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Q101’s Twisted Xmas 2025 – Night One Ignites the Aragon Ballroom
- Ernesto Raul Aguilar
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Article By Ernesto Raul Aguilar
Q101 kicked off its week-long Twisted Xmas 2025 series at Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom with a high-voltage opening night that blended indie cool, alt-rock energy, and full-on pop spectacle. Three bands, each with a distinct voice and presence, took the stage and delivered a night that felt as festive as it was electric, setting the tone for the rest of the holiday concerts ahead.
The evening opened with Los Angeles band Out in Front, who wasted no time shaking the winter chill off the crowd. Their set pulled from their new EP and included standouts like “FLOAT” and “WAKE UP,” along with a punchy, crowd-pleasing cover of Fall Out Boy’s “Sugar, We’re Goin Down.” From the moment they stepped out, their energy was infectious. They performed with the kind of urgency and hunger that makes an opener unforgettable, transforming a still-settling audience into a moving, jumping mass. By the time they wrapped, the venue felt fully warmed, both literally and musically.
From there, the tone shifted dramatically with Wet Leg, who brought a completely different kind of electricity. Their set burst open with “Catch These Fists” under a rapid hail of strobe lights that felt both disorienting and strangely transporting, like stepping through some sonic wormhole. Wet Leg’s ability to toe the line between quirky humor and hypnotic indie rock has made them a favorite among festival crowds, and they delivered exactly that here.
Their setlist was expansive, weaving through “Wet Dream,” “Liquidize,” “Jennifer’s Body,” “Pond Song,” “U and Me at Home,” “Davina McCall,” “Pillow Talk,” “Too Late Now,” “Angelica,” and their breakout hit “Chaise Longue,” before closing the night with “CPR” and “Mangetout.” Their performance felt like a world of its own, playful, bright, and emotionally sharp, all wrapped in a wash of pulsing lights that made The Aragon feel like another planet.
Closing the night was the always dynamic AJR Brothers, who turned the entire room into an explosive, feel-good party. Their showmanship was on full display, jumping, spinning, and at times seemingly suspended in midair all while interacting with the crowd in a way that made the whole ballroom feel like a single, unified stage. Their setlist leaned heavily on fan favorites, including “Bummerland,” “Sober Up,” “Way Less Sad,” “Karma,” “Bang!,” “Inertia,” “World’s Smallest Violin,” “Wow, I'm Not Crazy,” “Burn the House Down,” “100 Bad Days,” and “Weak.” They even threw in a playful rendition of Smash Mouth’s “All Star,” much to the delight of the crowd. Every track felt big, warm, and communal, perfect for a December night when people come together to shake off the cold and celebrate.
As the final choruses rang out, confetti blasted from the rafters, drifting over the crowd like artificial snowfall, it was a perfect ending to a night that managed to be loud, joyful, and deeply spirited.
If this first night is any indication, Twisted Xmas 2025 is gearing up to be one of Q101’s most memorable holiday traditions yet.