Interview: 311 (playing Austin Music Hall Tuesday night)

Tim Mahoney is always and forever conscious of his fans.

Speaking by phone from Dallas on Saturday afternoon, the guitarist for the multiplatinum alternative rock band 311 is prepping to make the kickoff for the University of Texas and University of Nebraska-Lincoln game alongside band mates Chad Sexton and S.A. Martinez.

But he’s quick to qualify the Omaha, Neb.-born band’s love for the Cornhuskers the moment he twigs to the fact that he’s speaking to an Austin paper.

“Oh man, we’ve made friends with Major Applewhite. Other than when we play Texas I’m always a big fan of Texas teams,” offers Mahoney. “I’m a huge Pantera fan and they come from Texas. Outside of Nebraska I do like Texas a lot!”

That gesture seems less about calculation and more about inclusiveness — few bands that sell their numbers have a more intimate relationship with their fan base than 311. The last thing Mahoney wants to do is alienate any of the fans he’ll be playing for at Tuesday’s show at the Austin Music Hall.

Now Los Angeles-based, the quintet, long famous for incorporating scattered bits of rap, ska and reggae into their radio-friendly waves of guitar, post the set list to every show online and have participated in video chats with their fans. They even host an annual event, 311 Day — held, naturally, on March 11 — where thousands of fans journey from around the world to see the band play a concert that lasts upwards of five hours and 60 songs. As you might predict, lasers are involved. For the band, says Mahoney, that level of fan interaction is one part mutual love fest and one part job security.

“The fact that we can still make records and go out and play live and have an interaction like that is because of the fans. Because every night even if some of the songs are the same it’s still just a moment that only exists right there and then. And to have that energy and shared moment of a celebration with a like-minded group of people is a pretty amazing thing,” says Mahoney. “And basically, especially nowadays, the hardcore fans of a band support them. We never take that for granted.”

Nearly two decades ago, when 311 was just emerging from the musical primordial ooze of the barely extant Omaha scene, that wasn’t the case. Playing to crowds of thousands was a pipe dream for Mahoney when he joined the still-young band in 1991, replacing original guitarist Jim Watson.

The band self-released three albums before packing its bags and moving to Los Angeles. They toured relentlessly, contending with an apathetic mainstream press and an RV fire that destroyed their gear. At one point they moved all their belongings into storage and simply lived on the road, reasoning that most of their time was spent on tour anyway.

When the band did find success, it was substantial — 1995’s self-titled album, often called the “Blue Album,” eventually went triple-platinum, with single “Down” reaching No.1 on the Billboard modern rock chart. A series of commercially successful albums followed, and the band refused to slack off on touring, playing a series of amphitheater dates every summer.

With a dozen studio albums under their belt, the band has an extensive back catalogue to mine for live shows, an effort Mahoney says they make every time, even if the sound has changed a bit.

“We try to tailor the set more to songs that we haven’t played in a long time that probably are more challenging to play live. And maybe things die-hard fans would love,” says Mahoney. “When I look back I wouldn’t want to change how any of those records sound, but we definitely talk about how it would sound if we recorded the older material now. Because you hopefully, as a band, grow over time. And it sounds different now because we were more like crusty young punks with a lot of energy then. You hope you don’t lose that as you get older but it’s an inevitably that you evolve.”

Evolution was a key theme on their most recent release, this year’s optimistically titled and lyrically positive “Uplifter.” Seeking a change after four years without an album release — by far the biggest break in the prolific band’s career — they sought out producer Bob Rock. With a name like that, it’s no surprise that Rock’s resume includes a who’s who of renowned acts: Metallica, Motley Crue, the Offspring, Bon Jovi and Aerosmith, among others.

“He’s just a solid guy. I remember the first thing he said to me was ‘For me, it’s just about doing the work. There’s no Bob Rock sound. I just want to help you guys make a great album,’” says Mahoney. “So just his taste in everything was smart, really, because he’s been doing it so long, everything from rock to Michael Bublé.”

Nearly two decades into his tenure with the band, Mahoney seems as enthused about 311’s prospects as ever. Maybe that’s because the band has the money to give each other the kind of space that makes touring comfortable — they split two buses, with Mahoney traveling with drummer Chad Sexton and his bulldog, Zoe. That can’t hurt a touring band’s morale. Just as importantly, though, they’ve managed to keep a healthy respect — for each other, for their music and for their fans.

“We’re friends, and I think we all respect each other and respect each other’s songwriting. And having to all travel together in our RV early on, and having to share a house, we got on it pretty quick in terms of knowing how to coexist and respect each other’s space,” Mahoney says. “And I think everyone enjoys what they do. We’re about ready to turn 20 now and it’s amazing. We’re real fortunate to get to still be playing music.”