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Oi to the Punks

Celebrate 30 Years of the Christmas Formal

December 23rd, 2025 Review by Kevin Gomez

Who would have ever imagined that 30 years after The Vandals performed their Christmas holiday album at UC Irvine’s modest Crawford Hall, that not only would they still be performing their annual holiday concert, but it would more popular than it ever was before.

The Vandals celebrated yet another sold-out show at what has become their home, The House of Blues in Anaheim. To celebrate such a milestone, they brought a stacked lineup with them this year.

Kicking off the night was the fantastic new punk ensemble, 84 Days, fronted by Pennywise bassist Randy Bradbury on guitar and vocals. The band opened with “Mockingbird Brains,” the lead single off of their self-titled debut album.

Bradbury pointed out that famed producer-turned-bassist Cameron Webb messed up on the first song and Bradbury himself messed up on the next. He said that this was actually Webb’s first band and only 84 Days’ third performance ever. I guess we can cut them some slack.

The album was recorded with No Doubt’s Adrian Young, however for this tour fans were graced with Erik “Smelly” Sandin’s presence, famously of NOFX.

Smelly commented how grateful he was to be in the band, mostly because for 40 years he had to sit behind the drums and stare at Fat Mike’s ass, whereas “at least [Bradbury’s] ass is somewhat in shape” drawing a huge laugh from the crowd.

You can definitely see influence from Pennywise as “Don’t Trust the Government” has the lyrics, “All the songs they were telling me… fuck authority.” “Hostage of the Game” saw a nice solo from Bradbury rocking a gold Gibson Les Paul as Smelly backed him on drums. They finished a strong set with “Smiling While We Drown” with Bradbury looking like the most fun he’s had playing in a while.

Good Riddance may very well have had the most intense set of the night. They wasted very little time with banter in between songs and instead squeezed out 16 songs in their 45-minute slot.

They opened with “Mother Superior” as lead singer Russ Rankin asked, “Who do you trust?” Drummer Sean Sellers and guitarist Luke Pabich blasted through “Weight of the World.”

If 84 Days got the crowd’s appetite whet for a mosh pit, Good Riddance made them famished. A nasty pit opened up for “Shadows of Defeat,” and the crowd kept up that same energy for “Last Believer.”

A fan threw a toy baby doll to bassist Chuck Platt, who took a selfie with it and jokingly named him “Kevin.” No offense taken.

Sellers got the crowd to clap their hands for the intro to “Fire Engine Red” before the band annihilated the crowd with “No More System to Believe In.” Platt had a nice heavy bass breakdown in “Wrong Again.”

Rankin belted out “I will wait for you,” really harmonizing for “Letters Home.” Platt called for a “massive circle pit” and the crowd delivered for “Half Measures.” For the band’s final song Sellers moved to the front of the stage and led the crowd in clapping along for “Pisces/Almost Home” before returning to his rightful place behind the drums; the band and crowd equally exploded into the rest of the song’s fiery finish.

As the lights turned low for the last time of the night, the PA began playing the overture from “Oi to the World!” before the curtains pulled apart revealing most of the band. The heavily-decorated stage included a Christmas tree with a light-up V atop, a giant light-up “30” sign,” and a light-up letter “V” with an M-16 hung in front, replicating The Vandals logo.

Drummer Josh Freese, his brother Jason Freese on keyboards, and bassist Joe Escalante began playing the instrumental “Dance of the Sugarplum Fairies.”

The crowd could hear Warren Fitzgerald playing guitar but he was nowhere to be seen. That is, until he broke out of the giant present on the left side of the stage.

Singer Dave Quackenbush graced the stage and they opened with “A Gun for Christmas” and then Quackenbush took a jab at himself by dedicating “Grandpa’s Last Xmas” to himself. “We played Ventura last night and that place sucks,” Quackenbush joked. “It’s called Ventura, so you think you’re going on an adventure.”

Escalante had his time to shine with lead vocals on “Here I Am Lord” before the last of the holiday set finished with “C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S.”

I feel like with the 30th anniversary they wanted to treat fans to some rarer gems and bust out three rarities in a row – “N.I.M.B.Y.,” “An Idea for a Movie,” and the elusive “Lady Killer.” “And Now We Dance” featured one of the best guitar solos from Fitzgerald as Freese absolutely blitzed through drums.

Escalante asked, “How about the Westminster Mall?” referring to the mall’s closure this past October. Quackenbush said, “This song’s called ‘Cafe 405’ and it’s about the Westminster Mall. RIP.” They brought their regular set to a conclusion with the popular “My Girlfriend’s Dead.”

For the encore Fitzgerald came back out alone with a white twin neck guitar and played “Hotel California,” up until the first chorus, and then came back with an acoustic guitar. He played “Hang Myself from the Tree.” The rest of the band joined Fitzgerald as he sadly told the crowd, “We can’t keep doing this every year.” Fortunately, he followed that up by saying, “I think we’ve only got maybe 70 more years, and that’s it!”

Fitzgerald serenaded the crowd with a fiery performance of Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now,” which saw him climb the Christmas tree on right side of stage, toppling over and almost losing him over the stage. Then Pennywise guitarist Fletcher Dragge came out holding a Christmas tree like a sword,

Fitzgerald jumped in his arms like a toddler, before Dragge unceremoniously dropped him on the stage. When the band finally restored order, they finished up as they do every year with “Oi to the World.”

It just doesn’t feel like Christmas until 1,500 people (including myself) have packed into the House of Blues and lose ourselves to this crazy punk rock holiday tradition. Fortunately, it sounds like The Vandals won’t be stopping any time soon. At least not for another 70 years.

SHOW PHOTO GALLERY

by Todd Markel Rock Images

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