311 will be throwing down Omaha-style at Trax Thursday night, in the third stop on a four-month long club tour. Three weeks later, on Oct. 12, the Nebraska band's highly evolved sound hits stores with the release of its new album, "Soundsystem."
After nearly two years off the road, the band members are hotly anticipating their return to the club stage. The funky mid-Westerners will be kicking it alone for over two hours.
"We just wanted to get back to the grassroots and play some small, intimate venues," lead singer Nick Hexum said. "Trax has a lot of history on the club circuit, so we're really looking forward to it."
The size limitations of Trax will not be able to diminish the raw energy and grooviness of live 311. "Above all else, we're a live band," Hexum said, "and we love the in-your-face setting of a small club or theater. These shows are definitely going to be intense."
Although he said 311 would showcase its new album during this tour, the band will continue to honor the songs that brought it to the top.
"We are going to totally mix it up. We're definitely looking forward to playing the new record live - but we'll still play lots of old stuff."
After 311 completes its club tour, the band will take a short break - probably to experiment with new styles of music - before coming back for a tour of larger venues next spring and summer.
Meanwhile, fans already have gotten a taste of 311's new material. "Soundsystem" trickled out onto the Internet in mp3 form about three weeks ago, allowing thousands to preview the album. The band members became aware of the situation immediately, although there was little they could do about this unexpected pre-release of their album.
"When we found out that our new record was available on the Web, we freaked a bit - but I guess it just means that our music is in demand, so it's a good problem to have," Hexum said.
As always with 311's music, it's difficult to succinctly describe the phenomenal sound created by the band's mixture of styles. Hexum seemed to nail the "Soundsystem" sound down to four different styles - hard rock, reggae, funk and hip hop - while still allowing some leeway.
After hitting the pop spotlight four years ago with its triple-platinum, self-titled album, 311 has continued to evolve. The old popular sound of 311, which was propelled by hits like "Down" and "All Mixed Up," is long gone.
"We've never limited ourselves to any particular sound or style and I think that's what's allowed us to evolve naturally," Hexum said. "I think this is probably our most rock record - big guitars and drums - but it is still really varied."
"Soundsystem" thrives on its explorative, yet highly talented and polished sound. S.A. Martinez and Hexum command the mics, and have not only stepped up their writing ability on "Soundsystem," but have pushed their voices further than ever before, giving this album a deeper sonic dimension than its predecessors.
Guitarist Tim Mahoney integrates his love of jam rock into "Soundsystem" - his solos at the end of the songs leave room for extensive riffing.
"You never know ... maybe he'll lift us off one night," Hexum said.
And Thursday, 311 fans and open-minded listeners alike will be blown away by the biggest, boldest "Soundsystem" to come to town yet.
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