311’s Universal Pulse

by terri sapp

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Every time that my favorite band comes out with a new album, I get all nervous and excited all at the same time!  I can’t wait to sit alone with the lyrics, read along as I listen, and just enjoy.  The nerves come from the same anticipation that I get when I am about to shoot photos of them at their concerts.  Butterflies and all!  Nick Hexum (vocals and guitar), SA Martinez (vocals and special effects), Chad Sexton (drums), P-Nut (bass), and Tim Mahoney (guitar) have not made an album yet that I did not like, and their 2011 release, Universal Pulse is no different.  I knew from the first song, “Time Bomb” that I would love Universal Pulse.  This time, unlike in the past, I ordered my copy (CD and vinyl) on a pre-sale set up by the band.  However, once the actual day came for the album to ‘drop,’ I didn’t feel right not picking a copy up from one of my favorite local record stores, so I went there, too!  311 usually offers a special keepsake with their records that are bought the day they go on sale, and this year it was a free limited edition lenticular hologram of the album cover.  Of course, I couldn’t resist!

“Time Bomb” is a classic 311 dancehall rock jam.  Seems like another awesome message and sort of another ode to their fans… “Let me introduce you to the excitable crew!  This is just how we do.  Tickin’ like a time bomb…watch, we go off!”  SA and Nick’s harmonies are on point throughout Universal Pulse, which always gets a crowd going. Read More »

Concert Sutra:  Growing Up With 311

by terri sapp

Photographs by terri sapp

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At the risk of sounding like an old grandma, I often reminisce, especially when I am physically at a show, of my younger days with Nick Hexum, Tim Mahoney, SA Martinez, P-Nut and Chad Sexton, when I was more available to travel around on a whim to see my favorite rock band in concert.  To my knowledge, I have never missed a show in Atlanta, and I do not plan on it, unless physically impossible, or on my death bed at 98.  I made it just before and just after my major back surgery, which put me behind on bringing the coverage to my readers, but I was still there taking it all in.  I noticed more than ever at the Unity Tour 2010 that every song (with the possible exception of the newer ones that I am hearing live for only the first or second time), brings me back to a time in my 311 past when I was traveling the US enjoying the vibe.  On July 17, 2010 at the Aaron’s Lakewood Amphitheatre in Atlanta, Georgia, 311 played a setlist that got me strolling down memory lane.  My overwhelming 311 nostalgia has inspired me to organize my extensive collection to also not only archive for protection, but to also share with all of you.  It may take me a while to gather and process, but you will enjoy…stay tuned on that one. Read More »

Concert Sutra Sees Fireworks From 311

by terri sapp

Photographs by Leah Yetter

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On July 4, 2009 at Lakewood Amphitheatre in Atlanta, Georgia, Nick Hexum, Tim Mahoney, SA Martinez, Chad Sexton, and P-Nut celebrated Independence Day with me, Leah, and thousands of screaming fans.  I love when Leah is available to take the photos, because she always gets such wonderful shots!  Her work is so beautiful, I have to start by directing you to check out the 2009 photo gallery here:  http://www.leahyetter.com/090704311cs/.  Her photos are fantastic!  It makes me even sadder at the thought that she will be going to Wyoming very shortly.  I am going to miss her very much, especially at the 311 shows!!!  At last year’s show, I was just out of a major back surgery, but now, I have had an extra year to heal, and feel even more ready to party and dance!  Ziggy Marley opened up the show, and being Bob Marley’s DNA, he always gives me a thrill!  In addition to many amazing Ziggy Marley solo originals like “Love Is My Religion,” “Still The Storms,” “Be Free,” “True To Myself,” and “Black Cat,” as well as Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers’ gems like “Look Who’s Dancin’,” he also blessed us with many Bob Marley covers including “Roots, Rock, Reggae,” “Africa Unite,” “Jammin’” (one of my all time favs!), and “Is This Love?!!”

311 began their set with a “3-11, 3-3-11” Intro, then right into “Never Ending Summer” from their latest album, Uplifter.  A great new song to set the tone for a special 4^th of July show.  “Beautiful Disaster” continues the show with perfect energy!  Another reason I really love when Leah is at the 311 show with me to take the photos is because during the beginning of the show, I get to enjoy the music!!  With disco style lights, and all of the re-mix fixins, “All Re-Mixed Up” continues getting the party started.  Keeping it going, 311 brings me my favorite from their newest album, “Mix It Up!”  This song rocks, and has sweet lyrics.  I adore rockin’ love songs!  SA and Nick’s harmonies also melt my heart.  After “Mix It Up,” Nick says people have asked him if the reference to Little 5 Points in the song “Never Ending Summer” is about Atlanta.  He says, “Hell yeah, it is!  This is our home away from home!!!”  A shout out to Ziggy Marley, and then “Come Original!”  I always dance to this one.  Not enough artists come original these days!  I am always a sucker for a reggae beat, especially mixed with rock and roll!  Another great song from Uplifter, “It’s Alright” keeps the energy high.  When Uplifter first came out, I listened to it a few times all the way through, and found a few tracks that stood out as ones that I couldn’t wait to hear what they did with them live.  As usual, 311 does not disappoint!  Ever since the first 311 album, I have never heard one I did not like.  Uplifter is no different, and over time, the whole album grew on me, and I couldn’t wait to hear all of the tracks played in concert! Read More »

Concert Sutra, Healing With 311

by terri sapp

Photographs by terri sapp

© Concert Sutra, All Rights Reserved

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As most of you know, any time 311 gives Concert Sutra the opportunity to include them in our coverage, we ALWAYS take it happily!  On July 26, 2008, 311 came to Atlanta with the ever popular and exciting performer Snoop Dogg, which is a real power house lineup for any one night at Lakewood Amphitheatre.  The result of such a combination is a night that will not soon be forgotten!  Once Snoop Dogg was done with the masses of fans huddled around to witness this high entertainment, 311 was able to slide right in drive home the good vibes to all who were there to receive them. 

I always get extra nervous when Leah is unable to come to the show and shoot, primarily when it is the band that gets my heart a flutter, 311.  From the press pit, I was struggling to contain myself during the first song, Transistor favorite “Beautiful Disaster.”    I have come to think that this is one of the 311 guys’ favorite song to play live, because I can’t really remember a show in the past several years, since that album came out, that they did not include it on the setlist.  Always notes I want to hear, the beginning of “Freeze Time” from the 1999 dynamic album, Soundsystem, gets me going every time.  This song is especially fun live, because of the crowd participation…always a good time.  Flawlessly into what has been deemed the “happy slam dance song” “Do You Right.”  I have always loved the upbeat reggae beats of this one, along with the effect it has on everyone around.  As I made my way back to the wonderful complimentary PIT area standing room only non-seats where my man (and 311 virgin, until this night), Noel, was holding it down for us just inside the gate with a beer and a smile, I heard in the distance “Taiyed,” “Love Song,” “Hive,” “Freak Out,” AND “Sick Tight.”  The only drawback to photographing from the Press Pit at Lakewood Amphitheatre is their rule about having to come in and out of the venue and be escorted out back to deposit equipment and go back in the front gate (if you have a ticket).  I always hate missing the songs that inevitably get missed.  This time, I missed more songs, due to the fact that I had had major back surgery, and was moving a lot slower than normal… Read More »

Concert Sutra Celebrates Transistor with 311

by terri sapp

Photographs by Leah Yetter

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            I can remember the very day, August 7, 1997, when 311 released their most experimental album to date, Transistor.  I rushed to the local music store in Macon, Georgia (I was finishing up in college), bought a couple of copies (one of which is still in the wrapper), and cuddled up with my CD player.  I pulled the lyrics booklet out, and pushed play.  From beginning to end, I read along with the music and was blown away.  Up to this point in their recording career, we only got traces of the side of 311 that would elevate even the most focused Buddhist monk.  Transistor was the first time 311 really stepped out of the comfort of the heavier sound that dominated the first few studio albums.  I believe that the success of the blue self-titled album allowed them the freedom to create something truly original and test the waters, with the heavy grassroots following they had accrued, with styles and flows we were not used to at that point.  Transistor, in my experience, has always been the most controversial album among fans of 311.  Most either love it or try to hate on it.  I personally LOVE it!  Of course, I am the kind of 311 fan that has really never heard one note that I did not respond to from them.  I felt then and now that Transistor is a brilliant collection of songs that spotlight the versatility of the band that I most love to spend my time with.  You can imagine how happy I was when Nick Hexum announced, “Now, seeing as this is the ten year anniversary of a record we made called Transistor, we’ll play a couple songs off of it.”  At that point, I screamed…and had a glimmer of hope that they might finally play my song, “Running,” in Atlanta…after ten years of begging… Read More »

Concert Sutra On The Road Again With 311

by terri sapp

Photographed by terri sapp

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From the day I got my first taste of 311 from “Music” back in the very early 90’s, I was hooked.  Ever since, I never miss an opportunity to catch them doing what they do best…rockin the crowd!  They brought the usual bag of tricks with them, as well as a few new flares on their Summer Tour, 2005.  On August 27, 2005 at the Hi-Fi Buys Amphitheatre in Atlanta, Georgia, fans were faced with a wide range of 311’s musical history, as well as some rarities to celebrate the many years we have had to know and love this band.  These guys have an onstage finesse about them matched by few, as evidenced by any given show they play.  311 is always on point, so far as I am concerned!

On this special night in Atlanta, we were “Welcome”d by a very smooth intro fueled by the masterful guitar stylings of one Tim Mahoney (guitar, and one of my heroes, LOVE him).  P-Nut (bass), Chad Sexton (drums), and S.A. Martinez (vocals, effects) also contributed to the newly extended jam intro to the 311 Music classic “Welcome.”  Of course, we always know the party has started as soon as we hear the words out of Nick Hexum’s (vocals, some guitar) gorgeous mouth.  It’s always good to “Freak Out” at the very start of a 311 show, because who wouldn’t freak out on this one?  “To all my friends, it’s not the end.  The Earth has not swallowed me, yet.”  I really feel this one.  Read More »

Concert Sutra’s 2004 Ode To 311

by terri sapp

Photographs by terri sapp

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            Oh, how I love 311, let me count the ways!  If I had the choice of ANY concert to attend with any living artist, I would choose 311 with NO hesitation.  One sign of a great band is that they sound just as good, if not better, live as they do on their studio albums, which you would think to be unbeatable.  Since the first time I saw 311’s perfect ensemble of musicians play their music live, I have made every effort to catch as many of their shows as physically and financially possible, because they have everything that makes a great band (including great fans)! 

July 31, 2004 in Atlanta, Georgia at the Hi-Fi Buys Amphitheatre was a true 311 “Unity Tour” Atlanta show.  For those of us fortunate enough to have caught the 311 shows in Atlanta understand the love and positivity that flows between the two.  Sometimes, like July 31^st, they seem to make excuses and reasons to play extra special shows when cruising through Atlanta.  This night was deemed the “anniversary of the first sold out show they ever played, 10 years ago here in Atlanta.”  Because of this fact, we got “the longest set list of this entire tour!” I LOVE that!  I later found that I had my own anniversary to celebrate…this night turned out to be approximately my 40^th 311 concert over the past ten years!  No doubt, a reggae filled night worth writing home about… Read More »