A band’s live performance often deepens one’s appreciation for the musicians themselves, especially the drummer’s 20-minute bottle-feeding of a kitten. Strengthen your musical bond with this GrouponLive deal to see Jingle Bell Rock 2012 with Theory of a Deadman and Big Wreck at Conexus Arts Centre. For $24, you get one ticket for orchestra seating on Monday, December 10, at 8 p.m. (up to a $46.75 value; a $3 online processing fee is not included). Doors open at 7 p.m.

Two lauded Canadian hard-rock bands—Theory of a Deadman and Big Wreck—reward their loyal fans during their cross-country winter tour, sharing headlining duties as they take over each arena’s sprawling stage. Vancouver heroes Theory of a Deadman return to the Great White North in an exertive panorama of stadium-sized riffs and hard-rocking party anthems. Like the letter E at an optometrist’s office, the band has grown accustomed to the top of the charts, with mainstream rock hits such as “Lowlife” and “Bad Girlfriend” and the life-affirming sing-along “Hate My Life.” Stuffing kevlar crunch, post-grunge, and rockabilly into its sonic calzone, Theory of a Deadman dazzles fans with seasoned classics and newborn cuts from its latest smash The Truth Is….

After an amiable breakup in 2002 in which the band members vowed to still hang out without it being weird, Big Wreck reconvened to tour in 2010 and released its latest album, Albatross, earlier this year. The title track recalls latter-day Soundgarden with its mournful, light-bending soloing and emotional stomp. Lead singer Ian Thornley, who embarked on his own solo career during Big Wreck’s hiatus, brings back his gravelly tenor to songs such as “Control,” “Ladylike,” and “Knee Deep” as the band undulates between cranked-up riffs and pensive jam sessions behind him.

Conexus Arts Centre

Behind Conexus Art Centre’s Big Bad Wolf-proof façade of Estevan brick and Manitoba Tyndall stone, world-class entertainers keep applause thundering in the venue’s three-balcony, 2,031–seat Main Theatre and 1,600-seat Convention Hall. Formally known as the Saskatchewan Centre of the Arts from 1970 until 2006, Conexus Arts Centre is home to the Regina Symphony Orchestra and routinely hosts nationally touring musicians, renowned plays, and spirited holiday productions.