Awash in the glow of red and green stage lights, Tim Convy belts out a rendition of “Feliz Navidad” and encourages the audience to sing along. The Ludo keyboardist is dressed in a festive red suit, and a two-dimensional prop Christmas tree looms behind him and his bandmates.
Altogether, it looks like a typical holiday show—except for the two burly, tattooed punks standing center stage, each shaving an audience member’s hair into a mohawk and welcoming more brave volunteers as the music carries on.
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“We donated money for every person that got a mohawk to Kids Rock Cancer,” Convy says. “We thought it would just be one song, and it became four or five songs in a row where people were still getting mohawks on stage.”
Something like this could only happen at Punk Rock Christmas, an annual concert presented by 105.7 The Point and 106.5 The Arch. Each year features members of various bands—including Ludo, Greek Fire, Goldfinger, Cavo, and The Urge—coming together to perform punked-up renditions of beloved Christmas songs. The new holiday tradition will enter its second year on December 9 at The Pageant.
The idea for Punk Rock Christmas floated around Convy’s head for years before he voiced it to anyone. After sharing it in 2022 with Moon Valjean—a Rizzuto Show personality and vocalist in Greek Fire—the pair quickly got to work making it a reality.
Valjean says he was eager to participate because he wanted to give families a chance to expose their children to punk rock and other styles of alternative music. “I’ve been pushing alternative music on my kids forever, and I thought this was the perfect opportunity to get them into songs they already know in a rock version,” he says. “There’s real excitement, not just from younger folks, but also parents who get to share the experience.”
Along with a setlist of holiday standards, the show features surprise guests, costumes, and photos with Santa. This year will be the show’s first time at The Pageant, meaning even more visual splendor is in store. Convy describes the atmosphere as more spontaneous than that of a typical concert.
“It’s people of all ages, and everyone knows the songs,” he says. “There are fans of all our bands…and families too, who are hopefully creating a Christmas tradition.”
Punk Up Playlist
GET IN THE SPIRIT BEFORE THIS YEAR’S SHOW WITH THESE PUNK-ROCK CHRISTMAS CLASSICS.
The Ramones “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Wanna Fight Tonight)”
With its brisk drumming, crystalline synths, and syrupy vocals, this is one of the most festive songs in the Ramones’ oeuvre. It was performed at last year’s Punk Rock Christmas show.
Blink-182 “I Won’t Be Home for Christmas”
In typical Blink-182 fashion, this is more of an anti-holiday song, describing a man who attacks a group of carolers on Christmas Eve. Still, its infectious melody and swelling chorus won’t fail to get you in the Christmas spirit.
Buzzsaw guitars and sneering vocals swirling together at breakneck speed: Needless to say, this is an ironic take on the popular Christmas carol, characteristic of these L.A. punk pranksters.
Descendents “Christmas Vacation”
Descendents are considered pioneers of the pop-punk sound, and with tracks like this, it’s easy to see why—you’ll be humming the chorus through New Year’s Day.
Goldfinger “12 Days of Christmas”
Featuring Punk Rock Christmas’ very own Moon Valjean, this punked-up Christmas carol can be enjoyed by the fireplace and in the mosh pit.
