Florence, Death Cab, DMC Gang Up to “WreX the Halls”

Plummeting temperatures, stampedes at the mall, a thousand blogs readying their year-end lists.* It’s December again, and that can only mean one thing: it’s time to say season’s greetings to one of San Diego’s most sacred traditions: the local radio station annual holiday show.

This year’s batch of radio shows has already brought the likes of The Head and the Heart, Wiz Khalifa, and My Morning Jacket to San Diego, but the best is yet to come. This weekend, 91X’s annual WreX the Halls holiday show will be unwrapped at Valley View Casino Center (or for us San Diego natives, the Sports Arena.) For the first time ever, the station has rounded up a diverse group of radio favorites to satiate the likes of every music listener and, also for the first time, added a second night.

Each night focuses on a different music genre. Night one of the show focuses on a more indie/electronic-tinged sound, and will be headlined by the illusive Florence and the Machine, who are out on the road promoting their latest effort, Ceremonials. This will be the breakout band’s first San Diego appearance, not to mention one of the only California stops on the Ceremonials tour.

Although Ben Gibbard has received more attention for his recent split with Zooey Deschanel, you hopefully remember him as frontman for the major indie-rock phenomenon Death Cab for Cutie. If you can put down the TMZ app for a while, you’ll be able to see them at the show and be whisked back to the days of their residency at The OC’s Bait Shop.

New Zealand electro-pop outfit The Naked and Famous have seen their fair share of radio coverage with their danceable hits “Punching in a Dream” and “Young Blood,” and now you’ll get a chance to hear them without a radio. Last but not least, if you can’t decide between an indie/electronic-themed evening or a pop/rock/rap-themed one, Cage the Elephant should be able to bridge the gap and provide the dosage of classic, gritty rock and roll you need.

Night two of WreX the Halls might not be as impressive, but it’s sure to evoke memories of Vans sneakers and skate parks with its pop, rock, and rap theme. The show brings together legendary Southern California rock fixture Social Distortion and the fathers of late-90’s punk-pop, Poway’s own Blink-182. Rap artist Everlast, also known as the guy from House of Pain who penned “Jump Around,” will make a special appearance, and be sure to dust off your Adidas for DMC, one-third of the legendary rap outfit Run-DMC, who will bring Hollis, Queens to San Diego, if only for a thirty-or-so-minute set.

Tickets are still available, so act now — or you’ll be stuck at home this weekend with only your ugly Christmas sweater to keep you company.

* = Stay tuned for O&B’s Best of 2011 list, coming later this month! Yeah, we know, we’re shameless.

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