There’s something special about a summer 311 show. For over three decades, the Omaha quintet has turned venues across America into zones of pure positivity — where funk, reggae, rap, and rock collide in a haze of grooves and good vibes. Their stop at the Bayou Music Center in Houston in July 2015 was exactly that kind of night: humid, loud, and bursting with energy from the moment the lights dimmed.
The crowd was a mix of longtime fans — the kind who’ve been shouting “Stay positive!” since the Clinton era — and younger converts who’d discovered the band through Amber or Beautiful Disaster. By the time the stage lights pulsed in that familiar green-and-blue glow, the room was buzzing. When the “Transistor Intro” kicked in, that wave of anticipation broke wide open. It’s the perfect opener for a 311 show — a hypnotic, spacey instrumental that sets the mood for what’s to come.
Without hesitation, the band launched into “Beautiful Disaster”, and the Bayou exploded. Tim Mahoney’s guitar sliced through the room while Nick Hexum and SA Martinez traded verses like two old friends finishing each other’s sentences. The crowd was instantly on its feet, fists pumping, every word shouted back at the stage. That’s always been the magic of 311 — the connection between the band and its fans feels less like a concert and more like a family reunion where everyone’s in sync.
“Freeze Time” followed, a rapid-fire blast of 311’s late-’90s hybrid energy. The rhythm section — P-Nut on bass and Chad Sexton behind the kit — was locked in tight, laying down a groove so deep you could feel it in your chest. Sexton’s drumming is always a highlight of any 311 show, but even early in the set he was playing with an energy that reminded everyone why he’s one of the most underrated drummers in rock.
By “Jackpot” and “Prisoner,” the band had settled into that seamless groove that defines their live shows. There’s something effortlessly smooth about the way 311 transitions between songs — it’s almost like they’re DJing their own performance, blending reggae breakdowns into heavy rock riffs, sliding from chill to chaos without ever losing cohesion. “Prisoner” in particular sounded massive — a reminder that the band’s heavier material hits just as hard live as it did in their Transistor and Soundsystem days.
Then came a newer gem, “The Great Divide,” which brought a more introspective tone. The song’s message of finding strength through connection resonated deeply with the crowd, who swayed and sang along. Hexum’s voice carried warmth and control, while SA’s harmonies and occasional freestyle flourishes gave the song a pulse of life.
The energy ramped right back up with “All Mixed Up,” and the place absolutely erupted. It’s a 311 staple, and for good reason — that mix of reggae bounce, funk swagger, and hip-hop delivery is everything the band represents. When Hexum hit the chorus — “You’ve got to trust your instincts…” — the singalong was deafening.
“Lucky” kept that vibe alive with its upbeat, almost celebratory tone, before the band slid into “Amber.” As soon as those unmistakable chords rang out, phones lit up across the venue. It’s one of those songs that’s transcended its era, becoming a universal feel-good anthem. Hexum’s delivery was heartfelt, understated, and beautifully sincere. You could see couples holding hands, friends putting arms around each other, and that mellow Houston glow setting in.
After that breather, the band flipped the switch again with “Time Bomb” and “Get Down.” Both tracks brought a raw punch of energy, showing how easily 311 can move from their chill side to pure adrenaline. Mahoney’s guitar tone on “Get Down” was razor-sharp, and SA’s vocals added that percussive counterpoint that’s made him such an integral part of the band’s sound.
“Applied Science” came next — and if you’ve seen 311 live before, you know what that means: Chad Sexton’s legendary drum solo. What started as a tight funk groove soon exploded into a full-blown percussive assault. Each member of the band grabbed a drum or cymbal and joined in, turning the stage into a rhythmic spectacle. It wasn’t just a solo; it was a jam session between five musicians completely in sync. The crowd roared in approval, and Sexton responded with a grin before dropping right back into the groove.
From there, the setlist flowed effortlessly. “Tribute” had that old-school 311 swagger, a callback to their Grassroots days when they were carving out their identity as a genre-bending powerhouse. “Come Original” brought another singalong moment, its late-’90s radio energy still fresh and funky. The crowd rapped every lyric along with SA, whose charisma lit up the room.
Then came “1, 2, 3” — a deep cut that long-time fans went wild for — followed by “You Wouldn’t Believe,” a song that’s aged gracefully over the years. It hit that sweet spot between reflective and anthemic, carried by Hexum’s earnest delivery and Mahoney’s soaring leads.
After a short breather, P-Nut took center stage for his bass solo, a crowd favorite moment that’s become a staple of any 311 show. Watching him tear through funky, fluid lines with that effortless grin reminded everyone why he’s one of the band’s secret weapons. It’s not just about technical skill — it’s about groove, and P-Nut’s got it in spades.
The solo bled perfectly into “T & P Combo,” a short but fiery instrumental that kept the energy high before the mood shifted beautifully into “Beyond the Gray Sky.” One of the band’s most emotional songs, it carried a quiet weight. The lights dimmed, the crowd hushed, and Hexum’s voice echoed through the Bayou with real vulnerability. It’s a song about loss and healing, and even in a high-energy set like this, it landed like a deep exhale.
Then, just as seamlessly, the band charged into “Feels So Good.” This one turned the venue into a frenzy again, its tight riffs and rolling rhythm section sparking that second wind in the crowd. Everyone was jumping, dancing, shouting — it was the pure essence of a 311 show distilled into five minutes.
They closed the main set with “Creatures (for a While),” one of their most powerful live songs. It’s dark, funky, and full of energy, and it hit like a knockout punch. SA’s rapping was sharp, the groove unstoppable, and the crowd fed it right back to the stage. When they left the stage afterward, the applause was thunderous.
Of course, everyone knew they weren’t done yet. The lights stayed low, the crowd chanted “Three! Eleven! Three! Eleven!” until the band returned for an encore that started with “Other Side of Things.” It was the perfect deep-cut choice, giving fans a groovy cooldown before the inevitable closer.
That closer, of course, was “Down.” No 311 show would be complete without it. As soon as the first riff hit, the Bayou Music Center shook. It was a full-on celebration — crowd-surfing, shouting, dancing, the works. The band gave it everything they had left, and the audience matched them beat for beat. When the final notes rang out, the roar of the crowd was deafening.
Setlist:
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Transistor Intro
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Beautiful Disaster
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Freeze Time
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Jackpot
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Prisoner
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The Great Divide
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All Mixed Up
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Lucky
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Amber
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Time Bomb
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Get Down
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Applied Science
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Tribute
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Come Original
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1, 2, 3
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You Wouldn’t Believe
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Bass Solo
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T & P Combo
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Beyond the Gray Sky
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Feels So Good
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Creatures (for a While)
Encore: -
Other Side of Things
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Down
What makes a 311 show so consistently great is how it bridges eras and energies. In Houston, they played songs spanning over two decades — from the raw funk-rock of Music and Grassroots to the polished confidence of From Chaos and beyond. Yet it all felt unified. That’s the essence of 311: they’ve built a sound that’s fluid but distinct, capable of shifting moods without ever losing their identity.
The Bayou Music Center proved the perfect venue for that energy. The acoustics were tight, the crowd enthusiastic, and the summer humidity only seemed to amplify the vibe. There’s something about hearing Amber in a packed room of smiling strangers or shouting “You’ve got to trust your instincts!” during All Mixed Up that reminds you why this band has lasted so long.
As the crowd filtered out into the hot Houston night, sweaty and smiling, the mood was pure afterglow. 311 had done what they always do — bring people together, spread positivity, and throw one hell of a party while doing it. Twenty-five years into their career, they still sound like a band that means every note they play.
Final Grade: B