If you lived your teenage years in the 90′s, you know theres no better music than what we listened to growing up. Most of the 90′s bands that tour only play the larger venues closer to New York City. But last March, Bethel Woods answered by announcing that the 311 Unity Tour was coming in July. Sublime (with Rome) & 311 – two of my favorite bands from my youth playing 10 minutes from home? I’m there!!
The show was last Monday and the rain was coming down all day. It looked like it was never going to end. The large crowd that was waiting patiently in the rain was relieved to see the sun come out just minutes before Sublime with Rome took the stage. Sublime was very popular in the 90′s with hits like “Santeria”, “What I Got”, and “Wrong Way”. But in 1996 Sublime’s Bradley Nowell passed and with him the band Sublime. But in 2009 Sublime bassist Eric Wilson and drummer Bud Gaugh brought back Sublime with new lead singer Rome Ramirez aka Rome. Shortly after the band was renamed Sublime with Rome.
Sublime came out performing new songs, lesser known songs, and the hits made famous by the original Sublime. The audience was in it from the start singing along to songs that still get airtime on radio stations – almost 20 years later. Every song played brought me back to listening to Sublime back in High School. I even heard “Lovin’, is what I got, I said remember that” from my kids 11 and 14 as they sang along.
Sublime with Rome played a relatively short set only lasting about an hour. This gave us time to hit the concessions at Bethel Woods before 311 took the stage. The concessions at Bethel Woods ran really smoothly and there seemed to be more than enough places to buy beer, etc… The only snag we had was waiting about 15 minutes for a bag a popcorn, but Jesus C. who was working the stand we were at was very apologetic and had a smile the entire time.
After a short intermission it was on to the main act, 311. 311 has actually been in existence since 1988, working out of lead singer/rhythm guitar Nick Hexum’s basement in Nebraska. Today the band has sold over 8 million records worldwide, and if you haven’t heard any of their hits over the last 20 years you’ve been living under a rock. “Down”, “Amber”, “Love Song”, “Come Original”, “Tansistor”, “All Mixed Up”, and “Beautiful Disaster” are just a few of their hits.
The lights came down on the pavilion and the show was on. 311 got the crowd right into it by kicking the show off with the hit song “Beautiful Disaster”. 311 played almost straight to 11pm with just a short intermission. Every song was perfect, 311 is definitely a band that needs to be seen live. The crowd was dancing and singing in unison to every song that was played. As 311 played their newest song “Sunset in July” I took a minute to look around and take in the grounds of this great venue while in use. Everything was perfect, Bethel Woods is not too big and not too small. It’s a jewel of a venue that was obviously very thought out.
The sound at Bethel Woods was perfect, it was nice and clear inside the pavilion and in the lawn seats. The band sounded exactly as they do in their recordings. 311′s stage crew also added to the show with lighting that drew you into every song played.
We have to give Bethel Woods a perfect 10 on this show. Even with the miserable weather that greeted guest, the staff was friendly and courteous. Everything was orderly and you never felt unsafe. Even leaving the parking area was fast and flawless. The only thing we have to suggest is – get more 90′s bands!
http://www.libertyindy.com/2011/07/27/were-down-with-311s-unity-tour-at-bethel-woods/
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