Radio.com + ALT 92.3 Present “Not So Silent Night” @ Barclays Center (Brooklyn, NY) on December 6, 2018 [Photos & Show Review]

New York City has always been a major destination for the holidays. Rockefeller Center and Macy’s infamous window scenes make winter in Manhattan to die for, but it seems that this year Brooklyn’s Barclays Center stole the show (quite literally). Radio.com brought their annual “Not So Silent Night” show to the New York market for the very first time, followed by their San Francisco and San Diego shows. New York’s new favorite alternative radio station, ALT 92.3, had the honor of hosting the event in partnership with the American Cancer Society, and we were lucky enough to have witnessed one of the most solid lineups we’ve seen all year.

AJR and Chvrches kicked off the night and electrified the crowd given the short amount of time they had. AJR gave us a little sneak into their talented minds by showing the audience just how their songs are made from scratch, while Chvrches scaled down from their massive recent headliner production, proving that their music–loud and proud–speaks for itself.

Mike Shinoda and an entire crowd singing “In The End” is a beautiful thing to witness.

ALT 92.3 also gave the audience a treat in-between sets with backstage footage featuring the event’s special guests, like Mike Shinoda’s art-inspired interview that broadcasted just before he took the stage. Shinoda’s set was easily the most emotional, with his impressive Linkin Park mash-ups and a finale that had the whole crowd singing “In The End” in Chester Bennington’s honor. Bastille and Foster The People were two notable acts that have been gracing the airwaves quite frequently, and it was clear they were perfect additions to the lineup, in all their neon glory, once the crowd began singing along to just about every single hit they played.

Death Cab For Cutie followed suit with a near-flawless performance, keeping us all on our toes with songs from throughout their discography even in such a short time frame. However, it was the co-headliner magic that made the night so seamless. Florence + The Machine’s ethereal performance took us to a musical fairy land, one where cellphones and negative vibes had no place–Florence Welch herself made sure of it. Muse, the night’s official closer, used their time wisely by showcasing their latest work, Simulation Theory, while still weaving in some serious nostalgia for all their long-time fans.

We think we can speak for the whole tri-state region when we say how thankful we are for Radio.com for bringing their special “Not So Silent Night” show to the East Coast this year. This lineup was undoubtedly one for the ages, especially for the event’s New York debut. Though the show only lasted one night, we certainly hope this will become New York’s newest holiday tradition.

Muse performing “Algorithm” live at “Not So Silent Night”. Cameraman may have been drinking that night.