With the amber sun starting to set, the naysayers were nowhere to be found when 311 rocked the opening day of the Louder Than Life Music Festival in Louisville, Kentucky.
Gracing the Space Zebra Stage on Thursday, September 21, 2023, 311 kept the energized Louisville crowd jumping, swaying and definitely, off of their ass.
The Omaha, Nebraska rockers treated the thousands of festival-goers to their familiar, groovy tunes, incorporating their distinct blend of rock and hip hop vocals, thumping bass lines and their metal and reggae infused guitar riffs.
Nick Hexum, 311’s vocalist and guitarist, told the crowd they “were stoked” to be a part of the Louder Than Life lineup, also showing some love to one of the headlining acts, who had yet to grace the Space Zebra Stage.
“Excited to watch Weezer later… make some noise for Weezer,” the frontman said.
Hexum also informed the crowd that 311 celebrated their 33rd year as a band this past summer.
“Getting to do what we love, traveling around, seeing our people, spreading the positive message,” Hexum said.
“We’re very grateful for our chance to do this yet again, thank-you guys so much. Jump for joy with us.”
311 recently announced they are reissuing their debut album Music in honor of its three decades as a band, available today, September 29, 2023.
Originally released in February 1993, Music features singles “Freak Out,” “Do You Right” (peaked at #27 on Billboard’s Alternative Airplay chart), “Visit,” “My Stoney Baby” (featured in 2008’s Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay), and “Feels So Good.”
The album was certified Gold by the RIAA in 1999 and peaked at #37 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart.
311 is one of the longest running original lineups in rock when it comes to touring, racking up over 2,000 shows in over 27 countries.
Hexum dedicated their closing number to all of the “old school 311 fans” before the band launched into ‘Down’.
“Ya’ll stay positive, love your life,” Hexum said.
Here is the complete setlist from 311’s Louder Than Life set:
1. Beautiful Disaster
2. All Mixed Up
3. Do You Right
4. Come Original
5. Freeze Time
6. Don’t Stay Home
7. Beyond the Gray Sky
8. You Wouldn’t Believe
9. Applied Science (with drum solo)
10. Amber
11. Down
Here are photos from 311’s performance by Steve Thrasher:
311 is Hexum, lead guitarist Tim Mahoney, bassist Aaron “P-Nut” Wills, drummer Chad Sexton and vocalist and turntablist Doug “SA” Martinez.
For more details visit the band’s officials website https://311.com/.