The members of 311 don't want to rock the boat.
They just want to rock. And groove. And funk. And dance. And jam. And, well, you get the idea.
In the backward-hat-wearing, male-hormone driven, angst-ridden world of frat boy rap rock now dominating the airwaves of radio and MTV, the five guys from Omaha, Neb., are looking to offer another view for the popular genre that they helped pioneer almost a decade ago, but which is now littered with doom and gloom anthems.
"All entertainers come original. You got to come original. All entertainers hear why," sings frontman and guitarist Nick Hexum on the group's first single "Come Original" off their fifth studio album "Soundsystem," released last October.
"A warning to the crews who think they're hot: If you're not original rockers, you will get shot down by the kids neglecting' your art, the stuff you did. Eventually it gets so bad, puts you to bed," chants the band's other lyricist S.A. Martinez.
An easy jab at the Limp Bizkits and the Kid Rocks of the industry.
"Umm ... There's no hidden dis," Martinez says in a telephone interview. "It's open to interpretation."
Gotcha. Wink, wink.
"Are we immersed in a sea of replicants, hard exteriors and fake gold fronts. Losing yourself in the flavor of the month," Hexum offers in "Mindspin," also off "Soundsystem."
Aside from the combative-natured lyrics on some of the group's songs (which should come as no surprise considering the hip-hop influences laced throughout their musical library), peace, unity and self expression remain the staples for the group's message.
"We were trying to fill a void," Martinez explains about "Soundsystem." "There has to be a counterbalance to all the negativity. It's more of a struggle to stay positive, ya' know. It's a big challenge for a lot of bands."
And what does 311, which also includes Chad Sexton (drums), Tim Mahoney (guitar), and P-Nut (bass), think of the evolution of a sound they helped jump start with their 1993 release, "Music"?
"It's great for the genre to have such success," says Martinez, who adds turntable scratching to the eclectic outfit. "It's a profitable genre."
While the guys in 311, who will all turn 30 this year except P-Nut, who turns 26 in June, don't want to openly bad mouth another artist's work, they will stress a positive vibe for one and all in their music rather than brag about their sexual conquests or encourage mosh-pit behavior closer to sexual assault.
"That just sucks. It's unfortunate," Martinez says changing the tone in his voice. "I'm proud girls feel comfortable coming to our shows.
"It's a great correlation to the bands and the music. You're responsible for what you put out."
And what 311 has put out over the last decade is a combination and cross pollination of reggae, punk, hip-hop, '70s funk and arena rock.
After a series of short-lived bands and lineup changes during and shortly after high school, Hexum, Sexton, Mahoney, who went to the same school, P-Nut and Martinez, who went to a different school, came together as the current version of 311 around 1991. The band got its name from an Omaha police code for indecent exposure.
With a dedicated regional following, built upon aggressive touring and three independently produced records, 311 moved to Los Angeles in 1992.
Shortly thereafter, 311 was signed to Capricorn records and released "Music." The group hit the road immediately to support the record. The tour was briefly sidelined when the band's RV caught fire and exploded, destroying all of their equipment and personal possessions.
For the next four years, 311 maintained a relentless touring schedule, playing about 200 shows per year, stopping only to record 1994's "Grassroots" and the 1995 self-titled or "blue" album.
The band's fan base grew tremendously as people were drawn to the unique sound, boundless energy and powerful performances. In 1996, the band's popularity exploded with the singles "Down" and "All Mixed Up," both off the self-titled album, which reach triple-platinum success.
Quick to feed the rabid fans, 311 released their first home video, "Enlarged to Show Detail."
A Year later 311 put out the ambitious and experimental "Transistor," which reached platinum success, but failed to generate the buzz of their self-titled release.
After a long and successful tour, 311 spent June '98 through June '99 working on "Soundsystem" - the most time they've ever spent on an album - and releasing a 14-track live album in November '98.
"We wanted a more rock oriented record," Martinez says of the band's latest offering. "Something that we could take out on the road and just play. We love playing live. We're real enthusiastic."
Martinez says the band is also cool with its place on the current music scene of pin-up pretty boys and self-indulgent players.
"I don't mind that we're not selling tons of records right now," he says. "It would be nice, but we just don't take it that seriously. We're just happy to have a positive influence eon some people."
The singer is also relieved about not having to follow up another multi-platinum hit record.
"There's less expectations and less pressure. It's great to be in that position, where it's all word of mouth. That's the buzz we want," he says.
The band's current tour, which began in early February, will span over 30 shows, coast-to-coast, in mostly cities not previously covered on the club tour last fall. The opening act will be Jimmie's Chicken Shack.
"We had a blast on the last tour," Martinez says. "We're just trying to give something back to the fans.
"We prefer playing in front of 3,000-5,000 people. That's more in our element because then we're able to feed off all the heat and energy of the crowd."
Martinez says the band already is planning to work on a new record while on tour, which should last until August.
The group will also have a song on the upcoming "Titan AE" soundtrack and is working on their second home video, which should be coincide with the release of the next record due out at the end of the year.
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