Tuesday, June 29, 2010

311 delivered a thunderous performance to a hot and sweaty crowd at Riverbend (Noble Visions)

Saturday June 26th was a hot and sweltering day in the Cincinnati region. As the sun started to set, the temperature dropped and the humidity went up. By the time 311 took the stage around 8:50pm, the crowd was dripping with sweat. The temperature of the crowd reached the boiling point once 311 took the stage and delivered their scorching set. As the crowd bounced and danced to the first notes of the evening, you could tell this was going to be one hot show. 311 opened the show up with Jackpot and then into Sick Tight. The band played with an immense amount of energy until 10:45. The night was full of 311 classics as well as new material. We offer a look into the setlist and images from the show.

311 – 6/26/10 – Riverbend Music Center – Cincinnati, Ohio

Jackpot, Sick Tight, All Mixed Up, Mix It Up, From Chaos, Taiyed > Welcome, India Ink, Come Original, Applied Science, Life’s Not A Race, Freeze Time, Freak Out, Eons, Plain, Down, Bass Solo, Nutsymtom, Amber, No Control, Beautiful Disaster, Creatures (For a While)

Encore: Omaha Stylee, Feels So Good

Friday, June 25, 2010

Diversity, dedication 311 trademarks (Chicago Tribune)

They started in Omaha, Neb., 20 years ago, a quintet of teenagers who decided they wanted to start a band. Not just an ordinary rock 'n' roll group, but one that would feature an MC/DJ and incorporate rap and reggae into the mix.

Now, the members of 311, performing Tuesday at Northerly Island, are in their mid-30s, still viable, and thriving.

"A lot of hard work and dedication went into convincing people we are as good as we think we are," laughs P-Nut, the group's bass player. "That's what we've always relied on, so when the media or a record label or anything steps in to help us out, that's just that much better. But nothing can really take us down at this point; we're a good 100,000 obsessive fans deep, they support us endlessly, and we look to satisfy their interest in the band and grow from there."

311 first came into prominence in the early '90s, when the video for the single "Down" was in heavy rotation on MTV. Immediately, fans sensed something different about the group, notably in the way Nick Hexum's vocals were the perfect counterpoint to the hip-hop stylings of SA Martinez. With P-Nut and drummer Chad Sexton versed in everything from funk to rap to rock, and guitarist Tim Mahoney also possessing a diverse repertoire, they seemed to be a rare entity: a band that had a unique approach to popular music.

But not so fast. P-Nut is quick to admit 311 had a varying approach, but it was not something they cooked up in a vacuum.

"We're proud of what we do and we do know we opened some doors for some of the bands," he says. "But there's the generation before us of Fishbone, Urban Dance Squad, 24/7 Spyz and, certainly, the Red Hot Chili Peppers that really did define hybrid music before the term had even been coined. … All of modern music is a mashup of many different things; it's not just one discipline. Country and western was a mish-mash back in the day, and rhythm and blues to the same degree, and rock 'n' roll was a mishmash of those four."

But as more and more contemporary bands experimented with cross-hybrid sounds, the music became diluted. Instead of being artful, a lot of the music started sounding like chemistry experiments gone awry. 311 avoided that fate by paying heed to what worked and what didn't.

"If we were just happy pleasing ourselves, we'd still be playing in the garage," P-Nut says, noting that 311 owes success to its fans.

That's not just a self-serving statement. Every other year on March 11 (3-11), the band holds a special concert in New Orleans that attracts fans from across the country and around the world. On Bourbon Street in the heart of the French Quarter, drinks named after 311 songs are poured at clubs and bars. Fans even band together for the 311 Fans Care project to help rebuild homes damaged by Hurricane Katrina.

"That's hard to not get emotional about, because it's so important to so many people," P-Nut says. "This is just a dream we started in a basement together. … It's just great. We're having the time of our lives."

311 keeps on ticking with Cleveland gig (Canton Rep)

When he officially joined up with 311 back in 1992, vocalist S.A. Martinez never imagined he still would be at it 18 years later. At the time, the band was touring around in an old RV borrowed from one of the guy’s dads.

“We had no idea how far this would take us. I don’t think anyone saw further ahead than six months,” Martinez said via telephone from Pittsburgh on Tuesday. “We have a lot of history. We’ve had a lot of good fortune along the way.”

Things definitely picked up after 311 moved from its native Omaha to Los Angeles and got signed to Capricorn Records. In 1995, the hits started coming: “Down,” “All Mixed Up,” “Amber,” “Come Original,” “Creatures (For Awhile),” “Don’t Tread On Me” and a version of The Cure’s “Love Song.”

Happily for fans and band members alike, 311, whose sound blends rock, rap. punk, ska, metal and reggae, never stopped recording or touring. “Uplifter,” the band’s ninth studio album, was released last June and debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard Top 200, 311’s highest chart position to date. The band just launched its Unity tour, which will arrive Wednesday at Cleveland’s Time Warner Cable Amphitheatre.



Q. You guys just keep coming around, always playing large venues. You must have a loyal fan base.

A. We’re extremely lucky and fortunate. We’ve basically been doing shed (outdoor venue) tours every summer for the past 13 years. We keep going out and they keep coming. We’re blessed in that regard. We have a great live show and our band really connects with the crowd. A lot of our fans have grown up with us.

Q. Is the crazy touring tougher to pull off as you get older?

A. For our age, we rock it out! But yes, the number of shows we do back to back without a day off has dwindled. Back in the day, we could do six or seven in a row, no problem. Now three is the max. More days are peppered in there. More naps. (Laughs)

Q. Have you played everywhere by now?

A. We just played Alaska, the last state of the union we hadn’t played before. And we played this past spring in Guam and Jakarta. We went back to Japan. It’s been a dream come true, and it continues to unfold.

Q. What’s it like doing the summer shows?

A. Nothing beats playing outdoors in the summertime. It’s the best time of the year and we get the best reception. People have been cooped up all winter. Definitely a party atmosphere.

Q. What kind of people are coming to 311 shows these days?

A. We have generations now! We have the older crowd that’s been with us, and a lot of young kids that are just getting turned on to us. It’s really interesting and unique to see that happening. We don’t know the trends. We are sort of an anomaly in the business. We’re not crazy mainstream, we’ve got a somewhat underground mystique about us.

Q. I just read about your annual 311 Day (March 11) shows. Tell me about this year’s.

A. This year we had it in Las Vegas. We did close to five hours total of a show, three sets with this mini reggae-dub set in the middle. We had people there from all 50 states and 12 countries around the world. Our fans take over, and the show is really the icing on the cake.

Interview: 311 (Metromix Indianapolis)

Nick Hexum, lead singer and rhythm guitarist for 311, is 40 years old. He’s been a rock star for half his life. He wants to be a rock star for the rest of it.

He’s packing his bags for what seems like the band’s millionth tour — clothes, iPad, portable recording equipment for the bus in case he wants to bust out a few demos, cinnamon-flavored Crest. The band is flying to Alaska for two dates, in Fairbanks and Anchorage, before hitting the road within days of their 20th anniversary.

“We’ve never been up there before,” he says. “But this will complete the 50 states. We will have been to all 50.”

Fifty states in 20 years — it’s hard not to get nostalgic.

On June 10, 1990, the band took the stage for the first time. Their name, The Fish Hippos, was a problem. Hexum had just barely convinced the dudes he’d been jamming with, in their hometown of Omaha, that using that name while opening for legendary post-punk act Fugazi would be bad for business.

In hindsight, that seems like a wise decision — it’s hard to imagine a band called The Fish Hippos celebrating anything, much less 20 years as one of rock’s most innovative acts. Just six years later, under their new name, they were cool enough to be invited to the same party as The Clash’s Joe Strummer, who showed up carrying a boom box with a 311 sticker on it (“That pretty much validated my entire life right there,” Hexum says).

Still, they were so young back then and — Hexum laughs — still so ignorant of the way things worked that they were offering forties to Ian MacKaye backstage.

Things have changed. Hexum now knows that Ian MacKaye is the king of straight edge. He knows how things work and he knows that they’re broken. Like other rock veterans, he’s just trying to keep his head down, pack his bags, and ride out of the revolution.

“It’s a really tough time in the music business right now, there’s so much confusion now about how to make it work in the era of piracy,” he says. “There are a lot of people that are scared and it’s pretty hard to get a record deal. Even now, this summer, a lot of tours are tanking. The music business is …on its last leg right now.”

Hexum says he first noticed the limp in 1999, after the release of 311’s fifth studio album, “Sound System.”

“It was right around that time and (“Sound System”) was available online as a pirated download,” Hexum says. “I remember our manager trying in vain to shut it down and posting on message boards, ‘Don’t do that.’ But they just banished him from the file-trading site. It was a sense of, ‘Wow, there’s nothing you can do about that.’”

Except, of course, try to adapt.

“The industry will take a new form but I’ll look different, whether that’s through subscription service or direct relations between bands with fans,” he says. “People are trying to find out what’s next. I’m just grateful we’ve got a great touring business.”

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

311 is still loving what they do (PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW)

They started in Omaha 20 years ago, a quintet of teenagers who decided they wanted to start a band. Not just an ordinary rock 'n' roll group, but one that would feature an MC/DJ and incorporate rap and reggae into the mix.

Now, the members of 311, performing Tuesday at the Trib Total Media Amphitheatre, Station Square, are in their mid-30s, still viable, and thriving.

"A lot of hard work and dedication went into convincing people we are as good as we think we are," laughs P-Nut, the group's bass player. "That's what we've always relied on, so when the media or a record label or anything steps in to help us out, that's just that much better. But nothing can really take us down at this point; we're a good 100,000 obsessive fans deep, they support us endlessly, and we look to satisfy their interest in the band and grow from there."

311 first came into prominence in the early '90s, when the video for the single "Down" was in heavy rotation on MTV. Immediately, fans sensed something different about the group, notably in the way Nick Hexum's vocals were the perfect counterpoint to the hip-hop stylings of SA Martinez. With P-Nut and drummer Chad Sexton versed in everything from funk to rap to rock, and guitarist Tim Mahoney also possessing a diverse repertoire, they seemed to be a rare entity: a band that had a unique approach to popular music.

But not so fast. P-Nut is quick to admit 311 had a varying approach, but it was not something they cooked up in a vacuum.

"We're proud of what we do and we do know we opened some doors for some of the bands," he says. "But there's the generation before us of Fishbone, Urban Dance Squad, 24/7 Spyz and, certainly, the Red Hot Chili Peppers that really did define hybrid music before the term had even been coined. ... All of modern music is a mashup of many different things; it's not just one discipline. Country and western was a mish-mash back in the day, and rhythm and blues to the same degree, and rock 'n' roll was a mish-mash of those four."

But as more and more contemporary bands experimented with cross-hybrid sounds, the music became diluted. Instead of being artful, a lot of the music started sounding like chemistry experiments gone awry.

311 avoided that fate by paying heed to what worked and what didn't.

"If we were just happy pleasing ourselves, we'd still be playing in the garage," P-Nut says, noting that 311 owes everything to its fans.

That's not just a self-serving statement. Every other year on March 11 (3-11), the band holds a special concert in New Orleans that attracts fans from across the country and around the world. On Bourbon Street in the heart of the French Quarter, drinks named after 311 songs are poured at clubs and bars. Fans even band together for the 311 Fans Care project to help rebuild homes damaged by Hurricane Katrina.

"That's hard to not get emotional about, because it's so important to so many people," P-Nut says. "This is just a dream we started in a basement together ... It's just great. We're having the time of our lives."

Reconsidering 311 - Why Their Unity Tour Matters (Setimentalist Mag)

Although it seems like just yesterday that “Down” and “All Mixed Up” were blowing up modern-rock radio, 311 (improbably) celebrated their 20th birthday on June 10th of this year. Back in 1990, 311 played their first show under that moniker, opening for Fugazi at the Ranch Bowl in their hometown of Omaha, Nebraska. 10 albums and three DVDs later, 311 is preparing to kick off their ninth summer tour, dubbed the “Unity Tour,” on June 29th in Chicago with the Offspring (another band who achieved mainstream success on alt-rock radio in the ‘90s) and Hawaii’s Pepper in tow.

I first saw 311 in June 1996 when they were part of the H.O.A.R.D.E. tour, and sharing the bill with artists like Lenny Kravitz and Blues Traveler. In ’96 there wasn’t anything like 311 on the radio, which led to an unfair typecasting of the quintet in the now-dreaded rap-rock genre, grouped in with overly agro-leaning bands such as Limp Bizkit, Papa Roach, and Linkin Park. To diehard fans (and they are legion) this has long been an unfair comparison. Let Linkin Park and their brethren have their flying bullets and bulging neck veins; the magic of 311 successfully combines a lofty of hybrid rap, rock, punk, dance hall, reggae, funk and ska with lyrics based in celebrating positivity, honoring unity across all barriers, and promoting good times. Seems to me like this is the perfect recipe for pop-rock radio in a down-tempo economy.

As a longtime 311 fan, I’m disappointed in the state of the industry today. The radio airwaves are clogged, as always, with the same six songs played in heavy rotation. No disrespect to Drake, Paramore, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry, but as a former touring musician, I know that the playlists are ruled by the latest acts the record labels want to push and that it’s all about business (see iTunes). And while I have no desire to start a referendum on popular artists and various tastes and tastemakers alike, 311’s own hybrid theory still matters, even if alt-rock radio has long since moved on, and on the eve of a major tour, the lack of decent exposure in the necessary markets can be deadly to ticket sales.

The Unity Tour is a little over two weeks away from its kick off here in Chicago. What’s interesting about that is that in the last 24 hours the local alternative radio station, Q101, played one 311 song, “Down,” and one song by the Offspring, “Come Out and Play (Keep ‘Em Separated),” while playing a handful of cuts from other popular, difficult-to-label ‘90s bands: five from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, six by Rage Against the Machine, five by the Smashing Pumpkins (well, this isn’t surprising, it is Chicago) and four by Tool. That tally of plays doesn’t count the fact that “Here We Are Juggernaut,” the new single from Coheed and Cambria, was spun six times in the last 24 hours as well. The latter is a little more acceptable because it is the latest single of theirs, Columbia Records is pushing [it] and Year of the Black Rainbow pretty hard, and they are a tremendously successful touring act. But given how close 311 and the Offspring are to the kick off of a huge summer tour, I figured we would hear more than one track from the headliners. Again, given the business of selling tickets you’d think playing more of the acts coming to town would be good (quid pro quo) business but, hey, c’est la vie.

The fact of the matter is that most 311 fans don’t care, and other than those of us who still pay attention to terrestrial radio, the fans aren’t cynical about airplay beyond a passing curiosity. We love the music, the message and the vibe and we really don’t care if they get play or not. 311 have had three blockbuster #1 singles over the years: “Down,” “Love Song” and “Don’t Tread on Me.” They have sold over eight million units over their 20-year career and even had six albums break the top 10 on Billboard’s Top 200 sales charts. But again, I don’t think 311 fans really care about hard numbers either. #1 singles and platinum albums aren’t important to 311 fans, going to the shows, watching the DVDs and maybe getting the chance to go to a 311 day festival are what’s important to us. Well, that, and seeing our favorite Nebraskan quintet get the respect and exposure they rightfully deserve. I’m sure fans of the Zac Brown Band might agree with me there. Hello, Bonnaroo!

To wit, on March 11th (3/11), the 311 day show was held in Las Vegas at Mandalay Bay. The boys played five sets, some 60 songs, for over 12,000 fans. The annual event is usually held in New Orleans where March 11th is officially recognized by the State ofLouisiana as “311 Day.” Their fan page on MySpace has over 340,000 fans while their Facebook page has over 365,000. The official 311 page (311.com) even features over 500 pictures of fans tattoos! There is a kindred spirit among devout 311 fans, and by devout, I mean those that know there were two albums before “Down” came out, that know what “the hive” is and who can tell you what singer Nick Hexum says at the end of every show. (But to get factual, 1993’s Music and 1994’s Grassroots preceded the self-titled 311 (1995) that had their first #1 single, “Down.” The Hive is the name of their fan club as well as their studio, and Hexum closes every show with “Be positive and love your life.”)

Long story short, 311 fans are a special breed. We are more like roving Deadheads than your normal rock fans, even if normal, by current trends, equates to rainbow-painted MGMT fans and screaming Vampire Weekend bandwagoneers. We value and observe the experience as a community (much like U2 fans do). Fans will brag about how many shows they’ve been to, what rarely played songs they’ve gotten to hear live like “Visit” or “8:16am,” they’ll show off their 311 tats and exchange stories of which band members they’ve met and how cool they were to chat with. The crowds are purposefully very mellow and if a pit breaks out, fans help each other up and look out for each other’s safety. (Right Mastodon and EyeHateGod fans?) We won’t complain about a lack of radio play because chances are the radio won’t play anything good anyway; just another spin of “All Mixed Up,” and not the superior “Beautiful Disaster” or their latest single “Hey You.” We don’t care if the show ends early because of noise curfews, like the last show in Chicago in 2009, when seven songs were cut from the set list so as to comply with the local noise laws, no thanks to the Kottonmouth Kings.

This summer, the boys aren’t going to let us down. Set against the backdrop of one of the greatest city skylines in the world, the Unity Tour 2010 will take flight in Chicago. I’ll be in the front row (hopefully) proudly wearing my 311-themed Cubs jersey, screaming every word to every song, staying positive and loving my life.

Seems like the perfect atmosphere to get lost in, doesn’t it? So, where are you, radio radio?

311 discusses Surfing America Summer Surf Jam (Surfer Mag)

Summer means different things to different people. Long flat spells for East Coasters, prospective south swells for Californians, and plenty of free time for school kids. It also means a lot of great live music acts hop on buses and tour the nation, and every so often the surf and music worlds collide. The Surfing America Summer Surf Jam at Irvine’s Verizon Wirelesss Amphitheatre happens to be one of those events. With much of the proceeds benefiting the PacSun Surfing America USA Surf Team, we caught up with the Nick Hexum, lead singer of the Tour’s headlining act, 311, to get the inside scoop.

So how’d you guys get involved in Surfing America Summer Surf Jam?

We’ve just always been tied into a lot of modern sports and alliances with skating and other action sports. I particularly have been connected with the ocean for a long time so it seemed like a perfect fit.

How does it benefit Surfing America and Team USA?

We’re raising funds to promote youth surfing and the USA Surf Team. That’s such an important thing. Surfing is a type of thing that is such a positive and constructive use of energy that kids can have fun and be in the cool crowd without being into destructive things. I personally have a baby on the way, and I would encourage my kids to get into surfing. But it’s a spiritual thing, too. The water makes me feel like part of something bigger than myself…honestly more people should learn to love surfing.

So 311 grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, right? I’d imagine there’s not much surfing going on there.

No there isn’t, but I was fortunate enough to take summer trips every year to Hawaii and California and the Caribbean ,so I grew up visiting the ocean a couple times a year and learning that way. Also, we’ve been in L.A. for about 20 years so we’ve had a chance to be around surf culture and get in the water fairly often, but not as much as I’d like.

So where would you say you learned to surf?

The place I learned was the jetty off of Venice with some skater friends of mine.

So did you guys grow up skating in Omaha?

Part of the punk rock experience was skating, and it was a perfect fit with our kind of music – doing things your own way. We’ve always been into doing things our own way.

I saw that one of your videos was directed by the Malloys at Crystal Cove. Do you spend much time with them?

Well, we haven’t done any shows with Jack Johnson for a while, but I think they did a kick ass job on that Amber video. We wanted to capture that California Surf vibe in it, and I have a lot of respect for them and the things they’ve done.

How’d you choose the acts for the Unity Tour with Ziggy Marley and The Expendables?

Our band is all about unity and people who have a more positive outlook in their music. The Unity Tour is about bringing all kinds of different people together. We pick bands that go along with that. We’ve had some great hip-hop like The Roots and Snoop Dog. Snoop talked about that a lot when he was on with us and Matisyahu and Ziggy… reggae tends to promote these positive vibes, and that we’re going for…

How has the Unity Tour gone thus far?

It’s been good. It’s flown by, and we have three shows left and has been an amazing way to spend the summer. I just feel lucky to do this every year; we started this with a band called OAR in 2003.

What’s your favorite song to play live?

I think what sets 311 apart is that we have high energy to our shows so the rocking songs like “Down” and “Beautiful Disaster” are really fun, but then there’s also “Amber” and others. I just love getting up there and letting off some steam.

If you have to choose one venue and two bands to play with for your final show, where do you play and with whom?

Our 311 Day show in New Orleans is an incredible thing to be a part of. People come from all over the world to enjoy our music. Honestly we don’t have openers and all the hardcore fans from all over the world are there, so I’d say that’s my favorite show.

Are there any more philanthropic events benefiting surfers on 311′s agenda?

I don’t know if we have anything planned right now, but I think the spirituality of surfing really fits with us, and we’ve had a long relationship with that community so there will be more stuff in the future.

Monday, June 21, 2010

Quickie Q&A: 311 (Metromix, Denver)

311 abides. While many of their ‘90s alt-rock peers have broken up or struggled to maintain their fan bases (witness Limp Bizkit’s recently cancelled reunion tour), the quintet from Omaha continues pack in the fans on their summer Unity Tours and annual marathon 311 Day performances, happily ignoring rock trends and following their own funky muse.

The latest Unity Tour finds 311 back on the road with Hawaiian reggae-rockers Pepper and punk-pop veterans the Offspring in select markets. They’re still touring in support of last year’s “Uplifter,” which entered the Billboard 200 album chart at No. 3—but singer/guitarist Nick Hexum says the band has “pledged to our fans to not take so long between albums as we did last time.” (“Uplifter,” produced by Bob Rock of Metallica and Mötley Crüe fame, was their first studio effort in nearly four years.) “There are lots of demos being circulated among the band,” Hexum told Metromix. “I personally have made over 30.”

“Uplifter” lives up to its name—nearly every track is super-positive. Does anything ever bum you guys out?
Absolutely. Intolerance, fear tactics in politics, closed minds, and oil spills. These are just a few of my least-favorite things!

Did working with a new producer in Bob Rock inspire the band to try some new things in the studio?
For sure. We learned so much from Bob. We had been resistant to digital recording and he showed us it can sound as good or better than tape. He helped us more with arranging than any producer ever had. He rules.

You held 311 Day in Las Vegas this year. Did anyone win big at the slots or blackjack while you were there?
Not me. We had a fun VIP package where we got to play blackjack with the fans, but the pit boss had us jumping around from table to table and [leaving] our chips, so I can't tell you how I did.

Your 311 Day sets can last up to five hours. Does everyone get a bathroom break?
Yeah, we had clothes change/water chugging/pee breaks. The show was a blast.

What’s on the stereo on the 311 tour bus?
For me, Avett Brothers, MuteMath, King Tubby, and Steve Aoki lately. Pretty random, huh?

There’s a whole MySpace group devoted to fans’ 311 tattoos. What’s the most unusual or creative one you’ve seen lately?
There's so many. Some are so original that we should take the idea and turn them into T-shirts. My favorite tat pics are the ones where three or more are posing together showing their 311 work. 311 is about unity and bonding.

If you could go back in time to, say, 1994—what advice would you give to your younger selves?
Practice your instrument. Follow your dream. Be weird. Take pictures.

Quickie Q&A: 311 (Metromix)

311 abides. While many of their ‘90s alt-rock peers have broken up or struggled to maintain their fan bases (witness Limp Bizkit’s recently cancelled reunion tour), the quintet from Omaha continues pack in the fans on their summer Unity Tours and annual marathon 311 Day performances, happily ignoring rock trends and following their own funky muse.

The latest Unity Tour finds 311 back on the road with Hawaiian reggae-rockers Pepper and punk-pop veterans the Offspring in select markets. They’re still touring in support of last year’s “Uplifter,” which entered the Billboard 200 album chart at No. 3—but singer/guitarist Nick Hexum says the band has “pledged to our fans to not take so long between albums as we did last time.” (“Uplifter,” produced by Bob Rock of Metallica and Mötley Crüe fame, was their first studio effort in nearly four years.) “There are lots of demos being circulated among the band,” Hexum told Metromix. “I personally have made over 30.”

“Uplifter” lives up to its name—nearly every track is super-positive. Does anything ever bum you guys out?
Absolutely. Intolerance, fear tactics in politics, closed minds, and oil spills. These are just a few of my least-favorite things!

Did working with a new producer in Bob Rock inspire the band to try some new things in the studio?
For sure. We learned so much from Bob. We had been resistant to digital recording and he showed us it can sound as good or better than tape. He helped us more with arranging than any producer ever had. He rules.

You held 311 Day in Las Vegas this year. Did anyone win big at the slots or blackjack while you were there?
Not me. We had a fun VIP package where we got to play blackjack with the fans, but the pit boss had us jumping around from table to table and [leaving] our chips, so I can't tell you how I did.

Your 311 Day sets can last up to five hours. Does everyone get a bathroom break?
Yeah, we had clothes change/water chugging/pee breaks. The show was a blast.

What’s on the stereo on the 311 tour bus?
For me, Avett Brothers, MuteMath, King Tubby, and Steve Aoki lately. Pretty random, huh?

There’s a whole MySpace group devoted to fans’ 311 tattoos. What’s the most unusual or creative one you’ve seen lately?
There's so many. Some are so original that we should take the idea and turn them into T-shirts. My favorite tat pics are the ones where three or more are posing together showing their 311 work. 311 is about unity and bonding.

If you could go back in time to, say, 1994—what advice would you give to your younger selves?
Practice your instrument. Follow your dream. Be weird. Take pictures.

Friday, June 18, 2010

311 with Pepper plays Riverbend Music Center on June 26 (Cincy Groove Magazine)

311 brings the second round of their Uplifter Tour to Cincinnati's Riverbend Music Center on June 26. Uplifter continues a hot streak for the Omaha, Nebraska quintet, providing some of their best material to date on songs, "Hey You," "It's Alright," "Mix It Up," "Golden Sunlight," and "Daisy Cutter." Consisting of Nick Hexum on vocals, Doug Martinez as DJ on turntables and vocals, Tim Mahoney on lead guitar, Aaron Wills on bass, and Chad Sexton on drums, 311 has had a slew of successful recordings since their self titled debut in 1995. Their summer tours have included high profile guests including reggae musicians' Ziggy Marley and Matisyahu. At their Riverbend stop on June 26, 311 will be joined by the Kailua- Kona, Hawaii reggae, dub and rock band, Pepper. With Bret Bollinger on vocals and bass, Kaleo Wassman on vocals and guitar, and Yesod Williams on drums, Pepper made their debut with 2000's Give'n It disc, and have subsequently released the chart toppers, Kona Town in 2002 and Pink Crustaceans and Good Vibrations in 2008.

Blue Loon solstice concert features 311, Presidents of the United StatesRead more: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner - Blue Loon solstice concert features 311 Presidents of the United States (Fairbanks Daily News)

FAIRBANKS - Twenty years ago, when the band 311 released its first album, lead singer Nick Hexum rapped that even though they were from Nebraska, they had never visited the similar-sounding state of Alaska.

That lyric won’t hold true anymore when 311 and the Presidents of the United States of America play an all-ages summer solstice concert tonight at The Blue Loon. Doors open at 6 p.m.

The pair of bands differ stylistically — 311 boasts a hip rock groove occasionally overlaid with freestyle rapping and touches of reggae and punk, while the Presidents present more of an alternative, pop-rock aesthetic with hints of Seattle grunge. Yet, both bands have received a variety of accolades.

Both acts have landed top-10 singles and have had songs featured in multiple films (311 covered The Cure’s “Love Song” in “50 First Dates”) and television (The Presidents’ “Cleveland Rocks” was “The Drew Carey Show” theme song.) The Presidents have even received two Grammy nominations.

Despite the years of tour both bands have put in, including numerous festival dates, the two bands have never shared a stage together. The Presidents, however, have been to Alaska multiple times, including past performances at The Blue Loon.

For Hexum and band, visiting Alaska now means 311 has toured in all 50 states. Tonight’s performance is the kick-off for their Unity Tour 2010, its annual summer tour.

“We’re on a mission to spread music,” Hexum said.

The Presidents have a more relaxed approach to touring. Instead of officially hitting the road, about every six weeks they play a few gigs in different parts of the country. This time it’s Fairbanks; next time it’s Washington state and then Illinois after that.

Lead singer and player of the basitar (a six-string guitar with two of the strings replaced with bass strings) Chris Ballew said it’s just a way for everyone to chill.

“We’re cooling our heels, taking walks on the beach,” Ballew said. “Enjoying the fruits of our labor.”

The Presidents, who formed in Seattle in 1993, are known for their highenergy, alt-grunge rock sound. But Ballew said that underneath it are just simple songs inspired by traditional folk elements.

“But with a frosting of irony on top,” Ballew clarified.

When asked to give a more specific description of The Presidents’ stage style, all Ballew could say was this: “It’s a sugar-coated pillow fight.”

311 is trickier to define.

Hexum said you could label 311 as modern rock, but it’s really more complex than that.

“The major ingredient is rock,” he said. “But there’s reggae, hip-hop, punk. We have an everything-goes attitude.”

The band came together in 1990 in Omaha, Neb., at a time when the music scene there was quiet. Hexum said it allowed the band to make music that was its own “weird hybrid” sound.

“It was a good place to come from,” he said. “There was no preconceived scene.

People accepted us as legit.” Should these bands ever share the stage again, they will now have at least one thing in common: an Alaska concert — and on the solstice at that.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

North to Alaska (Play - Alaska Newspaper)

It's rare when a band on the verge of huge summer tour decides to kick things off in Alaska. But when 311 plays Saturday night at the Moose's Tooth Summer Solstice Show, that's exactly what fans will see.

Before the band hits amphitheaters in the Lower 48 later this month, the group's Unity Tour officially gets under way with a pair of shows in Fairbanks and Anchorage.

Featuring vocalist/guitarist Nick Hexum, lead guitarist Tim Mahoney, bassist Aaron "P-Nut" Wills, vocalist/DJ Doug "SA" Martinez and drummer Chad Sexton, the Omaha, Nebraska bred group has played together for about 20 years.

For the last several years, the alternative rock group (which throws in some reggae and hip-hop for good measure) has been headlining the Unity Tour with a diverse assortment of groups like hip-hop band The Roots, metal rockers Papa Roach and Hasidic reggae rapper Matisyahu.

Factor in millions of albums sold, six Billboard Top 10 albums, multiple hit singles and a strong grass roots following, and it's clear that 311 is a musical powerhouse.

If all that's not impressive enough - they also have their own holiday, which they celebrated this year in Las Vegas with a five-hour show featuring a 60-song set.

311's rise to fame wasn't overnight. The band toured for years in the early '90s and cultivated a strong fan base. It wasn't until the group's self-titled third album, featuring popular singles such as "Down" and "All Mixed Up," that 311 started getting serious media attention.

Years later 311 is still going strong; their most recent album, 2009's "Uplifter," was the group's highest charting album ever.

Still, touring and live shows are a constant part of the group's livelihood. Every other year, the band celebrates 311 day (March 11th ) with a mega concert.

Usually held in New Orleans, the show brings in thousands of fans. This year 311 Day was hosted with a sold out crowd at the Mandalay Events Center in Las Vegas, and the three set show was also simulcast on the Internet. MTV described it as a "religious experience." It's the fan base and a tour-orientated focus that has led to some comparison between 311 and groups like The Grateful Dead.

"We've picked up a comparable following, I guess," Sexton told MTV.com. "We wanted to make sure we tour every summer, regardless of our records, because we're here to play live music. We don't want to spend a summer getting away from the people."

This summer is no exception, and it starts in Alaska. Getting 311 to Anchorage was no easy task, said Dan Fiacco, Moose's and Bear Tooth event organizer.

"I've been trying to get them up here for probably five years now and so finally everything just kind of clicked," Fiacco said. He's been a fan of 311 since his college days and said he has gotten a lot of requests over the years to get the group up north.

"We also offered them a sightseeing/fishing trip and, so as far as I know, they're pretty stoked on coming up."

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

311 returns with a little help from their friends (Salt Lake Tribune)

If ever there were a time for unity, it seems to be now.

Therefore, everyone is welcome at the return of the Unity Tour 2010, which stops over in West Valley City on Wednesday, July 21, with headliners 311 and supporting acts The Offspring and Pepper.

“There is a constant cool vibe,” said Pepper drummer Yesod Williams of the Unity Tour, which reminds him of the laid-back atmosphere of his home state of Hawaii. “It’s a constant summerlong barbecue.”

“We’ve been doing summer tours for the last 13 years, and we have been labeling it the Unity Tour for six or seven years now,” said “S.A.” Martinez, lead singer of Nebraska alt-funk-rock band 311. Despite the occasional hard edges of 311 — and certainly those of alt-rock icons The Offspring — all bands are committed to the idea of e pluribus unum.

“Our fans and 311 fans are open-minded and easy-going,” Williams said. “There’s not a bad bone in anyone’s bodies.”

Martinez’s nickname “S.A.” is indicative of his band’s friendly nature, as it’s a play on the Mexican slang term ese, meaning “buddy.”

He said there’s added urgency to the Unity Tour this year, after immigration debates spurred by the Arizona law that would require state and local police to question and possibly arrest suspected illegal immigrants during routine traffic stops.

“It’s misguided anger and frustration,” said Martinez about the divisive issue. “It’s sad that in 2010 that race is such an issue. We need to build bridges.”

Music is a universal and unifying force, Martinez said about the tour that has linked musicians from a variety of genres, such as rapper Snoop Dogg and reggae artist Ziggy Marley.

311’s ninth studio album, “Uplifter,” debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard albums chart, the band’s highest in the U.S. to date. Since its self-titled debut in 1995, each of its studio albums has been in the top 15 of the Billboard chart. Eight of its songs have been top-five hits on the Billboard Modern Rock Radio chart, including “Down,” “All Mixed Up,” “Come Original” and a cover of The Cure’s “Love Song.”

Pepper is also riding a recent wave of success with its blend of dub, reggae and rock. Its 2008 album “Pink Crustaceans and Good Vibrations” is hitting mainstream audiences, and the band plans to release a new album this summer. Band members are appreciating their good fortune to have toured with Michael Franti & Spearhead, Slightly Stoopid and Flogging Molly.

“We’re on such a good page,” Williams said. “If there was ever a stage in our lives where we’re in a happy spot, it’s now.”

Monday, June 14, 2010

311's Tim Mahoney on Slipknot, Adventureland, Iowa Speedway (Metromix)

For the first week or so after Paul Gray's death I generally added a question about him to a few interviews to get thoughts from various aspects of the music scene. I haven't asked one for a while, but I just got off the phone with 311's Tim Mahoney and when I thought the interview was over, he started asking me about Slipknot.

It makes sense; 311 is from Omaha, and the two bands rose to fame not too far apart. Anyway, here's what he said:

"I'm a big Slipknot fan. Paul is actually the only guy I ever talked to. He was such a good guy. I wouldn't say I knew him, but it was really sad to hear. I've been following that band ever since their first record. I hope they're hanging in there. We're sending some love that way.

"Everyone in the band is a Slipknot fan. I've been jamming a lot of Slipknot lately. I've never seen them live, but several guys in the band have. I know Chad dig's Joey."

He also asked about playing at 7 Flags, but he thought they might be playing a 6 Flags Amusement Park. He was worried that Adventureland might be gone, and talked about taking trips there every couple years when he was younger. He had also heard good things about the Iowa Speedway.

I'm used to publicists cutting off a conversation at 15 minutes, so it was kind of nice to interview a musician who didn't want to stop talking.

Monday, June 7, 2010

311 (Detroit Live Magazine)

For close to two decades, 311 has maintained a solid fan base and much of it is attributed to the great music they have been releasing since their beginning. Last year's Uplifter was their highest charted album to date, and they once again are hitting the road in support. Detroit Live had a chance to talk to bassist Aaron “P-Nut” Willis in preparation for their Summer Unity tour with The Offspring.

DL: How you doing today man?

PN: Great, great!

DL: Let's talk about the Summer Unity tour; this is the 4th one if I'm correct.

PN: It's hard to say because we've had the Unity tour in non-summer too. The summer tour is the coming together for us and another well established act to play together for the 1st time. 311 used to be a band called Unity and we have an album called the same. It's always been a theme throughout our history, and we did it before the religious group that call themselves Unity Tour! They need to find inspiration
and make up their own tour name.

DL: Why The Offspring this year?

PN: It's a perfect fit! We've always talked about touring together running into them at radio shows and such. It finally worked out and we're excited about going out with them.

DL: Uplifter debuted at #3, which is your best to date. After so many years, what does that say about your fan base?

PN: The fan base is solid. They're always excited about new music so we're kind of spoiled in that way. We're always looking to get more people to hear, understand, and appreciate what we're doing. When we started to work with Bob Rock (producer), we were thinking along the lines of how to expand our fan base and really connect with people while still making art that we are satisfied with. That's really the balance; I've been talking with a lot of musician and artist friends about how to balance being able to sleep at night, basically satisfying you, and at the same time trying to reach out and be accepted in a large capacity. Everyone has a different answer and it's a really fun question to ask. We could make a live jazz album that no one besides us may appreciate, so that's one of the things that motivate us. We've been around for 20 years so let's keep doing different things but not alienate the people who got us here.

DL: The origin of the name 311 has been somewhat of an urban legend. Can you clear up for the people of Detroit where the name came from?

PN: The name 311 came from the police code in Omaha, Nebraska for indecent exposure.

DL: So it doesn't mean KKK?

PN: (laughing) What's funny was when that was going around and our t-shirts were being banned in the high school that Tim, Chad, and Nick went to, it was the biggest press we ever had and it was because of a controversy. It's great because we preach peace, love, unity and understanding but we were tagged with this horrible outdated racial mindset. It was pretty easy to talk down but the fact it keeps coming out makes me chuckle.

DL: 311 Day was in Vegas this year. It's always been in New Orleans (other than 2006 due to Hurricane Katrina), why the switch?

PN: It was purely logistical. There was a surgeon's convention in New Orleans that same weekend. They swooped up tens of thousands of hotel rooms and we usually put together package deals with the airlines and
hotels that are relatively inexpensive. It was just impossible to do so we had to move cities to make it easy for people to travel to see the ultimate 311 spectacular.

DL: What's going on with Hollow's Follow? (P-Nut's side project)

PN: We're putting together new ideas all the time. Owen and Josh (singer and drummer) work a lot more without me than with me. It makes sense because of my day job with 311. I'm happy they are creative on
their own and I wish I could more into it. I'm a dad to be and they knew 311 would always trump anything else. They're really understanding.

DL: Is this your first child?

PN: Yes, we are expecting in August.

DL: Congratulations!

PN: Thank you! I love working with those guys, it couldn't be any different than working with the 311 characters. I could trip and fall down and they'd find a way to put it into the music, as opposed to being good natured scrutinized as I am with 311. Both versions of what is acceptable make me a better musician and I love the experience with both groups.

DL: During the summer there are a lot of big festival tours, how come 311 hasn't done any?

PN: We don't like going out with people unless we can play last! We can command that as much as we want for the most part. We've sold 8.5 million albums with very little airplay. We enjoy the freedom and ability to
command an audience and playing arange of songs from our career and not having to concentrate on what people are expecting to hear. We really focus on the whole span of what we've done and we get accolades from our fans for doing full albums or b-sides and allow for us to improve onstage. It's all about the live show; you should come see us sometime. Once anyone sees us they'll get a much higher definition of the band that they think they know.

DL: I actually saw you guys 2 times last year, at Freedom Hill and The Fillmore.

PN: That Fillmore show was perfect!

One of the best shows we've ever done. The audience was like vampires and our music was the blood that they wanted. It was like a feeding frenzy.

DL: Other than 4/20, I get the most Happy New Year messages on 3/11, seems like you have a cult type fan base, kind of like a Grateful Dead or ICP. What do you attest to that?

PN: (laughing) Yea, we're somewhere in between those. It goes to show that if you're focused on your art and it connects with the right amount of people, you don't need to adhere to popular culture, you can create
popular culture. That's what the future of music is, not this here today gone tomorrow. Longevity is sexy.

DL: What's next for 311?

PN: We have a bunch demos that we're shopping around to labels, but we're kicking around the idea of going totally independent. Thankfully since we do have such a good core following we can entertain different ideas and philosophies on how we can cut this cold cut sandwich that is our career.

DL: So a new album is in the works?

PN: Yes, but only at its earliest stages. We've rehearsed 7 songs over and over again but who knows if any of them will make onto the 10th album. We're always excited about the next step! Putting in the work is what it's all about. Id love to add more influence into the direction of the songs and the only way I can do that is to work hard. I've been sweating it out in the studio upstairs at my house a lot more than usual.

DL: You guys have played Detroit many times, any stories you want to share?

PN: Back in like 96, we were touring with No Doubt. I stayed up all night with our bus driver and as soon as we got to Detroit, we went to lunch and for some reason we got into a drinking contest. Of course the driver
had nothing to do but of course I had sound check and some rock show to play. We were playing at St Andrews and I was just hammered. I was in the worst shape professionally that I've ever been. It was funny at the time and even more so as time has passed, but I learned a good lesson that day. There's got to be a separation between being a professional and having a good time. Detroit taught me that lesson in a big, big way. I was completely out of control and there was nothing cool about it. Just me acting like an idiot and it was probably the only time I've lost total control. I played the show just fine but sound check was a train wreck.

DL: I've noticed with many bands, how before they used to party before the show, but now they don't till after the show.

PN: There's no rush, if you just want to enjoy yourself and “take the edge off, don't do it before the show. there's people expecting you to perform and there's no way to do that if you're not in control of yourself. That's one of the things that separates us from animals is that we do have control over our emotions and actions, and there's no reason to overdue it before you go on stage. You can do it afterwards and no one will be the wiser.

DL: Thanks a lot for your time, anything you want to say to the people of Detroit?

PN: There's nothing like a 311 show in the summer. That Fillmore show we did in Detroit is something that I will never forget and hopefully we can create the same energy in an outdoor arena. Enjoy yourself! For more info go to www.311.com and make sure you check them out on the Summer Unity Tour w/The Offspring coming to DTE July 7th.

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Great memories a common thread of concert T-shirts (Omaha WORLD-HERALD)

Joan O'Reilly

O'Reilly, mother of 311 bassist P-Nut (Aaron Wills), has a shirt from the Omaha-bred rock band's days of playing the Ranch Bowl.

Back when the venerable bowling alley/music venue was still in operation, patrons had to be 21 or older to get into the fenced-in bar area during rock shows.

“Kids would always try to get in that section, telling the bouncers that ‘It's OK, I'm with the band,'” O'Reilly said. “Every time we heard that, we'd smile, the bouncers would smile and it got to be a catch phrase.”

Eventually, O'Reilly made several shirts with “It's OK, I'm with the band” for herself and other parents of band members.