Arguably not as good a lineup as last year, 311’s Unity tour came into town Saturday with Sublime with Rome. Regardless, even with no Offspring and Pepper to get things started – the Irvine stop was still all that.
Once the gates opened at around 6PM people were already lined up. Many also were in line to buy tickets to the special event and those that came just for 311 were still partying in their cars waiting a couple of hours before heading in. The parting at a 311 show is a bit of a different scene then at what you would typically see at a normal concert. Lots of interaction between people who just met. It’s interesting to see music bring people together and quite possibly create new friends between folks that would normally not socialize with each other.
While walking in around 7ish between the time I got from the gate to the stage, the “3 mile walk” at Verizon Wireless amphitheater no less than 4 groups of people chatted with me. We would discuss things like music, the venue, other concerts, and the weather. Mind you, personally I am more reserved and less outgoing then the majority of concert goers, but just being in the venue, in the atmosphere that 311 fans create, seems to bring out the social part of me I didn’t realize I had.
When Sublime with Rome took the stage you could hear a few people complain about Rome’s voice. What they forget is it’s really not the same band. Don’t get me wrong, there were some DIE-HARD fans out there who were nonstop dancing in their seats from the first note out Rome’s mouth but still it seemed a small percentage of sublime fans were disconnected watching the set. I’ll be the first one to admit, when I first heard Sublime with Rome, they sounded more like a cover band. I’m talking about their first show at the palladium (though, technically Smokeout Festival in 2009). Back then Rome refused to interact or even say a word to the crowd.
Now however things are a bit different. Rome is filling out nicely and coming around. With one record behind the new group and at least one hit song, “Panic”, Rome is becoming more of the front man he should be. Even in the earlier shows it was rare to hear Rome say anything in-between songs. It was just song after song with a few random “thank you’s”. This time around however Rome expressed how grateful he was throughout the set. In-between the weed jokes (or were they jokes?), explaining how “fucking happy” he was to be here in southern California and playing for the Irvine crowd.
Sublime with Rome’s setlist included just two songs I could identify as new, “Panic” and “PCH”. It was mainly made up of older songs and older hits. They mixed up the setlist with hit songs to lesser known songs. Highlights? “Smoke two joints”, “Wrong way”, “Santeria” and “Date Rape”. Did I forget “Panic”? I heard it from the bathroom so I can’t judge it by the crowd reaction – however I can assume it was crazy.
When 311 went on stage most people were scrambling to get back to their seats from getting more drinks and grabbing a bite to eat. Everybody that was walking down to lower parts of the venue could be seen running for their life to get back to their seats. Who could blame them? 311 started off with “Beautiful Disaster”. The perfect start to what would end up being a great set.
The 24 or so song set list wasn’t just song after song. Easily two of the highlights of the night were “P-nut’s” bass solo and Chad Sext’s drum solo. For Chad’s drum solo, in the end, everybody grabbed a drum and joined in as well. It was great to see the entire band up there banging away. The crowd, not surprisingly, was going crazy as well. It was electrifying to watch. But we already knew the group had talent didn’t we? This is nothing new! What is new is getting the entire crowd very excited to a bass and drum solo though. Music as exciting as a complete song with lyrics. P-Nut after the show said on his twitter, “I cannot stress the greatness of being able to speak without words on my bass.”. Well, I cannot stress the greatness it was hearing him on his bass.
SA Martinez’s and Nick Hexum’s chemistry on stage is epic. Both guys, with such incredible chemistry switch back and forth seamlessly between versus. During the show I had a chance to speak with concert goers who came just because their friends made them come but were very public about now becoming 311 fans, a group they previously didn’t know much about it.
http://www.ocreloaded.com/concert-reviews/418-311-unity-tour-at-verizon-wireless-amphitheater.html
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