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.
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