![]() ![]() He knows little of the history behind the music that fills his family’s car. And as Spinal Tap’s Nigel Tufnel would say, “This one goes to 11!”īut the kid on his way to his guitar lesson has young ears. Einstein said E=MC(2): Energy derives by expanding the MC’s role by the power of two. “Do You Right”–a 1993 hit–formulated the potential of this fusion. For nearly nine years now, 311 has successfully melded the conventional rock/alternative form to rap’s collage aesthetic. And miracle of miracles, they do so without being fey, arch or ironic. More rigorously than most other new rockers, 311 has embraced, as well as developed, new music-making strategies–combining funk with rock as originally trumpeted by the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Fishbone–and adding some rock-steady reggae with hip-hop flava. Combined, these five Los Angeles transplants have helped to carve out their immediately recognizable Omaha-stylee sound. ![]() And the dual-vocal attack of SA Martinez and Nick Hexum follows trails blazed by hip-hop and rap. The guitar is at times reminiscent of Santana, and at others pounding out a ferocious sound along the lines of The Clash’s Mick Jones. The pounding bass and drums recall the furious attack of Elvis Costello’s Attractions. Older ears–the kind that pay for historical consciousness with stray hairs that sprout around the edges–might be able to categorize 311′s music. Instead, he plans to exchange the 15 hard-earned dollars crammed into the left pocket of his baggy black shorts for instructions on covering The Clash’s “Should I Stay Or Should I Go.” At the moment, though, he’s staring out the car window, listening to 311′s Soundsystem CD. ![]() This week, he’s decided to take something of a break he’ll grapple with no items from The Beatles songbook, nor will he try to master any of the requisite Jimi Hendrix solos. Jake–who at 13 years of age believes he resembles nobody, much less a pre-pubescent Eddie Vedder–is being shuttled by one of his parents to a Thursday afternoon guitar lesson. Here’s an anecdote straight out of suburban youth culture (yes, it’s a true story–we have all lived this scenario in some way shape or form!). Virtually Alternative magazine – October 1999 ![]()
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