Just because 311 has a song titled "Don't Stay Home" doesn't mean the band dislikes home cookin'.
"We love to come home," 311's lead vocalist and songwriter Nick Hexum said Saturday afternoon. The band performed a concert here Friday night. "...We're trying to put Omaha on the map for popular music. But it's embarassingthat the two biggest controversies for us have happened in our hometown."
Hexum was referring to two incidents during the last two months involving the funky bunch of rappin' rockers and Omaha officials.
In April, three District 66 schools banned 311 T-shirts after receiving information from the police department's gang unit linking the group's name to the Ku Klux Klan. The group denies any connections whatsoever to the white supremacist organization.
The second incident occurred Friday at the concert. Omaha police made a record 76 arrests -- mostly for drug- and alcohol-related offenses. Of those arrests, 73 were for misdemeanor offenses and three were for felony possession of powder cocaine.
"If people are doing those white powders, they're stupid," Hexum said. "It's just embarassing that the only people who are uptight about marijuana smokers are in Omaha. The uptightness of Omaha is really embarassing."
Hexum and other members of 311 are vocal proponents of the legalization of marijuana. He said police subjected the band's concert to increased scrutiny because of that position.
"I have to not let it bother me, but you need to be careful when you come to a 311 show," Hexum said. "I don't think that's going to stop people from what they are doing... but it's extra tax dollars being used by the police."
"Kids smoking pot is not that big in the grand scheme of things."
Before Friday's show, PRIDE Omaha, Inc. held an anti-311 rally at Gene Leahy Mall to protest the band's advocacy of marijuana. About 30 people attended, said the organization's executive director, Susie Dugan.
"We are tired of people pushing drugs to our kids -- whether it's in actuality or in attitude," Mrs. Dugan said. "We support law enforcement and we hope it continues."
Mrs. Dugan also organized a protest of a Cypress Hill concert in Omaha a few years ago. 311 toured with Cypress Hill, another pro-marijuana band, this year.
"Some parents have no idea what kids are doing at these shows," Mrs. Dugan said. "I think pro-marijuana (stance) in the entertainment industry is getting back to the time 20 years ago when you had Cheech and Chong and John Lennon saying it was OK."
Hexum said Mrs. Dugan's group doesn't realize that his grpu has released songs opposing cocaine and other "hard" drugs.
"I think it (PRIDE Omaha) is a sick little club," Hexum said. "They don't have any more right to Omaha than we do. We'll just ignore them, but I'm sure people will be more careful where they hide their pot at the next 311 show."
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The "home cookin'" members of 311 seem to like most comes from La Casa Piezzeria near 44th and Leavenworth Streets. Friday, drummer Chad Sexton had a La Casa pizza topped with pepperoni and black olives. Vegetarian and guitarist, Tim Mahoney chose black olives, onions and mushrooms (the legal kind, mind you). When 311 played Sioux City, Iowa, last month, Sexton's ,other, Linda McDonald, made a special delivery of La Casa pizzas.
311 swings back this way Wednesday night when it plays at the Civic Center in Des Moines.
Hexum said 311 previously turned down an offer to appear on "The Conan O'Brien Show," but the band likely will appear as a musical guest on the late-night show in August.
It was six years ago Monday that 311 played its first gig under that name at Sokol Hall in Omaha. The band has said it took the name from a police code for indecent exposure.
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