Photos and review by: Jason Robey
CHARLOTTE, NC — Alternative rock/reggae veterans and road warriors 311 brought their Unity Tour to a stop in the Queen City on Sunday, leaving no question why they’ve been such a successful live band for more than three decades. The crowd was notably varied in ages, with adults in their 50s singing along to the same songs as middle and high school-aged kids.
The evening got rolling with a 30-minute set from Neon Trees. Vocalist Tyler Glenn got the crowd energized, with his animated stage presence, tearing into the opening tune, “Moving in the Dark,” followed by their 2010 breakthrough hit “Animal.” The group’s set was short, but sweet and well-received by the growing crowd. The group played two songs from their new album planned for a September 20 release, including the set closing “Bad Dreams.”
AWOLNATION hit the stage next, keeping energy high with their 2012 track “Soul Wars.” Vocalist Aaron Bruno danced his way all around the stage as if possessed by the hard rock sounds echoing through the venue. The group also has a soon-to-be-released album scheduled for August 30, giving a preview to the audience with the ethereal ballad “Panoramic View.” An unexpected cover of Blur’s “Song 2” picked the tempo back up, with the entire venue singing the iconic “woo-hoo” hook. The group bid farewell to the crowd with their hit “Sail,” before leaving the stage for the evening’s headliners.
The lights went down and the dramatic build up of guitar feedback and bass rumble exploded into “Beautiful Disaster.” The now packed venue bounced to every beat, as 311 quickly ripped through “Freeze Time” and the ode to summertime, “Sunset in July.” With 13 studio albums over more than 30 years, the band has amassed quite a catalog of material, always finding a balance of well-known hits and deep cuts for the longtime diehards.
311’s stage presence remains impressive, with vocalist/guitarist Nick Hexum and vocalist SA Martinez trading verses on “Come Original” and “Random,” before slowing the vibe down with “Champagne.” Equally as magnificent is the visual element of their show. Dancing lights and mesmerizing LED screens complement the music perfectly.
A long time staple of the band’s live show, “Applied Science” features a drum solo by Chad Sexton, which grows into a drum line performance from the whole band. Bassist P-Nut also took a solo, that included a bass-only rendition of Rage Against the Machine’s “Killing in the Name Of.”
Their new single “You’re Gonna Get It,” with its haunting melody and razor sharp guitar riffs gave the audience a taste of what they’ve been coming up with since their last studio album in 2019. The band’s 2003 hit “Creatures (For a While)” closed the set, leaving the audience chanting their name for an encore call. They returned with the beautifully airy “Beyond the Grey Sky,” and finally ended the night with a raucous version of their 1995 hit “Down.”
311’s Unity Tour, featuring AWOLNATION and Neon Trees, continues across the country through August, followed by a trio of festival sets in September. Check the band’s social media for dates and details.