ION INDIE MAGAZINE September 2017, Volume 40 | Page 71

As they approach 30 years together, 311 finds continual relevance with their incredibly devoted fan base.
While they have not achieved the level of success that sent their first 6 albums to gold or platinum, the
continually hard-working band keeps putting out new music, including their 12 th album, “Mosaic,” which was
released in June. 311 stays true to their focus on the fans in their new work -- even their new album cover is
composed of 10,000 fan photos that create a mosaic image of the band.
The same 5 band members from Omaha have been together for most of the band’s tenure, with every
musician still playing since before their first album was released in 1993. 311’s music is a blend of hard rock,
reggae, rap and other genre’s which resulted in a pretty unique formula that not only become a distinctive
“311 sound”, but also a steadfast backdrop to the summer atmosphere for many. And for that reason, their
successful tours (dubbed “The Unity Tour”) has been a regular occurrence for most summers, filling outdoor
arenas with their music, their fans, and new listeners alike.
This July, those grooves filled THE FESTIVAL PIER, a seasonal stage set on the riverfront in Philadelphia. On
what was arguably a perfect night, their fans packed the place as well. 311 didn’t hesitate to showcase their
latest music, where every other song of their 21-song set was pulled from their latest album. Early in the night
they played the most featured song from Mosaic, “Too Much To Think,” which has a laidback yet still upbeat
feel with some potential catch some traction.
Naturally, their hits were interspersed -- including “All Mixed Up,” “Amber,” among others. “Down” was
reserved for the middle of their 3-song encore. One aspect fans might be aware of that is surprising to
someone less versed in their full catalog, is how diverse their sound can be. Their hits have the trademark 311
sound, but throughout their set the music went to different places. “Beyond the Gray Sky” notably stood out
with its thoughtful and textured melodies, a somber song that they dedicated to CHESTER BENNINGTON.
311 has ventured into other pursuits in recent decades of their career, including branding of a craft beer,
cannabis merchandising, and even a 311-themed cruise every other year. But at the core is the music – they
keep working on quality new material and approach their classics with maturity that shows their musical
growth.
Supporting 311 was a band that has made waves with radio play in recent years, NEW POLITICS. Originally
from Denmark, the trio warmed up with a quick 10-song set that included their recent hits including
“Everywhere I Go,” “Tonight You’re Perfect,” “Yeah Yeah Yeah,” and “Harlem.”
The group has often been paralleled to QUEEN, which is a comparison that turns out to be off-base with a caveat
observed when seeing them perform. It seems this remark is in reference to their biggest hit “One of Us” due to vocal
styling, not to mention the overlaid harmonics and building structure. But the catch is this – the song is not sung by their
usual front-man, DAVID BOYD. Instead, SΦREN HANSEN, guitarist and passionate backup vocalist, steps up and takes
the lead on this song. So one of the aspects that gains a lot of press for this group is actually not based on their typical
formula, but a change-up. None of this takes away from the quality of their performance of any of the selections. One
might even guess that they aren’t aiming for a comparison like that anyway, especially when considering their overall
intensity and the approach of Boyd that might more closely be modeled after the one group they covered in this set –
THE BEASTIE BOYS. They made “Sabotage” their own, coming after a breakdance sequence by Boyd.
Overall, New Politics was full of energy, captivating stage presence, and most notably, interesting song writing. These
days there is a lot of the same out there. But New Politics brings fresh music and will continue to make progress
enhancing the modern music scene. Their next album, “Lost in Translation,” which features “One of Us” and another
new single “CIA,” will be released on October 6.