I don't have any idea where these guys are now. I presume they are still making albums. I have to look into that.
I'd never heard anything like this before
I wrote the intro and then became curious: YES, they are still making albums. I will have to check them out later. However, this article is about the album that was released in 1994 and was a huge hit among me and my friends.
Let's start by saying that I first wanted to check them out because they are from Omaha, Nebraska. I lived a lot of my childhood in Nebraska and let me tell you this. Except for football (the American kind) and corn, nothing is from Nebraska. Therefore, when someone tells you about this great band from Nebraska you better listen to it because there is a very good chance that it must be something amazing for anyone in the music industry to even notice it.
this is what most of Nebraska looks like
Grassroots was the first album I acquired of theirs although they did have one other (not self-produced) album before that simply entitled "Music". Lots of fanbois (back in the 90's) claimed they like the album "Music" better but I seriously doubt they even knew the album existed until Grassroots became popular.
I don't really know how to describe their sound: They are clearly influenced by reggae, rock, metal, ska, and rap and fused them all together quite nicely. Nick Hexum, the band's guitarist and singer writes most of the music for the band and it just works. Since it was different than everything else at the time that is probably why they got noticed. Nick is not a terribly good singer and relies heavily on lots of effects, but i think everyone does that now.
I think something else that appealed to me about this album is that they had a really good producer. The mix on the sound was just perfect for the 90's and I think stands up to today's standards for the most part.
As I mentioned many articles ago I had a very nice stereo in my car in the 90's including a sub-woofer that could shake the mirrors at full capacity. Therefore, having a good producer was very important if I was going to like your stuff.
I think this was so popular in the 90's because it had a little bit of everything for everyone. If you liked rock, reggae, rap, or pretty much anything, it would be fine on the system at a party or bar. Maybe it was just for the college folk... i dunno. It was also pretty great that they didn't achieve massive success right away because I was able to see them twice at smaller venues for less than $20 per time.
Check out Grassroots first track, which is called "Homebrew"
and maybe "8:16 AM" - which is likely the song people are most likely to recognize from the entire album.
that bass player is just off the hook
Grassroots had a pretty decent level of success but failed to really attract the wide-spread attention of the masses in the US or the world. That would come later and we'll talk about it in the future.
by the way the name 311 comes from the police code in Nebraska. It is for indecent exposure and the guys in the band found this out when one of the members was arrested for streaking.
As usual I hope you appreciate these articles. I welcome your comments, even if they are negative.
Grassroots is a good listen, I'll give you that, but I found myself skipping most of the tracks on that album and I keep it in my collection still. I also have my fav .. 311 "The Deluxe Version" WHOOOooo Nelly! Yup..D.E.L.U.X.E. Baby!! No clue. I still can't locate the non deluxe version. I'm not one who usually likes all the bells and whistles. "I'm sorry sir, you get the non-deluxe version. It doesn't contain the Scratch-N-Sniff picture of the Hemp leaf." Why me..WHY ME! 'Down' and 'All Mixed Up' are awesome tracks in my unprofessional opinion. Take a look at the lyrics for All Mixed Up ...
https://www.google.com/search?q=311+all+mixed+up+lyrics&oq=311+all+mixed+up&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0l5.7134j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
I really have no clue how you could string these completely different segments of what seems to be all mixed up (did you see what I did there?) into a song that works! Amazing to me. Plus I would really like ALL the lyrics in this song explained to me by Nick or Doug. Interesting, Very Interesting (My hand on my chin and looking perplexed). I'll leave it be. My #1 played is definitely Amber of the album Chaos (I think). I like the Reggae hip-hop like mix. Call me corny, but I can feel the summertime hook-up love in this one. Brings back memories of my youth when I would eye up the beach girls and have absolutly no guts to talk to them. If I wrote a song about it then I imagine it would of went like Amber. So of course it gets my vote.
Just as a side note, and being that I am an artist in my spare time, I followed for a while Chad Sexton (311 Drummer). He put out a book and has a line of art call "Assimilation of Rhythm and Light". Pretty interesting stuff. Long shutter speed photography kinda stuff ...
Anyhow, hmmmm .. Good Pick there @gooddream. I'm into my iTunes Reggae playlist as we speak, or rather as I write. (You're probably eating or walking the doggo - bark bark!) Funny thing is that Sublime is playing right now and the song that's on is Burritos off their 1996 album Sublime. Weird..if your eating that is..and eating Burritos would make this a Twilight Zone kinda moment.
I would so buy 'City Of Symphonies" if I din't have to fill out an online form to get a freakn price. most likely too much for my shallow pockets. :-(
you beat me again. Your response is better than my article.
Your style of writing speaks to me… If that doesn’t come off creepy LOL. So it got me thinking…I gave you a shout out in my latest post on my own blog. I have to say reading your posts has given me a bit of inspiration to change my own blogging style. Although I don’t think I really have a style per say since I don’t consider myself a blogger in the least. being inspired and finding inspiration is a good thing. I always found it troublesome to find ways to talk about my artwork and where I got the inspiration for some of the pieces. After reading a few of your posts I feel as though my problem may be solved. I think? So I wanted to extend a warm and fuzzy thank you. I appreciate your help.
P. S. Don’t block me. I’ll tone it down. lol. Probably not though.
I'm gonna follow your blog starting right now. I'm happy that the way I write speaks so you.... for serious. That is exceptionally flattering. Sorry i didn't follow your blog before but now i will. I wasn't a blogger either, until i was.
Don’t follow. DON’T DO IT!! Don’t be a follower. Lol. I can’t promise to be exciting but now the pressure is on. In a good way of course.
i'm already reading your posts. too late buddy. haha
Dude I'm amazed that I went to explore on steemit today and this was the 1st post on the top of the list. 311 has been my favorite band since I was 15 in 1994 and I first heard this album. I had seen flyers for them before I eve listened and one life changing day my friend told me how good they were and we went to buy this album and the blue self titled album that day. Yes they are still making albums and touring like crazy. I met my current girlfriend through a 311 Facebook group 5 years ago and we are still together. She told me how amazing there POW wow festival was and we ended up going on there 4th cruise together to Jamaica. The 311 fan base is very devoted and 311 Day is a major event. If you haven't listened to the most recent album Mosaic yet, I highly recommend it. Great mix of all there different styles of sound throughout there 27 year history as a band. I'm pumped to have found another 311 fan on here. Hit me up sometime and I'll show you some pictures I have taken of them and of us on the cruise. Stay positive and love your life!
hey Joel! thanks for the information pal! I have not lived in the States for many years so yeah, i didn't even know they were still together. I really like your attitude and thank you for reading my post.
You're very welcome dude! Hit me up anytime for some Awsome 311 stories!
Standing out for music in Nebraska who was not known for music but corn and football is a great accomplishment on it own. I wonder why they were not given more recognition than they have. I love people that think that way. For the fact that it hasn't be done does not mean it can't be done.
As a youth then, I'm sure you will love your hoofer to be at it full capacity, because we tend to value beats than the music itself at that stage. But I'm sure that would be other way round now. Smile
Though, right from time, I hate noise, I love things coming to me gently so that I would be able to grab all, that's why I still prefer music to just beat.....
That shows with your hoofer at it full working capacity, I won't ask you for a ride.... Smile
I need to download theit music, it sound amazing to hear them combining most of my choices when it comes to music (reggae, rock, metal and rap). Whao, I need to download it.
And lastly, I love the inspiration behind their name, see how they bring fame out of 311 which was meant to give them Shame. These guys are just super good.
"For the fact that it hasn't be done does not mean it can't be done." ~ AMEN to that my friend. I think that the beat (unfortunately for it) should always take the back seat to the "music" and the voice. It should be there to tie it all together. Interesting to think about what these 311 songs would sound like if we eliminated the beat element portion of the track. hmmmm interesting!
I just saw them play one week ago!!! 30,000 people. They are doing great. ☺️
Every year they throw a 311 Day concert. Usually it is in New Orleans but they switch it up sometimes. I went in 2016. They will play close to 90 of their songs for one 311 day. It is amazing.
this is fantastic news. Thanks for sharing... glad they are still out there and killing it.
From the article seems they were pretty good musicians. Haven't heard of them before from my own part of the world. Have to search them out online to see their work
always loved 311's style. appreciate the writeup. cool that you're both from omaha.
The grass root are the source of naturalize
I love your music, I am impressed, I am a hobby of music.
Awesome my brother the music is expression, art, it is freedom I appreciate your publication, I appreciate the music congratulations, success
Thanks for the information sir @gooddream.By reading your articles daily I'm getting knowledge about bands around the world.Musics heals everything ands thanks for the every bit of knowledge you give us regarding music.
Now to something I hear often - Rock music. Personally, I would say Grassroots is one the greatest legends in rock music who are surprisingly still in the game since 1965- can you believe that? How did I get to know about these stone-age pop band? It was when I stumbled upon the "their 16 greatest hits", released by Dunhill records, on the internet. It comprised the greatest hits soley by Grassroots including tracks like "sooner or later", "what a million years" and so on. I really must commend the group for its solidarity even after the demise of Rob Grill. I really doubt if grassroots will release another album, but the group still does perform acts from time to time. I really find the picture depicting nebraska very funny- are green crops they only residents in Nebraska- lol. Just kidding
More music, more fun! I liked the video :)
311 is for indecent exposure, that's some cool police stuff, anyway am listening to home brew right now and man i totally agree with you, very nice arrangement, mix is on point, video is crazy though😄, they keep shaking their head for whichever reason i not know. Am gonna get the rest of the album and listen later, your taste in rock band good. Thanks man
this band never came to be heard in Venezuela, I was researching about this band to know more about them and I see one with the same name but since the 60s haha ... this band was not popular in South America.
In general, it happens a lot that a band or group becomes famous in their land but not internationally.
The 90's is an amazing time your music list is very good many of the songs do not cnonocia others if ..... thanks for sharing
the music you show is very good .. what is your favorite kind of music it's all this kind .. and i really like to hear music .. so i love music
I'm not from Nebraska but I know that 311 has released ten or more albums, I think they split up because they never heard from them again, nor was their fan to tell the truth, I do not even like them very much, I only know about it because I listened to only one song of them, if I do not get to make a mistake his last album was 2011.
they released an album last year although i have not yet heard it.
Hey I remember listening to "311" growing up. I make music now myself. Also, I have a tag called #boombox where I resteem songs that are in there for free. Good day to you all