Sweaty fans give 311 a 10 at Omaha's 150th (Omaha World Heralder)

A huge handmade poster spotted at 311's concert Friday night summed it up fittingly: "We'll Follow U Anywhere!"

Music fans came from Chicago and across the street to see rock band and Omaha natives 311 tear it up at Memorial Park.

Between 25,000 and 30,000 fans packed the park near 60th and Dodge Streets for the free concert, part of a three-day celebration to mark Omaha's 150th birthday.

Rachel Carmichael and Amy Corona arrived at 6:30 a.m. to stake out a spot near the front of the stage. The women, both in their mid-20s, drove from Chicago to see their favorite band, 311.

Like other fans who arrived early to claim prime viewing spots, the Chicagoans spent the day lounging on lawn chairs, soaking up the sun, reading magazines and chatting with other early-bird arrivals.

Carmichael wore a T-shirt that read "Nick Is My Rock God," referring to 311's lead singer and guitarist, Nick Hexum.

"Nick is what inspires me to be positive," she gushed. "I would do about anything for him."

And that includes proudly showing off the 311-inspired tattoo near her rear end.

Though Carmichael has been to six 311 concerts, she did not want to pass up a chance to see the band play a free show in its hometown.

Shortly after 6 p.m., Hexum's younger brother, Zack, kicked off the night with a set of tunes from his debut album. His set was followed by music from Omaha rock band Grasshopper Takeover.

Though fans clapped enthusiastically for the opening performers, it was clearly 311 they wanted to see. While waiting for the band to take the stage, some fans chanted "Three-eleven! Three-eleven!"

After a brief introduction by Mayor Mike Fahey, the hometown heroes, now based in Los Angeles, took the stage at 8 p.m. and the crowd erupted in cheers and applause.

"It's a perfect summer night for a concert in the park," Nick Hexum told the crowd before 311 launched into "Come Original" from 1999's "Soundsystem" album.

Throughout the band's two-hour set, Hexum - wearing a red Nebraska T-shirt - and his bandmates worked the crowd into a sweaty frenzy. Fans danced, jumped up and down and crowd-surfed to 311's music, a blend of rock, rap, funk and reggae.

The band's set included such tunes as "Rub a Dub," "All Mixed Up" and the recent No. 1 hit single, "Love Song."

Though the concert attracted mainly teens and twentysomethings, there was a mixture of people from all walks - businessmen, babies and baby boomers.

"I think it's a great party atmosphere," said 48-year-old music fan Ricky Fulton of Omaha. "This band here is an example of some of the great talent we have in Omaha."

Fulton's wife, Mary, said she also was enjoying the festive atmosphere.

"If I was a little younger, I'd be down there dancing," she said while standing near the park's monument up the hill from the stage. "It's more of a free-for-all down there."

Omaha Police Lt. Tim Conahan said two or three people were arrested for fighting with security guards around the stage, and police dealt with a half-dozen "extremely drunk" concertgoers.

It was a hectic but bearable night at the Red Cross tent a few hundred feet from the stage, said Red Cross worker Nicole Fuller.

Fuller estimated that medics in the tent had treated about 100 people by the end of the concert at 10 p.m.

Most suffered from heat-related problems early in the evening when the sun was still hot. By the end of the show, Fuller said, medics had treated at least as many with minor injuries from being in the huge crowd.

At least two people were taken to the hospital, one with heat exhaustion and one with an ankle injury, said Fuller, adding that neither problem seemed serious.

While his parents kept their distance up the hill, 18-year-old Joel Fulton braved the throngs of concertgoers dancing near the stage.

"It's great," Fulton said. "Everyone's here to see the band that grew up in Omaha."

Omaha 150! Birthday

311, the internationally known rock, rap and reggae group whose members are all originally from Omaha, will come back to the city where it all began to perform a free, outdoor concert at Memorial Park. The concert will kick-off the city’s official 150 th birthday festival weekend on Friday, July 16 from 6 to 10 p.m. Additional weekend activities include the Family Reunion Picnic, Omaha Symphony concert and riverfront firework display on Saturday, July 17 and the 15O! Family Festival on Sunday, July 18.

"This community wide birthday celebration is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said Mayor Mike Fahey. "Omahans will celebrate their past, present and future with a weekend full of events and I am pleased native Omahans 311 are returning to kick it all off at Memorial Park on Friday evening."

All five members of 311 grew up in Omaha in the 1970s. Nick Hexum, Tim Mahoney and Chad Sexton attended West Side High School. P-Nut and SA Martinez went to Bryan High School.

“We were so thrilled to be asked to be part of Omaha’s 150th birthday,” said Nick Hexum, 311’s lead singer. “We have always wanted to play in beautiful Memorial Park and this is the perfect opportunity. We want to invite everyone who likes good-time-summer-rockin music to celebrate with us in Memorial Park. The show will be appropriate for all ages so come one, come all.”

311 has developed a worldwide following for their distinctive sound and high-energy concerts. The band has released seven LPs with six singles reaching Billboard’s Top Ten Modern Rock Chart. 311’s cover of “Love Song” by The Cure is currently ranked #8 and is featured in the sound track for the movie “50 First Dates.”
311’s self-titled third album has achieved triple platinum sales and their sixth LP “From Chaos” is certified gold. The group’s most recent recording “Evolver” was released in July 2003.

"The chance to perform at Memorial Park for Omaha’s 150th birthday is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” said Adam Raspler, 311’s manager. “I know it means a great deal to the members of 311 and their families in Omaha.”

Kids Travel 1,500 Miles To See 311 (Omaha Channel)

OMAHA, Neb. -- How far would you travel to see your favorite band?

A group of Connecticut teens showed up in Omaha last night, drawn to the opportunity to see their favorite band -- 311 -- for free. The band with Omaha origins will play Friday in Memorial Park to kick off Omaha's 150th birthday celebration.

The teens packed up a car and drove from Connecticut -- a 1,500-mile trip. They brought their CDs, T-shirts and one of the group brought a bass guitar he made himself -- just in case they get to meet 311.

"It would be, like, probably the highlight of my life if, like, P-nut signed the bass that I constructed with my bare hands," said Christopher Rucinski.

Friday, Rucinski and his friends showed up the KETV NewsWatch 7 studios and got their wish. P-nut and Nick Hexum appeared on NewsWatch 7 at 11:30. When they left the studio, the teens were waiting to meet them. P-nut signed the guitar.

The group of teens met an Omaha homeowner who let them stay at her house overnight. They had been sleeping in their car.

A weekend celebrating Omaha's birthday begins with the free concert Friday night. People began staking their claims in Memorial Park around 5 a.m. Some estimates call for 40,000 people packed into the park.

311 Performing In City Where It Started (Omaha Channel)

OMAHA, Neb. -- Have you ever been visiting friends in another state, listening to the radio, when a 311 song comes on? You turn it up and say, "Hey, these guys are from Omaha."

Well 311 loves you, too. They'll kick off Omaha's 150th birthday weekend with a free concert July 16. From 7 to 10 p.m. at Memorial Park, on 60th and Dodge streets, 311 will come back to the city where it all began.

The band members grew up in Omaha and developed their funk/reggae/rap/rock-fusion sound locally. They've made seven albums, which produced six Top 10 hits.

The band's name has morphed. At their first gig in Omaha June 10, 1990, they called themselves the Fish Hippos. Soon, they were 311, the police code for indecent exposure.

311 Dishes out 411 with Summer Tour (liveDaily)

Alt-rockers 311 have locked down plans for a new greatest-hits album and a summer U.S. tour.

Dubbed the 2004 Summer Unity Tour, the outing starts in mid-June, and is scheduled run through early August. Medeski, Martin & Wood and The Roots will support on most dates, though The Roots will be the lone show-opener on several stops; details are shown in the itinerary below. Ticket on-sale dates are locked down for many of the shows, and registered users of the band's website have access to online pre-sales. Details are posted at the band's website.

Included in 311's itinerary is a free performance in the group's hometown of Omaha, NE, part of Omaha's 150th birthday celebration. "We were so thrilled to be asked to be a part of Omaha's 150th Birthday," frontman Nick Hexum said in a statement. "We're very proud of our Nebraskan roots and we feel it's always given our band a uniquely Midwestern attitude. 'Work hard and appreciate your blessings!' That's what we say."

311 Announces Summer Tour (antiMusic)

311 have announced a summer tour for North America in support of their best of CD, "Greatest Hits '93-'03," which is set for release on June 8th through Zomba Records. The disc will include hits from the band’s catalog along with two new tracks.

They will hit the road on June 18th in Santa Barbara and spend most of the summer on the road before the tour wraps up in Florida on August 1st in Tampa. The Roots and Medeski Martin & Wood have been booked as the support acts.

You’ll have to wait a bit longer for the new DVD of the “311 day” concert (taped on 3/11/04) to hit the stores. It is expected to be released in the Fall.

311 North American Tour Dates:

06/18 - Santa Barbara, Ca - County Bowl
06/20 - Berkely, Ca- Greek Theatre
06/22 - Long Beach, Ca - Long Beach Arena
06/23 - Las Vegas, Nv- Orleans Casino
06/25 - Salt Lake City, Ut - Usana Amphitheatre
06/26 - Morrison, Co- Red Rocks Amphitheatre
06/28 - Sioux City, Iowa - Tyson Center
06/30 - St. Louis, Missouri - UMB Bank Pavillion
07/01 - Chicago, Ill- Tweeter Center
07/02 - Detroit Lakes, Minn- 10,000 Lakes Festival
07/03 - Milwaukee, Wis- Summerfest
07/06 - Cincinnati, Oh- Riverbend Amphitheatre
07/07 - Detroit, Mich- DTE Amphitheatre
07/09 - Philadelphia, Pa- Penn's Landing
07/12 - Pittsburgh, Pa- Chevy Amptitheatre
07/13 - Columbus, Ohio Germain Amptitheatre
07/15 - Kansas City, Ks- Sandstone Amphitheatre
07/17 - Omaha, Ne- Memorial Park
07/19 - Cleveland, Oh- Tower City Amphitheatre
07/20 - Wallingford, Ct- Oakdale Theatre
07/21 - Gilford, NN- Meadowbrook
07/23 - Boston, Mass- Tweeter Center
07/24 - Holmdel, NJ- PNC Bank Arts Center
07/25 - New York City, NY- Jones Beach Amphitheatre
07/27 - Charlotte, NC- Paladium Amphitheatre
07/29 - Virginia Beach, Va- Virginia Beach Amphitheatre
07/30 - Washington, D.C. - Nissan Pavillion
07/31 - Atlanta, Ga- Hi-Fi Amphitheatre
08/01 - Tampa, Fl - Tampa Amphitheatre

High energy rock with spoonfuls of funk, jazz, hip-hop and reggae filled the USANA Amphitheatre Friday night. The 311 and Roots show was everything the fans wanted and more.

Not only was there a lot of grooving tunes, but there was a lot of grooving by the people in the audience.

The band — vocalist Nick Hexum, DJ/vocalist S.A. Martinez, drummer Chad Sexton, guitarist Tim Mahoney and bassist P-Nut — rocked the house with the opening number "Freak Out."

Backed by a board full of chase lights, which spelled out words or created black-and-white designs, the band cranked out some heavy bass lines and raging guitars. All that was spearheaded by Hexum's cool, mellow vocals and Martinez's punctuated raps.

Adding to the energy were four panels of neon-light-like bars that changed from blue to red during each of the songs.

The sound was mixed well. Bass, drums, guitar, vocals and scratching turntables were heard clearly.

Older favorites such as "Come Original" and "All Mixed Up" from the albums "Soundsystem" and "311," respectively, had die-hard fans showing their true colors. And the new song, "First Straw," lifted from the band's new "Greatest Hits" album rewarded the audience with the signature 311 hustle.

"Visit," from "Music," and the heavy reggae slide of "1 2 3" from "Grassroots" were other crowd pleasers in the set. "Beyond the Gray Sky," "Stealing Happy Hour" were received with hearty shouts and ear-piercing screams.

The band's set was loose enough for spontaneity and tight enough to find the jazz and reggae fills.

"Freeze Time," "Beautiful Disaster," "Sever" and a remake of the Cure's "Love Song," which is featured on the soundtrack to the Adam Sandler movie "50 First Dates," had the audience bouncing in the aisles.

Throughout the show, Hexum and Martinez roused the crowd while Mahoney picked out some impressive fills and fret-board running leads.

P-Nut, the nimble one, seemed to float in light waves as he kept bass rhythm with Sexton's dance easy, yet syncopated rhythms. At one point Sexton led the rest of the guys in a hard-hitting percussion segment, which was reminiscent of a Japanese Taiko drum celebration. While Sexton kept time on his set, roadies brought out four additional floor toms and cymbals and set them in front of the others. And being good sports, they pounded out, in time, with Sexton's footstamping routine.

Hip-hop, jazz, rock and country were the flavor of The Roots, who opened the show with vigor, attitude and musicianship. The group even teased the audience with bits and pieces of "My Favorite Things" in a guitar solo and a soulful rendition of the late Waylon Jennings' "Theme from 'Dukes of Hazzard.' "

For 10 years, 311 has entertained fans across the globe. And there's no sign of the band stopping anytime soon.