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.
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