Christmas goes acoustic

By Lisa Millegan
lmillegan@modbee.com

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WHAT: B92.9FM's Acoustic Christmas
WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday
WHERE: Modesto Centre Plaza, 1000 L St.
TICKETS: $20 general; preferred seating $50, $100
CALL: 877-725-8849
ONLINE: www.ticket alternative.com

If you haven't bought tickets yet for B92.9 FM's Acoustic Christmas concert, you might be out of luck.

The hugely popular show, set this year for Thursday at Modesto Centre Plaza, is expected to sell out all 1,500 tickets.

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Performers are Third Eye Blind, Ingrid Michaelson, Mat Kearney, Green River Ordinance and A Fine Frenzy.

"I'm really excited," said Tammy Cruise, half of the station's morning team Cruise and Good.

She said the station stuck to its successful formula to book the acts.

"We're always trying to look for new up-and-coming artists plus some staples and at least one artist with a catalog, which we found in Third Eye Blind," she said.

Rockers Third Eye Blind, led by San Francisco's Stephan Jenkins, broke out in 1997 when its single "Semi-Charmed Life" hit the Top 10. Next came other hits like "How's It Going to Be" and "Jumper."

The band laid low for a while in the 2000s and has returned this year with a fourth studio album, "Ursa Major."

" 'Ursa Major' is the constellation of the bear, which is astronomy, and that is about trying to understand things as they are — seeking out, wanting to know your universe," Jenkins said on the band's Web site. "It's also astrology, which is saying we can't understand these things and need narrative and stories to make sense and have value to put into our lives. And Ursa Major is the bear waking up, hungry for spring and ready to feed and thrive."

Singer/songwriter Ingrid Michaelson is known for her soft touch and wit. The Staten Island native got her big break in 2006 when she loaded a bunch of her songs onto MySpace. A music licenser contacted her and she soon had her music on "Grey's Anatomy" and in commercials.

In 2007, she had a hit with "The Way I Am," which was featured in an Old Navy sweater commercial, and later toured Europe with Jason Mraz. She performed in B92.9 FM's studio.

Mat Kearney, who grew up in Eugene, Ore., is a crossover artist from contemporary Christian music and has opened for the likes of John Mayer and Sheryl Crow. Songs from the singer/songwriter's 2006 album, "Nothing Left to Lose," including "All I Need," and "Breathe In, Breathe Out," were also featured on "Grey's Anatomy" Kearney performed at B92.9 FM's Underground Lounge show at Jacob's in Modesto earlier this year.

Hailing from Fort Worth, Texas, pop-rock band Green River Ordinance was chosen by MTV as one of the top 20 college-based American bands to watch in 2006. The group's hit "Come On" has hit locally.

"Green River Ordinance is a brand-new band that has blown up over the last few months," Cruise said. "They're one of our No. 1 requested and most played artists."

A Fine Frenzy, which has an underground following on the indie scene, is led by Los Angeles songwriter Alison Sudol and takes its name after a line in Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream." The group is promoting its holiday album, "Oh Blue Christmas," which features a mix of holiday classics and originals.

Cruise said she thinks audience members will be pleased with all the artists.

"We shoot for the biggest and the best," she said.

For more on Modesto area arts and entertainment, visit www.twitter.com/lisamillegan.