311 members gets audience dancing in the seats to mix of reggae-influenced, funk-happy songs

Published: Tuesday, September 30, 1997

Tuesday, September 30, 1997

MUSIC: Boundless energy, unique sound of band resonates through Greek Theater, compelling even the hipper-than-thou crowd to sway heads

By Mike Prevatt

Daily Bruin Senior Staff

Even before the festivities began at 311's show Thursday night at the Greek Theater, you knew what kind of show it was going to be.

Thousands of high school and college students packed into the backyard amphitheater, decked out in their Airwalks, oversized sweatshirts and backward caps. Little skaters with Hanson-style hair climbed up the stairways, four steps ahead of their unsuspecting mothers. Almost everyone had a cigarette in hand, and about half substituted their Marlboros every now and then for pot. People were even dancing to the opening act (the alterna-funk Fishbone). The restless energy could be contained no more.

By the time 311 hit the stage (for the last time on this U.S. tour) with its classic, "Freak Out," a marijuana cloud hung over the nearly sold-out audience. Yet, the crowd was anything but dazed and confused as they screamed and jumped in unison to 311's unbounded energy.

The members of 311, the Omaha, Neb., natives who have reached Billboard stardom with such hits as "Down" and "All Mixed Up," played off the science fiction themes that highlight their new album, "Transistor," in a visual and audio hurricane of lights, crankin' riffs and spacey rhythms. However, 311 relied on more of their older, more funk-heavy material, which pumped up the already hyperactive crowd unrestrained by the seat-friendly Greek Theater.

And while the plethora of hard driving melodies dominated the evening, 311's unique sound allowed for other musical styles. Many of the songs contained a pseudo-reggae bridge or two that gave the crowd a breather here and there. At one point, the band drifted into a mini-set of atmospheric, reggae-influenced daydream songs. And 311 brought hip-hop flavor to their alt-rock sound thanks to the extremely physical and energized vocalist, S.A. Martinez.

Martinez is a lot like your hyperactive kid cousin who just cannot sit still. But the energy he gives off pleasantly counters the virtually standstill performance of 311's other vocalist, Nick Hexum, who only swayed his arms every now and then. Hexum, who, despite his limited vocal range has a clear-sounding voice that travels, didn't seem to have the live show adrenaline his more aerobic counterpart did. And the crowd noticed this - when Martinez rapped his very first notes, they screamed in delight.

Other standout performances included bassist P-Nut's consistent, ground-pulsing rhythms and Chad Sexton's very rock 'n' roll drum solo.

The band connected most with the audience when Martinez sang, or when they played an old favorite. They played many songs from their first album, "(311) Music" and their second, "Grassroots." Songs like "Lucky," "Unity," "Who's Got the Herb?" (as you could have predicted, the crowd loved this particular song) and the hair-band-reminiscent "Feels So Good" prompted the mosh pit up front to erupt. Teenagers even crowd surfed in the section where seats are bolted to the ground. Seeing the 6,000-ish member audience jump up and down seems more appropriate for a Blur or Oasis concert at the Palladium, but still felt right even at the family-friendly Greek Theater.

This is not to say 311 ignored the hits. The crowd gave lukewarm receptions to their current radio songs, "Transistor" (which suffered from awkward tempo transitions) and "Prisoner." The exact opposite occurred for rousing renditions of "All Mixed Up" and the show highlight, "Down." During the encore, the crowd-friendly Hexum served up "the happy slam dance song" known to 311 fans as "Do You Right," their first alternative rock radio hit. Again, watching the crowd was equally as entertaining as watching Hexum and Martinez swap verses and choruses. Seventh-grade boys took off their shirts and jumped up and down atop their seats. Even the too-cool-for-movement stoner clique had to bob their heads back and forth.

311, in essence, is an extremely entertaining and energetic band in concert. Their live performance can be summed up as exciting, no doubt. However, if 311 is to play with the big boys in the amphitheater settings, they need to work on a few things. At a couple of times, when the band delved into their lazy, space-age rock, some sat down and looked like they were about to fall asleep, especially in the rear of the complex.

While the less-than-sober set surely enjoyed drifting off, especially with psychedelic-tinged lights and visuals abounding, the show dragged during this particular segment. And if 311 is going to dare to chart into big-rock-show waters, they should probably feel more secure with their new material and play more of it. 311 is too young to be a greatest-hits-band.

Yet even with their minor shortcomings, it's hard to ruin a good, strong vibe. And 311, with the in-your-face sound that seems to will even the most sour-faced fan to bounce, creates that fun vibe, whether it's a chill, slow reggae-rock jam or some noisy, funk-happy song. And, hey, that's what the kids come for.

Capricorn

(L. to r.) Timothy J. Mahoney, Nicholas Hexum, Chad Sexton, P-Nut and S. A. Martinez of 311 played the Greek Theater.