The album is new but the rest remains the same for 311.
Same lineup, same head-bobbing sound that's impossible to fit into a neat musical category, same aggressive spring and summer tour schedule, same energetic live performances and same message to their fans: "Stay positive and love your life."
Since the early 1990s, the five-person alternative rock/reggae/funk/rap band from Omaha, Neb., has built a loyal grassroots following by complementing a relentless agenda of live shows with just enough studio albums to keep the music fresh. The band, now based in Los Angeles, has nine albums and has played at least 60 live shows during each of the last five years.
311 (three-eleven) released its ninth studio album, "Uplifter," earlier this month. It debuted this week at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, trailing only new releases by Dave Matthews Band and Eminem. The first single from the album, "Hey You," peaked at No. 3 on Billboard's Hot Modern Tracks.
All this while, the band is in the midst of its Unity Tour 2009, which features Ziggy Marley and The Expendables as the opening acts. This latest whirlwind coast-to-coast tour (29 shows in 60 days) brings them to Central Park on Thursday, June 24, when they play a show to benefit the park's Summer Stage.
"It makes you super-charged as an artist to play in New York City. People in New York City have seen things a thousand times, so it's a challenge to put on a good show," said P-Nut (real name Aaron Willis), the band's bass player. "New York is great. It's one of three cities that has a real and tangible soul in the U.S. -- San Francisco and New Orleans being the others. It's just fantastic to feel that energy.
"I can't wait to play the Summer Stage," he added. "Five thousand people in a tree-lined area -- it will be amazing."
311 gives back that energy to its audience. Many a music critic has said a live 311 show is a "must see." Every other March 11, the band holds 311 Day in a major U.S. city. The day includes five hours of live 311 music.
P-Nut said one of the reasons 311 has been able to grow such a large, loyal base is the message in the band's lyrics and shows. Instead of lyrics that incite anger, express extreme political views, degrade women, or make no sense at all -- messages so common in today's rock/rap world -- 311 stresses a positive attitude (although their early albums were also associated with a pot-smoking culture.)
Lead singer Nick Hexum ends 311 live shows with "Stay positive. Love your life."
"I love working this group of guys and waving that flag (of being positive)," P-Nut said. "That's part of our message and that's what makes the personalities in this group special. We realize how important the pieces are. We appreciate where everyone is coming from and we all come from a different space. That's been the point."
In addition to distinct personalities, each member brings unique playing skills to the band. Drummer Chad Sexton played in the drum corps in high school, a background that leads P-Nut to describe Sexton's playing as "perfection and execution."
Nick Hexum is the lead vocalist and writes the majority of the lyrics and music. Crowd favorite SA Martinez supports Hexum's vocals, but also sings lead on many songs. He also plays turntables. "Their harmony is so together," P-Nut said of Hexum and Martinez. "It just feels good."
Guitarist Tim Mahoney "just keeps getting better," according to P-Nut.
P-Nut, a self-proclaimed "anything goes type of guy," is known for his funky slap bass technique, but is equally adept at keeping the rhythm slow for 311's anthem-type songs, such as "Amber" and "Love Song" (a The Cure remake).
"I love that the guys give me a little time during the shows to do my thing," P-Nut said. "My solos are controlled chaos -- well, may just chaos. It's just fun."
311 released its first album in 1993, but didn't make a lot of noise nationally until its third album, 311, was released in 1995. That third release, also known as the Blue album and now triple-Platinum, included singles "Down" and "All Mixed Up," which have become 311 mainstays.
With their fan base growing, 311 threw what P-Nut described as a curveball, with its third release "Transistor," a 21-song album that veered creatively from their first three albums.
"We have long-term fans that want us to be a creative as possible," P-Nut said. "We also have fans who like the radio songs. We're lucky to have both."
Several gold and platinum albums later, 311 is now touring in support of its new "Uplifter" album. The band immediately incorporated several songs from the album onto its concert setlist.
"We're putting our Uplifter foot forward," P-Nut said. "This is a new era."
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