Thursday’s tour stop at 20 Monroe Live unleashed the band’s rousing, genre-melding attack while attracting a throng of devotees, including one Grand Rapids fan seeing 311 for the 67th time. (Review, photos)
Unfettered Enthusiasm: 311 on stage at 20 Monroe Live on Thursday. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTO GALLERY, SET LIST
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Two eager concertgoers bump into each other and one nearly spills his beer all over the other.
At any other concert, this might have been the beginning of an altercation, but within seconds, these complete strangers are comparing fandoms and wondering what type of set 311 would have in store for them.
And so it went for some 1,500 strangers-turned-family at what turned out to be an epic performance by the legendary Nebraska band at 20 Monroe Live Thursday night.
‘Positive Vibes’: The Grand Rapids tour stop brought out a throng of devotees including super-fan Jason Peoples (front, center). (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
Following a high-energy, horn-driven opening set by Cleveland, Ohio’s Tropidelic, 311 took the stage to deliver more than two hours of genre-blurring, alt-rock glory.
From a live-looped bass solo by Aaron “P-Nut” Wills to a booming, stick-tossing drum solo by all five members of the band, there was no sense calming things down at any point in the show.
And it only seemed to strengthen the undying spirit of the Grand Rapids crowd when fan-favorite “Who’s Got the Herb?” sounded off in pitch-perfect harmony to an appropriately green light display. A certain smell seemed to indicate that a few folks did.
But substances weren’t required take in the vibe of the room and the way the crowd seemed to get friendlier as the night went on.
IT’S ALL ABOUT ‘THE LOVE AND THE UNITY’
Take it from Jason Peoples of Grand Rapids, who was seeing 311 for, yes, the 67th time Thursday night: “It’s all about the unity.”
Described by friends as an “uber fan,” Peoples has traveled the United States attending 311 shows for more than 15 years. He’s also traveled aboard four of 311’s popular Caribbean Cruises and attends shows with his wife and daughter whenever possible.
Kicking Into Gear: 311 is on a fall tour supporting its new album, “Mosaic.” (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
“I’ve met some of my best friends at 311 shows,” said Peoples, who showed up hours early on Thursday to secure a spot against the stage barricade.
“The fans travel all around the country and it’s all for the positive vibes, the love and the unity,” he said.
And with a completely unique set list of fan favorites spanning the band’s 12-album discography at each show, Peoples never tires of seeing what the band will “give back” in return for so much adornment from fans at each show.
With chart-topping hits including “Beautiful Disaster” and “Amber,” deeper cuts such as “Jackolantern’s Weather” and modern-sounding grooves from the band’s latest release, “Mosiac,” there was plenty for both children of the ’90s and diehard 311 fans alike to reminisce on.
The band’s cult-like following jeered, sang along and even moshed with glee and appreciation.
Nearly 28 years into its career, 311 responded with unfettered enthusiasm from start to finish.
PHOTO GALLERY: 311, Tropidelic at 20 Monroe Live
Photos by Anthony Norkus
SET LIST: 311 at 20 Monroe Live
1. Do You Right
2. Beautiful Disaster
3. Transistor
4. Extension
5. From Chaos
6. All Mixed Up
7. Perfect Mistake
8. Jackolantern’s Weather
10. Bass Solo
11. Prisoner
12. Too Late
13. Too Much To Think
14. Inside Our Home
15. Freeze Time
16. Applied Science
17. ‘Til the City’s on Fire
18. Who’s Got the Herb?
19. Come Original
20. Amber
21. Days of ’88
22. What Was I Thinking?
23. Livin’ and Rockin’
Encore:
24. Down
25. F*** the Bull****
Copyright 2017, Spins on Music LLC
