311: Still Rocking
The iconic 90s rock band speaks on upcoming projects, new influences and their journey through 4 decades of music.
For 35 years, the date of March 11th has meant something special to iconic Omaha, Nebraska rock band, 311. This year was no exception, with the group playing back to back marathon sets at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas for 311 Day. Even 30 years after the release of their debut album, 311 manages to put on exhilarating sets for almost 4 hours each night. The nearly 45 song setlists span across their many stages as a group, from their hip-hop and rap inspired albums in the 90s to their current reggae-via-alternative rock sound.
Having been around since the late 1980s, 311 has seen the music industry evolve, taking careful note of the trends they see in rock music. The band has found the last several years within the industry to be particularly inspiring for them, as a new generation of alternative and rock bands find their footing.
“We’ve noticed that rock has really had a renaissance in the last five years where it feels like you can get excited about rock again- for a long time we weren’t really as excited by any newer rock music, but there’s a lot of great new stuff out there now. It helps keep us fresh,” the band said.
The group has been particularly influenced by artists like Tame Impala, Thundercat, Portugal. The Man, and Kendrick Lamar over the last several years. They also added that the recent hyperpop movement, especially Laura Les and Dylan Brady of 100 gecs, has been a refreshing change within the soundscape of rock and alternative music.
“We love 100 gecs- they’re just awesome,” the band said. “They’re as punk rock as anybody has ever been and are leading the way into uncharted territory, which is what music is really all about.”
311 has done some evolving of their own over the years, always finding new ways to collaborate and lean on each other creatively. They’ve noticed that working together is something that has gotten progressively more natural throughout their long career.
“We’ve really found a formula that works very well for us, and that formula is always expanding and allowing for new ideas,” they said. “If you listen to our first two albums, they’re really all over the map sonically. It wasn’t really until our third album that we really found our focus. It’s gotten even better from there too- we just have a much deeper understanding of each other.”
That formula, they said, is influenced by more than just other musicians. They find inspiration for their writing in their daily lives outside of the band.
“We’re a rock band at heart that’s always evolving, so we have channeled so many things over the years. On top of trying to integrate our musical influences, we’re always trying to integrate what we’re watching or reading at any given time. It’s not just music that influences us.”
Of the many life changes that come along with a 30 year career, the one that the band feels has had the most significant impact on their music is parenthood and starting families.
“Becoming parents has been something that has really influenced us as a band. You can really hear it in everything. We’re trying to leave breadcrumbs for our kids,” they said. “We know they are going to be listening when we’re gone, so it's important to leave the right messages for them.”
The band has also noticed a change in their audience over the last several years that has come as a pleasant surprise.
“As time has gone on, we’ve noticed a lot more parents bringing their kids- it’s awesome to see that kind of jump from one generation to the next. Hopefully it’s an indication that we do still have a fruitful future in the music industry.”
Families aren’t the only new demographic at 311’s shows. They’ve also noticed an increase in teenagers and young adults in their crowds.
“We’ve suspected we’ve had some time travelers here and there at our show. There are teenagers that we see who know the music way too well. Like what are they doing here? It keeps us fresh, which is great.”
311 credits their approach to writing and recording music as what has allowed them to continue to connect with audiences of all ages, as well as the audience that originally discovered the band in the early 90s.
“We just stay honest about our experiences and share what we are going through. We’re known for having positive messages, but it’s not just mindless positivity- sometimes it can be a struggle to be optimistic and excited for the future, and we’ve included songs about that too.”
“The experience of living longer, you hope to be able to become wiser and learn how to navigate life, and that’s a theme we’ve been writing about more and more as time goes on.”
While they’ve already kicked off a busy year with 311 Day, festival performances and a tour in Japan, the band still has more in store for the rest of 2024. They’re not slowing down anytime soon, and they feel in some ways they are just getting started.
“This year has been jam packed with excitement and there's still more to come. We have a new collection of music that we’re starting to mix- we hope to put that out this year. We’ve also got a summer tour in a few different countries and the 30 year anniversary of our second album Grassroots is coming up. We’re looking forward to what’s in store for us.”