Photos and review by Matt Jonson
Show photos HERE
I have been listening to 311 for more than ten years. When I saw I had the chance to photograph them performing I couldn’t pass it up. To see them in such a small venue, standing general admission only, was the icing on the cake. This was my first time at the Oakdale Theater and I was very happy with how the staff ran the show. They were more than considerate to the photographers and the fans. I didn’t see one grumpy or sassy employee despite the crippling heat. It was like a sauna in that big wooden dome. A sold out crowd of three thousand generates a lot of heat, especially when they are being energized by the powerhouse that is 311.
These gentlemen know how to put on a show. They played the essentials: Amber, All Mixed Up, Come Original, and Creatures (For A While). They also played my favorites from their new album Sand Dollars and First Dimension. This isn’t the kind of band that is too cool to play their most popular songs and they didn’t flood the set list with their new album.
The crowd went wild during Chad Sexton’s extended drum solo in the middle of the show. Everyone lost their minds when four more drum sets were wheeled onto the stage followed by P-Nut, Tim, Doug, and Nick with drum sticks. The five drum sets getting demolished in perfect unison was close to shaking the building to the ground. Then everyone left the stage but P-Nut. He walked over to his amp, turned the volume up to eleven and took out his in-ear monitor. At the conclusion of his solo that was equally as ground shaking as five drummers, the master bowed and the rest of the band returned to the stage to finish the show.
The fans were all super respectful and everyone was having a blast. It was refreshing to watch so many people singing and dancing with big smiles on their faces. 311 puts out a lot of positive energy and this reflects in their fans. After the solos I would have forgiven them for not playing Down but, it ended up being their last song. I highly recommend going to see them on this tour. Not many bands can keep the same lineup for over twenty-two years. Don’t miss your chance to see them!
311 at The Oakdale Theater – CT
