SAN FRANCISCO — 'Twas two weeks before Christmas and all

through the Bill Graham Civic Center, quite a few creatures were moshing

to the sounds of the Live 105 Not So Silent Night concert.

Continuing what has become a holiday tradition, the San Francisco rock

radio station Live 105 presented four bands at Friday's event: popular

British rockers Bush; the rap-funk-reggae band from Omaha, Neb., 311;

San Diego punk trio Blink-182; and Filter, the metal-rock four-piece headed

by former Nine Inch Nails guitarist Richard Patrick.

(Click here for a photo gallery of the show.)

Also billed to perform were Foo Fighters, former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl's band. However, the group was forced to cancel its performance at the last minute because of illness. Although Live 105 broadcast word of the cancellation hours in advance of the show and offered full refunds on tickets, the event still appeared to be sold out.

When asked if the cancellation had any effect on her decision to attend, Liz Brown, 15, of Belmont, Calif., was quick to reply, "F--- the Foo Fighters! I came to see Bush!"

Filter opened the festivities with a lively performance. The band tore through a tight set, giving special attention to radio standards such as "Take a Picture" (RealAudio excerpt) and "Welcome to the Fold" (RealAudio excerpt). Stage lights reflected a bright beam from Patrick's guitar across the back wall of the arena; he donned a Santa hat and screamed to the audience, "You guys are f---ing amazing!"

A cheap, battery-powered clock taped haphazardly against a wall of speakers was a constant reminder to the bands of the 40-minute set limits. As soon as one had begun, it seemed as if it were finished, and the stage crews were loading in equipment for the next band.

In contrast to Filter's tight set, Blink-182 followed with a loose,

comfortable stint in the spotlight. The bandmembers often took time to

chat with the audience and each other between songs. "We now want everybody

to take off your pants," singer/guitarist Tom DeLonge jokingly ordered

the audience. No one appeared to comply.

The crowd, consisting mostly of young teenagers, was charged up between

sets. Those moments were reminiscent of lunch period at a high school

cafeteria, as concert-goers gossiped about how hot one musician was or

how someone would just die the moment she saw Gavin Rossdale of Bush

onstage.

Attending his first concert ever, Nick Miranda, 13, of Walnut Creek, Calif., was wide-eyed about the experience. "I'm having a great time," he said. "I was on the edge of the mosh pit, and everybody just kept slamming right into me. It was pretty cool."

When asked why she wasn't down in the pit, Kibibi Bodden, 21, of Hayward, Calif., said matter-of-factly: "Dude, I only weigh 115 pounds. They'd eat me alive down there."

Up next were 311, playing a set of fan favorites, including "Down" (RealAudio excerpt), "All Mixed Up" and their latest release, "Come Original." During its segment, the band gave a nod to celebrities in attendance, such as Cheech Marin of the locally filmed television series "Nash Bridges" and Gwen Stefani, lead singer for the band No Doubt.

Closing the show with the longest set of the night (nearly 50 minutes), Bush were the only band to return for an encore. Singer Rossdale gave a solo performance of Bush's hit single "Glycerine" (RealAudio excerpt), much to the delight of an adoring throng packed in front of the stage.

As audience members made their way to the exits, Chris Cavasos, 25, of Dublin, Calif. — attending his second Not So Silent Night show — gave his critique of the proceedings. "The show was the bomb last year, and the show was the bomb this year," he said.