July 12, 2014

[Mindspin]

see them while you can, whenever you can. why not otherwise? seriously. what other bands from the mid-late 90s are even still around, let alone touring ?

Funny you should say that. Like 311, my favorite band also formed in the early 90s, released their first real studio album in 1993, released a self-titled album in 1995, has released 10 full-length original studio LPs, still has all the same (early-40s-aged) band members since before their first album, and is live touring band.

Other than those oddly similarities, my favorite band Clutch is nothing like 311, which was best in the 90s. Clutch actually got better with age and their best albums are from 2004 to last year. When Clutch released their 2004 rock masterpiece Blast Tyrant, 311 put out a Greatest Hits album and went into a creative lull that wasn't truly broken until Stereolithic this year. Clutch put out their second greatest album in 2013, and they are already working on a new album that should come out early next year. They'll tour for it so I know they are not done - I'll get to see them this year and next for sure.

I didn't become a Clutch fan until 1998 (5 years after 311) and didn't start seeing them live until 2001 (6 years after 311), so I haven't seen as many Clutch shows as 311. Besides being disappointed by 311's albums of the last decade, my love of Clutch is a big reason I'm semi-retired as a 311-head. Not only would I rather spend my money and time away from my family (both of which are limited) on Clutch (and bands I've never seen before), my total numbers of shows for Clutch and 311 are still disproportional to my love for each of them. 311 is probably still the favorite band of most of the forum users here so I can't expect you to understand. Except for the friends I go to concerts with, most people I know have not been to 18-21 concerts total, let alone 18 or more shows for two bands on top of hell of a lot of other shows.

All that being said, I'll probably see a 311 show this year anyway.

[bcolephases]

see them while you can, whenever you can. why not otherwise? seriously. what other bands from the mid-late 90s are even still around, let alone touring ?

Funny you should say that. Like 311, my favorite band also formed in the early 90s, released their first real studio album in 1993, released a self-titled album in 1995, has released 10 full-length original studio LPs, still has all the same (early-40s-aged) band members since before their first album, and is live touring band.

Other than those oddly similarities, my favorite band Clutch is nothing like 311, which was best in the 90s. Clutch actually got better with age and their best albums are from 2004 to last year. When Clutch released their 2004 rock masterpiece Blast Tyrant, 311 put out a Greatest Hits album and went into a creative lull that wasn't truly broken until Stereolithic this year. Clutch put out their second greatest album in 2013, and they are already working on a new album that should come out early next year. They'll tour for it so I know they are not done - I'll get to see them this year and next for sure.

I didn't become a Clutch fan until 1998 (5 years after 311) and didn't start seeing them live until 2001 (6 years after 311), so I haven't seen as many Clutch shows as 311. Besides being disappointed by 311's albums of the last decade, my love of Clutch is a big reason I'm semi-retired as a 311-head. Not only would I rather spend my money and time away from my family (both of which are limited) on Clutch (and bands I've never seen before), my total numbers of shows for Clutch and 311 are still disproportional to my love for each of them. 311 is probably still the favorite band of most of the forum users here so I can't expect you to understand. Except for the friends I go to concerts with, most people I know have not been to 18-21 concerts total, let alone 18 or more shows for two bands on top of hell of a lot of other shows.

All that being said, I'll probably see a 311 show this year anyway.

Clutch are pretty good. They have an awesome drummer, that's for damn sure. Two completely different bands, tho.
I'm about to see 311 for the 7th time, far more than any other band I've seen, yet far less than that guy on etsd2 who's seen them 311+ times.
I do what I can...

[Freeze Time]

Pearl Jam and Drive By Truckers are two bands I love that are still going strong. I guess DBT are more a 2000's band. I really don't think 311 will stop just yet.

[Smoke]

Pearl Jam and Drive By Truckers are two bands I love that are still going strong. I guess DBT are more a 2000's band. I really don't think 311 will stop just yet.

Based on the fact they gave a fan lifetime free shows, that would be pretty shitty of they stopped touring in the next few years. I suspect they won't any time soon. They've got a lifestyle that will need money, although I wouldn't be surprised if they do fewer shows in their tours in the coming years.

[dj3stripes]

Dunno. I think it's naive to think any more than 2 more years of consistent touring is in the future. again, I want to be wrong on this.

[bcolephases]

Pearl Jam and Drive By Truckers are two bands I love that are still going strong. I guess DBT are more a 2000's band. I really don't think 311 will stop just yet.

Based on the fact they gave a fan lifetime free shows, that would be pretty shitty of they stopped touring in the next few years. I suspect they won't any time soon. They've got a lifestyle that will need money, although I wouldn't be surprised if they do fewer shows in their tours in the coming years.

Their lifestyles don't seem too outlandish, other than Nick buying an entire island! The only problem I have is their charging fans for autographs. Too many bands nowadays whore themselves out like that even on stage. "Buy a shirt, I gotta eat!"

[Mindspin]

I really don't think 311 will stop just yet.

Based on the fact they gave a fan lifetime free shows, that would be pretty shitty of they stopped touring in the next few years. I suspect they won't any time soon. They've got a lifestyle that will need money, although I wouldn't be surprised if they do fewer shows in their tours in the coming years.

Their lifestyles don't seem too outlandish, other than Nick buying an entire island! The only problem I have is their charging fans for autographs. Too many bands nowadays whore themselves out like that even on stage. "Buy a shirt, I gotta eat!"

311 charges for autographs? I mean outside of a cruise or something? I didn't know that. That's BS. Selling autographs is something that old has-been celebrities do when they have no other source of income, like Billy Dee Williams at a Star Wars convention. I think 311's doing alright from touring. They don't need to sell autographs.

But what's also sad is the fans that support that practice and buy autographs from 311. I'll pay for their albums and concerts because they are performing artists. Maybe I would buy an autograph from Chad 5 years after he had to give up playing drums forever due to being stricken with extreme untreatable arthritis. Maybe.

[dj3stripes]

So he's referring to the VIP packages at certain venues. They dont have like a lemonade stand out back near the loading dock charging a nickel for glossies............

[Mindspin]

So he's referring to the VIP packages at certain venues. They dont have like a lemonade stand out back near the loading dock charging a nickel for glossies............

311 charges for VIP packages, and that entitles you to get autographs. I'm sure that works out to a lot more than a nickle for each glossy. Mo' money. 311 should do that sh!t for charity. And I thought the "lemonade" stands out back by the loading docks were where 311 charges fans for the chance to suck their d's. F#ck!ng groupies.

[dj3stripes]

[Smoke]

When I was young we always waited for them after the show, talked to the guys a few times that way and got many an autograph and picture. Too bad it was before the age of smart phones. ahhh lamenting on my youth... I'm old..and so are you fuckers.

I don't stand out there anymore though, I think it's a bit weird at this age. But I wouldn't mind having a drink with them and bullshitting like homies would. That's how I hung with the guys from Pepper before they got bigger.

[bcolephases]

It's not just 311 though. The guy from hed PE wouldn't even look at you unless you bought his shit. But that's the nature of the beast in the digital age. Bands gotta make $ somewhere if they're not selling 3 million albums on a consistent basis. I'm not exactly sure either what percentage of ticket sales they get in addition to guarantees.

[bbshorts]

what other bands from the mid-late 90s are even still around, let alone touring ?

Are you kidding?

Green Day
Rancid
NOFX
Bad Religion
Pennywise
The Offspring
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
Fishbone
Less Than Jake
Reel Big Fish
The Aquabats
O.C. Supertones
Five Iron Frenzy
Living Colour
Bad Brains
The Skeletones
Foo Fighters
The Red Hot Chili Peppers
Incubus
Hoobastank
The Urge
Blink 182
No Doubt
Rush
The Rolling Stones
AC/DC

The list goes on and on. Some of the bands I just mentioned are from the 80s, 70s, or before, and yet here they are, still touring 2-3-4 decades strong. I am not saying that 311 definitely won't break up, but 311 are not geriatrics, either. They still have some years left in them.

[dj3stripes]

You're going to tell me, that you've seen all of these bands touring coast to coast like 311 is still doing, in the last few years? I know for a fact that the urge hasn't gotten out of the midwest since this decade except for maybe a one off show here and there.

If you're talking about a 1 month stint through europe, ok fine congrats to the old bands that do that, honestly nothing against them. I Love LTJ. I hope to some day see a good portion of those bands and don't have anything against them but you're starting to compare apples and oranges. Half of that list, I could see at a state fair/casino and not be surprised. There is a stigma when it comes to those kinds of bands though and I'd rather not see 311 part of it.

Pretty sad you have to resort to Rush, The Stones, and AC/DC to make a point. Those are has-bands and you know it. Their peak was many many years ago, celebrate it, just don't use it as a point for this argument. Anybody who in the last 10 years has gotten excited to see any of those bands other than to mark it off their bucket list is crazy to think they're even half as good at putting on a live show as they were 20 years ago. I saw the stones 15 years ago and it seemed more like a tribute to a bunch of old guys who have a shit ton of new guys in their band. Celebrating the fact that a few of them are still alive, let alone are able to sweat their nuts off playing music for hundreds of dollars/ticket.

[Mindspin]

Dang, hate on the Stones much? lol.

All past and present members of the band since 1963 are still alive except Brian Jones who died in 1969. They are currently only 4 official members of the band (this line-up hasn't changed since 1993). 3 of those 4 have been members since 1963, with the 4th having been a member since 1975. Just sayin'.

I'm a huge fan of a lot of their late 60s and 70s material, and I saw them 20 years ago. Thankfully they only played 4 songs from the then-current album (Voodoo Lounge), and the rest of the set was the classics. No, I wasn't excited for it in the same way as 311. Yes, it was a bucket list thing, but I was amazed by the energy they had on stage for how old they were, even back then. If I had a time machine, I would be super-excited to go back to 1972 and see them.

Now? I'm convinced they are undead.

AC/DC

The list goes on and on. Some of the bands I just mentioned are from the 80s, 70s, or before, and yet here they are, still touring 2-3-4 decades strong.

AC/DC hasn't toured since 2010, so I wouldn't call 4 years ago "still touring". Just sayin'.

[bbshorts]

dj3stripes, you implied that there are few to no bands from the mid 90s that are still together and touring. I listed several bands that were formed in the mid 90s and before that are still together and touring, making that statement false. Whether they are past their prime or don't do huge world tours is besides the point. 311 is hardly the only band still going for 20+ years these days. Modern bands aren't having members die of hard drug overdoses like bands of the past few decades, so they are lasting longer.

I actually think 311 is past their prime. They reached their peak with Soundsystem and haven't been able to top it since. It doesn't mean they suck, or that I won't keep buying their albums and going to shows.

But I digress. While I do agree with you that one should go out and see 311 as much as they can, I doubt they will be hanging it up anytime soon. Unless the members of 311 have health issues I don't know about, I expect the Red Hot Chili Peppers to hang it up before 311 does.

AC/DC hasn't toured since 2010, so I wouldn't call 4 years ago "still touring". Just sayin'.

Oops, sorry. Haven't kept up on my research.