actor” their newest single which was pure punk bliss, “Bad Attitude” that got the pit moving and “Suzy Q” a crowd favorite that hit just right.

Their no-nonsense vibe kept the momentum going, and the pit stayed alive throughout their set. It was gritty, fast, and punk.

New Aesthetic

Then came New Aesthetic, the youngest band of the night, with members aged 17 to 20. These San Diego locals were the embodiment of a sugar rush and delivered a pop-punk performance that screamed FUN.

They brought jumps, dances, crowd surfing, stage diving, and moshing. Basically everything you’d want at a show like this.

They wrapped up their set with “Spork,” a fast-paced banger that’s become my personal favorite. If you’re into pop punk, put this band on your radar now. They’re the future of the scene.

AVOID

Finally, the main event. AVOID hit the stage, and the crowd lost it. From the opening notes of “Burn,” vocalist Benny Scholl had the room in the palm of his hand.

AVOID’s sound is a genre-bending whirlwind of metalcore, alt rock, and whatever else they feel like throwing in. For example, they slipped a Red Hot Chili Peppers riff into “Can’t Take This Away,” and it was pure genius. It was the kind of unexpected twist that just made you grin and think these guys know how to have fun.

Their setlist was packed with bangers, both original and covers like Blur’s “Song 2,” Green Day’s “Basket Case,” and Jimmy Eat World’s “The Middle” turned the room into a massive sing-along. Meanwhile, originals like “Blast Off!” and “Midnight Six” hit with the kind of crushing breakdowns that made you want to throw yourself into the pit.

Benny, guitarists Nick Olson and Chris Echols, and drummer Paul Jaton were firing on all cylinders, delivering a performance that was huge for such an intimate venue.

The energy in the room was insane. The mosh pit, stage divers, and crowd surfers didn’t stop for a second. And when they closed the night with “Hostage at a Beach House Party,” it was beautiful chaos.

Being on stage to shoot the band up close was a privilege. Watching AVOID have so much fun while delivering top-tier performances was inspiring. They didn’t just play a show; they threw a party that no one wanted to end.

The First Annual Kick Ass Christmas wasn’t just a concert, it was the start of a tradition. From Resider’s gritty opener to AVOID’s explosive finale, every band brought something special. I’m already counting down the days to next year’s 2025 edition. If you weren’t there, you missed out so don’t make the same mistake twice.

See you in the pit next Christmas! 🎄🤘