calm Category: Music
Well, I'm back from Florida in one piece. For those of you that did not know, I spent the weekend in Sarasota/Long Boat Key, Florida. Hopefully Stephanie will have some photos up soon on her page. If you want feel free to check them out there when the time comes. I have something cooking regarding this weekend, however that will not be out until later this week.
Tonight, before I hit the hay, I would like to rap a bit on a certain band. This band is one that had a profound affect on a majority of my high school class at one point or another. Some even 10 years later proclaim they are the greatest band to walk the Earth. If you haven't figured it out from the title of my blog, that band is 311.
I was first introduced to the band by cousin Nick, who lives in 311's hometown of Omaha, Nebraska. I saw them live in the summer of 1994 and didn't think much of them. I reluctantly packed up two recorded tapes of "Music" and "Grassroots" Nick had recorded for me. I listened to them occasionally and didn't really share it among friends, thinking I would be made fun of for this strange music. The funny thing is most of my friends now would make fun of me for still listening to them. Well, good news. For the last couple three years I've fallen out of love with this band. Don't get me wrong, I've been following "good music" since I was in high school, but these guys were sort of a guilty pleasure. Even in the middle of a group of people that worshiped them.
For me, it was positive music in a time in my life that was anything but. It was almost an escape for me and crept into my daily routine. It was for so long as a matter of fact that I will no doubtedly purchase or download every subsequnt album until they stop putting out new music. Once again, I'm sure I'll get fun poked in my direction, but I've been getting made fun of for one thing or another all my life.
Listening to their music now is sort of an afterthought. If I do, I'm usually reminiscing about something from a particular period of time. Which is fine for me, I have no issues returning to a certain piece of music for the sake of remembering any number of life events. This time in my life after moving to Kansas City and being on the verge of marriage, I'm in no mood for memories from the past most days. I have no need to go back and I've found the reason I may have held on to this band is because I was not ready to give up certain aspects of my past. I can see now that with those ships sailing into the horizon, the music that played the soundtrack to those memories are on deck with them.
So, something now must be addressed in my opinion. What is the actual musical value and imprint 311 has left on the music landscape the past dozen or some odd years? They are sort of an odd mix when I ask myself this very question. They are too commerical and sacherine for the people that subscribe to eMusic, and they are too underground and non-mainstream for the people that pay for iTunes. To me, they are almost on some smaller scale the Greatful Dead of my generation. I what know you are thinking "Hey, what about Phish?" or "Come on, Dave Matthews is more like the Dead than 311." You may be right, however this is my entry, so you will listen to what I have to say. Now be quiet or I will pull this car over.
All bad analogies (2) aside, these three bands all have similar hardcore audiences. Not in scope of course. I can't possibly fathom 200,000 311 fans driving to Omaha to see them perform for the last time. Then again I think your average 311 fan may be smarter and inclined to do something other than partake in a pilgrimage to Nebraska than say your garden variety patchouli smelling, no good lay about, hippy Phish fan. So, the difference for me personally is that number one, Phish are no longer in existence and number two, seemingly in constant legal trouble. Whether it's former ginger kid Trey Anastasio repeatedly being pulled over for DUI's or speeding in Vermont, or some other guy in the band being busted for kiddie porn. It's hard to remain at the top of this heap when you are broken up and pleading the Pete Townshend defense. Most importantly, they tried too hard to be like the Dead. That makes them an immitatior, or, douchebags. That alone automatically disqualifies them in my world. You have to try to be different to be the "this generation's fill in the blank band." Tool sounds nothing like Pink Floyd, however the comparison is consistently made.
Dave Matthews is, in my humble opinion, for the VH1 crowd. Sure I've purchased a DMB album, but who hasn't? However, the majority of that crowd listens to Nickelback and Sheryl Crow, so, enough said. By the way Miss Crow, the next time I have to do No. 2 and only use one toilet paper square, I hope I get to meet you and shake your hand. Moving on...
...I'm wrapping this up because I'm nearly fully asleep now...
311 has obtained something of a level of respect that a good number of bands crave. Along with that is an international, rabid, faithful, hardcore fan base. Everyone knows they enjoyed some major success in the mid-90's, however that faded almost as quickly as they came out of no where to be a household name in the world of pop. Now, when they release an album they are assured to debut in the top 10 of the modern rock charts and really nothing more. So don't look for an MTV reality show having to do with them any time soon. When they tour, they pretty much sell out where ever they play and to much fanfare, which is what they aspired to do.
All in all, they seem to make a brand of music that pleases a certain segment of the population. I don't really see anything wrong with that. They've now become a niche band. There is nothing wrong with that either. It's just that I don't smoke enough (or none at all) pot anymore to connect with said group. So, if I want to remember what I was feeling like in high school, I'll queue up some 311 in my iPod and play away. I just don't anticipate this to happen on a daily basis any longer.
 | Currently listening : Grassroots By 311 Release date: By 12 July, 1994  |
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