311 are notorious for their inspiring, positive music and energetic live show. They are currently touring in support of their sixth full-length release, From Chaos. Almost every show on this tour has been played to a sold-out audience, and rightfully so. 311's live performance is absolutely mind-blowing. I can assure you that you will never see anything like it. Since their debut album, Music, in 1992, 311 have garnered a massive cult following. In today's music industry, there is no other band with such a positive sound and message. With all that in mind, I decided I would bother bassist P-Nut by asking him to answer seven of the most random questions I could think of. Here is what he came up with...
In the form of a fairy tale, tell the story of 311. It must begin with "Once upon a time..." and end with "...happily ever after."
Once upon a time there was a group of guys, who didn't know each other, but they all loved music. They all loved music so much that together, they had to be. So one day, after a couple of failed attempts, they were together for the rest of time. But they had no record contract, but the talent emitted from the quintet was not to be denied. And after moving to the land of no snow (thank goodness), they found a contract laying on the ground, signed it (before reading it) and boom, 311 had just begun their truly professional rise to underground success. Music can mean lots of different things to different people, but when it's played from the heart, everyone with an open ear will live happily ever after.
In the form of a mathematical equation, describe your sound.
E(nergy)+L(ove)=311
If you could be struck by any natural disaster and survive, what would you pick and why?
I would like to be struck by lightning -- that's got to feel pretty cool.
Go back through the years... your first kiss and your first show, how are they different? How are they similar?
I was nervous for both, [but] my mouth was drier during the first kiss.
Have the tragic events of the past several months affected your spirituality and/or beliefs? If so, how? Do you feel 311's music has a role to play in what is now being deemed "America's new war"?
The recent tragedies have just made me happier to be in a positive band that makes people feel better, instead of just venting for venting sake.
Aside from your musical career, what would you say is your biggest accomplishment in life?
Meeting my wife (and marrying her) would have to be my favorite accomplishment in life.
And now for the final and perhaps "deepest" question... If 311 were a breakfast cereal, what kind would you be and why?
We would be the "never the same bowl twice" cereal, because we've always been more than a one trick pony.
Saturday, December 14, 2002
311 to Tour in Spring (Rolling Stone)
311 and openers Hoobastank, both currently touring with Incubus in Europe, have lined up a stretch of spring dates that kicks off February 28th in San Francisco.
The tour includes a stop in New Orleans on March 11th for a "3-11 Day" show, a tradition now officially recognized by the Mayor of New Orleans that the boys started there in 2000, when they played for, appropriately, three hours and eleven minutes.
311 is touring in support of their sixth studio album, From Chaos, released last summer. Hoobastanks' self-titled debut was released in November.
311 and Hoobastank tour dates:
2/28: San Francisco, Warfield Theatre
3/1: Bakersfield, CA, Bakersfield Civic Auditorium
3/2: Las Vegas, House of Blues
3/4: Orem, UT, McKay Events Center
3/6: Vail, CO, Dobson Arena
3/7: Fort Collins, CO, Moby Gym, Colorado State University
3/9: Dallas, Bronco Bowl
3/10: Houston, International Ballroom
3/11: New Orleans, UNO Lakefront Arena
3/13: Sunrise, FL, Sunrise Musical Theatre
3/14: Orlando, Hard Rock Café
3/15: Myrtle Beach, SC, House of Blues
3/16: Raleigh, NC, The Ritz
3/17: Charlotte, NC, Grady Cole Center
3/18: Atlanta, Tabernacle
3/20: Norfolk, VA, The Boathouse
3/21: Washington, DC, Nation
3/22: Pomona, NJ, Stockton College Sports Center
3/23: Philadelphia, PA, Electric Factory
3/24: Lock Haven, PA, Lock Haven University
3/26: Portland, ME, State Theatre
3/27: Hartford, CT, Webster Theatre
3/28: New York City, TBA
3/29: Durham, NH, Whittemore Center Arena
3/30: Worcester, MA, The Palladium
4/1: Cleveland, Agora Theatre
4/3: Detroit, State Theatre
4/4: Chicago, The Aragon
4/6: St. Louis, The Pageant
The tour includes a stop in New Orleans on March 11th for a "3-11 Day" show, a tradition now officially recognized by the Mayor of New Orleans that the boys started there in 2000, when they played for, appropriately, three hours and eleven minutes.
311 is touring in support of their sixth studio album, From Chaos, released last summer. Hoobastanks' self-titled debut was released in November.
311 and Hoobastank tour dates:
2/28: San Francisco, Warfield Theatre
3/1: Bakersfield, CA, Bakersfield Civic Auditorium
3/2: Las Vegas, House of Blues
3/4: Orem, UT, McKay Events Center
3/6: Vail, CO, Dobson Arena
3/7: Fort Collins, CO, Moby Gym, Colorado State University
3/9: Dallas, Bronco Bowl
3/10: Houston, International Ballroom
3/11: New Orleans, UNO Lakefront Arena
3/13: Sunrise, FL, Sunrise Musical Theatre
3/14: Orlando, Hard Rock Café
3/15: Myrtle Beach, SC, House of Blues
3/16: Raleigh, NC, The Ritz
3/17: Charlotte, NC, Grady Cole Center
3/18: Atlanta, Tabernacle
3/20: Norfolk, VA, The Boathouse
3/21: Washington, DC, Nation
3/22: Pomona, NJ, Stockton College Sports Center
3/23: Philadelphia, PA, Electric Factory
3/24: Lock Haven, PA, Lock Haven University
3/26: Portland, ME, State Theatre
3/27: Hartford, CT, Webster Theatre
3/28: New York City, TBA
3/29: Durham, NH, Whittemore Center Arena
3/30: Worcester, MA, The Palladium
4/1: Cleveland, Agora Theatre
4/3: Detroit, State Theatre
4/4: Chicago, The Aragon
4/6: St. Louis, The Pageant
311, Hoobastank Bond For Int'l Tour (Billboard)
Funk/pop quintet 311 and modern rock act Hoobastank have just kicked off the international leg of a lengthy tour, the U.S. portion of which is now confirmed. The stateside trek will begin Feb. 28 in San Francisco and conclude April 6 in St. Louis. Incubus is also on the bill for the international dates but will not be a part of the U.S. portion of the tour.
The March 11 stop at New Orleans' UNO Lakefront Arena should be a standout on the jaunt, as the city's mayor, Marc H. Morial, has proclaimed the date as "3-11 Day." The group plans to play an extended show in honor of its day, mixing plenty of rarities in with its usual set. According to a spokesperson, the show will feature "special guests and surprises."
311 is touring in support of last year's "From Chaos" (Volcano), which debuted at No. 10 on The Billboard 200. Hoobastank's self-titled Island debut climbed to No. 72 on The Billboard 200 this week; the single "Crawling in the Dark" is No. 17 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.
Here are the 311/Hoobastank U.S. tour dates:
Feb. 28: San Francisco (Warfield Theatre)
March 1: Bakersfield, Calif. (Bakersfield Civic Auditorium)
March 2: Las Vegas (House of Blues)
March 4: Orem, Utah (McKay Events Center)
March 6: Vail, Colo. (Dobson Arena)
March 7: Fort Collins, Colo. (Moby Gym at Colorado State University)
March 9: Dallas (Bronco Bowl)
March 10: Houston (International Ballroom)
March 11: New Orleans (UNO Lakefront Arena)
March 13: Sunrise, Fla. (Sunrise Musical Theatre)
March 14: Orlando, Fla. (Hard Rock Cafe)
March 15: Myrtle Beach, S.C. (House of Blues)
March 16: Raleigh, N.C. (the Ritz)
March 17: Charlotte, N.C. (Grady Cole Center)
March 18: Atlanta (Tabernacle)
March 20: Norfolk, Va. (Boathouse)
March 21: Washington, D.C. (Nation)
March 22: Pomona, N.J. (Stockton College Sports Center)
March 23: Philadelphia (Electric Factory)
March 24: Lock Haven, Pa. (Lock Haven University)
March 26: Portland, Maine (State Theatre)
March 27: Hartford, Conn. (Webster Theatre)
March 28: New York (venue TBA)
March 29: Durham, N.H. (Whittemore Center Arena)
March 30: Worcester, Mass. (Palladium)
April 1: Cleveland (Agora Theatre)
April 3: Detroit (State Theatre)
April 4: Chicago (Aragon)
April 6: St. Louis (Pageant)
The March 11 stop at New Orleans' UNO Lakefront Arena should be a standout on the jaunt, as the city's mayor, Marc H. Morial, has proclaimed the date as "3-11 Day." The group plans to play an extended show in honor of its day, mixing plenty of rarities in with its usual set. According to a spokesperson, the show will feature "special guests and surprises."
311 is touring in support of last year's "From Chaos" (Volcano), which debuted at No. 10 on The Billboard 200. Hoobastank's self-titled Island debut climbed to No. 72 on The Billboard 200 this week; the single "Crawling in the Dark" is No. 17 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.
Here are the 311/Hoobastank U.S. tour dates:
Feb. 28: San Francisco (Warfield Theatre)
March 1: Bakersfield, Calif. (Bakersfield Civic Auditorium)
March 2: Las Vegas (House of Blues)
March 4: Orem, Utah (McKay Events Center)
March 6: Vail, Colo. (Dobson Arena)
March 7: Fort Collins, Colo. (Moby Gym at Colorado State University)
March 9: Dallas (Bronco Bowl)
March 10: Houston (International Ballroom)
March 11: New Orleans (UNO Lakefront Arena)
March 13: Sunrise, Fla. (Sunrise Musical Theatre)
March 14: Orlando, Fla. (Hard Rock Cafe)
March 15: Myrtle Beach, S.C. (House of Blues)
March 16: Raleigh, N.C. (the Ritz)
March 17: Charlotte, N.C. (Grady Cole Center)
March 18: Atlanta (Tabernacle)
March 20: Norfolk, Va. (Boathouse)
March 21: Washington, D.C. (Nation)
March 22: Pomona, N.J. (Stockton College Sports Center)
March 23: Philadelphia (Electric Factory)
March 24: Lock Haven, Pa. (Lock Haven University)
March 26: Portland, Maine (State Theatre)
March 27: Hartford, Conn. (Webster Theatre)
March 28: New York (venue TBA)
March 29: Durham, N.H. (Whittemore Center Arena)
March 30: Worcester, Mass. (Palladium)
April 1: Cleveland (Agora Theatre)
April 3: Detroit (State Theatre)
April 4: Chicago (Aragon)
April 6: St. Louis (Pageant)
311, Hoobastank Pair Up For Spring Trek (MTV)
311's spring tour with Hoobastank, which launches next month, will include a very, very special holiday show in New Orleans.
No, not Valentine's Day. Not Saint Patrick's Day. We're talking 311 Day, and for the second time in three years, the hip-hop-reggae-rockers will celebrate their self-declared March 11 holiday in the Big Easy, complete with a proclamation by New Orleans Mayor Marc H. Morial.
Circus performers and other surprise guests are expected at the concert, which will be an extended show with rare live items on the set list. Hotel packages are being offered in New Orleans for out-of-town guests, 311's spokesperson said.
The 311/Hoobastank tour is so far set to begin February 28 in San Francisco and end April 6 in St. Louis. Peter Raspler, the band's co-manager, said more dates are likely to be added to the beginning and end of the outing.
311 are promoting their sixth studio album, From Chaos, and their fresh-on-the-shelves second home video.
Singer/guitarist Nick Hexum, singer/rapper S.A. Martinez, guitarist Tim Mahoney, bassist P-Nut and drummer Chad Sexton filmed a video last week at Crystal Cove in Laguna Beach, California, for "Amber," the third single from From Chaos. The surfer-themed clip was directed by surf-video directors the Malloy Brothers, Raspler said. The song and video are due in February.
Hoobastank, who launched a European tour with 311 and Incubus Monday, are supporting their self-titled major label debut, which includes the single "Crawling in the Dark".
311/Hoobastank tour dates, according to 311's spokesperson:
•2/28 - San Francisco, CA @ Warfield Theatre
•3/1 - Bakersfield, CA @ Bakersfield Civic Auditorium
•3/2 - Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues
•3/4 - Orem, UT @ McKay Events Center
•3/5 - TBA
•3/6 - Vail, CO @ Dobson Arena
•3/7 - Fort Collins, CO @ Moby Gym @ Colorado State University
•3/9 - Dallas, TX @ Bronco Bowl
•3/10 - Houston, TX @ International Ballroom
•3/11 - New Orleans, LA @ UNO Lakefront Arena
•3/13 - Sunrise, FL @ Sunrise Musical Theatre
•3/14 - Orlando, FL @ Hard Rock
•3/15 - Myrtle Beach, SC @ House of Blues
•3/16 - Raleigh, NC @ The Ritz
•3/17 - Charlotte, NC @ Grady Cole Center
•3/18 - Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle
•3/20 - Norfolk, VA @ The Boathouse
•3/21 - Washington, DC @ Nation
•3/22 - Pomona, NJ @ Stockton College Sports Center
•3/23 - Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory
•3/24 - Lock Haven, PA @ Lock Haven University
•3/26 - Portland, ME @ State Theatre
•3/27 - Hartford, CT @ Webster Theatre
•3/28 - New York, NY @ TBA
•3/29 - Durham, NH @ Whittemore Center Arena
•3/30 - Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
•4/1 - Cleveland, OH @ Agora Theatre
•4/2 - TBA
•4/3 - Detroit, MI @ State Theatre
•4/4 - Chicago, IL @ The Aragon
•4/6 - St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant
No, not Valentine's Day. Not Saint Patrick's Day. We're talking 311 Day, and for the second time in three years, the hip-hop-reggae-rockers will celebrate their self-declared March 11 holiday in the Big Easy, complete with a proclamation by New Orleans Mayor Marc H. Morial.
Circus performers and other surprise guests are expected at the concert, which will be an extended show with rare live items on the set list. Hotel packages are being offered in New Orleans for out-of-town guests, 311's spokesperson said.
The 311/Hoobastank tour is so far set to begin February 28 in San Francisco and end April 6 in St. Louis. Peter Raspler, the band's co-manager, said more dates are likely to be added to the beginning and end of the outing.
311 are promoting their sixth studio album, From Chaos, and their fresh-on-the-shelves second home video.
Singer/guitarist Nick Hexum, singer/rapper S.A. Martinez, guitarist Tim Mahoney, bassist P-Nut and drummer Chad Sexton filmed a video last week at Crystal Cove in Laguna Beach, California, for "Amber," the third single from From Chaos. The surfer-themed clip was directed by surf-video directors the Malloy Brothers, Raspler said. The song and video are due in February.
Hoobastank, who launched a European tour with 311 and Incubus Monday, are supporting their self-titled major label debut, which includes the single "Crawling in the Dark".
311/Hoobastank tour dates, according to 311's spokesperson:
•2/28 - San Francisco, CA @ Warfield Theatre
•3/1 - Bakersfield, CA @ Bakersfield Civic Auditorium
•3/2 - Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues
•3/4 - Orem, UT @ McKay Events Center
•3/5 - TBA
•3/6 - Vail, CO @ Dobson Arena
•3/7 - Fort Collins, CO @ Moby Gym @ Colorado State University
•3/9 - Dallas, TX @ Bronco Bowl
•3/10 - Houston, TX @ International Ballroom
•3/11 - New Orleans, LA @ UNO Lakefront Arena
•3/13 - Sunrise, FL @ Sunrise Musical Theatre
•3/14 - Orlando, FL @ Hard Rock
•3/15 - Myrtle Beach, SC @ House of Blues
•3/16 - Raleigh, NC @ The Ritz
•3/17 - Charlotte, NC @ Grady Cole Center
•3/18 - Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle
•3/20 - Norfolk, VA @ The Boathouse
•3/21 - Washington, DC @ Nation
•3/22 - Pomona, NJ @ Stockton College Sports Center
•3/23 - Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory
•3/24 - Lock Haven, PA @ Lock Haven University
•3/26 - Portland, ME @ State Theatre
•3/27 - Hartford, CT @ Webster Theatre
•3/28 - New York, NY @ TBA
•3/29 - Durham, NH @ Whittemore Center Arena
•3/30 - Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
•4/1 - Cleveland, OH @ Agora Theatre
•4/2 - TBA
•4/3 - Detroit, MI @ State Theatre
•4/4 - Chicago, IL @ The Aragon
•4/6 - St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant
311's Stoney Rock (High Times)
Starting with thir debut album, music in 1992, which featured the weed anthem's "Hydroponic" and "My Stoney Baby,"and continuing with their memorable contribution to the first Hempilation album (a cover of human rights'"Who's Got the Herb"), 311 placed themselves on the front lines in the battle to overturn America's six decades of senceless marijuana prohibition.
Clutching a huge spliff before their nov 21 show, bassist and designated band spokesman P-Nut noted," This is a total dream come true.i'm thinking of all the friends back home that would kill to be here. It's nice to play on a festival with steel pulse, them being legends and us being reggae fans all around."
Touring europe to promote their seventh album, From Chaos (Volcano), P-Nut claimed to be so tired he spent the day in the hotel playing video games instead of visiting coffeeshops. Asked to explain 311's longevity , he said, "We're not afraid to experiment with ideas and challenge each other as musicians and individuals. As time goes on, the more we listen to drum & bass and harder rock like system of a down and try to fuse those two,which are things that we have dealt with before, but to an even more extreme."
311's performance was a crowning acheivement for one of the era's great stoner bands.they smoked spliffs and raged with unusual intensity. Lead singers/rappers Nick Hexum and SA Martinez traded vocals, bouncing around the stage as P-Nut hopped on one leg thumping his bass, guitarist Tim Mahoney blasted solos and drummer Chad Sexton shifted rhythms from hard rock to hip hop to reggae.
Afterwards,drenched in sweat, P-Nut commented, "I think we hurt some people. This is another fantastic notch on the belt, thanks to High Times."
"It was definatly the stoniest crowd we ever played for," Sexton said as he inhaled a foot-long torpedo filled with high grade dutch pot and nepalese hash. "And SA got high on stage." Martinez is the only band member who doesn't smoke.
"Everyone was kind of on the same wavelength," Mahoney smiled. "I was high going into the show. We got SA and some other people up to our same level eventually.it's good to see a couple of the non-smokers light up a little."
Who's got the herb? 311
Clutching a huge spliff before their nov 21 show, bassist and designated band spokesman P-Nut noted," This is a total dream come true.i'm thinking of all the friends back home that would kill to be here. It's nice to play on a festival with steel pulse, them being legends and us being reggae fans all around."
Touring europe to promote their seventh album, From Chaos (Volcano), P-Nut claimed to be so tired he spent the day in the hotel playing video games instead of visiting coffeeshops. Asked to explain 311's longevity , he said, "We're not afraid to experiment with ideas and challenge each other as musicians and individuals. As time goes on, the more we listen to drum & bass and harder rock like system of a down and try to fuse those two,which are things that we have dealt with before, but to an even more extreme."
311's performance was a crowning acheivement for one of the era's great stoner bands.they smoked spliffs and raged with unusual intensity. Lead singers/rappers Nick Hexum and SA Martinez traded vocals, bouncing around the stage as P-Nut hopped on one leg thumping his bass, guitarist Tim Mahoney blasted solos and drummer Chad Sexton shifted rhythms from hard rock to hip hop to reggae.
Afterwards,drenched in sweat, P-Nut commented, "I think we hurt some people. This is another fantastic notch on the belt, thanks to High Times."
"It was definatly the stoniest crowd we ever played for," Sexton said as he inhaled a foot-long torpedo filled with high grade dutch pot and nepalese hash. "And SA got high on stage." Martinez is the only band member who doesn't smoke.
"Everyone was kind of on the same wavelength," Mahoney smiled. "I was high going into the show. We got SA and some other people up to our same level eventually.it's good to see a couple of the non-smokers light up a little."
Who's got the herb? 311
From the Beatles to the Vandals With Nick Hexum (Counter Culture)
counterculture: 311 have a very unique sound, fusing rap, rock and reggae with a very positive vibe. You don't seem to sound like anyone else out there.
Nick Hexum: Thank you. We definitely have strived for originality. The shitty things is, that no matter how original you are when you first come out, someone's going to say you sound like someone else. In the early 90s, all over the radio was Pearl Jam and Nirvana . . . some really good bands, but we needed some funk or some hip hop or some reggae and other elements that weren't just like classic rock. So at that time we really wanted to bring some new elements in.
Seeing Incubus do so well is great, because they've got it right on. They've hit the nail on the head: Great melodies, innovative grooves, cool lyrics, but still with interesting rhythms, and with hip hop elements that make it modern, and not just classic rock. But there's good and bad in the genre.
cc: Do you hear any of your own sound in Incubus?
NH: They would probably say that they used to listen to us quite a bit, and we've been touring with them for like, five years so I would say that I'm as influenced by them as they are by us. Just as the Stones and Beatles would check each other out. I've been a huge fan of their last two albums.
cc: They really seemed to have raised their game on the last two albums.
NH: Yeah, I think they've simplified their stuff. Some of it was really complex, like Primus-y early on, and they got more simple with just good tunes on the Make Yourself album, and they're continuing on with that. They're going to be huge for a long time, I'm sure of that.
cc: Amongst the current crop of rock and metal bands it seems only yourselves, Incubus and possibly P.O.D. have an upbeat positive outlook, as opposed to being wrapped up in teen angst.
NH: Other than Incubus, maybe the positive vibe hasn't really sold as well in the past year or two, but in the long run that was the message behind any really great artist. Like The Beatles is more a sense of unity, like All You Need Is Love or whatever.
I think the teen angst thing; people are going to kind of grow out of it. There's always going to be someone representing teen angst, but if you make a career out of teen angst, then when you get older you can't really legitimately claim it's the same frustration. I'm glad that we're not pigeon-holed as that, because that can't last.
cc: So what are you pigeon-holed as? As far as tours are concerned, you seem to skate between different genres . . . you're on with Incubus and Hoobastank today, you were at the Extreme 2001 punk tour last year . . .
NH: Yeah, and we've done tours with Cypress Hill and The Pharcyde. We've done the Horde tour which is like a hippy jam band tour with Blues Traveller and stuff like that, and we did the Warped tour in the States this past summer. That's something we really get off on; not sticking with one certain crew. There maybe a downside to that, because maybe we slip between the cracks, but it keeps it interesting for us to have so many different influences, and since we listen to a lot of different music and play a lot of different styles . . .
I'm sure when we're on the Warped tour some people may think a little bit of our music is too metal or heavy, but really like some of the more punk reggae stuff like Beautiful Disaster. There's going to be something for everybody, and something not for everybody.
cc: So with all this different music you're exposed to, what do you listen to when you're not playing with 311?
NH: When I'm up and I want energy I'll listen to something hard and fast like System Of A Down or NOFX, but then when I need some cheering up it'll be The Beatles or there's a guy in LA, real underground but real cool, called John Brion. He's more known as a producer. He did Fiona Apple and Aimee Mann, but he's a really cool songwriter.
cc: Back in the mid 90s when I first heard your stuff, particularly All Mixed Up, I was really hoping you were going to come over and tour, but it never happened. Now you've changed record labels, you've done Extreme 2001, you did a small headline tour, and now you're back here with Incubus . . .
NH: We're really trying to make a new effort to become known over here. A lot of it has to do with marketing and the labels and the radio. And it seems like the radio situation is fairly tight here. So we're really hoping that this tour will plant some seeds in people's heads. So we'll just have to put on the best shows that we can and sort of see what happens.
There was one tour that we cancelled because our guitarist had a hernia, in '97, and that was when we were apparently starting to pick up some momentum, and that was probably a fuck up. We probably should have rescheduled that, but the way things were at the time, we were burnt out and just needed some time off.
cc: So the tours that you have been doing, where maybe the kids are being exposed to you for the first time . . . how are you finding the response?
NH: It seems to go well. From show to show it's different. The Glasgow show was awesome - everyone was rocking out in the whole place. It's different to go from years and years out headlining shows that were packed with fans that were really excited, to playing for new people who don't know that much about you. You've got to get used to a different level of energy coming back out of the audience, but it makes it that much more fun when you do see that you're getting some people moving. And we're going to play some different songs tonight. It seems the crowd wants to jump if we give them the right tempo to do that.
cc: Are you playing Flowing tonight?
NH: Maybe we should. I think that's a good idea cause it's very English to me, y'know that sort of bouncing tempo. To me it sounds kinda like London Calling or something like that. I love that song. Definitely that kind of direction is something we're heading towards. Even though there was a fair amount of rapping on this current album, sometimes I do it and I just feel like . . . I'd much rather be singing. I think our next album . . . if there are raps, they'll be short raps.
cc: Now you've said this before at various stages in your career. What does SA [Martinez - co-vocalist] think when you say things like this?
NH: His vocal part in Champagne is singing, and he listens to as much melodic music as I do. He used to be the real rap guy, making all these rap mix tapes, but not lately. Lately he's going to steer an interview back towards his Smiths collection more often than any rap influences. So he's cool with that. Some people would say; so SA's the rapper and Nick's the singer, but that's not how it is. We've always both done both.
cc: Who were your influences when you were growing up?
NH: The first band that blew my mind were The Clash when I was 13. Every one of their albums I just wore out. After that it was Bad Brains and the next phase of American punk like the Descendents - stuff like that. Then there was alternative music like The Cure. Then when I heard the Chili Peppers, that kind of changed things - just to have that level of energy combined with funk was a cool revelation. When I first moved to LA in '88, that was the shit to me. I'd talk to people and go; are you into the Peppers, are you into Bad Brains, are you into Fishbone? They were the founding influences of the 311 sound, and it just kind of moved on from there. The first Cypress Hill album came out and it was like this stoney pot influence that was all the rage in LA. When the whole band moved there in '92, we were really into that, and A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul. And still the rock, like Nirvana or whatever. And they'll always be revivals of the classics whether it's Led Zeppelin or old jazz singers like Billie Holiday or something like that.
cc: Your first time in LA must have been kinda Guns 'n' Roses, LA Guns era . . .
NH: It was exactly that. Just Guns 'n' Roses everywhere. I worked at Guitar Centre on Hollywood, which was like the centre of rock 'n' roll hair bands and all that shit . . . and it was pretty humorous really. The thing I was running up against is that I had more of a background of alternative music - which was really alternative at the time, y'know stuff you couldn't hear on the radio. R.E.M. at the time was very underground, and I grew up on The Clash and stuff like that. So coming out to LA, and all these ads in the papers said 'big hair a must, and looks and attitude' - it was all about phony things . . . so it was kinda disappointing.
cc: What's the most enjoyable tour you've been on?
NH: In 2000 we had a really great summer tour with Incubus supporting us, doing outdoor sheds. They were just blowing up, and we were doing real well too. I brought out my own bus, and we'd have huge parties in there every night - just pack the bus with like 30 people - mostly beautiful women - it was nuts!
cc: With 311's name coming from the police code for indecent exposure, there was something very karmic about you playing with The Vandals last year, with having Warren from The Vandals running around naked every night.
NH: Exactly. They're just a hilarious fucking band. Their songs are really funny, and it's cool to see English people getting into them cause they're just really underground in the the States. The Vandals and Pennywise and NOFX are the fathers of the situation, and then you've got the the younger bands, the ones that make all the money; like the Blink 182s and the Sum 41s. But I guess that's a parallel situation with what's going on with our band, with the second generation like the Linkin Parks just selling so many more albums. But that's alright; at the end of the day it's not going to be about money, it's about how you feel, what sort of mark you've left and your legacy. Helping to invent and break a genre is something that's more valuable than cash.
Nick Hexum: Thank you. We definitely have strived for originality. The shitty things is, that no matter how original you are when you first come out, someone's going to say you sound like someone else. In the early 90s, all over the radio was Pearl Jam and Nirvana . . . some really good bands, but we needed some funk or some hip hop or some reggae and other elements that weren't just like classic rock. So at that time we really wanted to bring some new elements in.
Seeing Incubus do so well is great, because they've got it right on. They've hit the nail on the head: Great melodies, innovative grooves, cool lyrics, but still with interesting rhythms, and with hip hop elements that make it modern, and not just classic rock. But there's good and bad in the genre.
cc: Do you hear any of your own sound in Incubus?
NH: They would probably say that they used to listen to us quite a bit, and we've been touring with them for like, five years so I would say that I'm as influenced by them as they are by us. Just as the Stones and Beatles would check each other out. I've been a huge fan of their last two albums.
cc: They really seemed to have raised their game on the last two albums.
NH: Yeah, I think they've simplified their stuff. Some of it was really complex, like Primus-y early on, and they got more simple with just good tunes on the Make Yourself album, and they're continuing on with that. They're going to be huge for a long time, I'm sure of that.
cc: Amongst the current crop of rock and metal bands it seems only yourselves, Incubus and possibly P.O.D. have an upbeat positive outlook, as opposed to being wrapped up in teen angst.
NH: Other than Incubus, maybe the positive vibe hasn't really sold as well in the past year or two, but in the long run that was the message behind any really great artist. Like The Beatles is more a sense of unity, like All You Need Is Love or whatever.
I think the teen angst thing; people are going to kind of grow out of it. There's always going to be someone representing teen angst, but if you make a career out of teen angst, then when you get older you can't really legitimately claim it's the same frustration. I'm glad that we're not pigeon-holed as that, because that can't last.
cc: So what are you pigeon-holed as? As far as tours are concerned, you seem to skate between different genres . . . you're on with Incubus and Hoobastank today, you were at the Extreme 2001 punk tour last year . . .
NH: Yeah, and we've done tours with Cypress Hill and The Pharcyde. We've done the Horde tour which is like a hippy jam band tour with Blues Traveller and stuff like that, and we did the Warped tour in the States this past summer. That's something we really get off on; not sticking with one certain crew. There maybe a downside to that, because maybe we slip between the cracks, but it keeps it interesting for us to have so many different influences, and since we listen to a lot of different music and play a lot of different styles . . .
I'm sure when we're on the Warped tour some people may think a little bit of our music is too metal or heavy, but really like some of the more punk reggae stuff like Beautiful Disaster. There's going to be something for everybody, and something not for everybody.
cc: So with all this different music you're exposed to, what do you listen to when you're not playing with 311?
NH: When I'm up and I want energy I'll listen to something hard and fast like System Of A Down or NOFX, but then when I need some cheering up it'll be The Beatles or there's a guy in LA, real underground but real cool, called John Brion. He's more known as a producer. He did Fiona Apple and Aimee Mann, but he's a really cool songwriter.
cc: Back in the mid 90s when I first heard your stuff, particularly All Mixed Up, I was really hoping you were going to come over and tour, but it never happened. Now you've changed record labels, you've done Extreme 2001, you did a small headline tour, and now you're back here with Incubus . . .
NH: We're really trying to make a new effort to become known over here. A lot of it has to do with marketing and the labels and the radio. And it seems like the radio situation is fairly tight here. So we're really hoping that this tour will plant some seeds in people's heads. So we'll just have to put on the best shows that we can and sort of see what happens.
There was one tour that we cancelled because our guitarist had a hernia, in '97, and that was when we were apparently starting to pick up some momentum, and that was probably a fuck up. We probably should have rescheduled that, but the way things were at the time, we were burnt out and just needed some time off.
cc: So the tours that you have been doing, where maybe the kids are being exposed to you for the first time . . . how are you finding the response?
NH: It seems to go well. From show to show it's different. The Glasgow show was awesome - everyone was rocking out in the whole place. It's different to go from years and years out headlining shows that were packed with fans that were really excited, to playing for new people who don't know that much about you. You've got to get used to a different level of energy coming back out of the audience, but it makes it that much more fun when you do see that you're getting some people moving. And we're going to play some different songs tonight. It seems the crowd wants to jump if we give them the right tempo to do that.
cc: Are you playing Flowing tonight?
NH: Maybe we should. I think that's a good idea cause it's very English to me, y'know that sort of bouncing tempo. To me it sounds kinda like London Calling or something like that. I love that song. Definitely that kind of direction is something we're heading towards. Even though there was a fair amount of rapping on this current album, sometimes I do it and I just feel like . . . I'd much rather be singing. I think our next album . . . if there are raps, they'll be short raps.
cc: Now you've said this before at various stages in your career. What does SA [Martinez - co-vocalist] think when you say things like this?
NH: His vocal part in Champagne is singing, and he listens to as much melodic music as I do. He used to be the real rap guy, making all these rap mix tapes, but not lately. Lately he's going to steer an interview back towards his Smiths collection more often than any rap influences. So he's cool with that. Some people would say; so SA's the rapper and Nick's the singer, but that's not how it is. We've always both done both.
cc: Who were your influences when you were growing up?
NH: The first band that blew my mind were The Clash when I was 13. Every one of their albums I just wore out. After that it was Bad Brains and the next phase of American punk like the Descendents - stuff like that. Then there was alternative music like The Cure. Then when I heard the Chili Peppers, that kind of changed things - just to have that level of energy combined with funk was a cool revelation. When I first moved to LA in '88, that was the shit to me. I'd talk to people and go; are you into the Peppers, are you into Bad Brains, are you into Fishbone? They were the founding influences of the 311 sound, and it just kind of moved on from there. The first Cypress Hill album came out and it was like this stoney pot influence that was all the rage in LA. When the whole band moved there in '92, we were really into that, and A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul. And still the rock, like Nirvana or whatever. And they'll always be revivals of the classics whether it's Led Zeppelin or old jazz singers like Billie Holiday or something like that.
cc: Your first time in LA must have been kinda Guns 'n' Roses, LA Guns era . . .
NH: It was exactly that. Just Guns 'n' Roses everywhere. I worked at Guitar Centre on Hollywood, which was like the centre of rock 'n' roll hair bands and all that shit . . . and it was pretty humorous really. The thing I was running up against is that I had more of a background of alternative music - which was really alternative at the time, y'know stuff you couldn't hear on the radio. R.E.M. at the time was very underground, and I grew up on The Clash and stuff like that. So coming out to LA, and all these ads in the papers said 'big hair a must, and looks and attitude' - it was all about phony things . . . so it was kinda disappointing.
cc: What's the most enjoyable tour you've been on?
NH: In 2000 we had a really great summer tour with Incubus supporting us, doing outdoor sheds. They were just blowing up, and we were doing real well too. I brought out my own bus, and we'd have huge parties in there every night - just pack the bus with like 30 people - mostly beautiful women - it was nuts!
cc: With 311's name coming from the police code for indecent exposure, there was something very karmic about you playing with The Vandals last year, with having Warren from The Vandals running around naked every night.
NH: Exactly. They're just a hilarious fucking band. Their songs are really funny, and it's cool to see English people getting into them cause they're just really underground in the the States. The Vandals and Pennywise and NOFX are the fathers of the situation, and then you've got the the younger bands, the ones that make all the money; like the Blink 182s and the Sum 41s. But I guess that's a parallel situation with what's going on with our band, with the second generation like the Linkin Parks just selling so many more albums. But that's alright; at the end of the day it's not going to be about money, it's about how you feel, what sort of mark you've left and your legacy. Helping to invent and break a genre is something that's more valuable than cash.
311's Nick Hexum plans 'Beautiful Departures' for Next Album
Despite the somewhat unexpected success of 311's latest single, "Amber" -- a reggae-frosted love ballad that stands out from nearly every song on the charts these days -- the band has already begun work on the follow-up album to last year's From Chaos, with an eye on releasing the new collection sometime early next year.
The quintet has been demo-ing new material over the last couple months, and are now rebuilding its L.A. recording studio, with plans to lay down new tracks for what will be the group's seventh studio album after the completion of its upcoming summer tour with Jay-Z (allstar, June 14).
311 has always strived to challenge itself and its fans with a variety of moods and styles on each of its albums, and the band's newest material will certainly follow that tradition, with a new emphasis on capturing the emotion of the song.
"For us it's always a balance between wanting to make songs that are breaking through to new territory, and making songs that are straight-ahead rockers that are good for the live setting," says singer-guitarist Nick Hexum during an exclusive interview this week at 311's Hive studio.
"We've always tried to play new styles, and to play very tightly," Hexum says. "But as for emotional release, that's not something that has always been a priority for us. Now we want to make some really beautiful departures. I just think as we play more that we're expanding our musical vocabulary."
As previously reported, 311 will co-headline the upcoming Sprite Liquid Mix Tour with Jay-Z, beginning August 20 at Jones Beach outside of New York. The tour will also feature N.E.R.D., Hoobastank, Nappy Roots, Talib Kweli, Ozomatli, Quarashi, De La Soul, Mos Def's Black Jack Johnson Project, and more.
311 will also embark on a week's worth of headlining club dates as a warm-up for the Sprite tour, beginning Aug. 10 in Fresno, Calif.
The quintet has been demo-ing new material over the last couple months, and are now rebuilding its L.A. recording studio, with plans to lay down new tracks for what will be the group's seventh studio album after the completion of its upcoming summer tour with Jay-Z (allstar, June 14).
311 has always strived to challenge itself and its fans with a variety of moods and styles on each of its albums, and the band's newest material will certainly follow that tradition, with a new emphasis on capturing the emotion of the song.
"For us it's always a balance between wanting to make songs that are breaking through to new territory, and making songs that are straight-ahead rockers that are good for the live setting," says singer-guitarist Nick Hexum during an exclusive interview this week at 311's Hive studio.
"We've always tried to play new styles, and to play very tightly," Hexum says. "But as for emotional release, that's not something that has always been a priority for us. Now we want to make some really beautiful departures. I just think as we play more that we're expanding our musical vocabulary."
As previously reported, 311 will co-headline the upcoming Sprite Liquid Mix Tour with Jay-Z, beginning August 20 at Jones Beach outside of New York. The tour will also feature N.E.R.D., Hoobastank, Nappy Roots, Talib Kweli, Ozomatli, Quarashi, De La Soul, Mos Def's Black Jack Johnson Project, and more.
311 will also embark on a week's worth of headlining club dates as a warm-up for the Sprite tour, beginning Aug. 10 in Fresno, Calif.
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