From OC pranksters to holiday hosts

The Vandals came up in Orange County playing fast, funny punk with sharp hooks. Over decades they turned that snark into a tradition with this Christmas Formal. This bill brings Santa Cruz stalwarts Good Riddance and opener 84 Days, so the pace will stay brisk. Expect a set that leans on singalongs like Oi to the World!, My Girlfriend's Dead, Anarchy Burger (Hold the Government), and Idea for a Movie. The crowd skews mixed: longtime locals in vintage tees, friends in thrift-store suits, and younger fans in holiday sweaters swapping smiles between songs. A neat note: the band co-runs Kung Fu Records, and Oi to the World! was later covered by No Doubt, which boosted its holiday life. Early history heads will clock nods to Peace thru Vandalism, their 1982 calling card. For transparency, I am reading the likely set and production touches from past Christmas Formals and recent shows rather than a fixed plan.

Setlist guesses and a crowd snapshot

The Formal of The Vandals: Scene, Style, and Singalongs

Dress sharp, sing louder

The Formal lives up to its name, with fans in thrifted suits, clip-on ties, and holiday sweaters next to jeans and band shirts. Expect Santa hats, candy-cane socks, and a few home-sewn patches from early records mixed with newer prints. You will hear quick chants on the hits, a loud "Oi" after the first chorus of Oi to the World!, and a grin when the "Hold the government" line lands in Anarchy Burger (Hold the Government). Pits tend to be bouncy and short, with people pulling each other up and then laughing it off. Merch tables often carry special Christmas designs and a nod to their label history, which collectors snap first. The tone is punk but friendly, more reunion energy than posturing, and that suits this tradition.

How The Vandals Make the Holiday Punk Hit Live

Music first, jokes included

Live, The Vandals lean on bright, cutting guitar and a rhythm section that snaps like a metronome but never feels stiff. The vocal is a tuneful sneer, clear enough for every punchline, with gang shouts slipped into choruses for lift. Arrangements stay simple on purpose, but they will punch accents, drop to half-time for a bar, and then slam back to full speed to frame hooks. Expect tempos a touch faster than the records, with older tracks given a tiny breath in the chorus so the crowd can roar. On holiday songs, you may hear a bit of jingle texture from the kit and cleaner guitar tones that sparkle against the usual crunch. Between numbers they sometimes tag a quick surfy lick as a reset, a nod to the beach DNA of their scene. Lights usually track the beats in color blocks, supporting the music without stealing focus.

Kindred Noise with The Vandals: Who Fans Also Love

Punk cousins you already keep on repeat

Fans of Pennywise often vibe with The Vandals because both thrive on breakneck tempos, big chants, and Southern California roots. Lagwagon shares the tight, melodic chord work and a dry sense of humor, which lines up with the Formal's lighthearted bite. If you love the tuneful, clockwork precision of Descendents, the quick song forms and bright bass here will feel familiar. Good Riddance brings a tougher, political edge, but their crisp riffing and lifer energy match the way The Vandals keep a party moving. The overlap is less about subgenre than about brisk songs, clean articulation, and crowds that like to sing without posturing. All four acts value melody over sludge, and that makes the pit feel springy rather than grim. If those names sit in your playlists, this show will slide right into that lane.