The band's last album debuted at No. 3. Its new single hit No. 13 on the alternative charts.
But Chad Sexton of 311 — the '90s group that gave us "Amber" and "Down" and a slick cover of The Cure's "Love Song" — has few explanations for his band's extended run of success.
"The original guys are still together, so that maybe has something to do with it," the drummer said during a recent phone interview.
"Sometimes it's luck. Sometimes it's skill. Who knows?"
If you go
WHO: 311 and Sublime with Rome.
WHAT: Rock.
WHEN: 6:30 tonight at PNC Bank Arts Center; 6:30 p.m. Friday at Nikon at Jones Beach Theater.
WHERE: PNC Bank Arts Center, Garden State Parkway Exit 116, Holmdel; 732-203-2500. Nikon at Jones Beach Theater, 1000 Ocean Parkway, Wantagh, N.Y.; 516-221-1000. See livenation.com.
HOW MUCH: $32 to $101.55 at PNC; $27 to $101.70 at Jones Beach.
LISTEN: 311.com.
311 returns to New Jersey this week. Sexton carved a few minutes out of his schedule to chat with us.
Q. In 10 words or less: Why should fans pick up the new album ("Universal Pulse")?
Because it's easily digestible in this mad, fast-paced world. It's basically quality over quantity. We're kind of shooting for that, and obviously it won't cost as much as a normal thing. We just thought the shorter we make it, the better it's going to be, as long as we choose the best of what we've got, which is what we did
That's more than 10, but …
Q. A few months ago, you did the 311 Caribbean Cruise. What was that like, and what did you like about it?
Well, it was on a very large boat. It was just basically a cruise — us as well as 12 or 13 other acts. Some were comedians. Some were DJs. Some were other bands. It was just one big party boat. The thing I liked about it … it's just great to see a bunch of people get together and have a great time. People will go by high-fiving each other when they don't even know each other.
Q. No seasickness or anything like that?
The thing about it is, when you landed you felt like you were still on the boat for about two days. … You kind of get used to rocking. By the time you get to solid ground, you're still kind of swaying back and forth. It was a little weird to get your land legs back.
Q. In another interview, 311 singer S.A. Martinez said, "Each one of us has different musical tastes."
Oh, yeah.
Q. How would you describe your own?
I get into classical music: Leonard Bernstein, Mozart. The jazz artists: Buddy Rich, Count Basie. … Bass players like Jaco Pastorius. There's a whole instrumental side of music like Medeski Martin and Wood; like John Scofield; like Jon McLaughlin. … I love all types of music.
Q. The video for "Sunset in July," one of your new songs, it kind of reminded me of a slide show of Pink Floyd album covers. What was your impression of the video?
That's really all that was. A slide show of the artwork. We wanted to show just what's going on with the package, the artwork behind the "Universal Pulse" title, and what we're trying to do with helping and healing with music, but in not such an obvious, bland way of saying it.
Q. You guys come through here a lot. Any funny or fun stories from playing in New Jersey over the years?
Oh, man. We played the Stone Pony, right? It was one of our first shows there when they had that kind of half-built boardwalk over there. Not really any stories, just history. Going there so many times over the years, almost 20 now.
http://www.northjersey.com/arts_entertainment/125936068_311_keeps_fresh_music_coming_long_after_the__90s.html?page=all&scpromo=1&c=y
No comments:
Post a Comment