Nick Hexum — vocals, guitars
Tim Mahoney – guitars
SA Martinez – vocals, dj
Chad Sexton – drums
P-Nut — bass
311 is a band whose success is based solidly on a handful of select principles: the the fusion of diverse musical influences, a focused work ethic, positivity and an abundance of creative live energy.
Since their inception in 1990, the group has built a reputation that is as equally attributed to their powerful live shows as it is to their four studio albums. From playing local gigs in their hometown of Omaha, to relocating to Los Angeles in 1992, to winning Pollstar Magazine’s “Club Tour Of The Year” award in 1996, to drawing up to 15,000 people a night on their 1997 tour — 311 has established a legion of loyal fans who thrive (much like the musicians) on intense live performances. So it’s quite apt that their latest Capricorn Record’s release, 311 LIVE, reflects this side of the band as it has become such an integral part of who they are.
311 LIVE (November 3, 1998 release) captures the group at its best and highlights the top performances of their 1997 tour. The album features fourteen 311 favorites including “Down,” “Homebrew,” “Freak Out” and “Beautiful Disaster.” The recording also successfully relays the driving energy which is so prevalent between the band and its audience at a 311 show. It is this raw connection which makes the album, like their concerts, such an intimate yet throttling experience.
Vocalist/guitarist Nick Hexum describes a 311 concert in his own words: “What we’re doing is a continuum of the most basic form of communication– going all the way back to tribal drum circles where some people banged on drums while others danced. For us it’s all about creating a zone of positive energy and letting it flow through every person in the venue.” Impressively, this relationship between 311 and their fans has only escalated with the ever growing capacity of their shows.
311 LIVE finds Hexum and bandmates (guitarist Tim Mahoney, vocalist/dj SA Martinez, drummer Chad Sexton and bassist P-Nut) releasing their first official live recording which follows the success of their first four releases, Music, Grassroots, 311 and Transistor. Collectively, 311 has sold over 5 million albums to date, has been featured on several compilation albums, and has released a highly successful home video (which also achieved platinum status).
Aside from reflecting the obvious attention that the band receives for its shows, the album also serves to fulfill the recording standards which the group has set for itself. “There are some poorly recorded live 311 bootlegs that are available illegally on a pretty widespread basis,” Hexum explains. “We just decided that by professionally recording and mixing our shows, we could officially release something that we are really proud of.”
As far as 311’s music, it can best be summed up as a unique blend of sounds and influences. From funk to reggae, hard rock to hip hop, the band has fused a variety of styles into a unique sound. Driving guitar licks, funky bass lines, explosive drum beats and energetic vocal raps and melodies are all part of 311’s “omaha stylee.”
The success of this mix is again reflected by their road experience, as 311 has played with a diverse roster of artists ranging from Kiss to Beck to Blues Traveler to the Wu Tang Clan. One summer even found 311 co-headlining the H.O.R.D.E. Tour, headlining the punk Warped Tour and performing on Cypress Hill’s Temple Of Boom Tour — quite a genre defying feat.
The explosive passion which 311 brings to stage every night doesn’t stem from their commercial success, but rather from their longstanding ability to translate a high energy, captivating performance to their audience — be it at a club or capacity amphitheatre. In other words, it has always been a defining characteristic. And it was this precedent and live reputation which opened doors for them at MTV and alternative radio, leading to a #1 Modern Rock Single (“Down”), and two #1 MTV videos (“Down” and “All Mixed Up”). This grassroots approach to touring also became a model for young bands such as Korn and No Doubt, who opened for 311 on their way up to headlining status.
One of the best things about 311 LIVE is that it is proof of the band’s relationship with their audience. Having played relentlessly over the past nine years, the album is a vindication of what 311’s music means to both the bandmembers and their fans. The group realized long ago that a dedicated following transcends any fleeting trend, marketing strategy, promotion plan or sculpted appeal. After all, that’s not why you play music. You get out there because you love it. You love to perform and to see the crowd bounce & mosh & dance & sing-along. Nick Hexum sums it up by saying, “We have always maintained that a 311 show is a real experience, and these live recordings capture the raw essence of that experience. 311 LIVE is just our way of thanking the fans for their continued support as well as giving them a quality recording of 311 live in concert.”
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