311

Formed in Omaha, Nebraska, 311 has brought together five musicians since the late 1980s around a sound that blends alternative rock, funk, reggae, hip‑hop and punk rock, with a constant interplay between the voices of Nick Hexum and Doug “SA” Martinez. After several local independent releases, including Downstairs, Dammit! and Unity around 1989–1991, 311 broke into the US national scene by signing with Capricorn Records and releasing Music (1993) and Grassroots (1994). The band significantly broadened its audience with the self‑titled album 311 (1995), driven in particular by the singles “Down” and “All Mixed Up”, before adopting a wider, more psychedelic approach on Transistor (1997). The rest of 311’s discography shows a rare continuity of lineup and a fluid movement between heavy riffs, syncopated grooves and melodic accents, from Soundsystem (1999) to From Chaos (2001), Evolver (2003), Don’t Tread on Me (2005), Uplifter (2009), Universal Pulse (2011), Stereolithic (2014), Mosaic (2017), Voyager (2019) and Full Bloom (2024). A regular presence on American rock and alternative tours, 311 has also crossed paths with artists from reggae, hip‑hop and funk, highlighting the band’s particular place in the landscape of American rock in the 1990s and 2000s.