311 has drawn a loyal following through its singular blend of hip-hop, rock and reggae sounds. But it also provides its listeners with something more: a full slate of concerts each year, allowing fans to consistently connect with the group, known as one of the best performing acts around.
tableau had the opportunity to chat with Nick Hexum, the band’s frontman, in anticipation of its Sunday concert at the Charlottesville Pavilion. Hexum and I discussed musical influences, the band’s upcoming music and the dynamics of its live shows.
311, pronounced “three-eleven,” played its first show in 1990 in Omaha, Neb., but has since moved to Los Angeles. Six of its albums have reached the top 10 of the Billboard 200 and eight singles, including “Amber” and “Love Song,” have reached the Top 10 on the Billboard Alternative Rock chart. Much of 311’s fame, however, derives from its reputation as a touring band. 311 has finished its summer tour and is in the studio recording an unnamed album set for release in 2011.
tableau: Obviously your brand of music is something that is certainly unique. What influenced you and how did that impact the music you are making now?
Hexum: It’s just such a different world today, where you can get access to any music, any time. In Omaha, we had one cool downtown record store where we would go and hang out and listen to punk rock, reggae, ska, funk and early hip-hop, but you really had to dig to find it. To me, it was all about combining different styles, and there were only a few bands in the late ‘80s that were making hybrid music, which is really what got me excited.
tableau: Did growing up in Omaha affect your development as a band?
Hexum: It had to have. I think that because we weren’t a part of any established scene there was a kind of innocence and a kind of “no-rules” [atmosphere] since we were so much on our own. It was definitely an uphill climb, and we had to work our butts off. There was no feeling of entitlement. Incidentally, though moving to L.A. brought us together as a band and allowed us to practice a lot, we were actually signed off a demo we made in Omaha. It shows that you can make it from anywhere.
tableau: 311’s 2009 album Uplifter and your upcoming album were both produced by Bob Rock, who has worked with bands like Aerosmith, Metallica and Bon Jovi. What role has he played in the development of your band?
Hexum: Our level of involvement remains the same with every producer, but I have never learned more about music from anyone than I have Bob Rock. We are now halfway through working on our second album with him, and we’re just having a ball working with Bob.
tableau: What’s the new album like?
Hexum: There’s some high-energy songs that are going to be great for live, and then there’s some experimental stuff, some trippy stuff. We just follow our hearts so its kinda hard to give an exact description.
tableau: Oftentimes with 311, fans focus on your live music and on the experience of going to a show. Where does your personal focus lie?
Hexum: Fortunately we have focused a little more on live, and some people say that albums don’t capture what the live show has. And that’s cool with us. It’s good in this day and age because there’s so much piracy that the industry is collapsing on itself. We’re going to tour every summer whether we have a hit single or not, and it keeps us in touch with our fans. Some of these new artists get on stage and, well, they suck. We’ve been on the road so much, and that’s the kind of experience that you can’t fake.
tableau: Which do you prefer, touring or recording?
Hexum: Recording’s great, too, but if we had to pick one, I would say touring. That exchange of energy between the crowd and the band, where we’re getting off on them as much as they are us, that’s just an amazing thing and sometimes it becomes a very spiritual thing. It almost goes back to prehistoric times when people would just get together and get down and that’s just something that doesn’t exist as much in the studio setting. I know we’re definitely looking forward to coming to Charlottesville and having a great time with the fans.
tableau had the opportunity to chat with Nick Hexum, the band’s frontman, in anticipation of its Sunday concert at the Charlottesville Pavilion. Hexum and I discussed musical influences, the band’s upcoming music and the dynamics of its live shows.
311, pronounced “three-eleven,” played its first show in 1990 in Omaha, Neb., but has since moved to Los Angeles. Six of its albums have reached the top 10 of the Billboard 200 and eight singles, including “Amber” and “Love Song,” have reached the Top 10 on the Billboard Alternative Rock chart. Much of 311’s fame, however, derives from its reputation as a touring band. 311 has finished its summer tour and is in the studio recording an unnamed album set for release in 2011.
tableau: Obviously your brand of music is something that is certainly unique. What influenced you and how did that impact the music you are making now?
Hexum: It’s just such a different world today, where you can get access to any music, any time. In Omaha, we had one cool downtown record store where we would go and hang out and listen to punk rock, reggae, ska, funk and early hip-hop, but you really had to dig to find it. To me, it was all about combining different styles, and there were only a few bands in the late ‘80s that were making hybrid music, which is really what got me excited.
tableau: Did growing up in Omaha affect your development as a band?
Hexum: It had to have. I think that because we weren’t a part of any established scene there was a kind of innocence and a kind of “no-rules” [atmosphere] since we were so much on our own. It was definitely an uphill climb, and we had to work our butts off. There was no feeling of entitlement. Incidentally, though moving to L.A. brought us together as a band and allowed us to practice a lot, we were actually signed off a demo we made in Omaha. It shows that you can make it from anywhere.
tableau: 311’s 2009 album Uplifter and your upcoming album were both produced by Bob Rock, who has worked with bands like Aerosmith, Metallica and Bon Jovi. What role has he played in the development of your band?
Hexum: Our level of involvement remains the same with every producer, but I have never learned more about music from anyone than I have Bob Rock. We are now halfway through working on our second album with him, and we’re just having a ball working with Bob.
tableau: What’s the new album like?
Hexum: There’s some high-energy songs that are going to be great for live, and then there’s some experimental stuff, some trippy stuff. We just follow our hearts so its kinda hard to give an exact description.
tableau: Oftentimes with 311, fans focus on your live music and on the experience of going to a show. Where does your personal focus lie?
Hexum: Fortunately we have focused a little more on live, and some people say that albums don’t capture what the live show has. And that’s cool with us. It’s good in this day and age because there’s so much piracy that the industry is collapsing on itself. We’re going to tour every summer whether we have a hit single or not, and it keeps us in touch with our fans. Some of these new artists get on stage and, well, they suck. We’ve been on the road so much, and that’s the kind of experience that you can’t fake.
tableau: Which do you prefer, touring or recording?
Hexum: Recording’s great, too, but if we had to pick one, I would say touring. That exchange of energy between the crowd and the band, where we’re getting off on them as much as they are us, that’s just an amazing thing and sometimes it becomes a very spiritual thing. It almost goes back to prehistoric times when people would just get together and get down and that’s just something that doesn’t exist as much in the studio setting. I know we’re definitely looking forward to coming to Charlottesville and having a great time with the fans.
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