Propelled by the power of three

In the world of KROQ-FM (106.7), history usually doesn’t go beyond the Depeche Mode and B-52’s oldies played during “Flashback Lunch.” But three of the nine acts Sunday on the second night of the rock station’s annual Almost Acoustic Christmas concerts at the Universal Amphitheatre provided some deeper lessons.

Australian newcomer Jet dug into the world of garage rock, with echoes of ‘60s and ‘70s greats, and even a dip into ‘50s Elvis. Veteran punk quartet Rancid gave a mini clinic on not just the music’s sounds, but also its integrity. And the 311 wove its once-groundbreaking web of its three Rs: rock, rap and reggae.

Each in its own way provided some of the highlights of an evening that also featured the rock-star magnetism of Jane’s Addiction and smart-dumb punk rush of Blink-182 to counteract the self-absorbed torpor of Korn, Staind and Trapt.

Bay Area-founded Rancid has for a dozen years embraced the renewing power that has been the core of rock since the very beginning. Co-leaders Lars Fredrickson and Tim Armstrong exuded an irresistible joy of what they’re doing Sunday. Armstrong, in a natty pork-pie hat, more than ever seemed to be channeling the spirit of the Clash’s Joe Strummer, his idol and friend who died a year ago. A key moment came when Fredrickson dedicated a solo version of English protest songwriter Billy Bragg’s “To Have and to Have Not” to his and his mates’ parents for working hard to raise their kids in tough economic conditions.

The 311 has no such back story or social impetus, but the Nebraska-founded band’s hazy party spirit has made it a major -- if often unrecognized -- presence on the touring circuit since the early ‘90s, with a few radio hits along the way. Sunday it showed nothing new, but the natural flow it’s made of its loose-limbed blend is not to be undervalued.

Jet doesn’t offer as deep a sense or command of rock history (and pre-history) as the White Stripes, but taps into the same spirit, as heard in its exuberant “Are You Gonna Be My Girl,” the song featured in a current Apple iPod commercial. Cramming a lot into its half-hour early set Sunday, it drew on AC / DC, the Rolling Stones, the Yardbirds and Oasis and capped it off with a highly charged version of “That’s All Right,” Elvis Presley’s 1954 debut recording. Those are strong building blocks for a group’s foundation.

Jane’s Addiction (reviewed recently in The Times) was a bit erratic, but Perry Farrell is never anything but fascinating and Dave Navarro remains one of rock’s star guitarists. Blink-182 (also reviewed recently) continues a noble struggle to up the maturity quotient in its punk, but at least it’s trying and growing.

Staind has not grown at all in the last few years since ascending to rock prominence, with sad-sack singer Aaron Lewis seemingly stuck in an emotional fetal position. Trapt was Staind-lite, at best. New York-based Brand New, representing the emo world in its opening slot, was much less affected but is hard to separate from any other emo band, and it seems to have only one sense of emotion: despair, expressed by singer Jesse Lacey as if through tears.

Closing band Korn (also reviewed recently) remains a font of blind rage. But considering all the things worth raging about out in the world that one could see if one chose not to be blind to them, singer Jonathan Davis’ spews seem petty.