Move aside, Brad Pitt -- 311's Nick Hexum is on a mission to tackle global warming.
"I agree with Al Gore's statements that global warming is a bigger threat than terrorism," the singer told us yesterday. Hexum launched Liberal Hexum in April to inform people about environmental issues and to raise money for the cause.
"I first got interested in forming a political action committee, but the red tape was too much," he said, before unleashing enough global warming statistics to make a scientist envious. Hexum said he had been mulling the idea of working for environmental causes for some time, but when his house in the Florida Keys was hit by four hurricanes in 2004, he decided to take action.
While he isn't ruling out taking his cause to the Hill, Hexum says he's mainly focused on getting the word out. "A lot of people don't understand the urgency of global warming," he said. "It's a struggle for our Earth, to save it for our grandchildren."
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Promise Keepers (Santa Barbara Independent)
When vocalist Doug “SA” Martinez told The Independent that 311’s show at the Bowl would be one for the history books, it may have seemed like a bold statement, but let it be known across the land that the Omaha, Nebraska quintet does not lie.
With a résumé boasting nine full-length albums, 17 singles, and 18 years, 311’s live shows have become a powerhouse of diversity that revolve around their deadliest weapon: the set list. Even the few bands who can match the depth of their discography often fail to display the same diversity in their live shows, making 311 a constant fascination even to the fans who have been following them since the beginning. With more than 80 songs in rotation for their Unity tour, the set list offered by the boys last Saturday was the best I’ve heard at the Bowl in years.
Following a kinetic jumpstart by Pepper, the day began with a historic footnote as the Wailers returned to the Bowl for the first time in 27 years. Though the absence of Tuff Gong was noticeable, the reggae ensemble presented a concrete performance, checking off the hits one by one until they were joined by Pepper for a closing performance of “One Love.”
311’s lengthy set maintained a gymnastic balance among all of their albums, beginning with the mellow grooves of “Welcome.” Of course the necessities were present, including “Beautiful Disaster,” “All Mixed Up,” “Come Original,” and “Down,” but what really sent the show over the edge were the tracks normally forgotten in the live circuit. Much to the delight of old-school fans, 311 played a plethora of old jams, including “Prisoner,” “From Chaos,” “You Wouldn’t Believe,” “I’ll Be Here a While,” and “What Was I Thinking?”
An eclectic encore put the finishing touches on the night as 311 returned to stage with the Wailers, joining forces to jam out to the classic Bob Marley song “Exodus.” The 11-piece ensemble transformed back into five rockers, who finished off the night with “Creatures.”
With a résumé boasting nine full-length albums, 17 singles, and 18 years, 311’s live shows have become a powerhouse of diversity that revolve around their deadliest weapon: the set list. Even the few bands who can match the depth of their discography often fail to display the same diversity in their live shows, making 311 a constant fascination even to the fans who have been following them since the beginning. With more than 80 songs in rotation for their Unity tour, the set list offered by the boys last Saturday was the best I’ve heard at the Bowl in years.
Following a kinetic jumpstart by Pepper, the day began with a historic footnote as the Wailers returned to the Bowl for the first time in 27 years. Though the absence of Tuff Gong was noticeable, the reggae ensemble presented a concrete performance, checking off the hits one by one until they were joined by Pepper for a closing performance of “One Love.”
311’s lengthy set maintained a gymnastic balance among all of their albums, beginning with the mellow grooves of “Welcome.” Of course the necessities were present, including “Beautiful Disaster,” “All Mixed Up,” “Come Original,” and “Down,” but what really sent the show over the edge were the tracks normally forgotten in the live circuit. Much to the delight of old-school fans, 311 played a plethora of old jams, including “Prisoner,” “From Chaos,” “You Wouldn’t Believe,” “I’ll Be Here a While,” and “What Was I Thinking?”
An eclectic encore put the finishing touches on the night as 311 returned to stage with the Wailers, joining forces to jam out to the classic Bob Marley song “Exodus.” The 11-piece ensemble transformed back into five rockers, who finished off the night with “Creatures.”
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
311 Rocks Tech Campus
Rock veterans 311 hit the Burruss stage with their signature beats and in your face vocals last night, giving the Tech crowd everything they were looking for, and officially kicked off the 2006 fall semester, "(311) is a show Tech's been looking forward to for a very long time. We've had a lot of requests for it over the past five or so years. And obviously it sold out in about eight days, so this is something the students have wanted for a very long time," said senior Jon Hardage, director of concerts for Virginia Tech Union.
Their long anticipated Virginia Tech debut wasn't easy though. Hardage said, "This is actually the only college on their tour, so it's kind of unexpected that they accepted the offer. They are a hard band to get because they're so popular," Welbilt, a band from Fairfax, Virginia, opened for 311. According to Hardage, "Welbilt is getting very popular regionally, especially in Virginia and Maryland. They play real good rock n' roll."
If no one had heard of them before they took the stage, Welbilt made their introduction quick and memorable. They played an almost continuous 15 minutes of music, and perhaps would have made it longer had they not literally broken some thing.
"It's a Welbilt tradition to blow something up at each show," lead singer and guitarist Nate Ihara told the crowd.
After a momentary pause to fix the problem Welbilt picked up where they left off. Ihara's face glowed with sweat. He occasionally flicked the sweat from his brow, where it got caught in the stage lighting and hung momentarily in the air. They continued to play for close to half and hour with unexpected confidence for a band opening for such staples of the American music scene.
The crowd was anxious. In the half-hour from the end of Welbilt to 311, several Burruss wide chants of "311" rang out.
This was the first 311 concert for junior biology major Elizabeth Arwood and her friend Caryn Clements. Arwood's expectations would be met if she heard anything from the "Motive" album, and fears that her Thursday Genetics class may be sacrificed because of the concert.
The unique sound of 311 is hard to categorize. Eric Miller, a freshman engineering major, said, "They're hard to place in a genre really. They're rock, but they have a groove, you know? A funky type of rock." When asked what he wanted to hear them play, Miller summed it up in one word, "Amber."
Finally the house lights of Burruss hall were killed and only the red glow of the exit signs remained. The crowd's anticipation overflowed and the screams rivaled the columns of blaring speakers.
On stage vocalist and scratcher Douglas Martinez engaged in a vocal duel with lead singer and guitarist Nicholas Hexem. Back and forth they went in such 311 classics as "All mixed up." Martinez's body bounced up and down as he spouted off the lyrics. Hexum, standing on the amps or facing up with Martinez, poured himself into his performance and Tech responded. Waves of hands in the air, and mouths completely in sync with the song could be seen throughout the auditorium.
Guitarist Timothy Mahoney, and Bassist P-Nut were the stoic bookends that contained the lyrical chaos of Martinez and Hexum in the middle of the stage. And of course Chad Sexton provided the beat that is 311. The most important thing on stage, though, could have been a silent Peace Lily atop a stack of speakers whose exact purpose, aside from being pretty, is unknown.
Bassist Matt Waller of Welbilt described opening for 311 as a "dream come true." "I've loved 311 since I was like 14, and I've always wanted to meet them," he said.
"Personally I had never heard of them," admitted senior Coleman Collins. "The best part is the energy." For many others in Burruss hall on Wednesday night, this was also their first meeting with the band. 311 made sure to make it a memorable though.
Their long anticipated Virginia Tech debut wasn't easy though. Hardage said, "This is actually the only college on their tour, so it's kind of unexpected that they accepted the offer. They are a hard band to get because they're so popular," Welbilt, a band from Fairfax, Virginia, opened for 311. According to Hardage, "Welbilt is getting very popular regionally, especially in Virginia and Maryland. They play real good rock n' roll."
If no one had heard of them before they took the stage, Welbilt made their introduction quick and memorable. They played an almost continuous 15 minutes of music, and perhaps would have made it longer had they not literally broken some thing.
"It's a Welbilt tradition to blow something up at each show," lead singer and guitarist Nate Ihara told the crowd.
After a momentary pause to fix the problem Welbilt picked up where they left off. Ihara's face glowed with sweat. He occasionally flicked the sweat from his brow, where it got caught in the stage lighting and hung momentarily in the air. They continued to play for close to half and hour with unexpected confidence for a band opening for such staples of the American music scene.
The crowd was anxious. In the half-hour from the end of Welbilt to 311, several Burruss wide chants of "311" rang out.
This was the first 311 concert for junior biology major Elizabeth Arwood and her friend Caryn Clements. Arwood's expectations would be met if she heard anything from the "Motive" album, and fears that her Thursday Genetics class may be sacrificed because of the concert.
The unique sound of 311 is hard to categorize. Eric Miller, a freshman engineering major, said, "They're hard to place in a genre really. They're rock, but they have a groove, you know? A funky type of rock." When asked what he wanted to hear them play, Miller summed it up in one word, "Amber."
Finally the house lights of Burruss hall were killed and only the red glow of the exit signs remained. The crowd's anticipation overflowed and the screams rivaled the columns of blaring speakers.
On stage vocalist and scratcher Douglas Martinez engaged in a vocal duel with lead singer and guitarist Nicholas Hexem. Back and forth they went in such 311 classics as "All mixed up." Martinez's body bounced up and down as he spouted off the lyrics. Hexum, standing on the amps or facing up with Martinez, poured himself into his performance and Tech responded. Waves of hands in the air, and mouths completely in sync with the song could be seen throughout the auditorium.
Guitarist Timothy Mahoney, and Bassist P-Nut were the stoic bookends that contained the lyrical chaos of Martinez and Hexum in the middle of the stage. And of course Chad Sexton provided the beat that is 311. The most important thing on stage, though, could have been a silent Peace Lily atop a stack of speakers whose exact purpose, aside from being pretty, is unknown.
Bassist Matt Waller of Welbilt described opening for 311 as a "dream come true." "I've loved 311 since I was like 14, and I've always wanted to meet them," he said.
"Personally I had never heard of them," admitted senior Coleman Collins. "The best part is the energy." For many others in Burruss hall on Wednesday night, this was also their first meeting with the band. 311 made sure to make it a memorable though.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Amphitheater welcomes 311 with guests The Wailers, Pepper (TBN Weekly)
TAMPA - 311 with special guests The Wailers, Pepper will take the stage on Sunday, Aug. 27, 7:30 p.m., for a pavilion-only show at the Ford Amphitheater.
311 is touring in support of last year's release of "Don't Tread On Me," their eighth album in fifteen years. The band was formed in Omaha, Neb., by five self-described 'friends for life' (singer and guitarist Nick Hexum, singer S.A. Martinez, guitarist Tim Mahoney, drummer Chad Sexton and the bassist known only as P-Nut) whose common link was a passion for both music and life.
They have sold millions of albums and even had a video certified platinum, all serving as a strong testament to the unique relationship 311 has with its fans. In 2004. the band recorded a cover of the Cure's "Love Song" for the Adam Sandler movie "50 First Dates." It reached No. 1 on the Billboard Modern Rock Radio Chart, making it the band's second No.1 hit and their sixth single to crack the Top 10.
"When we first started the band, we were always sure something good was going to happen," said drummer Chad Sexton. "And we've never gone backwards in any way since."
The Wailers reached legendary status through the music of Bob Marley who fronted the group until his death from cancer. With many of the original members still involved, the group will perform all of the classic Marley tunes as they were meant to be heard. The Wailers lineup will include: Aston Barrett - bass (original), Junior Marvin - lead guitar (original), Al Anderson - lead guitar (original), Chico - trumpet (original), Gary Pine - lead vocal, Drummy - drums, Keith Sterling - keyboards (played with Peter Tosh), Roxanne Prince - backing vocals, and Marsha Scott Hines - backing vocals.
Tickets are $35 for reserved seats and general admission dance floor and available by calling 898-2100 or online at www.livenation.com.
311 is touring in support of last year's release of "Don't Tread On Me," their eighth album in fifteen years. The band was formed in Omaha, Neb., by five self-described 'friends for life' (singer and guitarist Nick Hexum, singer S.A. Martinez, guitarist Tim Mahoney, drummer Chad Sexton and the bassist known only as P-Nut) whose common link was a passion for both music and life.
They have sold millions of albums and even had a video certified platinum, all serving as a strong testament to the unique relationship 311 has with its fans. In 2004. the band recorded a cover of the Cure's "Love Song" for the Adam Sandler movie "50 First Dates." It reached No. 1 on the Billboard Modern Rock Radio Chart, making it the band's second No.1 hit and their sixth single to crack the Top 10.
"When we first started the band, we were always sure something good was going to happen," said drummer Chad Sexton. "And we've never gone backwards in any way since."
The Wailers reached legendary status through the music of Bob Marley who fronted the group until his death from cancer. With many of the original members still involved, the group will perform all of the classic Marley tunes as they were meant to be heard. The Wailers lineup will include: Aston Barrett - bass (original), Junior Marvin - lead guitar (original), Al Anderson - lead guitar (original), Chico - trumpet (original), Gary Pine - lead vocal, Drummy - drums, Keith Sterling - keyboards (played with Peter Tosh), Roxanne Prince - backing vocals, and Marsha Scott Hines - backing vocals.
Tickets are $35 for reserved seats and general admission dance floor and available by calling 898-2100 or online at www.livenation.com.
Friday, December 16, 2005
311's DTOM walks in the Footsteps of Pantera (MTV)
SAN DIEGO — The original plan for 311's eighth album was to pair producers Ron Saint Germain and David Kahne, but when the latter signed on to helm the next Strokes album instead, 311 turned to the next best thing: themselves.
"It's still two great producers: Ron and 311," bassist P-Nut joked backstage at the recent San Diego Street Scene.
311 co-produced their last two albums as well, but with the just-released Don't Tread on Me the band focused more on returning to its roots than pushing the envelope (see "311's Nick Hexum Cures Post-Election Depression By Diving Into New LP").
"We kind of go through this cycle of one album really trying to reinvent ourselves, which is albums like Transistor and Evolver, and then other albums where we don't try to overthink it and we just let it flow, and that's where we're at with this one," singer Nick Hexum explained. "We actually recorded this album in a third of the time that it took to do Evolver, so it's really a fun summer album with uptempo grooves, the reggae and the rock."
Highlights include "Frolic Room," about Hexum's favorite Hollywood Boulevard dive bar, and "Speak Easy," which features P-Nut on a fretless bass. And there's also a few diversions.
"We've got the slowest 311 song ever, called 'Solar Flare,' which is a scathing political rap that [vocalist] S.A. [Martinez] puts over a really slow, heavy thing," Hexum said. "And then there's also a really fast one called 'It's Getting OK Now,' which is [guitarist] Tim Mahoney channeling Dimebag Darrell [Abbott of Pantera]."
"It's a challenge because there's, like, a really fast [guitar] run," P-Nut added of the latter. "Me and Nick and Tim are all doing it at the same time, so we think we're Van Halen or something for a second. It's great."
The first single is Don't Tread on Me's title track, a reggae jam reminiscent of "First Straw," off the band's Greatest Hits '93-'03.
"I just love the phrase 'don't tread on me,' and it usually has political connotations, but in this particular song, it's not a political song, it's more about feeling frustrated and feeling volatile and just needing some space," Hexum said. "It's a very personal song. But then titling the album Don't Tread on Me and the artwork, there's a few pretty scathing political comments made on there. We didn't want to go all political, but I think in this day and age you kind of need to say what you think about things 'cause it is such a crisis situation."
Hexum has spoken out against President Bush and the war in Iraq (see "311 Singer Nick Hexum Hits The Road To Send Bush On His Way"), and those issues are addressed on the album.
"What's made us such a success over the expanse of time is that we give people a break from all of that, but nowadays we do have to say something about it," P-Nut said. "S.A. and Nick have such right ways of going about it. Instead of just being frustrated and focusing on that, it's about solving problems and being a little upset about what's going on. I don't think anybody really feels in control, and that's one of the scariest things, and how do we deal with that comes out really well."
311 just shot a video for "Don't Tread on Me" with a team called Colourmovie, who filmed the band in front of a green screen for the entire shoot. "They are going to be superimposing all of this really weird atmosphere that we're going to be performing in, so it'll be a surprise to both you and us to see how it turns out," Hexum said.
In the meantime, the band just launched a tour with Papa Roach and Unwritten Law that will last through mid-September (see "311 Take Papa Roach And Unwritten Law On Their Road Trip").
"What I really like about the package is that Unwritten Law was first a straight hardcore band and now they've gone more modern rock, and Papa Roach was like a rap-rock band and they've gone more melodic rock, and I love to see bands that have a second wind and dare to expand their horizons," Hexum said. "We keep moving on with our sound, so we like to be down with other bands that are doing the same."
A college-market winter tour, a spring trek and a summer 2006 tour are also in the works, with the spring dates to include a massive festival March 11 in New Orleans for the band's own annual holiday, 311 Day.
"We found out recently that the past 311 Day [festival] had over 60 percent people from out of state coming there, so obviously it's a destination people like to go to," Hexum said. "And why not go to New Orleans?"
"It's still two great producers: Ron and 311," bassist P-Nut joked backstage at the recent San Diego Street Scene.
311 co-produced their last two albums as well, but with the just-released Don't Tread on Me the band focused more on returning to its roots than pushing the envelope (see "311's Nick Hexum Cures Post-Election Depression By Diving Into New LP").
"We kind of go through this cycle of one album really trying to reinvent ourselves, which is albums like Transistor and Evolver, and then other albums where we don't try to overthink it and we just let it flow, and that's where we're at with this one," singer Nick Hexum explained. "We actually recorded this album in a third of the time that it took to do Evolver, so it's really a fun summer album with uptempo grooves, the reggae and the rock."
Highlights include "Frolic Room," about Hexum's favorite Hollywood Boulevard dive bar, and "Speak Easy," which features P-Nut on a fretless bass. And there's also a few diversions.
"We've got the slowest 311 song ever, called 'Solar Flare,' which is a scathing political rap that [vocalist] S.A. [Martinez] puts over a really slow, heavy thing," Hexum said. "And then there's also a really fast one called 'It's Getting OK Now,' which is [guitarist] Tim Mahoney channeling Dimebag Darrell [Abbott of Pantera]."
"It's a challenge because there's, like, a really fast [guitar] run," P-Nut added of the latter. "Me and Nick and Tim are all doing it at the same time, so we think we're Van Halen or something for a second. It's great."
The first single is Don't Tread on Me's title track, a reggae jam reminiscent of "First Straw," off the band's Greatest Hits '93-'03.
"I just love the phrase 'don't tread on me,' and it usually has political connotations, but in this particular song, it's not a political song, it's more about feeling frustrated and feeling volatile and just needing some space," Hexum said. "It's a very personal song. But then titling the album Don't Tread on Me and the artwork, there's a few pretty scathing political comments made on there. We didn't want to go all political, but I think in this day and age you kind of need to say what you think about things 'cause it is such a crisis situation."
Hexum has spoken out against President Bush and the war in Iraq (see "311 Singer Nick Hexum Hits The Road To Send Bush On His Way"), and those issues are addressed on the album.
"What's made us such a success over the expanse of time is that we give people a break from all of that, but nowadays we do have to say something about it," P-Nut said. "S.A. and Nick have such right ways of going about it. Instead of just being frustrated and focusing on that, it's about solving problems and being a little upset about what's going on. I don't think anybody really feels in control, and that's one of the scariest things, and how do we deal with that comes out really well."
311 just shot a video for "Don't Tread on Me" with a team called Colourmovie, who filmed the band in front of a green screen for the entire shoot. "They are going to be superimposing all of this really weird atmosphere that we're going to be performing in, so it'll be a surprise to both you and us to see how it turns out," Hexum said.
In the meantime, the band just launched a tour with Papa Roach and Unwritten Law that will last through mid-September (see "311 Take Papa Roach And Unwritten Law On Their Road Trip").
"What I really like about the package is that Unwritten Law was first a straight hardcore band and now they've gone more modern rock, and Papa Roach was like a rap-rock band and they've gone more melodic rock, and I love to see bands that have a second wind and dare to expand their horizons," Hexum said. "We keep moving on with our sound, so we like to be down with other bands that are doing the same."
A college-market winter tour, a spring trek and a summer 2006 tour are also in the works, with the spring dates to include a massive festival March 11 in New Orleans for the band's own annual holiday, 311 Day.
"We found out recently that the past 311 Day [festival] had over 60 percent people from out of state coming there, so obviously it's a destination people like to go to," Hexum said. "And why not go to New Orleans?"
311's Nick Hexum Cures Post-Election Depression By Diving Into New LP
LOS ANGELES — "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times."
That oft-quoted line from Charles Dickens' "A Tale of Two Cities" is how 311 singer Nick Hexum described his autumn, in which he and brother Zack hit the campaign trail in support of John Kerry (see "311 Singer Nick Hexum Hits The Road To Send Bush On His Way").
"The month of October we were so optimistic and we felt so good about what we were doing, and it was an extreme disappointment after the election," Hexum said. "But you know what? I've moved on, and I've just immersed myself in our new album, our eighth album, and it's coming along well, actually."
311's as-yet-untitled follow-up to Evolver will mark yet another turn for the band, which will develop the funk/reggae hybrid it explored on "First Straw," one of two new tracks recorded for a greatest-hits compilation released last summer.
"Our past reggae hits, like 'Amber' and 'Love Song,' have been kind of sleepy and mellow, but I want more danceable, funky reggae," Hexum said. "And then we'll still have the hard rockers in there and the never-heard-before styles. We're just gonna continue the evolution. True 311 fans enjoy the journey.
"I don't mind when people say, 'I love your old stuff,' 'cause that's good enough," he continued. "But I love it when people say, 'I love your latest stuff,' 'cause they're really listening with an open mind. You're obviously gonna have a certain amount of young spunk and energy on your first couple of records that you never exactly get back, but that's why you gotta keep progressing."
Hexum said 311 are looking to U2 for inspiration. "My favorite stuff is like Achtung Baby, Zooropa and even their last album," he explained. "You have to be able to evolve and keep moving to remain relevant. If you're just trying to keep recreating whatever was your first success, then that's a sell-out move, 'cause you're just making a business out of it. We're artists. We really try to stay true to our hearts and make music for our hearts and kind of ignore the marketplace. Even if funky reggae isn't what's on the radio, that's what we're gonna do 'cause that's what we're into."
David Kahne, who produced "First Straw," will return to the fold, along with longtime 311 producer Ron Saint Germain.
"David's done three albums with Paul McCartney, he did Sugar Ray and Sublime, he's a composer, he plays every instrument, so that's fun for me to have someone that can really come and help with that part of it," Hexum said. "And then we've got Ron, who's like the master-engineer-mixer guy. It's kind of a dream team of two producers working together, so it's gonna be kind of a first for us. Hopefully they get along!"
So far 311 have written about 10 tracks and are just waiting for their producers' schedules to clear up. In years past the group has played special shows on March 11 (last year's five-hour extravaganza was recently released on DVD), but 311 will skip their self-declared holiday in 2005.
"We're not doing 311 Day because we don't want to delay the release of the album," Hexum said. "We wanna make sure we get out an album in time for our big summer tour, 'cause that's the best, playing outside. And we'll probably do a fall tour and then do a big 311 Day in 2006. Really, to play a five-hour show takes a lot of conditioning, it takes a month of rehearsals and then at least two weeks of warm-up dates to be really physically ready for that — your throat, your calluses, everything."
Not that he has any regrets from last year. "It was one of the greatest sights of my life, 'cause the fans were up on their feet, rockin' out for all five hours and 68 songs," he said.
That oft-quoted line from Charles Dickens' "A Tale of Two Cities" is how 311 singer Nick Hexum described his autumn, in which he and brother Zack hit the campaign trail in support of John Kerry (see "311 Singer Nick Hexum Hits The Road To Send Bush On His Way").
"The month of October we were so optimistic and we felt so good about what we were doing, and it was an extreme disappointment after the election," Hexum said. "But you know what? I've moved on, and I've just immersed myself in our new album, our eighth album, and it's coming along well, actually."
311's as-yet-untitled follow-up to Evolver will mark yet another turn for the band, which will develop the funk/reggae hybrid it explored on "First Straw," one of two new tracks recorded for a greatest-hits compilation released last summer.
"Our past reggae hits, like 'Amber' and 'Love Song,' have been kind of sleepy and mellow, but I want more danceable, funky reggae," Hexum said. "And then we'll still have the hard rockers in there and the never-heard-before styles. We're just gonna continue the evolution. True 311 fans enjoy the journey.
"I don't mind when people say, 'I love your old stuff,' 'cause that's good enough," he continued. "But I love it when people say, 'I love your latest stuff,' 'cause they're really listening with an open mind. You're obviously gonna have a certain amount of young spunk and energy on your first couple of records that you never exactly get back, but that's why you gotta keep progressing."
Hexum said 311 are looking to U2 for inspiration. "My favorite stuff is like Achtung Baby, Zooropa and even their last album," he explained. "You have to be able to evolve and keep moving to remain relevant. If you're just trying to keep recreating whatever was your first success, then that's a sell-out move, 'cause you're just making a business out of it. We're artists. We really try to stay true to our hearts and make music for our hearts and kind of ignore the marketplace. Even if funky reggae isn't what's on the radio, that's what we're gonna do 'cause that's what we're into."
David Kahne, who produced "First Straw," will return to the fold, along with longtime 311 producer Ron Saint Germain.
"David's done three albums with Paul McCartney, he did Sugar Ray and Sublime, he's a composer, he plays every instrument, so that's fun for me to have someone that can really come and help with that part of it," Hexum said. "And then we've got Ron, who's like the master-engineer-mixer guy. It's kind of a dream team of two producers working together, so it's gonna be kind of a first for us. Hopefully they get along!"
So far 311 have written about 10 tracks and are just waiting for their producers' schedules to clear up. In years past the group has played special shows on March 11 (last year's five-hour extravaganza was recently released on DVD), but 311 will skip their self-declared holiday in 2005.
"We're not doing 311 Day because we don't want to delay the release of the album," Hexum said. "We wanna make sure we get out an album in time for our big summer tour, 'cause that's the best, playing outside. And we'll probably do a fall tour and then do a big 311 Day in 2006. Really, to play a five-hour show takes a lot of conditioning, it takes a month of rehearsals and then at least two weeks of warm-up dates to be really physically ready for that — your throat, your calluses, everything."
Not that he has any regrets from last year. "It was one of the greatest sights of my life, 'cause the fans were up on their feet, rockin' out for all five hours and 68 songs," he said.
311's Next Single for Don't Tread on Me
DEVORE, California — 311 have yet to select Don't Tread on Me's second single, and they don't seem too concerned about it.
"I don't really care because in the past it's always been our third single that kinda [takes off]," singer Nick Hexum joked backstage at KROQ-FM's Inland Invasion on Saturday. "The second one's a wash. We're just getting warmed up."
Even so, you have to have number two to get to number three, and 311 can see the follow-up to "Don't Tread on Me" going in a few different directions.
"I think we're gonna leave ourselves open until it's real obvious," said Hexum. "It could be another uptempo one like 'Don't Tread,' or there's a couple of chill, more reggae kind of ballads."
311, who are celebrating their 15-year anniversary, will decide before returning to the road October 19 for a fall tour of mostly college towns. The band is also debating openers for the outing, after taking Papa Roach and Pennywise on a summer tour that just wrapped.
During their monthlong break, Hexum is planning to finish mixing and mastering some tracks he recorded with his brother, Zach Hexum.
"When we went on that political tour supporting Kerry [last fall], a few songs stuck out [because] the way we played them was really cool," Nick said. "So right when the tour ended we went into the 311 studio and recorded six or seven cool covers. I don't know how they will ever come out, but they're just kinda supporting the liberal agenda that me and Zach subscribe to. 311 will always be my main thing, but it's fun to do something you believe in."
Before wrapping the summer trek, 311 staged a few food drives for victims of Hurricane Katrina and will continue helping throughout the fall.
"We can give as much as we can, but to give these people houses again is the ultimate, number-one thing," bassist P-Nut explained. "My brother's an architect, and I'm gonna try to find some low-cost way of [rebuilding] or at least looking into that."
In 2000, 2002 and 2004, 311 staged massive concerts in New Orleans on March 11, better known to fans as 311 Day. Before the hurricane hit, the band was planning to return to the UNO Lakefront Arena in 2006 (see "311's Don't Tread Walks In Footsteps Of Van Halen, Pantera").
"The good news is that the venue does still exist — it never got flooded, it didn't get really damaged," Hexum said. "The question is if the infrastructure in the city would be ready to have that many people. And so we're just trying to think really positive because we loved that city before and now it makes us love it that much more, knowing what's going on there. It'd be such a cool thing to be like, 'Business as usual, back again, you can't take us out.' "
311 will stay on the road well past March, until the end of next summer.
"We're always kinda trying new things, so it takes America a little while to understand what we're doing," Hexum said. "We just have to be more patient, and that's why we're spreading the whole promotion of this album out longer. We're doing four tours to support this album rather than just expecting it to blow up out of the box. That's not gonna happen with us. We're not cookie-cutter enough to blow up that quick. At least we like to think so."
Before their fall trek, 311 will play a free show October 15 in the parking lot of Los Angeles' Dodger Stadium.
311's fall tour dates, according to Jive/Zomba Records:
•10/15 - Los Angeles, CA @ Dodger Stadium Lot
•10/19 - San Diego, CA @ Soma
•10/20 - Santa Barbara, CA @ Santa Barbara Bowl
•10/21 - Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues
•10/23 - Sacramento, CA @ Freeborn Hall
•10/26 - San Francisco, CA @ Fillmore
•10/27 - San Francisco, CA @ Fillmore
•10/28 - San Francisco, CA @ Fillmore
•10/30 - Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
•11/1 - Spokane, WA @ Big Easy
•11/2 - Bozeman, MT @ Valley Ice Garden
•11/5 - Champaign, IL @ Assembly Hall
•11/6 - DeKalb, IL @ Convocation Center
•11/8 - West Lafayette, IN @ Elliott Hall
•11/12 - Lewisburg, PA @ Gerhard Fieldhouse
•11/13 - Allentown, PA @ Memorial Hall
•11/16 - New York, NY @ Hammerstein Ballroom
•11/17 - New York, NY @ Hammerstein Ballroom
•11/18 - Portland, ME @ Cumberland County Civic Center
•11/23 - Lowell, MA @ Tsongas Arena
"I don't really care because in the past it's always been our third single that kinda [takes off]," singer Nick Hexum joked backstage at KROQ-FM's Inland Invasion on Saturday. "The second one's a wash. We're just getting warmed up."
Even so, you have to have number two to get to number three, and 311 can see the follow-up to "Don't Tread on Me" going in a few different directions.
"I think we're gonna leave ourselves open until it's real obvious," said Hexum. "It could be another uptempo one like 'Don't Tread,' or there's a couple of chill, more reggae kind of ballads."
311, who are celebrating their 15-year anniversary, will decide before returning to the road October 19 for a fall tour of mostly college towns. The band is also debating openers for the outing, after taking Papa Roach and Pennywise on a summer tour that just wrapped.
During their monthlong break, Hexum is planning to finish mixing and mastering some tracks he recorded with his brother, Zach Hexum.
"When we went on that political tour supporting Kerry [last fall], a few songs stuck out [because] the way we played them was really cool," Nick said. "So right when the tour ended we went into the 311 studio and recorded six or seven cool covers. I don't know how they will ever come out, but they're just kinda supporting the liberal agenda that me and Zach subscribe to. 311 will always be my main thing, but it's fun to do something you believe in."
Before wrapping the summer trek, 311 staged a few food drives for victims of Hurricane Katrina and will continue helping throughout the fall.
"We can give as much as we can, but to give these people houses again is the ultimate, number-one thing," bassist P-Nut explained. "My brother's an architect, and I'm gonna try to find some low-cost way of [rebuilding] or at least looking into that."
In 2000, 2002 and 2004, 311 staged massive concerts in New Orleans on March 11, better known to fans as 311 Day. Before the hurricane hit, the band was planning to return to the UNO Lakefront Arena in 2006 (see "311's Don't Tread Walks In Footsteps Of Van Halen, Pantera").
"The good news is that the venue does still exist — it never got flooded, it didn't get really damaged," Hexum said. "The question is if the infrastructure in the city would be ready to have that many people. And so we're just trying to think really positive because we loved that city before and now it makes us love it that much more, knowing what's going on there. It'd be such a cool thing to be like, 'Business as usual, back again, you can't take us out.' "
311 will stay on the road well past March, until the end of next summer.
"We're always kinda trying new things, so it takes America a little while to understand what we're doing," Hexum said. "We just have to be more patient, and that's why we're spreading the whole promotion of this album out longer. We're doing four tours to support this album rather than just expecting it to blow up out of the box. That's not gonna happen with us. We're not cookie-cutter enough to blow up that quick. At least we like to think so."
Before their fall trek, 311 will play a free show October 15 in the parking lot of Los Angeles' Dodger Stadium.
311's fall tour dates, according to Jive/Zomba Records:
•10/15 - Los Angeles, CA @ Dodger Stadium Lot
•10/19 - San Diego, CA @ Soma
•10/20 - Santa Barbara, CA @ Santa Barbara Bowl
•10/21 - Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues
•10/23 - Sacramento, CA @ Freeborn Hall
•10/26 - San Francisco, CA @ Fillmore
•10/27 - San Francisco, CA @ Fillmore
•10/28 - San Francisco, CA @ Fillmore
•10/30 - Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
•11/1 - Spokane, WA @ Big Easy
•11/2 - Bozeman, MT @ Valley Ice Garden
•11/5 - Champaign, IL @ Assembly Hall
•11/6 - DeKalb, IL @ Convocation Center
•11/8 - West Lafayette, IN @ Elliott Hall
•11/12 - Lewisburg, PA @ Gerhard Fieldhouse
•11/13 - Allentown, PA @ Memorial Hall
•11/16 - New York, NY @ Hammerstein Ballroom
•11/17 - New York, NY @ Hammerstein Ballroom
•11/18 - Portland, ME @ Cumberland County Civic Center
•11/23 - Lowell, MA @ Tsongas Arena
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