311

I still have a soft place in my heart for 311 that my inner early teenager will likely forever cling to. Back in the days when MTV played music videos and, even more, those from legitimately innovative rock bands (for the time period), 311 was the jam. It was a much simpler time for rock music. A less contentious time. And a less pretentious one as well. Rock music still had a grander sense of epicness and importance to it. It was adults playing radical music, not children pretending to be adults by dressing up like radicals. So even though I’ve admittedly fallen by the wayside in recent years in terms of keeping up with their later releases, the nostalgia of the era 311 represents makes them iconic as a rock band. Also, for those who’ve never been to one of their shows, it’s a serious party. Like, just a few red plastic cups short of a college keg party, kind of party. - Brien Overly

[With special guest Wheeland Brothers]