INDY'S WEEKLY ALTERNATIVE NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTING ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
311, Matisyahu
Monday, Aug. 6, 7:30 p.m., $29.50, all-ages
This summer marks a return to action for 311 after a hiatus that stretched for more than a year. But anyone who was concerned that the decision to take time off was a sign of discord within the group can rest easy.
Singer Nick Hexum says if anything, 311 is in a better place than it ever has been.
“Everybody is getting along really well, and there’s … just a real vibe of gratitude that’s going on,” Hexum says.
The band has plenty of reasons to appreciate its circumstances. Despite being off the radar for so long, 311 appears to have reached a new level of popularity. The summer dates (with Matisyahu opening) are at amphitheaters, representing the biggest tour yet for the group, whose current lineup has been together since 1992.
The summer tour is being viewed as a way to gear up to write and record the next CD. But Hexum says the live show will showcase the entire eight-album 311 catalog, rather than debut any new material.
“We don’t have anything [new] that’s ready to be played as of today,” Hexum says. “But I would say because of the real high morale that’s going on between the band members, I wouldn’t be surprised if we do put a completed song together and bust it out on the tour. But right now we’ve just been really getting into dusting off some old gems that haven’t maybe been in the rotation. There are certain obscure songs that we had kind of neglected that we’re bringing out. Me personally, I’m kind of waiting until we get together [after the summer tour] to make the stuff up on the spot because I want to have more of a collaborative, cooperative kind of sound.”