Multi-platinum rockers 311 have been hard at work in their own North Hollywood studio, The Hive, with legendary producer Bob Rock (Metallica, Bon Jovi, Aerosmith) for their ninth studio album Uplifter. The band’s first album in close to four years – and their first with producer Bob Rock finally arrives in June at the same time as when the band also hits the road in support of the new album with a Summer trek across the U.S.
Formed in Omaha, Nebraska in 1990, 311 is comprised of vocalist/guitarist Nick Hexum, vocalist/DJ SA Martinez, lead guitarist Tim Mahoney, drummer Chad Sexton and bassist P-Nut and to date have sold more than eight million albums in the U.S alone. The band's celebratory live shows and incessant touring schedule have also earned them a massive and dedicated grassroots following. On the eve of the release of Uplifter, Joe Matera spoke to Tim Mahoney about the new album, working with Bob Rock and how they’re happy to still be making records in 2009.
UG: Uplifter was produced by Bob Rock, aside from production duties, what other ways did Bob contribute to the songwriting and recording process?
Tim Mahoney: It was great working with Bob and we have nothing but nice things to say about him. He’s the greatest guy. It helps that he is also a guitar player too and can also play many other instruments too. And though he’s about 15 years older than me, he’s a little bit ahead of us as far as influences go. Yet he’s more into modern music than I am and he’s more aware of it. And whether it is Led zeppelin or Jeff Beck or anybody in that classic era, he’s into it just as much as I am. And his influence and knowledge of music, when it comes to making records and the whole process of making records, was something that we really enjoyed when it came to making this record. And it was the first time we worked with a producer on a record, who actually came in with us and helped with arrangements from the outset. It was as much fun as we’ve had making a record. I think our fans will hopefully see a growth with us musically. After all, it has been four years since our last record.
When it came to the songwriting process, did you approach it differently to previous albums?
This record was more of a collaborative effort in many ways. Everybody in the band writes music and usually when we get together after having taken a break to write music, we will get together and will all bring our ideas to the table. On this particular record, with the help of Bob Rock, he really got us into a place where communication and collaboration was really very easy and flowed naturally. He was the catalyst for all of that. Though we’ve always been pretty good with communication and putting song ideas together, having him there with us to help and in the capacity of not being a member of the band and being an outsider, where he was able to tell us honestly how it was, really helped immensely. Everyone became more relaxed at putting ideas together and everything just gelled a lot easier. And as I mentioned earlier, this was extremely important especially after it has been four years since our last record. So it made a big difference indeed.
Upon listening to the first single ‘Hey You’, it seems that Bob has successfully managed to merge the band’s heavier elements with its funkier reggae side.
I’m glad you said that because when we first met Bob he told us that what was important to him was to not make an album that sounded like a Bob Rock record. He wanted to take our sound and make it into the best record we could make, to have the most potential sounding record that we could have and to bring that element out more. And I think he tried to make it as palatable as possible especially for people who may have never heard of us before. But for our hard core fans it is no big deal to find us playing reggae and rock and all these other influences. So Bob really did help bring it all together successfully.
Another thing I noticed is that this recording was done all digitally?
Yes that is because Bob prefers using digital technology now and this is the first record that we’ve done completely digitally. We own a studio space in Los Angeles where we work from and we have two tape machines in there. And in the past we did all our albums with analog equipment and only used digital stuff for maybe the vocals where we’d edit vocals and then put them onto tape. And then we’d mix it on tape and everything. So with this new record we were kind of hesitant at first. But the deal with Bob was for us to let go and let somebody else take control and steer the ship so everyone could be more free and focused on just the music. So when we listened back to some of our initial recordings we did with Bob in the beginning, we could hear what Bob was able to do so we gave our total trust to him. We knew he wasn’t going to make a bad sounding record. In the past, we haven’t been able to let go and just focus on the music so to do this time, was great. So it turned out really well and it was interesting to see how Bob worked and how it all turned out with his Pro Tools and stuff. He even mixed the record on his SSL out in Maui at his studio. Since we have a Neve in our studio, this is the first record of ours also that was mixed on a SSL desk.
What guitars did you use for the album?
The bulk of it, honestly, is a 1976 Gibson Explorer which did 90% of the work. Every song has that Explorer on it but some of the overdubs were done with the Paul Reed Smith which I had ever since the first record. It is a Paul Reed Smith Standard 24 fret, custom blue, all mahogany bodied one. I also used a Stratocaster for some of the clean stuff. What is interesting to mention is that while we were recording the album, the David Gilmour Strat had just come out and Bob being a huge David Gilmour fan as am I too, we each went out and bought one and it arrived right before we began doing the overdubs. So I used that Gilmour Strat on some of the stuff too.
And what about the amps you used?
When it came to amps, I used my main amp which is a Diamond Phantom along with a Diamond Spitfire 2. And I blended the two together. I used the high gain channels and blended those together to get the dirty tone.
Is this similar to your live set-up?
Yeah, basically my rig is setup so I can A/B between a clean head and a dirty head. So with the clean tone, I just use the clean channel of the Diamond. That is my main set-up live. For the recording though, I used a 1964 Vox AC-30 and a Roland Jazz Chorus that belonged to Bob and which we used on some overdubs. In fact I recognized it as the same amp that was used on Metallica’s ‘Black’ album as far as getting those chorus-ey clean tones. And there was this other amazing sounding amp of Bob’s too, which I can’t recall the exact model now but I think it was a 50 watt head that went into a 2 X 12” cab. And again we blended that in with the dirty and the clean tones.
So blending amp tones was order of the day?
Yes, any time we were recording guitars, we had at least two amps going and it didn’t matter whether they were dirty or clean. We also had this old Marshall that had been mod-ded by the late Jose Arredondo who used to modify amps for Eddie Van Halen.
The music industry has changed considerably since the band first appeared on the scene. So does it feel good to still be signed to a label and releasing albums?
Absolutely, that’s one of the things we’re definitely really happy about. We kind of trip out a little bit because we’ve been a band 19 years now and here we are today, releasing our ninth studio album. And the fact that we’re still able to play music and to put out records makes us feel really blessed. I think everyone in the band is happier than ever playing together and as time goes on, we really grow and grow and are more inspired than we’ve ever been. So we’re very thankful for that.
The band has adapted well to the ever changing musical climate too.
We’ve been fortunate in that we’ve been able to fit in throughout all the changes. Within six months of our first record there was Rage Against The Machine, Tool’s first record and Grunge was going. And since then, it has changed quite a lot. And to have seen all the bands that have come and gone in that period and to still see us here going out and playing, well, we’re just happy that we can still do it. Especially since, we came from Omaha, Nebraska which is right in the middle of the country. When we moved to Los Angeles, hip hop was just getting really big and so there was that big influence going on too. Then you had Jane’s Addiction and again, Rage Against The Machine and all that cool rock stuff also influencing us at the same time too, so it was all very exciting. And being big fans of music ourselves, we’ve enjoyed everything along the way too.
Since 2000, 311 have celebrated their very own bi-annual holiday on 3/11.
Yeah, we’ve been doing it for every other year for the past ten years now. So with this next one that will be happening in 2010, we’re trying to plan how we can out do all our previous ones. Last time, we had the drum riser rise up like 12 feet into the air; it was very old school KISS style (laughs) and heaps of lasers too. So we’re just trying to figure out ways to top that last one now. And the reason we’ve always done it in New Orleans is because it is a place that is open 24 hours and is a nice destination for culture whether that be music, art, food or whatever and it’s a good place that really works for us on all levels.
You’re about to embark on a summer tour, what can fans expect on this latest undertaking. Are there any surprises in the set list?
We’re currently working on the new songs as on this last small tour that we just did, we only played the new single because since people record the shows, we didn’t want to put too much of our music out there before people could have had a chance to hear the new record. We typically play around 23 songs per night so on this tour, a third of the set list will be comprised of all new songs. So we’ll do eight new ones and the rest of it will be some singles from over the years. The remainder of the set will be devoted to just album tracks that we will mix up every night. I would say about half the set list will change each night and every night.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Fifteen Questions With... P-Nut of 311 (Blender Music Blog)
It must be nice being P-Nut (note: that's not his real name; it's really Aaron Wills). You play bass in a successful band, you're as happy now as you were when you were younger, and mornings include quality time with both the wife and the gaming console. Not only that, but your band, 311, has just released Uplifter, its ninth studio album, on Volcano/Jive. The album debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart. Not bad. When we called P-Nut at his LA-area home early one morning, he was wide-awake and spirited. He was also worried that the interview was a sort of psychological test. P-Nut of 311, we've got some questions for you.
1. How, and where, the hell are you?
I'm doing wonderful. I'm at home, just outside of LA. I just had some eggs and some biscuits, and I was on the bulletin boards at 311.com, and I played a little Warcraft.
2. Pick five words to describe Uplifter.
Crushing, beautiful, delightful, engaging, step-forward-making.
3. What's it like working with [legendary producer] Bob Rock?
It was great working with Bob Rock. With any new person that comes into the studio with us, there's a feeling out period, where you don't know how to take someone's sarcasm, or he doesn't know how to take our sarcasm, so that was kind of fun. There was this awkward period right around this time last year, before we went on a summer tour with Snoop Dogg, and when we got back from the summer tour, it was all engines go. We got right down to work and had fun, and he got us communicating really well. He laid out all of the necessary roads for us to make a good album.
4. Describe your typical onstage clothing.
I'm a comfort-first person. I wear lots of track gear and Lakers clothing. It's bright and it's made to be sweated in. So it's attention-grabbing and wicking, so I don't soak through my clothes like if I was in jeans and a t-shirt. I wear athletic clothes because we're an athletic band.
5. Who's the best-dressed member of 311? You are allowed to choose yourself.
I couldn't say that I'm the best dressed member of 311, though I do spend a lot of time looking at myself in the mirror. It'd probably be Nick [Hexum], because I think he knows that most of the attention is on him, and he works out the most, so his clothes look better on him, so I think Nick would get the prize.
6. What is the most bizarre item on your tour rider?
We don't have anything too bizarre. Back in the day we used to have a quarter ounce of weed on our tour rider and it never got fulfilled! But nothing too weird, just drinks and food. Unlike Aretha Franklin, who gets $35,000 in cash per her rider.
Have you ever ASKED for $35,000 on your rider?
No, but maybe we should learn from the master!
7. What's the worst rock n' roll injury you've had?
I'm more of a basketball injury kind of guy. I was going up for a layup, going through the lane, and I got hit as I was going up in the air, lost my footing. I got low-bridged, as they say. I broke my thumb three days before we did the "Amber" video shoot. So if you look at the "Amber" video, where normally I'd be smiling and having a good time, because I like being on film and video sets are fun, instead I'm straightforward and scowling.
8. What's your favorite city to play and why?
New Orleans. It's one of those few cities in America that has soul. San Francisco and New Orleans have the most tangible soul. Cities that actually have a personality that you could sit down and have lunch with. New Orleans is perhaps the wild side of it, whereas San Francisco might be the intellectual side of it.
9. Do you have a least favorite city to play?
Not really, because of the crowd we attract. We've always focused on being positive and enjoying ourselves, and the music reflects that. The only thing I don't like to see is when there are meatheads in the crowd, standing on the outside of a pit, just shoving people. That's no way to conduct yourself at a 311 show. Or shitty security, overstepping bounds and getting too amped up for no good reason. It's the way people act, more than any one city in particular.
10. What's the single greatest day you've had as a member of 311?
The day I met my wife at a show: September 4, 1993. The Varsity in New Orleans. A great place, one of the few places that really take care of bands when they're in that baby phase. You come in and you're treated like you belong, as opposed to, "Put your shit over there, and don't complain about the chicken and light beer."
11. What venues are special for you?
The Fox Theatre in Boulder. Also, the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, which is the only seated place I'd like to name. That was just an amazing show back in the day. We should really go back there and play. It was just fun and... regal. I remember my mom saying that she saw Gone With The Wind there!
The Sandstone Amphitheatre in Kansas City is amazing. That's where I saw the first Lollapalooza tour as an audience member, and then three or four years later, we were playing a headlining show there. Lakewood, also in Atlanta, is amazing. There's something special about the people in Atlanta—they know how to have a good time. The UNO Arena in New Orleans is fantastic for the same reason. And we've had some really good shows lately in Portland and Seattle, where we've played parks. There's something great about the Northwest.
12. What's your most extravagant hobby?
Um... I'm deferring to my wife. [Mumbling occurs in the background] Hmmm. I just bought an electric car, a Tesla Roadster. So I guess driving around is my most extravagant hobby! You come home, you plug it in, it's faster than a Porsche GT3, and it looks amazing.
13. Is Shaquille O'Neal the real musical deal?
He can be. I think he has strokes of that. He's definitely a man who's creative, and caught in the moment, and is just a big kid. These are all elements of a good musician. He's not someone to take himself too seriously. At the show we played with him in Irvine, he went out in the crowd and tried to crowd surf. A three hundred pound, seven feet man should not be trying to crowd surf in any crowd, unless the crowd are all professional wrestlers! He came out of the crowd with a bloody lip, and was loving every minute of it.
Musicians want to be athletes and athletes want to be musicians. It was a beautiful meeting of the minds.
14. American Idol: Do you care?
Hell motherfuckin' no! I couldn't care less, and I think it's one of the reasons that aliens are going to come down and wipe us off the planet.
15. Which P-Nut is having more fun: the mid-'90s version or the 2009 version?
Hard to say. The mid-'90s were really fun, and selling a ton of records is fun. But I'm smarter, and more comfortable in my skin now, and I'm really looking forward to the future. I guess it would be a tie! I appreciate the past, but I'm really looking forward to the future. I think our best songs are ahead of us, and I think our biggest international breakthroughs are also in front of us. There's something great about being able to tour consistently, as we've done since then, so I don't have any complaints. I just look forward to breaking new ground and continuing to have a good time rocking the world.
1. How, and where, the hell are you?
I'm doing wonderful. I'm at home, just outside of LA. I just had some eggs and some biscuits, and I was on the bulletin boards at 311.com, and I played a little Warcraft.
2. Pick five words to describe Uplifter.
Crushing, beautiful, delightful, engaging, step-forward-making.
3. What's it like working with [legendary producer] Bob Rock?
It was great working with Bob Rock. With any new person that comes into the studio with us, there's a feeling out period, where you don't know how to take someone's sarcasm, or he doesn't know how to take our sarcasm, so that was kind of fun. There was this awkward period right around this time last year, before we went on a summer tour with Snoop Dogg, and when we got back from the summer tour, it was all engines go. We got right down to work and had fun, and he got us communicating really well. He laid out all of the necessary roads for us to make a good album.
4. Describe your typical onstage clothing.
I'm a comfort-first person. I wear lots of track gear and Lakers clothing. It's bright and it's made to be sweated in. So it's attention-grabbing and wicking, so I don't soak through my clothes like if I was in jeans and a t-shirt. I wear athletic clothes because we're an athletic band.
5. Who's the best-dressed member of 311? You are allowed to choose yourself.
I couldn't say that I'm the best dressed member of 311, though I do spend a lot of time looking at myself in the mirror. It'd probably be Nick [Hexum], because I think he knows that most of the attention is on him, and he works out the most, so his clothes look better on him, so I think Nick would get the prize.
6. What is the most bizarre item on your tour rider?
We don't have anything too bizarre. Back in the day we used to have a quarter ounce of weed on our tour rider and it never got fulfilled! But nothing too weird, just drinks and food. Unlike Aretha Franklin, who gets $35,000 in cash per her rider.
Have you ever ASKED for $35,000 on your rider?
No, but maybe we should learn from the master!
7. What's the worst rock n' roll injury you've had?
I'm more of a basketball injury kind of guy. I was going up for a layup, going through the lane, and I got hit as I was going up in the air, lost my footing. I got low-bridged, as they say. I broke my thumb three days before we did the "Amber" video shoot. So if you look at the "Amber" video, where normally I'd be smiling and having a good time, because I like being on film and video sets are fun, instead I'm straightforward and scowling.
8. What's your favorite city to play and why?
New Orleans. It's one of those few cities in America that has soul. San Francisco and New Orleans have the most tangible soul. Cities that actually have a personality that you could sit down and have lunch with. New Orleans is perhaps the wild side of it, whereas San Francisco might be the intellectual side of it.
9. Do you have a least favorite city to play?
Not really, because of the crowd we attract. We've always focused on being positive and enjoying ourselves, and the music reflects that. The only thing I don't like to see is when there are meatheads in the crowd, standing on the outside of a pit, just shoving people. That's no way to conduct yourself at a 311 show. Or shitty security, overstepping bounds and getting too amped up for no good reason. It's the way people act, more than any one city in particular.
10. What's the single greatest day you've had as a member of 311?
The day I met my wife at a show: September 4, 1993. The Varsity in New Orleans. A great place, one of the few places that really take care of bands when they're in that baby phase. You come in and you're treated like you belong, as opposed to, "Put your shit over there, and don't complain about the chicken and light beer."
11. What venues are special for you?
The Fox Theatre in Boulder. Also, the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, which is the only seated place I'd like to name. That was just an amazing show back in the day. We should really go back there and play. It was just fun and... regal. I remember my mom saying that she saw Gone With The Wind there!
The Sandstone Amphitheatre in Kansas City is amazing. That's where I saw the first Lollapalooza tour as an audience member, and then three or four years later, we were playing a headlining show there. Lakewood, also in Atlanta, is amazing. There's something special about the people in Atlanta—they know how to have a good time. The UNO Arena in New Orleans is fantastic for the same reason. And we've had some really good shows lately in Portland and Seattle, where we've played parks. There's something great about the Northwest.
12. What's your most extravagant hobby?
Um... I'm deferring to my wife. [Mumbling occurs in the background] Hmmm. I just bought an electric car, a Tesla Roadster. So I guess driving around is my most extravagant hobby! You come home, you plug it in, it's faster than a Porsche GT3, and it looks amazing.
13. Is Shaquille O'Neal the real musical deal?
He can be. I think he has strokes of that. He's definitely a man who's creative, and caught in the moment, and is just a big kid. These are all elements of a good musician. He's not someone to take himself too seriously. At the show we played with him in Irvine, he went out in the crowd and tried to crowd surf. A three hundred pound, seven feet man should not be trying to crowd surf in any crowd, unless the crowd are all professional wrestlers! He came out of the crowd with a bloody lip, and was loving every minute of it.
Musicians want to be athletes and athletes want to be musicians. It was a beautiful meeting of the minds.
14. American Idol: Do you care?
Hell motherfuckin' no! I couldn't care less, and I think it's one of the reasons that aliens are going to come down and wipe us off the planet.
15. Which P-Nut is having more fun: the mid-'90s version or the 2009 version?
Hard to say. The mid-'90s were really fun, and selling a ton of records is fun. But I'm smarter, and more comfortable in my skin now, and I'm really looking forward to the future. I guess it would be a tie! I appreciate the past, but I'm really looking forward to the future. I think our best songs are ahead of us, and I think our biggest international breakthroughs are also in front of us. There's something great about being able to tour consistently, as we've done since then, so I don't have any complaints. I just look forward to breaking new ground and continuing to have a good time rocking the world.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
311, Ziggy Marley – Live @ White River State Park (Stereo Subversion)
Love was in the air. Literally. A banner hanging above the stage reading “LOVE” set the feeling for the Unity tour’s stop at The Lawn at White River State Park in Indianapolis June 21. The Expendables, Ziggy Marley and 311 provided a sonic buffet, as each group played a plethora of styles, giving fans a heaping helping of peace, love and music.
The Expendables, from sunny Santa Cruz, Calif., played a half hour set of rock fleshed out with punk, reggae and 80s music. The band begged the audience to stand and rock, but the sweltering heat of the day was weighing too heavily on the crowd. “Sacrifice (Reprise),” “Down, Down, Down” and “Ganja Smugglin’” succeeded in getting fans near the stage hopping on their feet. The Expendables played tight instrumental compositions laced with hazy vocals. The guitar work was the sweet part of the show as Geoff Weirs and Paul Bianchi played their singing distorted guitars in tandem throughout the set. Their style carried a heavy reggae influence as the band’s grooves drifted through the clamoring throng of people pushing to get a good seat for Ziggy Marley.
Ziggy Marley’s performance proved to be a refreshing musical change of pace in the middle of two other louder acts, giving the audience a break from rock and a chance to savor the silky smooth and carefree sounds of reggae. Marley, with his charcoal dreadlocks hanging from his head like a well-groomed willow tree, played his beat-up green, red and yellow Telecaster for most of the show. He opened with “Dragonfly,” fleshed out with various island percussion and chilled guitar work, aptly setting the tone for the rest of the set. Classics like “Got to Be True to Myself” and songs from his newest album Family Time, dotted the set list, showing that Ziggy can innovate, while still staying in the realm of reggae.
Like his father Bob Marley, Ziggy uses his music to convey a message. Before playing “Love is My Religion,” Ziggy spoke with the audience about his views on religion and that no matter the audience’s religious views, love was something everyone could embrace. His “LOVE” banner draped across the top of the stage emphasized his statement. At the conclusion of his set, Ziggy left the stage as threatening grey clouds dissipated while the sun sank into the White River – almost as if his music calmed an impending storm.
As night drew nearer, the stage began to transform. A metal arch that supported at least 25 lights surrounded a large screen at the back of the stage that projected flashes of colors and images. A six person light crew sat high above the stage ready to control the light show that would ensue.
When 311 took the stage, they performed hit songs right away to get the crowd jumping, saving their newer material later in the show. “Come Original,” “Flowing,” “Applied Science” and “Creatures” were some of the most noteworthy classics of the evening. The variation in the band’s music was refreshing from the reggae infused “Amber” to the rap/rock tune “Jackpot,” giving the audience a change in style nearly every song. Singers Nick Hexum and SA Martinez displayed a plethora of vocal styles, sometimes singing tight harmonies while other times spouting off aggressive rhymes. Hexum, wearing a white jump suit, even played some crushing guitar riffs on “Beautiful Disaster.” His lofty vocals echoed through the venue as Martinez supplied a bit of scratching on a turntable.
What was most pleasing about the show was that the band’s songs were tight and well-rehearsed. Songs from the band’s newest album, Uplifter fell a little flat, especially after the audience’s head banging subsided when they played unfamiliar tunes. The band still was still unfazed, playing more well-known tunes after newer songs to get everyone moving again. During their performance, 311 didn’t solely rely on showmanship but musicianship as well.
Guitarist Tim Mahoney isn’t a shredder or virtuoso by any means but does have a style that relies heavily on silky phrasing wrapped in a sea of effects controlled by a huge pedal board at his feet. The band broke up the set further by performing a five piece percussion number where all members beat drums in a tribal style and threw drumsticks to each other on stage. The exhibition concluded with drummer Chad Sexton pounding out an impressive display of intricate rhythms that were teaming with a plethora of percussive textures. The hidden treat in the show was bassist P-Nut’s solo where he showcased his virtuosic slap technique. Easily the most technically impressive musical solo of the night, the bassist received roaring approval from fans at the end of his demonstration.
Although 311 are still testing the waters with their newer material, they are still a band that puts on a heck of a live show. Even an audience member who threw two shoes on stage couldn’t throw the band off as they blazed through their extensive back catalog of music. The band still relies on their old musical tricks from the ’90s but demonstrated that they can still forge new ground and can indeed play their instruments. Fans will be pleased to hear a mixture of new and old 311 material, while non fans will enjoy the light show and great musicianship from a band that’s proving they can still rock.
The Expendables, from sunny Santa Cruz, Calif., played a half hour set of rock fleshed out with punk, reggae and 80s music. The band begged the audience to stand and rock, but the sweltering heat of the day was weighing too heavily on the crowd. “Sacrifice (Reprise),” “Down, Down, Down” and “Ganja Smugglin’” succeeded in getting fans near the stage hopping on their feet. The Expendables played tight instrumental compositions laced with hazy vocals. The guitar work was the sweet part of the show as Geoff Weirs and Paul Bianchi played their singing distorted guitars in tandem throughout the set. Their style carried a heavy reggae influence as the band’s grooves drifted through the clamoring throng of people pushing to get a good seat for Ziggy Marley.
Ziggy Marley’s performance proved to be a refreshing musical change of pace in the middle of two other louder acts, giving the audience a break from rock and a chance to savor the silky smooth and carefree sounds of reggae. Marley, with his charcoal dreadlocks hanging from his head like a well-groomed willow tree, played his beat-up green, red and yellow Telecaster for most of the show. He opened with “Dragonfly,” fleshed out with various island percussion and chilled guitar work, aptly setting the tone for the rest of the set. Classics like “Got to Be True to Myself” and songs from his newest album Family Time, dotted the set list, showing that Ziggy can innovate, while still staying in the realm of reggae.
Like his father Bob Marley, Ziggy uses his music to convey a message. Before playing “Love is My Religion,” Ziggy spoke with the audience about his views on religion and that no matter the audience’s religious views, love was something everyone could embrace. His “LOVE” banner draped across the top of the stage emphasized his statement. At the conclusion of his set, Ziggy left the stage as threatening grey clouds dissipated while the sun sank into the White River – almost as if his music calmed an impending storm.
As night drew nearer, the stage began to transform. A metal arch that supported at least 25 lights surrounded a large screen at the back of the stage that projected flashes of colors and images. A six person light crew sat high above the stage ready to control the light show that would ensue.
When 311 took the stage, they performed hit songs right away to get the crowd jumping, saving their newer material later in the show. “Come Original,” “Flowing,” “Applied Science” and “Creatures” were some of the most noteworthy classics of the evening. The variation in the band’s music was refreshing from the reggae infused “Amber” to the rap/rock tune “Jackpot,” giving the audience a change in style nearly every song. Singers Nick Hexum and SA Martinez displayed a plethora of vocal styles, sometimes singing tight harmonies while other times spouting off aggressive rhymes. Hexum, wearing a white jump suit, even played some crushing guitar riffs on “Beautiful Disaster.” His lofty vocals echoed through the venue as Martinez supplied a bit of scratching on a turntable.
What was most pleasing about the show was that the band’s songs were tight and well-rehearsed. Songs from the band’s newest album, Uplifter fell a little flat, especially after the audience’s head banging subsided when they played unfamiliar tunes. The band still was still unfazed, playing more well-known tunes after newer songs to get everyone moving again. During their performance, 311 didn’t solely rely on showmanship but musicianship as well.
Guitarist Tim Mahoney isn’t a shredder or virtuoso by any means but does have a style that relies heavily on silky phrasing wrapped in a sea of effects controlled by a huge pedal board at his feet. The band broke up the set further by performing a five piece percussion number where all members beat drums in a tribal style and threw drumsticks to each other on stage. The exhibition concluded with drummer Chad Sexton pounding out an impressive display of intricate rhythms that were teaming with a plethora of percussive textures. The hidden treat in the show was bassist P-Nut’s solo where he showcased his virtuosic slap technique. Easily the most technically impressive musical solo of the night, the bassist received roaring approval from fans at the end of his demonstration.
Although 311 are still testing the waters with their newer material, they are still a band that puts on a heck of a live show. Even an audience member who threw two shoes on stage couldn’t throw the band off as they blazed through their extensive back catalog of music. The band still relies on their old musical tricks from the ’90s but demonstrated that they can still forge new ground and can indeed play their instruments. Fans will be pleased to hear a mixture of new and old 311 material, while non fans will enjoy the light show and great musicianship from a band that’s proving they can still rock.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
311: No more 'business as usual' (Eagle-Tribune)
311 has made its fans wait a long time for a new CD, with its most recent release, "Don't Tread On Me," having come out in 2005. But singer Nick Hexum said the long gap between albums was the best thing the group could have done for its music and its future.
"Having a significant break at the end of 2006 was vital, because a philosophy I really believe in is, if you want to become a better musician, become a better person," the singer/guitarist said during a recent phone interview. "I needed to go through a bit of personal growth.
"Sometimes the best way to make progress with music is to actually work on yourself, the way you communicate with people and your own personal issues that have nothing to do with music," Hexum said. "So it's been a definite period of growth for everybody."
In an interview last year, Hexum had explained that by the time touring behind "Don't Tread On Me" wrapped up, the group felt as if it had been on the album/tour, album/tour treadmill for too long and hadn't been able to step away from its work routine to experience everyday life.
So in 2006, the band decided to take a break. That break wound up stretching into 2007, when 311 regrouped for its Unity tour, which has become pretty much of an annual summer event. This year's Unity tour, with Ziggy Marley as the main supporting act, kicked off this month.
It was after that 2007 run of dates that 311 began work on its forthcoming CD, "Uplifter." By that time, it was clear that the group was coming into the project eager for musical exploration and willing to accept outside input.
"In retrospect, 'Don't Tread On Me' feels a little stagnant," Hexum said. "We realized that it was time to shake things up. We didn't want to just hurry and make another album. We wanted to really make sure we were taking a huge step forward, because it's about quality, not quantity."
Hexum said a key step in the process was choosing Bob Rock to produce the new CD.
Rock came into the project urging 311 to set aside any preconceived notions of its sound and how the group should write and record songs. Hexum said Rock was active in suggesting changes to song arrangements and in helping 311 discover new ways to approach its sound.
"Seeing as this is our ninth album, invariably, bands are going to get into certain sorts of ruts and grooves of ways that they're used to doing things," Hexum said. "And he (Rock) came in and it was like, 'I don't care how you guys used to do things. Let's try a new way.'"
To say that Hexum is excited about "Uplifter" would be an understatement.
He said that in some respects, it recalls the more rap-rock oriented sound of early 311 albums like "Music" (1993) and "Grassroots" (1994). But at the same time, it's a guitar-oriented album with a definite rock dimension and lots of melody.
"It's more danceable, but then there's more heavy, and then there are these shredding guitar solos," Hexum said. "Then there's some kind of reggae grooves, even a little bit of world beat, something that we haven't really messed around with much. But Bob turned us on to some North African guitar textures that make an interesting little appearance in the bridge of one song."
The reggae-ish grooves work their way into songs like "Hey You" (the CD's bouncy first single), while the band rocks out on "India Ink" and "Never Ending Summer." The band puts a little funk into the relaxed rocker, "It's Alright," while "Golden Sunlight" is one of several songs that finds 311 venturing into sweetly lit pop territory.
Hexum is also confident that 311 — which also includes SA Martinez (vocals/deejay), Chad Sexton (drums), Tim Mahoney (guitar) and P-Nut (bass) — did some of its best songwriting on "Uplifter."
"I think that we achieved, we had really 12 breakthroughs," he said. "We have 12 songs on the album, and all of those feel like breakthroughs to us, where in the past we might have a few breakthroughs on an album, and then the other songs, we'd be like, 'Well, that's just kind of like business as usual.' Well, now we're at a place where we don't accept business as usual."
Fans may very well hear a large chunk of the new material in 311's set on the Unity tour this summer, although Hexum also said the group will include familiar songs from its back catalog and perhaps a few rarities.
"We know that (the new) songs are really going to work live," he said. "We might end up playing the majority of it, which is very refreshing to have a record that we're that excited about."
"Having a significant break at the end of 2006 was vital, because a philosophy I really believe in is, if you want to become a better musician, become a better person," the singer/guitarist said during a recent phone interview. "I needed to go through a bit of personal growth.
"Sometimes the best way to make progress with music is to actually work on yourself, the way you communicate with people and your own personal issues that have nothing to do with music," Hexum said. "So it's been a definite period of growth for everybody."
In an interview last year, Hexum had explained that by the time touring behind "Don't Tread On Me" wrapped up, the group felt as if it had been on the album/tour, album/tour treadmill for too long and hadn't been able to step away from its work routine to experience everyday life.
So in 2006, the band decided to take a break. That break wound up stretching into 2007, when 311 regrouped for its Unity tour, which has become pretty much of an annual summer event. This year's Unity tour, with Ziggy Marley as the main supporting act, kicked off this month.
It was after that 2007 run of dates that 311 began work on its forthcoming CD, "Uplifter." By that time, it was clear that the group was coming into the project eager for musical exploration and willing to accept outside input.
"In retrospect, 'Don't Tread On Me' feels a little stagnant," Hexum said. "We realized that it was time to shake things up. We didn't want to just hurry and make another album. We wanted to really make sure we were taking a huge step forward, because it's about quality, not quantity."
Hexum said a key step in the process was choosing Bob Rock to produce the new CD.
Rock came into the project urging 311 to set aside any preconceived notions of its sound and how the group should write and record songs. Hexum said Rock was active in suggesting changes to song arrangements and in helping 311 discover new ways to approach its sound.
"Seeing as this is our ninth album, invariably, bands are going to get into certain sorts of ruts and grooves of ways that they're used to doing things," Hexum said. "And he (Rock) came in and it was like, 'I don't care how you guys used to do things. Let's try a new way.'"
To say that Hexum is excited about "Uplifter" would be an understatement.
He said that in some respects, it recalls the more rap-rock oriented sound of early 311 albums like "Music" (1993) and "Grassroots" (1994). But at the same time, it's a guitar-oriented album with a definite rock dimension and lots of melody.
"It's more danceable, but then there's more heavy, and then there are these shredding guitar solos," Hexum said. "Then there's some kind of reggae grooves, even a little bit of world beat, something that we haven't really messed around with much. But Bob turned us on to some North African guitar textures that make an interesting little appearance in the bridge of one song."
The reggae-ish grooves work their way into songs like "Hey You" (the CD's bouncy first single), while the band rocks out on "India Ink" and "Never Ending Summer." The band puts a little funk into the relaxed rocker, "It's Alright," while "Golden Sunlight" is one of several songs that finds 311 venturing into sweetly lit pop territory.
Hexum is also confident that 311 — which also includes SA Martinez (vocals/deejay), Chad Sexton (drums), Tim Mahoney (guitar) and P-Nut (bass) — did some of its best songwriting on "Uplifter."
"I think that we achieved, we had really 12 breakthroughs," he said. "We have 12 songs on the album, and all of those feel like breakthroughs to us, where in the past we might have a few breakthroughs on an album, and then the other songs, we'd be like, 'Well, that's just kind of like business as usual.' Well, now we're at a place where we don't accept business as usual."
Fans may very well hear a large chunk of the new material in 311's set on the Unity tour this summer, although Hexum also said the group will include familiar songs from its back catalog and perhaps a few rarities.
"We know that (the new) songs are really going to work live," he said. "We might end up playing the majority of it, which is very refreshing to have a record that we're that excited about."
Friday, June 19, 2009
Unity Tour headed for the Amphitheatre (Tampa Bay Weekly)
TAMPA - 311 with special guest Matisyahu brings the Unity Tour 2007 to the Ford Amphitheatre on Wednesday, July 18, 6:30 p.m.
Tickets are $37.50, general admission dance floor; $35 and $25, reserved seats; and $20 festival lawn and available at the Ford Amphitheatre Box Office, online at www.livenation.com and www.ticketmaster.com, and all Ticketmaster locations, including FYE and Spec's Music, or charge by phone by calling at 813-287-8844 or 727-898-2100.
311 return to the road, and they are fired-up and ready to make this an amazing summer tour. Formed more than 15 years ago in Omaha, 311 are pioneers of mixing rap, reggae, funk and metal to create their own unique blend of vibe music.
The band is composed of five self-described “friends for life” (singer and guitarist Nick Hexum, singer S.A. Martinez, guitarist Tim Mahoney, drummer Chad Sexton and the bassist known only as P-Nut) whose common link was a passion for both music and life. It was this philosophy that eventually brought them together to make music with a positive message behind it.
They have sold millions of albums and even had a video certified platinum, all serving as a strong testament to the unique relationship 311 has with its fans.
“When we first started the band, we were always sure something good was going to happen,” said drummer Chad Sexton. “And we’ve never gone backwards in any way since.”
Hailing from Brooklyn NY, Matisyahu brings his electrifying fusion of reggae and rock with an unbelievable energy and positivity. When Matisyahu emerged with his debut album, Shake Off the Dust ... Arise, in 2004, his musical persona seemed to some a novelty. Here was a Hasidic Jew, dressed in a black suit with a broad-brimmed black hat worn over a yarmulke, and sporting a full, untrimmed beard, who nevertheless performed toasting raps about the glories of traditional Judaism over reggae beats in a dancehall style directly from Jamaica, punctuating his performances with stage diving.
It may have seemed like a joke at first, but Matisyahu was serious, and he began to attract press notices to go with the enthusiastic audiences that packed his concerts. Breaking big on the scene with his song "King Without A Crown", Matisyahu delivered an original, uplifting, powerful performance. Matisyahu toured around the country and prepared a second studio album produced by Bill Laswell. The final product, Youth, appeared in March 2006 and was nominated for a Grammy in the category of “Best Reggae Album.”
Tickets are $37.50, general admission dance floor; $35 and $25, reserved seats; and $20 festival lawn and available at the Ford Amphitheatre Box Office, online at www.livenation.com and www.ticketmaster.com, and all Ticketmaster locations, including FYE and Spec's Music, or charge by phone by calling at 813-287-8844 or 727-898-2100.
311 return to the road, and they are fired-up and ready to make this an amazing summer tour. Formed more than 15 years ago in Omaha, 311 are pioneers of mixing rap, reggae, funk and metal to create their own unique blend of vibe music.
The band is composed of five self-described “friends for life” (singer and guitarist Nick Hexum, singer S.A. Martinez, guitarist Tim Mahoney, drummer Chad Sexton and the bassist known only as P-Nut) whose common link was a passion for both music and life. It was this philosophy that eventually brought them together to make music with a positive message behind it.
They have sold millions of albums and even had a video certified platinum, all serving as a strong testament to the unique relationship 311 has with its fans.
“When we first started the band, we were always sure something good was going to happen,” said drummer Chad Sexton. “And we’ve never gone backwards in any way since.”
Hailing from Brooklyn NY, Matisyahu brings his electrifying fusion of reggae and rock with an unbelievable energy and positivity. When Matisyahu emerged with his debut album, Shake Off the Dust ... Arise, in 2004, his musical persona seemed to some a novelty. Here was a Hasidic Jew, dressed in a black suit with a broad-brimmed black hat worn over a yarmulke, and sporting a full, untrimmed beard, who nevertheless performed toasting raps about the glories of traditional Judaism over reggae beats in a dancehall style directly from Jamaica, punctuating his performances with stage diving.
It may have seemed like a joke at first, but Matisyahu was serious, and he began to attract press notices to go with the enthusiastic audiences that packed his concerts. Breaking big on the scene with his song "King Without A Crown", Matisyahu delivered an original, uplifting, powerful performance. Matisyahu toured around the country and prepared a second studio album produced by Bill Laswell. The final product, Youth, appeared in March 2006 and was nominated for a Grammy in the category of “Best Reggae Album.”
Thursday, June 18, 2009
311's Uplifter Debuts at #3 (VentVox)
311’s celebratory live shows & incessant touring schedule have earned them a massive grassroots following nationwide. Since its inception in 2004, 311’s annual summer headlining amphitheatre run, Unity Tour, has become one of the largest annual modern rock tours of the summer. Support acts on the past five Unity Tours have included Snoop Dogg, The Roots, Papa Roach, The Wailers, O.A.R. and Matisyahu.
Uplifter is the band’s first studio record in three years and was produced by the legendary producer Bob Rock. As the title suggests, the band’s new album is an uplifting collection of 311′s trademark blend of rock & reggae, elevated dynamic musicianship and big anthemic choruses. The deluxe edition of Uplifter includes a special DVD documentary, The Road to 311 Day, directed by Wayne Price. The documentary includes interviews, backstage footage and live performances, following the band and their fans for weeks leading up to the 3-11 Day concert event in New Orleans in 2008.
311 have released five Gold, one Platinum, and one Triple-Platinum-certified albums, a live album and three DVD’s (one Gold, two Platinum-certified). Five of their releases have reached the Top 10 on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums Chart. Six singles have gone into the Top 10 on Billboard’s Modern Rock Chart including the #1 hits “Down,” “Love Song,” and “Don’t Tread On Me.” To date band has sold over 8 million units in the U.S.
Combining 311’s signature rock-reggae sound and inspired lyrics, the band is excited to release their next single “It’s Alright”! Take a gander of the song right here.
UNITY TOUR 2009 w/ Ziggy Marley and The Expendables:
06/16: Cleveland, OH @ Time Warner Amphitheatre
06/17: Columbus, OH @ Lifestyles Communities Pavilion
06/19: Detroit, MI @ Freedom Hill
06/20: Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Amphitheatre
06/21: Indianapolis, IN @ The Lawns
06/23: Saratoga, NY @ SPAC
06/24: Boston, MA @ Comcast Center
06/25: New York, NY @ Central Park Summerstage
06/27: Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Art Center
06/28: Washington DC @ Nissan Pavilion
06/30: Philadelphia, PA @ Penns Landing
07/01: Virginia Beach, VA @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
07/03: Charlotte, NC @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
07/04: Atlanta, GA @ Lakewood Amphitheatre
07/05: Raleigh, NC @ Walnut Creek Amphitheatre
07/07: St. Louis, MO @ Verizon Amphitheatre
07/10: Phoenix, AZ @ Dodge Theatre
07/11: San Diego, CA @ Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre
07/12: Irvine, CA @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
Uplifter is the band’s first studio record in three years and was produced by the legendary producer Bob Rock. As the title suggests, the band’s new album is an uplifting collection of 311′s trademark blend of rock & reggae, elevated dynamic musicianship and big anthemic choruses. The deluxe edition of Uplifter includes a special DVD documentary, The Road to 311 Day, directed by Wayne Price. The documentary includes interviews, backstage footage and live performances, following the band and their fans for weeks leading up to the 3-11 Day concert event in New Orleans in 2008.
311 have released five Gold, one Platinum, and one Triple-Platinum-certified albums, a live album and three DVD’s (one Gold, two Platinum-certified). Five of their releases have reached the Top 10 on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums Chart. Six singles have gone into the Top 10 on Billboard’s Modern Rock Chart including the #1 hits “Down,” “Love Song,” and “Don’t Tread On Me.” To date band has sold over 8 million units in the U.S.
Combining 311’s signature rock-reggae sound and inspired lyrics, the band is excited to release their next single “It’s Alright”! Take a gander of the song right here.
UNITY TOUR 2009 w/ Ziggy Marley and The Expendables:
06/16: Cleveland, OH @ Time Warner Amphitheatre
06/17: Columbus, OH @ Lifestyles Communities Pavilion
06/19: Detroit, MI @ Freedom Hill
06/20: Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Amphitheatre
06/21: Indianapolis, IN @ The Lawns
06/23: Saratoga, NY @ SPAC
06/24: Boston, MA @ Comcast Center
06/25: New York, NY @ Central Park Summerstage
06/27: Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Art Center
06/28: Washington DC @ Nissan Pavilion
06/30: Philadelphia, PA @ Penns Landing
07/01: Virginia Beach, VA @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
07/03: Charlotte, NC @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
07/04: Atlanta, GA @ Lakewood Amphitheatre
07/05: Raleigh, NC @ Walnut Creek Amphitheatre
07/07: St. Louis, MO @ Verizon Amphitheatre
07/10: Phoenix, AZ @ Dodge Theatre
07/11: San Diego, CA @ Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre
07/12: Irvine, CA @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
311 sends fans message: 'Stay positive; love your life' (Stamford Times)
The album is new but the rest remains the same for 311.
Same lineup, same head-bobbing sound that's impossible to fit into a neat musical category, same aggressive spring and summer tour schedule, same energetic live performances and same message to their fans: "Stay positive and love your life."
Since the early 1990s, the five-person alternative rock/reggae/funk/rap band from Omaha, Neb., has built a loyal grassroots following by complementing a relentless agenda of live shows with just enough studio albums to keep the music fresh. The band, now based in Los Angeles, has nine albums and has played at least 60 live shows during each of the last five years.
311 (three-eleven) released its ninth studio album, "Uplifter," earlier this month. It debuted this week at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, trailing only new releases by Dave Matthews Band and Eminem. The first single from the album, "Hey You," peaked at No. 3 on Billboard's Hot Modern Tracks.
All this while, the band is in the midst of its Unity Tour 2009, which features Ziggy Marley and The Expendables as the opening acts. This latest whirlwind coast-to-coast tour (29 shows in 60 days) brings them to Central Park on Thursday, June 24, when they play a show to benefit the park's Summer Stage.
"It makes you super-charged as an artist to play in New York City. People in New York City have seen things a thousand times, so it's a challenge to put on a good show," said P-Nut (real name Aaron Willis), the band's bass player. "New York is great. It's one of three cities that has a real and tangible soul in the U.S. -- San Francisco and New Orleans being the others. It's just fantastic to feel that energy.
"I can't wait to play the Summer Stage," he added. "Five thousand people in a tree-lined area -- it will be amazing."
311 gives back that energy to its audience. Many a music critic has said a live 311 show is a "must see." Every other March 11, the band holds 311 Day in a major U.S. city. The day includes five hours of live 311 music.
P-Nut said one of the reasons 311 has been able to grow such a large, loyal base is the message in the band's lyrics and shows. Instead of lyrics that incite anger, express extreme political views, degrade women, or make no sense at all -- messages so common in today's rock/rap world -- 311 stresses a positive attitude (although their early albums were also associated with a pot-smoking culture.)
Lead singer Nick Hexum ends 311 live shows with "Stay positive. Love your life."
"I love working this group of guys and waving that flag (of being positive)," P-Nut said. "That's part of our message and that's what makes the personalities in this group special. We realize how important the pieces are. We appreciate where everyone is coming from and we all come from a different space. That's been the point."
In addition to distinct personalities, each member brings unique playing skills to the band. Drummer Chad Sexton played in the drum corps in high school, a background that leads P-Nut to describe Sexton's playing as "perfection and execution."
Nick Hexum is the lead vocalist and writes the majority of the lyrics and music. Crowd favorite SA Martinez supports Hexum's vocals, but also sings lead on many songs. He also plays turntables. "Their harmony is so together," P-Nut said of Hexum and Martinez. "It just feels good."
Guitarist Tim Mahoney "just keeps getting better," according to P-Nut.
P-Nut, a self-proclaimed "anything goes type of guy," is known for his funky slap bass technique, but is equally adept at keeping the rhythm slow for 311's anthem-type songs, such as "Amber" and "Love Song" (a The Cure remake).
"I love that the guys give me a little time during the shows to do my thing," P-Nut said. "My solos are controlled chaos -- well, may just chaos. It's just fun."
311 released its first album in 1993, but didn't make a lot of noise nationally until its third album, 311, was released in 1995. That third release, also known as the Blue album and now triple-Platinum, included singles "Down" and "All Mixed Up," which have become 311 mainstays.
With their fan base growing, 311 threw what P-Nut described as a curveball, with its third release "Transistor," a 21-song album that veered creatively from their first three albums.
"We have long-term fans that want us to be a creative as possible," P-Nut said. "We also have fans who like the radio songs. We're lucky to have both."
Several gold and platinum albums later, 311 is now touring in support of its new "Uplifter" album. The band immediately incorporated several songs from the album onto its concert setlist.
"We're putting our Uplifter foot forward," P-Nut said. "This is a new era."
Same lineup, same head-bobbing sound that's impossible to fit into a neat musical category, same aggressive spring and summer tour schedule, same energetic live performances and same message to their fans: "Stay positive and love your life."
Since the early 1990s, the five-person alternative rock/reggae/funk/rap band from Omaha, Neb., has built a loyal grassroots following by complementing a relentless agenda of live shows with just enough studio albums to keep the music fresh. The band, now based in Los Angeles, has nine albums and has played at least 60 live shows during each of the last five years.
311 (three-eleven) released its ninth studio album, "Uplifter," earlier this month. It debuted this week at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, trailing only new releases by Dave Matthews Band and Eminem. The first single from the album, "Hey You," peaked at No. 3 on Billboard's Hot Modern Tracks.
All this while, the band is in the midst of its Unity Tour 2009, which features Ziggy Marley and The Expendables as the opening acts. This latest whirlwind coast-to-coast tour (29 shows in 60 days) brings them to Central Park on Thursday, June 24, when they play a show to benefit the park's Summer Stage.
"It makes you super-charged as an artist to play in New York City. People in New York City have seen things a thousand times, so it's a challenge to put on a good show," said P-Nut (real name Aaron Willis), the band's bass player. "New York is great. It's one of three cities that has a real and tangible soul in the U.S. -- San Francisco and New Orleans being the others. It's just fantastic to feel that energy.
"I can't wait to play the Summer Stage," he added. "Five thousand people in a tree-lined area -- it will be amazing."
311 gives back that energy to its audience. Many a music critic has said a live 311 show is a "must see." Every other March 11, the band holds 311 Day in a major U.S. city. The day includes five hours of live 311 music.
P-Nut said one of the reasons 311 has been able to grow such a large, loyal base is the message in the band's lyrics and shows. Instead of lyrics that incite anger, express extreme political views, degrade women, or make no sense at all -- messages so common in today's rock/rap world -- 311 stresses a positive attitude (although their early albums were also associated with a pot-smoking culture.)
Lead singer Nick Hexum ends 311 live shows with "Stay positive. Love your life."
"I love working this group of guys and waving that flag (of being positive)," P-Nut said. "That's part of our message and that's what makes the personalities in this group special. We realize how important the pieces are. We appreciate where everyone is coming from and we all come from a different space. That's been the point."
In addition to distinct personalities, each member brings unique playing skills to the band. Drummer Chad Sexton played in the drum corps in high school, a background that leads P-Nut to describe Sexton's playing as "perfection and execution."
Nick Hexum is the lead vocalist and writes the majority of the lyrics and music. Crowd favorite SA Martinez supports Hexum's vocals, but also sings lead on many songs. He also plays turntables. "Their harmony is so together," P-Nut said of Hexum and Martinez. "It just feels good."
Guitarist Tim Mahoney "just keeps getting better," according to P-Nut.
P-Nut, a self-proclaimed "anything goes type of guy," is known for his funky slap bass technique, but is equally adept at keeping the rhythm slow for 311's anthem-type songs, such as "Amber" and "Love Song" (a The Cure remake).
"I love that the guys give me a little time during the shows to do my thing," P-Nut said. "My solos are controlled chaos -- well, may just chaos. It's just fun."
311 released its first album in 1993, but didn't make a lot of noise nationally until its third album, 311, was released in 1995. That third release, also known as the Blue album and now triple-Platinum, included singles "Down" and "All Mixed Up," which have become 311 mainstays.
With their fan base growing, 311 threw what P-Nut described as a curveball, with its third release "Transistor," a 21-song album that veered creatively from their first three albums.
"We have long-term fans that want us to be a creative as possible," P-Nut said. "We also have fans who like the radio songs. We're lucky to have both."
Several gold and platinum albums later, 311 is now touring in support of its new "Uplifter" album. The band immediately incorporated several songs from the album onto its concert setlist.
"We're putting our Uplifter foot forward," P-Nut said. "This is a new era."
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