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311 is a band well-known for their eclectic blend of rock, reggae, rap and funk. Formed in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1988. The band's name is derived from Omaha police code for indecent exposure (a friend of the band's was arrested for skinny dipping). They first achieved mainstream success in 1995, with their self-titled album.

Current Members:

• Nick Hexum (vocals, rhythm guitar)
• Doug "SA" Martinez (vocals, turntables)
• Tim Mahoney (lead guitar)
• Aaron "P-Nut" Wills (bass)
• Chad Sexton (drums)

Former Members:

• Jim Watson (guitar)

Discography:

• Independent Releases
  • Dammit! (1989)
  • Unity (1990)
  • Hydroponic (1991)
• Studio Albums
  • Music (1993)
  • Grassroots (1994)
  • 311 (1995)
  • Transistor (1997)
  • Soundsystem (1999)
  • From Chaos (2001)
  • Evolver (2003)
  • Don't Tread On Me (2005)
  • Uplifter (2009)
  • Universal Pulse (2011)
• Compilation/Live
  • Live (1998)
  • Omaha Sessions (1998)
  • Greatest Hits '93-'03 (2004)

Well-known singles include:

• "Homebrew"
• "Down"
• "All Mixed Up"
• "Don't Stay Home"
• "Transistor"
• "Prisoner"
• "Beautiful Disaster"
• "Come Original"
• "Flowing"
• "You Wouldn't Believe"
• "I'll Be Here Awhile"
• "Amber"
• "Creatures (For Awhile)"
• "Don't Tread on Me"
• "Hey You"
• "Sunset in July"

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Tropes associated with the band and their music:

• Album Title Drop: "It's the bubblin' spring and double in kings of this soundsystem."
• Alternative Rock
• B-Side
• Black Sheep Hit: "Amber"
• Call-and-Response Song
• Cover Version: Their cover of The Cure's "Love Song" (which appeared on the 50 First Dates soundtrack) is the most well-known. They have also covered Bad Brains' "Leaving Babylon" and "Who's Got the Herb?", The Clash's "Midnight in Hammersmith Palais", and Toots & the Maytals "Reggae Got Soul" (which appeared on the Surf's Up soundtrack).
• Creator Breakdown: while 311 is usually known for their positive, upbeat lyrics, Soundsystem includes songs (particularly "Flowing") with lyrics reflecting the self-doubt and lack of direction that Nick was dealing with at the time.
• Department of Redundancy Department: "Nothing like the comfort of a silence that's comfortable"
• Doesn't Like Guns: "Guns (Are For Pussies)"
• Doing It for the Art "This song would still be played if no money was made."
• Domestic Abuse: "DLMD"
• Epic Instrumental Opener: The B-Side "Let the Cards Fall"
• Erudite Stoners
• Fade Out: Averted nearly 100% of the time. The one incidence of this was a cover song ("Leaving Babylon").
• Fading into the Next Song: "Starshines" —> "Strangers"
• Fan Nickname: Their self-titled album is often referred to as "the blue album"
• Flyover Country: The guys are from Omaha. Naturally, they give it a shoutout in the form of song.
• Funk Rock
• Gratuitous French: "Salsa" lampshades this in the line "Je vais a la plage parce que le guignol est chouette! I kick nonsense in French, tasty like Crepe Suzette". This translates to "I go to the beach because the puppet show is cool!"
• Gratuitous Spanish : "Time Bomb"
• Greatest Hits Album: Two, Omaha Sessions and Greatest Hits '93-'03.
• Live Album
• Long Runner Line Up: A type 2 example. The band originally consisted of Nick, P-Nut, Chad, and Jim Watson. In 1991, Jim left the band and Tim and SA were added.
• Melismatic Vocals: Sever has a pretty good one on the word "home".
• Mistaken for Racist: That damn KKK rumor.
• Neoclassical Punk Zydeco Rockabilly
• Nobody Loves the Bassist: Averted: "P-Nut, beat that thing!"
• Non Appearing Title
• Ode To Intoxication: "Homebrew" and "Loco" are the most overt.
• Only Known by Their Nickname: SA and P-nut. Also applies to Nick (Nicholas) and Tim(othy).
• Performance Video: "Homebrew", ''Beautiful Disaster"
• Protest Song: "Solar Flare"
• Rap Rock
• Sampling: "Strangers" features a sample of "Hands On Experience" by The High & Mighty.
• Self-Titled Album: Thier Third Album.
• Siamese Twin Songs: "Nix Hex" —> "Plain". However, unlike other examples, omitting the bridge between the two songs doesn't affect the quality.
• Singer Name Drop: Both the band and individual members.
• Song Style Shift: "Get Down" is a good example.
• Spelling Song: "J-U-A-N B-O-N-D!"
• Stage Names: SA, P-Nut
• Studio Chatter: The end of "Salsa"
• Title Track: Grassroots, Transistor, From Chaos, Don't Tread On Me, and some of their independent releases.
• Tomato Surprise: The "constant companion" in "Hey You" is revealed to be not a person, but music.
• Vocal Tag Team
• What Could Have Been: After the rumor that the band was named for the Ku Klux Klan, they started writing a song entitled "Fuck the KKK". This eventually morphed into the song "Electricity", which is a cry for tolerance and unity. The opening lyrics explain why:
  This song started as a rant against haters,
  But that'd be giving in to the instigators
• Word Salad Lyrics

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