311 and my Band of Brothers

Posted by Chris Stratton (Follow Me)- Chris Stratton - To see more posts by this author click here

"I tell you what I like, This moment of unity When there's no distance In between you and me..."

Being new to blogging, it has taken awhile for me to transition myself from someone experiencing things simply on a personal level, to having this outlet to share my thoughts and experiences with others. So before attending the upcoming 311 concert at Nissan Pavilion, I figured it would be a perfect opportunity to review their latest show for the blog. I sat down with my lunch the day after the show to begin jotting down some notes for my post and I received a text from a friend that changed my mind about the direction of the piece. The text read, €œHow was the show last night??…Hope it was everything you wanted and expected. I know that’s basically your Mecca.€ Now this person knew I liked 311, but what is it about this band and the way I react to them that would make him say something like that?

My experience with 311 and their music has been less of a reaction and more of an evolving relationship. Unlike most bands garnering attention these days, 311 has been around for what seems like forever. Releasing 10 studio albums during my formative years, I feel as though I’ve grown up with the band. One of the first cds I owned, their self titled €œBlue€ album, was a landmark for me with its brand new sound and explicit lyrics sticker. I imagine it is for me what a Led Zeppelin record would have been like for my Dad, almost creating a feeling of €œgetting away with something€ while you listen to it. The music only tells half the story when it comes to this band.

311 is unique in that they have stood for something simple and profound their entire career and have refused to be changed by outside pressures. Unity. The message has been clear since their very first record, this band strives to bring together styles of music and groups of people into a single collective spreading a message of positivity and tolerance. A 311 show is a cauldron of upbeat energy and optimistic people sharing a rare moment of pure encouragement in an all too often negative world.

The most important memory of 311 for me however will always be the relationships their music has begun and enhanced throughout the last decade. The shared experience of their message and music has created instant bonds and lasting memories for many of my friends and me. Lake Braddock Secondary School (my high school in Burke, VA) was just a different place the week of a 311 concert. We looked forward to the annual 311 show like people look forward to their birthday. I can’t entirely describe it, but it’s almost like we grew closer for that night more so than at any other time, something that only happens when you truly know your experiencing something together but independently (if that makes any sense). The thing that makes me more proud and happy than anything is that the bond between us is so strong that no matter how far apart we are the occasion and bond remain. I have called friends who couldn’t be at the show and received similar calls from friends all over the country at 3am the night before work, and just a muffled call or message can bring the biggest smile to my face.
Thank you 311 and all the brodels: Malone, St.Pierre, Lebo, Johnson, Mull, Carmen, Kram, Macalee, Fadle, Rik B, and anyone I left out. Unity.

[sidenote: this post was edited by Blake the Mega listening to 311 live - "Yo P-Nut beat that thing."]

udothedishes . . .

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