There aren’t many bands around today that have been touring for 30-plus years and can say they’ve had the same lineup for the entirety of their recording careers. Yet the 5 members of 311 — Nick Hexum (vocals, guitar), Chad Sexton (drums), P-Nut (bass), Tim Mahoney (guitar), and SA Martinez (vocals, turntables) — have been playing tours and releasing albums together since the early 1990s.
311 has always done things the way they’ve wanted to, combining all the types of music that have inspired them, from punk and funk to hip-hop and reggae, lacing it together with a thread of positivity that may hold the key to their longevity. The band may not be selling out stadiums, but they have garnered a devoted, multi-generational fanbase, and have earned it by always following their muse and staying true to the musical path they have chosen.
On the tail end of their aptly named Unity Tour, 311 stopped by Portland’s Edgefield to offer up a show that included songs spanning their decades-long career, from 1993’s Music to the band’s latest single, “You’re Gonna Get It,” which was released earlier this year.
There were many in the audience who were seeing 311 for the first time, some undoubtedly drawn there by show openers Neon Trees and AWOLNATION, and some younger folks being introduced to the music by their parents. Through a great-sounding, highly energetic show, 311 satiated longtime fans and brought new ones into the fold, proving that, even as they celebrated the 30-year anniversary of their second album, the sentiment of its title track still holds true. 311 has grassroots.
311, McMenamins Historic Edgefield Manor, Troutdale, OR, August 30, 2024
Beautiful Disaster, Freeze Time, Sunset in July, What The?!, Come Original, Champagne, Do You Right, Don’t Tread on Me, Bass Solo, Sick Tight, All Mixed Up, One and the Same, Use of Time, Applied Science, You’re Gonna Get It, Don’t Stay Home, Lucky, Amber, Flowing, Creatures (for a While)
Encore: Freak Out, Down
