311: Tiny Desk Concert
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Published 2024-03-11
What better way to spend March 11 than with 311 bringing love and nostalgia to the Tiny Desk. The members of 311, who have been a band together for over 30 years, strolled into NPR HQ and barely needed much rehearsal time before playing four of their most beloved tracks. The band has been performing these songs for decades, and you can tell it all just comes naturally. "This kind of reminds me of being in my dad's basement, being back next to the pool table, but it smells better here," said lead singer Nick Hexum, who felt right at home and back to his roots at our office space.
311's self-titled album came out in 1995 when I was entering my peak angst stage. The songs on that album were the perfect soundtrack to all the pre-teen feelings I wasn't able to fully express myself. I also heavily related to what remains to be my favorite lyric of all time from the band's 1997 album Transistor: "I do, I don't, whatever."
311's Tiny Desk set started off with the song that lyric comes from, personal favorite "Beautiful Disaster." The band continued with classic "All Mixed Up" before chilling out a bit with "Amber." Then, as Hexum said before the band's final track, "Down," it was "back to the rock." Listen out for SA's changed lyric honoring my and Tiny Desk's shared hometown: "Fall in love with your teachers, on the wax we are self made / Check the technique, 311 in D.C."
SET LIST
"Beautiful Disaster"
"All Mixed Up"
"Amber"
"Down"
MUSICIANS
Nick Hexum: vocals, guitar
Tim Mahoney: guitar
SA: turntables, vocals
Chad Sexton: drums
P-Nut: bass
TINY DESK TEAM
Producer/Director: Maia Stern
Audio Technical Director: Neil Tevault
Series Producer: Bobby Carter
Videographers: Maia Stern, Joshua Bryant, Kara Frame, Alanté Serene
Audio Engineer: Hannah Gluvna
Production Assistant: Ashley Pointer
Photographer: Michael Zamora
Tiny Desk Copy Editor: Hazel Cills
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Series Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson
VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins
#311 #nprmusic #tinydesk
All Comments (21)
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If you’re here, congratulations. We all made it through our youth and have entered our golden years.
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311 snare drum is the sound of my childhood 🙏
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So much respect for 311 for playing the hits. No one comes on Tiny Desk and plays TWO songs from their 1995 album, but 311 delivers.
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I don’t care what my wife says, I’m getting that 311 tattoo.
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311 on 311 day
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311 might be one of the few bands from my youth that STILL has all their original members......awesome
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311 is the definition of consistency. They bring it every time I hear/see them. Everyone looks healthy and unbothered. That’s how this music lifestyle should really be.
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I'm 38, childhood music. I never realized the lyrics are so beautiful and inspiring. No negativity, these are beautiful humans.
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Props to PNUT for the quiet Mac Miller tribute w/ the orange Don't Trip hat. This band is so good and they just keep getting better. Original crew 30+ years later and still rocking.
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I've been a touring musician before. I can speak to how mind-numbing it can be to play the same music over and over. These guys have been doing these songs for decades. You don't do that unless you really, REALLY love your fans. They've already made their millions. They've already got their fame. They have nothing to prove anymore. The only thing I can see that keeps them going is just straight up love for one of the most loyal fanbases in the business. That's pretty admirable.
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I’m 18 years old, I’ve seen 311 3 times and every time has been more worth it than any current bands. They always bring the energy
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Kind of nutty that these five guys have kept the band together for so many years. Still sound pretty good, too!
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At risk of sounding utterly cliche, I was one of those depressed kids finding myself through a troubled childhood. My life honestly became brighter once I discovered 311. I love this guys and I wish they knew it. They have been there for most of my life and I will always be an adoring fan.
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Nick ending with "Stay positive. Love your life" really gave me a smile. It was a brutal day for me
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As a hip hop head I saw these guys live in between pharcyde and cypress hill at San Jose state in 1996. They tore it down. Great show , been a fan ever since.
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First I was kinda shocked of seeing all my favourite bands getting older, but now I kinda love it. Getting old is part of life and seeing them still with the same energy is awesome.
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Let me remind you all that these guys are this tight WITHOUT in-ear monitors. No metronome and just come in perfectly on the one. Amazing
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Saw them at the Ranch Bowl in Omaha 1991. Here we are 33 years later. Wow
