Wrex the Halls 2013

Wrex the Halls is San Diego's alternative rock Christmas party, and 2013's lineup was absolutely stacked. When 91X announced Queens of the Stone Age, Arctic Monkeys, Vampire Weekend, Alt-J, Cage the Elephant, J. Roddy Walston & The Business, and The Silent Comedy would all be on one bill, I knew this would be special.

The Headliners

Queens of the Stone Age

Josh Homme and crew absolutely destroyed. Fresh off releasing "...Like Clockwork," they were firing on all cylinders. The heavy riffs of "No One Knows" and "Go With the Flow" sounded massive in the arena, and the newer material from the album fit perfectly. Homme's swagger and the band's tight-as-hell performance showed why they're rock royalty.

Arctic Monkeys

The Sheffield lads brought their AM era slickness to San Diego. Alex Turner's pompadour and leather jacket aesthetic matched the cool sophistication of songs like "Do I Wanna Know?" and "R U Mine?" But they also reached back to throw in classics like "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor." Turner's vocals were spot-on, and the crowd was fully under their spell.

Vampire Weekend

I'd seen them at Leeds and Outside Lands, but they keep getting better. Their preppy indie-pop with Afrobeat influences translates surprisingly well to arena settings. "A-Punk," "Oxford Comma," "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" - the crowd knew every word. Ezra Koenig's voice was crisp, and the band was incredibly tight.

Alt-J

The British indie trio's unique sound - those weird vocal harmonies, the triangular rhythms, the atmospheric production - somehow worked brilliantly live. "Breezeblocks" and "Tessellate" had the arena mesmerized. They're one of those bands that sound completely different from everyone else.

The Support

Cage the Elephant

Matt Shultz's manic energy was on full display. The Kentucky rockers brought garage rock intensity and didn't let the early slot diminish their performance. "Ain't No Rest for the Wicked" and "Shake Me Down" were crowd favorites.

J. Roddy Walston & The Business

Southern rock with piano-driven energy. J. Roddy's voice and the band's intensity won over anyone who wasn't already familiar with them.

The Silent Comedy

San Diego locals The Silent Comedy earned their hometown slot with their apocalyptic rock sound. "Bartholomew" went hard, and seeing a local band hold their own on a bill with international stars was awesome.

The Verdict

Wrex the Halls 2013 was everything a rock show should be - loud, energetic, and filled with incredible performances from start to finish. Having seven quality acts on one bill made it feel like you were getting multiple concerts for the price of one.

91X knows how to curate a show. The lineup flowed perfectly, building energy throughout the night, and closing with Queens of the Stone Age's heavy rock assault felt just right.

This was one of those shows where everyone brought their A-game, and the crowd fed that energy right back to the stage. San Diego showed up, and the bands delivered.