Growth Spurt Enhances Night 2 of KROQ’s Christmas Concert

If the brain trust at top-rated KROQ-FM (106.7) wants to hold on to listeners who may have outgrown the yowling-young-men music they play, they might consider spinning off a second station--sort of a VH1 to KROQ’s MTV. If so, much of Night 2 of the annual KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas concerts Sunday at the Universal Amphitheatre would make a suitable blueprint.

With only Staind and Linkin Park held over from Saturday’s yowl-heavy lineup, Sunday’s show effectively made the case for music with some nuance, warmth and--a dirty word in demographics-land--maturity.

Even Staind got into the spirit, replacing Night 1’s electric assault with an actual acoustic performance that, though a bit sluggish in tone and tempo, nicely showcased singer Aaron Lewis’ fluid vocals and soaring melodies. The chronically depressive singer went so far as to wish the crowd happy holidays--a small but meaningful gesture missing from his Saturday performance.

The highlights, though, were sets showing that mature doesn’t have to mean low-key: an unannounced appearance by No Doubt and an exuberant performance by the Foo Fighters.

The former stole the show with new songs that add funk, electro-dance and hip-hop elements to its crowd-pleasing, reggae-rooted pop. And Stefani, who always seems especially pumped for KROQ shows even though (or maybe because) she has often been the only female presence, is simply a natural entertainer.

The Foo Fighters have built a strong catalog of hits marked by sophistication both in music and lyrics, and Sunday the band flashed extra sparks of playfulness and power.

But the key attraction Sunday may have been Coldplay, the English band that in the last year has maintained a foothold in KROQ’s chunk-style rock world with its creamy, idealistic approach. Since the band’s winning U.S. debut at last year’s KROQ Christmas, singer Chris Martin’s stage manner has gained dynamics and the expansive, embracing music has gained dimension.