311 Band • Page 10

I know its an random question to ask but other than the 311 Day shows and the cruise.. when it comes to normal 311 headline tours in the states, which type of capacity venues do they play normally? I am just intrigued that's all.

 

They used to do pretty well at amphitheaters when they had good support. Recently they’ve been playing large club shows (anywhere from 3,000 to 5,000 capacity) and doing pretty well. I saw them last year at a 3k club and it was probably close to being sold out. And I would say that show was a smaller stop for that tour.

 

311 has pretty much been a theater band but they play amphitheaters usually with a strong package and, more importantly, the audience they cater to tends to buy more booze, thus the show is still profitable for promoters.

 

Ah alright, that's like the equivalent of in terms of large club shows, the o2 Birmingham Academy is 3,000 capacity and Brixton Academy in London is just under 5,000 capacity and Eventim Apollo is over 5,000.

I always said to people I know that 311 r big in the states and what u mentioned about them performing amphitheatres and large clubs proves my point but thanks for the info, I appreciate it

 

Ah that's awesome!! From a UK point of view I am gonna give an example.. Godsmack.. up until a few years ago they have not toured over here at the time since 2003 but then they did an one off London show which was sold out eventually but then they never toured again until a few years ago which the venues they played were 1,500 to 2000 capacity and the first I saw them at the o2 institute in Birmingham and it was surreal seeing a big time name band like Godsmack up close and persona because the stage in the main room is smalll!! But then they did the summer festivals like download festival and festivals in Europe a couple of times and then they came back and played 2,500 to 3,000 cap rooms like the o2 Birmingham Academy which is 3,000 capacity, building on the momentum on the previous tour and festival appearances.

I personally believe the success of 311's London show is a good starting point to really make a good go and building momentum in the UK and hopefully tour more often and eventually play like bigger rooms over here like Godsmack did because I am rooting for 311 to succeed in the UK and Europe

 

To add to this - I think them playing 3k-5k venues in the U.S. is way more impressive when you consider that they play literally EVERY summer (occasionally even doing a shorter fall run too). Most of the time they are hitting the same cities each time too, so they are able to put up those numbers year after year.

Some of their peers might bring larger crowds but it’s partially because they only come around every 2-3 years.

 

Yeah the UK market has always been strange to me. Some American bands actually do BETTER there (Kings Of Leon, Foo Fighters, Green Day, etc). Being a 311 fan in the UK must be like being a Suede fan in the US (they FINALLY came over here in 2022). I would assume Godsmack would have been more popular there as the nu metal/butt rock scene does better over in the UK/Europe vs. the US. Glad that 311 is finally making some inroads there.

 

That is really impressive that 311 can put up these numbers every summer, it's an testament to the fan base for being loyal and constantly seeing them live every year.

 

Yeah the UK market is weird because Alter Bridge play and sell out arenas for the past 6 album cycles but they build their fan base over here from the ground up ever since I first saw them playing small venues over to headlining arenas and I have seen them every time they toured over here on every album cycle, Black Stone Cherry are another band that headline arenas over here as well yet according to mate i know who has seen them in the states.. they only play small clubs but I am glad Suede toured the states though.

But yeah I am glad 311 r making some inroads in the UK and I hope they continue to do so!!

 

There was a point in time I was a massive 311 fan. I don’t think I missed a show from 97-2006, sometimes multiple per year when they were aggressively touring.

I sort of fell off after Don’t Tread on Me. I don’t know if it’s summer or what, but I started a discography run recently and man that run from Music to Transistor is really stellar. Grassroots might be my current favorite. From Soundsystem on there’s still some solid solid tracks and high highs but I find myself wanting to skip some tracks.

I’m up to Don’t Tread on Me again, do I continue? Has anything that’s come out since then been worth checking out?

 

Oh, my friend!! ABSOLUTELY!

At least give the most recent 3 album run of Stereolithic, Mosaic, and Voyager a run through.

I personally LOVE Uplifter but it also was a certain time period in my life and I like some of the bonus tracks b-sides more than the ones chosen for the album (I believe I posted my preferred track list a few pages back in this thread), so maybe don’t start with that one.

Overall there is still a LOT to like in their later catalog. I may be biased but still.

 

Many people completely think Universal Pulse is a throwaway but Sunset in July may be their most underrated single.

and particularly sounds great this time of year, ya know !?

 

I think July is the ONLY time I ever listen to Universal Pulse lol. I'm always psyched to listen to SIJ then say screw it, throw on the album because it's so short.

Stereolithic, Voyage and ESPECIALLY Mosaic have some high highs for me. It's a solid run after DTOM,UL, UP was the band's nadir.

 

Ok will keep going! Mosaic comes up under compilations on Apple Music, is that an error?

 

Yep def an error , it’s their 2017 studio album.

 

Stereolithic is still my top album as far as the second half of their career goes. It’s a solid listen from front to back and has some of the weirder sides of them, no real formulaic song structures for the most part.

That said, MOSAIC and Voyager have higher highs IMO. Both are just sort of dragged down by some pretty blatant attempts at writing pop hits. Rolling Through, Space and Time, Face In The Wind, One and the Same are all top tier.

 

Ok, I’m so glad I did that discography run. stereolithic really steered them back on course.

There wasn’t much on Don’t Tread on Me, Uplifter, or Universal Pulse that stuck with me. Maybe a song or two on each for a playlist.

Stereolithix, Voyager, and Mosaic I all really, really enjoyed. Having essentially 3 brand new to me albums mid summer is pretty awesome.

 

This should’ve been a pop hit but it wasn’t

 

Awesome , so glad to hear you enjoyed them!!!

im seeing them on Sunday in MD And couldn’t be more pumped! I think it’s my …. 17th(?) 311 show.

 

DTOM through UP is definitely the “dark ages” of this band. They seemed to have an identity crisis around this time. Still some enjoyable things here and there but man was I pumped when they hit a career renaissance with Stereolithic.

 

i saw stick figure last night in chicago, never listened to them prior, my friend had an extra vip ticket so i went for free, their set to me sounded like one long jam session but it hit me halfway through they are like 311 lite, no riffs, or energy haha would not recommend , it also hit me, ive never seen 311 live, granted i am a casual fan but i should catch them one of these days..

 

I’m tempted to try and go in August. It’s been a while!

 

they were literally just here but with neon trees and awolnation, i rather see them with bands i actually enjoy as well

 

I've seen them 10 times now I think. Would have been 11 but I came down with COVID the day before a show in 2022 and wasted my ticket lol.

I have lost a little bit of my desire to go see them though. Since 2019 or so they've mainly started to play a greatest hits set and then use a couple of spots to rotate between 3 or 4 deep cuts.

It used to be that if you saw them twice on the same tour, you might only hear 2 of the same songs being played.

 

Yep I remember those days....

They save those sets for cruises and 311 Day now.....

I am hoping to get 2 songs I've never heard live before on Sunday. The new one "You're Gonna Get It" is being played at every show, and "One and the Same" from Mosaic has been pretty regular.