As one of the funk-rock hybrids that rode to success in the wake of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, 311 never quite equaled that band in terms of record sales or public awareness. But if singer Nick Hexum lacks Anthony Kiedis's sex appeal and bassist P-Nut doesn't have Flea's oddball factor, Friday's performance at the Tweeter Center revealed how the band has managed a successful career while staying mostly under the radar.
A key factor is 311's musicianship. Drawing heavily on not only funk but also Caribbean forms such as reggae, ska, and dub demands a tight rhythm section, and P-Nut and drummer Chad Sexton were easily up to the task. Sexton compensated for hiding behind his kit for most of the show by taking a drum solo during ''Applied Science" that showed off what he had been doing almost invisibly, with the rest of the band eventually joining in to pound on a line of toms and cymbals that had been added at the front of the stage.
The drummer seemed otherwise content to cede the spotlight to Hexum's easygoing singing, P-Nut's stomping around in baggy shorts, Tim Mahoney's slouched guitar playing, and S.A. Martinez's rapping. The band drew from each of its nine albums, paying as much attention to its debut, ''Music," as its latest, ''Don't Tread on Me," and acknowledging its biggest seller, 1995's ''311," just long enough to play ''Down" and ''All Mixed Up."
Nü-metal survivors Papa Roach were practically coheadliners, with an hourlong set and an audience that seemed to have come as much for them as for 311. With declarations like ''This is rock 'n' roll, this is not church, ladies and gentlemen!," singer Jacoby Shaddix drew heavily from the well of metal frontman cliches, but he managed to pull off most of them. During the aptly titled ''M80 (Explosive Energy Movement)," he wandered through the crowd, high-fiving and hugging fans while fiercely screaming out the lyrics without missing a beat.
Unwritten Law opened the show with aggressive but melodic hard rock that hinted at its Warped Tour past while incorporating enough rap, ska, and hardcore to fit in with the headliners.
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Monday, August 15, 2005
311's "Don't Tread on Me" (TODAY)
By reuniting with producer Ron Saint Germain on their latest disc, “Don’t Tread on Me,” 311 appears to be looking to recapture some of the magic that blessed the band’s eponymous, triple-platinum album, which Germain produced in 1995.
They’ve succeeded. The title track (and first single) is an excellent tune that throws back to “311’s” infectious hooks and hard rock crunch/reggae power. Surprisingly, aside from this track and the angst-filled “Solar Flare,” most of the tracks are relaxing, softer melodies that are the opposite of the cliched rap-rock 311 championed in early ’90s.
Nick Hexum and S.A. Martinez provide a one-two vocal punch that features a congruent crooning ability many rock bands lack. Guitarist Tim Mahoney, drummer Chad Sexton, and bassist P-Nut have perfected their reggae/rock sound over the years to a tee, as showcased in the songs “Whiskey and Wine” and “Speak Easy.”
The track “There’s Always an Excuse,” which combines elements from every 311 album to date, will win over even the most jaded listener with it’s ever changing harmony. Starting with soft acoustics, peaking with hard rock and pianos, then ending with a bright solo, the track covers more musical ground in five minutes than the band has in 10 years.
One of the most enjoyable tracks, “Speak Easy,” a soft oceanic melody with a Caribbean vibe, comes complete with steel drums and a soothing wah-wah guitar effect that would make Jamaica proud.
—Vincent Cherubino
They’ve succeeded. The title track (and first single) is an excellent tune that throws back to “311’s” infectious hooks and hard rock crunch/reggae power. Surprisingly, aside from this track and the angst-filled “Solar Flare,” most of the tracks are relaxing, softer melodies that are the opposite of the cliched rap-rock 311 championed in early ’90s.
Nick Hexum and S.A. Martinez provide a one-two vocal punch that features a congruent crooning ability many rock bands lack. Guitarist Tim Mahoney, drummer Chad Sexton, and bassist P-Nut have perfected their reggae/rock sound over the years to a tee, as showcased in the songs “Whiskey and Wine” and “Speak Easy.”
The track “There’s Always an Excuse,” which combines elements from every 311 album to date, will win over even the most jaded listener with it’s ever changing harmony. Starting with soft acoustics, peaking with hard rock and pianos, then ending with a bright solo, the track covers more musical ground in five minutes than the band has in 10 years.
One of the most enjoyable tracks, “Speak Easy,” a soft oceanic melody with a Caribbean vibe, comes complete with steel drums and a soothing wah-wah guitar effect that would make Jamaica proud.
—Vincent Cherubino
Thursday, August 4, 2005
Thank heaven, there's 311 (Vox Magazine)
For Tim Mahoney, the Omaha-born lead guitarist of 311, his trip through Columbia will give him a refreshing perspective on why he’s in the rock-star business.
“I always love to play in the Midwest in general because they like to hear the music,” he says. Mahoney knows the power of an appreciative audience — it’s one of the key ingredients in his band’s live show. “The energy we get from the crowd, we use that and then put it back out and it just keeps amplifying.”
On Wednesday, Mahoney and his four bandmates, guitarist/singer Nick Hexum, bassist P-Nut, drummer Chad Sexton and lead singer SA Martinez return to the land most of the group still calls home — the Midwest — to perform at the Amphitheater at Mizzou. The band is headlining a show that will also feature Unwritten Law, Papa Roach and Reel Big Fish.
The rap-rock quintet began building an underground following with its early ’90s albums Music and Grassroots and began a non-stop touring schedule. The group attracted mainstream attention with its triple-platinum, self-titled release in 1995 and has since released four studio albums and a live disc. Four of the band’s albums cracked the Top 10 on the Billboard Top-200 Chart and it has even racked up two number one hits. All the while the band has stayed true to its reggae-inspired sound. 311’s summer tour is to support Don’t Tread on Me, its eighth and latest studio album.
“There’s the same sort of ingredients, but the record is unique to itself,” Mahoney says. “It doesn’t necessarily sound like any of our other records. Every time we record a record, it’s a good representation of where we are at as a band.”
The album’s first single, also titled “Don’t Tread on Me,” shouldn’t be lightly interpreted. “It’s a political commentary and also personal commentary as far as how we stand as a band,” Mahoney says, adding, “It also means don’t f--- with me.”
The guys in 311 have been writing songs since they shared a three-bedroom house upon moving to Los Angeles 15 years ago. Mahoney credits their longevity to their tight bond and love of music. “The Grateful Dead have been doing it for 40 years, and that’s a good inspiration for us,” he says.
Mahoney is still amazed by the songs created by his band’s two main songwriters, Hexum and Martinez. “We still enjoy making music together,” he says. “All we’ve wanted to do our whole lives is play music and be able to earn a living. We just trip out on that.”
In Columbia, 311 superfans like Jessica Vaugier, 22, will be welcoming the band back to her hometown with open arms. A fan since she was a fourth-grader, Vaugier has a tattoo of the band’s logo on her left calf. She says that she has seen 311 in concert 36 times and plans to see the band Wednesday as well as in a few other cities around the country. The band’s hybrid sound and positive attitude appeal to her, as do their live performances, which Vaugier says give her an adrenaline rush. “Expect to have a really good time,” she says. “You’ll leave happy.”
“It’s a very high-energy, crowd-interactive type of event,” says Peter McDevitt, booking manager for The Blue Note. “They’re one of those bands that feeds off the energy of the crowd.” Mahoney describes playing live shows as therapy.
“Hopefully [our live show creates] a bunch of positive energy that gets flooded out in the universe to do some good somehow,” he says. He hopes the show will be a fun homecoming for the band and the audience.
I Want Your Six
Vox accosts performers and music fans with a very sharp pencil and forces them, under duress, to answer six questions.
This week's answers are from Tim Mahoney, guitarist for 311.
1. What is your favorite album?
Bob Marley, Kaya. I have a whole bunch, but that’s the first one that popped in my head.
2. Which album do you wish would spontaneously combust?
Does Lindsay Lohan have an album out? No, I shouldn’t say that because I haven’t heard it. I can’t think of anything that I really hate. All the stuff I listen to I like.
3. What’s the best live show you have ever seen?
Jerry Garcia Band, but I forget what year is was.
4. What is your favorite make-out album?
How about Al Green’s Greatest Hits? No, can I change it to The Meters? They’re a little bit more upbeat.
5. What band is so last year?
I don’t want to say anything negative against anyone.
6. Build your dream band.
Danny Carey from Tool on drums, Bob Marley on vocals, Jaco Pastorius on bass, Jerry Garcia on guitar and Gregg Allman on keyboards.
“I always love to play in the Midwest in general because they like to hear the music,” he says. Mahoney knows the power of an appreciative audience — it’s one of the key ingredients in his band’s live show. “The energy we get from the crowd, we use that and then put it back out and it just keeps amplifying.”
On Wednesday, Mahoney and his four bandmates, guitarist/singer Nick Hexum, bassist P-Nut, drummer Chad Sexton and lead singer SA Martinez return to the land most of the group still calls home — the Midwest — to perform at the Amphitheater at Mizzou. The band is headlining a show that will also feature Unwritten Law, Papa Roach and Reel Big Fish.
The rap-rock quintet began building an underground following with its early ’90s albums Music and Grassroots and began a non-stop touring schedule. The group attracted mainstream attention with its triple-platinum, self-titled release in 1995 and has since released four studio albums and a live disc. Four of the band’s albums cracked the Top 10 on the Billboard Top-200 Chart and it has even racked up two number one hits. All the while the band has stayed true to its reggae-inspired sound. 311’s summer tour is to support Don’t Tread on Me, its eighth and latest studio album.
“There’s the same sort of ingredients, but the record is unique to itself,” Mahoney says. “It doesn’t necessarily sound like any of our other records. Every time we record a record, it’s a good representation of where we are at as a band.”
The album’s first single, also titled “Don’t Tread on Me,” shouldn’t be lightly interpreted. “It’s a political commentary and also personal commentary as far as how we stand as a band,” Mahoney says, adding, “It also means don’t f--- with me.”
The guys in 311 have been writing songs since they shared a three-bedroom house upon moving to Los Angeles 15 years ago. Mahoney credits their longevity to their tight bond and love of music. “The Grateful Dead have been doing it for 40 years, and that’s a good inspiration for us,” he says.
Mahoney is still amazed by the songs created by his band’s two main songwriters, Hexum and Martinez. “We still enjoy making music together,” he says. “All we’ve wanted to do our whole lives is play music and be able to earn a living. We just trip out on that.”
In Columbia, 311 superfans like Jessica Vaugier, 22, will be welcoming the band back to her hometown with open arms. A fan since she was a fourth-grader, Vaugier has a tattoo of the band’s logo on her left calf. She says that she has seen 311 in concert 36 times and plans to see the band Wednesday as well as in a few other cities around the country. The band’s hybrid sound and positive attitude appeal to her, as do their live performances, which Vaugier says give her an adrenaline rush. “Expect to have a really good time,” she says. “You’ll leave happy.”
“It’s a very high-energy, crowd-interactive type of event,” says Peter McDevitt, booking manager for The Blue Note. “They’re one of those bands that feeds off the energy of the crowd.” Mahoney describes playing live shows as therapy.
“Hopefully [our live show creates] a bunch of positive energy that gets flooded out in the universe to do some good somehow,” he says. He hopes the show will be a fun homecoming for the band and the audience.
I Want Your Six
Vox accosts performers and music fans with a very sharp pencil and forces them, under duress, to answer six questions.
This week's answers are from Tim Mahoney, guitarist for 311.
1. What is your favorite album?
Bob Marley, Kaya. I have a whole bunch, but that’s the first one that popped in my head.
2. Which album do you wish would spontaneously combust?
Does Lindsay Lohan have an album out? No, I shouldn’t say that because I haven’t heard it. I can’t think of anything that I really hate. All the stuff I listen to I like.
3. What’s the best live show you have ever seen?
Jerry Garcia Band, but I forget what year is was.
4. What is your favorite make-out album?
How about Al Green’s Greatest Hits? No, can I change it to The Meters? They’re a little bit more upbeat.
5. What band is so last year?
I don’t want to say anything negative against anyone.
6. Build your dream band.
Danny Carey from Tool on drums, Bob Marley on vocals, Jaco Pastorius on bass, Jerry Garcia on guitar and Gregg Allman on keyboards.
Thursday, July 28, 2005
311 finds new direction to its liking (North County Times)
With 15 years as a group under their belts, the members of 311 belong to a veteran band by any definition. But vocalist/DJ SA Martinez sounded more like a musician relishing his first taste of success when asked about the band as it exists in 2005.
"I really think our writing has just, it's really growing, and I think it's something that is only going to get better," Martinez said just before the start of the band's summer tour. "I'm really liking the direction that we're heading in."
That direction is pushing 311 toward a more grooving melodic rock sound and away from the rap-rock hybrid of the group's early albums. Martinez acknowledged some 311 fans aren't embracing the move.
"I know some of our fans think we're becoming too melodic or we're not doing enough rap or whatever," he said. "But honestly, we're just doing what's in our hearts and what wants to come out. I think that really makes us who we are."
In Martinez's view, 311 reached a stylistic crossroads before making 2001's "From Chaos."
By that time, 311 had seen its commercial fortunes level off a bit. Formed in Lincoln, Neb., in 1990, 311 self-released three albums before deciding the group needed to relocate to Los Angeles to pursue a record deal. The move worked, and 311 landed a deal with Capricorn Records. The band's major label debut, "Music," arrived in 1993, but the real breakthrough came two discs later with the 1995 self-titled CD. It yielded major radio hits in "Down" and "All Mixed Up," and sold more than 3 million copies.
Next was the CD "Transistor," which strayed from the group's hard-hitting rock/rap/funk signature to fashion a more relaxed sound, sold only about 800,000 copies. Sales perked up with 1999's "Soundsystem," which produced the hit "Come Original," while moving a step back toward the band's harder sound. But Martinez said by that point, the members —— Martinez, Nick Hexum (vocals/guitar), Chad Sexton (drums), Tim Mahoney (guitar) and P-Nut (bass) —— felt they had reached an important point in their musical development.
The 2001 effort "From Chaos" reflected this mind-set.
"I think we were at a crossroads there, where we were trying to recapture some of what we were known for early on, and then on the other side of that record we let ourselves go a little more," Martinez said of "From Chaos." "Some of the songs toward the end of that record were some of the best songs we've ever written —— 'Amber,' 'Uncalm,' 'I'll Be Here Awhile.' We really just started to say this is really kind of what we want to do, as opposed to let's recapture our youth. Let's embrace the melodies and the things we really want to sing."
Those three songs, which blended smooth-flowing melodies with reggae beats, represented a sign of things to come. The lilting midtempo "Amber" emerged as one of two top 10 modern rock singles ("You Wouldn't Believe," a funk-edged rocker with plenty of melody also was a hit) on the CD.
With 2003's "Evolver," 311 embraced melodic rock even more eagerly, and that shift continues with "Don't Tread on Me." which is one of the band's most focused works.
The reggae element that coated "From Chaos" once again figures strongly in several songs, including the laid-back "Speak Easy," the harder-edged "Frolic Room" and the title track.
But punchy rock is also a primary element on "Don't Tread on Me." "Solar Fire" stands out as one of the freshest-sounding songs, as a hefty rock riff ignites this heavy anthem. "Long for the Flowers" is anchored in a gritty guitar riff that runs throughout the song. "It's Getting OK Now" rides a driving rhythm to lay claim to being the CD's briskest track.
The group will, of course, debut a number of songs from "Don't Tread on Me" on tour. After the band's appearance Saturday at Street Scene, 311 will hook up with Papa Roach for an amphitheater tour.
With 311 coming off what Martinez says are the band's best CDs —— "Evolver" and "Don't Tread on Me" —— he's not only confident about the quality of the live show, but the future of 311 as well.
"I think this really just gives us more life, even down the road," he said. "It deepens our catalog to the point where these songs, I think, are really going to grow on our fans and are just going to be fun to play live. And I think it just points us in the right direction."
"I really think our writing has just, it's really growing, and I think it's something that is only going to get better," Martinez said just before the start of the band's summer tour. "I'm really liking the direction that we're heading in."
That direction is pushing 311 toward a more grooving melodic rock sound and away from the rap-rock hybrid of the group's early albums. Martinez acknowledged some 311 fans aren't embracing the move.
"I know some of our fans think we're becoming too melodic or we're not doing enough rap or whatever," he said. "But honestly, we're just doing what's in our hearts and what wants to come out. I think that really makes us who we are."
In Martinez's view, 311 reached a stylistic crossroads before making 2001's "From Chaos."
By that time, 311 had seen its commercial fortunes level off a bit. Formed in Lincoln, Neb., in 1990, 311 self-released three albums before deciding the group needed to relocate to Los Angeles to pursue a record deal. The move worked, and 311 landed a deal with Capricorn Records. The band's major label debut, "Music," arrived in 1993, but the real breakthrough came two discs later with the 1995 self-titled CD. It yielded major radio hits in "Down" and "All Mixed Up," and sold more than 3 million copies.
Next was the CD "Transistor," which strayed from the group's hard-hitting rock/rap/funk signature to fashion a more relaxed sound, sold only about 800,000 copies. Sales perked up with 1999's "Soundsystem," which produced the hit "Come Original," while moving a step back toward the band's harder sound. But Martinez said by that point, the members —— Martinez, Nick Hexum (vocals/guitar), Chad Sexton (drums), Tim Mahoney (guitar) and P-Nut (bass) —— felt they had reached an important point in their musical development.
The 2001 effort "From Chaos" reflected this mind-set.
"I think we were at a crossroads there, where we were trying to recapture some of what we were known for early on, and then on the other side of that record we let ourselves go a little more," Martinez said of "From Chaos." "Some of the songs toward the end of that record were some of the best songs we've ever written —— 'Amber,' 'Uncalm,' 'I'll Be Here Awhile.' We really just started to say this is really kind of what we want to do, as opposed to let's recapture our youth. Let's embrace the melodies and the things we really want to sing."
Those three songs, which blended smooth-flowing melodies with reggae beats, represented a sign of things to come. The lilting midtempo "Amber" emerged as one of two top 10 modern rock singles ("You Wouldn't Believe," a funk-edged rocker with plenty of melody also was a hit) on the CD.
With 2003's "Evolver," 311 embraced melodic rock even more eagerly, and that shift continues with "Don't Tread on Me." which is one of the band's most focused works.
The reggae element that coated "From Chaos" once again figures strongly in several songs, including the laid-back "Speak Easy," the harder-edged "Frolic Room" and the title track.
But punchy rock is also a primary element on "Don't Tread on Me." "Solar Fire" stands out as one of the freshest-sounding songs, as a hefty rock riff ignites this heavy anthem. "Long for the Flowers" is anchored in a gritty guitar riff that runs throughout the song. "It's Getting OK Now" rides a driving rhythm to lay claim to being the CD's briskest track.
The group will, of course, debut a number of songs from "Don't Tread on Me" on tour. After the band's appearance Saturday at Street Scene, 311 will hook up with Papa Roach for an amphitheater tour.
With 311 coming off what Martinez says are the band's best CDs —— "Evolver" and "Don't Tread on Me" —— he's not only confident about the quality of the live show, but the future of 311 as well.
"I think this really just gives us more life, even down the road," he said. "It deepens our catalog to the point where these songs, I think, are really going to grow on our fans and are just going to be fun to play live. And I think it just points us in the right direction."
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
311 has stood the test of time by playing for its fans (Press-Enterprise)
Survival is pretty underrated. In the "flavor of the month" mentality that has encompassed the music industry, career longevity seems to mean nothing to radio stations and MTV.
These outlets fail to appreciate the musicians who start small and get big, the acts who start at a grass-roots level and flourish from there.
Eight albums into their career, reggae/rock fusers 311 know a little something about that.
"It's a progression on the sound that we've developed over the years," P-Nut says of 311's upcoming CD, "Don't Tread On Me."
The Omaha, Neb., band's second album was titled "Grassroots," which has become its de facto mantra. The band has made a vow to play at least 200 shows in support of each record, something that has garnered it a loyal legion of followers.
"I can definitely see a point in our career where we just start releasing our music independently," bass player P-Nut said. "It's hard to say that you don't need the record company's support, but we feel our fans will support us no matter what."
Of course, the band -- rounded out by Nick Hexum on vocals and guitar, multi-instrumentalist S.A. Martinez, guitarist Tim Mahoney and drummer Chad Sexton -- has sold 7.5 million records.
Its longevity has seen a progression from the frat party soundtrack it was in the mid-'90s to the jam-heavy act it became on its last tour with the Roots and Medeski, Martin and Wood. However, no path is without roadblocks, and in 2003 the group hit a snag with the snarkily titled "Evolver."
Whether it was mid-career doldrums or just a lack of inspiration, the quintet decided to leave the songwriting chores solely up to Hexum. The result was flat and left the band and its fans largely unsatisfied.
"What happened there is that we wanted to see what it was like to put out a record that was from a singular mind," P-Nut said. "Nick's ... talented, but it wasn't really what any of us were hoping for."
Its recently wrapped set, "Don't Tread On Me," due out Aug. 16, marks a return to the collaborative writing process. The group tapped longtime producer Ron Saint Germaine to helm the project. The outcome, though still heavy on the reggae and rock, has a more cohesive and energetic feel to it.
Martinez, who in the past employed the use of turntables to broaden the rhythm section, eschewed them in favor of thickening up the sound with another guitar. He penned two of the tracks on the 12-song release.
"It's not totally different ... but it's a progression on the sound that we've developed over the years," P-Nut said. "The strange thing about putting out records is you never know how well they are going to be promoted. We're happy with it and I think our fans will be, too."
Either way, they're in the music business for the long haul.
These outlets fail to appreciate the musicians who start small and get big, the acts who start at a grass-roots level and flourish from there.
Eight albums into their career, reggae/rock fusers 311 know a little something about that.
"It's a progression on the sound that we've developed over the years," P-Nut says of 311's upcoming CD, "Don't Tread On Me."
The Omaha, Neb., band's second album was titled "Grassroots," which has become its de facto mantra. The band has made a vow to play at least 200 shows in support of each record, something that has garnered it a loyal legion of followers.
"I can definitely see a point in our career where we just start releasing our music independently," bass player P-Nut said. "It's hard to say that you don't need the record company's support, but we feel our fans will support us no matter what."
Of course, the band -- rounded out by Nick Hexum on vocals and guitar, multi-instrumentalist S.A. Martinez, guitarist Tim Mahoney and drummer Chad Sexton -- has sold 7.5 million records.
Its longevity has seen a progression from the frat party soundtrack it was in the mid-'90s to the jam-heavy act it became on its last tour with the Roots and Medeski, Martin and Wood. However, no path is without roadblocks, and in 2003 the group hit a snag with the snarkily titled "Evolver."
Whether it was mid-career doldrums or just a lack of inspiration, the quintet decided to leave the songwriting chores solely up to Hexum. The result was flat and left the band and its fans largely unsatisfied.
"What happened there is that we wanted to see what it was like to put out a record that was from a singular mind," P-Nut said. "Nick's ... talented, but it wasn't really what any of us were hoping for."
Its recently wrapped set, "Don't Tread On Me," due out Aug. 16, marks a return to the collaborative writing process. The group tapped longtime producer Ron Saint Germaine to helm the project. The outcome, though still heavy on the reggae and rock, has a more cohesive and energetic feel to it.
Martinez, who in the past employed the use of turntables to broaden the rhythm section, eschewed them in favor of thickening up the sound with another guitar. He penned two of the tracks on the 12-song release.
"It's not totally different ... but it's a progression on the sound that we've developed over the years," P-Nut said. "The strange thing about putting out records is you never know how well they are going to be promoted. We're happy with it and I think our fans will be, too."
Either way, they're in the music business for the long haul.
Thursday, July 21, 2005
311 Release Don't Tread on Me (Music Remedy)
Volcano/Jive Records will be releasing 311’s 8th studio album Don’t Tread On Me August 16. The album consists of 11 new tracks produced by Ron Saint Germain and 311. The title track “Don’t Tread On Me” will be the first single impacting at radio July 25.
Omaha-bred, Los Angeles-based 311 have released seven studio albums (four Gold, one Platinum, and one Triple-Platinum), a live album and three DVD’s (one Gold, two Platinum). Four of their releases have reached the Top 10 on Billboard’s Top 200 Album Charts. Six singles have gone into the Top 10 on Billboard’s Modern Rock Chart including the #1 hits “Down” and “Love Song.” The band has sold over seven million albums in the U.S.
The band, known for their dynamic live shows, will go back out on the road in support of the new album (and in celebration of their 15 year anniversary) starting July 27 in Santa Cruz with support bands Papa Roach and Unwritten Law in select cities.
QUOTES FROM 311 REGARDING THE NEW ALBUM “DON’T TREAD ON ME”:
NICK:
“To me, the meaning of the album title, "Don't Tread on Me" is simple - it's about freedom. Personal freedom. Freedom from any kind of oppression - political, religious, or social.”
NICK:
“The title track "Don't Tread On Me" is really about emotional volatility when you feel like your freedom is being encroached upon.”
SA:
“The title track - "Don't Tread On Me" has a great melody with a dope rhythm underneath. Slightly skanky, but in a good way. Catchy, aggressive at times, and never a dull moment. Classic 311.”
PNUT:
“Don't Tread On Me" has us embarking on what I know will be a great journey. More shows, more reactions; being pushed to my physical limits by the egging on of thousands. This collection is as diverse a group of songs as can be written by 311 and we had fun putting it all down. We love being allowed to continue on our musickal journey and we have you, our fans, to thank for our future. Let there be rock!”
NICK:
“I think we had a lot to say on this new album (themes range from personal freedom and emotional volatility in “Don’t Tread On Me” to life and mortality in “It’s Getting OK Now” to questioned celebration in “Frolic Room” to sexual abuse in “Getting Through to Her” to the politics of fear in “Solar Flare” to the ups and downs of love and personal relationships in “Speak Easy”, “Waiting”, “Long for the Flowers” and “There’s Always an Excuse”) and I'm very happy with the combination of new styles that we've come up with. Overall, this album musically is a little more straight-forward than our last. It's more like what you see at a 311 show; two vocals, guitar, bass, and drums. Evolver had more overdubs and was more influenced by the British heroes of the past. This one is pure America (with a little Jamaican herb!).”
NICK:
“The new songs are eclectic as always. There are a handful of reggae influenced tracks, but they're more up-tempo and funky than our reggae has been in the past. There's also a fast punk song with a melodic vocal that Tim & SA wrote called "It's Getting OK Now" and a super slow and heavy rap rocker called "Solar Flare". On "Solar Flare" SA's delivery and lyrics skewer people who use fear to stay in power.”
SA:
“When we first started rehearsing "Solar Flare", I thought that the vocal needed something with as much attitude as the music was communicating. I kept getting these apocalyptic visions - these you and I against the world scenarios.”
SA:
“The true origins of the song "Frolic Room" lie in the fact that Nick has frequented a bar called "The Frolic Room" in Hollywood ever since he's lived in this city. The bar has had 311 songs on their jukebox for quite some time. This new song is basically an insurance policy to reserve a slot on their juke for eternity.”
SA:
“I got the lyrical inspiration for the song "Speak Easy" from Wilhelm Reich's belief that any emotion we carry we must let out - otherwise that emotion will sit within us and manifest itself in ways that may not be good for our health. We can create blocks that turn into physical symptoms that were initially just emotions that we denied ourselves from experiencing. I shared this idea with Nick. I told him that lyrically I wanted to hit on the idea of letting out emotion, relaxing and breathing - because breath is life. I sang, "Nice and easy, and your breathing will be pleasing..." and Nick was quick with the rejoinder "..just speak easy and say what's on your mind.”
NICK:
“After finishing our eighth album, I look back and notice how lucky we are to have been able to make music for a living for fifteen years! This is due entirely to the level of dedication of the fans we have and the bond that we've developed as a band over the past 15 years. We know we're truly blessed.”
Omaha-bred, Los Angeles-based 311 have released seven studio albums (four Gold, one Platinum, and one Triple-Platinum), a live album and three DVD’s (one Gold, two Platinum). Four of their releases have reached the Top 10 on Billboard’s Top 200 Album Charts. Six singles have gone into the Top 10 on Billboard’s Modern Rock Chart including the #1 hits “Down” and “Love Song.” The band has sold over seven million albums in the U.S.
The band, known for their dynamic live shows, will go back out on the road in support of the new album (and in celebration of their 15 year anniversary) starting July 27 in Santa Cruz with support bands Papa Roach and Unwritten Law in select cities.
QUOTES FROM 311 REGARDING THE NEW ALBUM “DON’T TREAD ON ME”:
NICK:
“To me, the meaning of the album title, "Don't Tread on Me" is simple - it's about freedom. Personal freedom. Freedom from any kind of oppression - political, religious, or social.”
NICK:
“The title track "Don't Tread On Me" is really about emotional volatility when you feel like your freedom is being encroached upon.”
SA:
“The title track - "Don't Tread On Me" has a great melody with a dope rhythm underneath. Slightly skanky, but in a good way. Catchy, aggressive at times, and never a dull moment. Classic 311.”
PNUT:
“Don't Tread On Me" has us embarking on what I know will be a great journey. More shows, more reactions; being pushed to my physical limits by the egging on of thousands. This collection is as diverse a group of songs as can be written by 311 and we had fun putting it all down. We love being allowed to continue on our musickal journey and we have you, our fans, to thank for our future. Let there be rock!”
NICK:
“I think we had a lot to say on this new album (themes range from personal freedom and emotional volatility in “Don’t Tread On Me” to life and mortality in “It’s Getting OK Now” to questioned celebration in “Frolic Room” to sexual abuse in “Getting Through to Her” to the politics of fear in “Solar Flare” to the ups and downs of love and personal relationships in “Speak Easy”, “Waiting”, “Long for the Flowers” and “There’s Always an Excuse”) and I'm very happy with the combination of new styles that we've come up with. Overall, this album musically is a little more straight-forward than our last. It's more like what you see at a 311 show; two vocals, guitar, bass, and drums. Evolver had more overdubs and was more influenced by the British heroes of the past. This one is pure America (with a little Jamaican herb!).”
NICK:
“The new songs are eclectic as always. There are a handful of reggae influenced tracks, but they're more up-tempo and funky than our reggae has been in the past. There's also a fast punk song with a melodic vocal that Tim & SA wrote called "It's Getting OK Now" and a super slow and heavy rap rocker called "Solar Flare". On "Solar Flare" SA's delivery and lyrics skewer people who use fear to stay in power.”
SA:
“When we first started rehearsing "Solar Flare", I thought that the vocal needed something with as much attitude as the music was communicating. I kept getting these apocalyptic visions - these you and I against the world scenarios.”
SA:
“The true origins of the song "Frolic Room" lie in the fact that Nick has frequented a bar called "The Frolic Room" in Hollywood ever since he's lived in this city. The bar has had 311 songs on their jukebox for quite some time. This new song is basically an insurance policy to reserve a slot on their juke for eternity.”
SA:
“I got the lyrical inspiration for the song "Speak Easy" from Wilhelm Reich's belief that any emotion we carry we must let out - otherwise that emotion will sit within us and manifest itself in ways that may not be good for our health. We can create blocks that turn into physical symptoms that were initially just emotions that we denied ourselves from experiencing. I shared this idea with Nick. I told him that lyrically I wanted to hit on the idea of letting out emotion, relaxing and breathing - because breath is life. I sang, "Nice and easy, and your breathing will be pleasing..." and Nick was quick with the rejoinder "..just speak easy and say what's on your mind.”
NICK:
“After finishing our eighth album, I look back and notice how lucky we are to have been able to make music for a living for fifteen years! This is due entirely to the level of dedication of the fans we have and the bond that we've developed as a band over the past 15 years. We know we're truly blessed.”
Wednesday, June 1, 2005
311 Releasing New Studio Album This Summer (Soulshine)
Rock band 311 is releasing its next album, entitled Don't Tread On Me, this July and will follow it with a large tour. On the band's official website, vocalist Nick Hexum announces that "There will be 12 songs on the new album including Thank Your Lucky Stars, Frolic Room, Don't Tread on Me, Speak Easy, Waiting, Shooting Up Flares, and more."
Don't Tread on Me will be the studio follow-up to 2003's Evolver; 311's 2004 release was a hits compilation. The band is lining up dates for a summer tour and will be playing the Street Scene festival on July 30th in San Diego.
For more information on the new album and tour dates, check out 311.com.
Don't Tread on Me will be the studio follow-up to 2003's Evolver; 311's 2004 release was a hits compilation. The band is lining up dates for a summer tour and will be playing the Street Scene festival on July 30th in San Diego.
For more information on the new album and tour dates, check out 311.com.
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