311 at The Borgata Festival Park in Atlantic City
Words by Lucas P. Jones, Photos by Kimberly Wessels & Al Mannarino
On Sunday, fellow pop-break writer Al Mannarino and myself trekked to the Borgata in Atlantic City. There we were scheduled to see 311, and opening for them, The Whalers and SOJA. Before going to this show, I wouldn’t have considered myself a fan of any of these groups. But as someone who enjoys live music, even outside the One True Genre of music (80’s hair metal, for those keeping score), I figured I would go to enjoy some tunes and hang with my friend. Turns out I got way more than I bargained for.
The venue itself definitely earns high marks. Borgata did a great job with it, making every spot feel included and part of the action, yet still leaving tons of space for when you wanted to retreat. Al and I were able to get super close to watch music, then we walked to the back to relax, play some ping pong, and have a few drinks. Even during 311’s set, I never felt packed in, and the extra games and activities gave the show a festival kind of feel.
First up was The Wailers, which might be the chillest band in existence. Mixing their hits and deep cuts, they really helped to set the tone for the rest of the evening. Their lead guitarist even added a few guitar solos into songs where I hadn’t heard them before, which was great. No one wants to come to a love show to hear songs played exactly like they were on the album.
SOJA was next, and they decidedly kicked up the tempo. While still in the same vein of music as The Whalers, both their tempo and energy were a step above. Blending funk, reggae, and rock, SOJA was definitely the surprise of the show, as their live show was way more energetic than their studio recordings had let on. The interaction between their guitarist and bassist was particularly enjoyable; their back and forth helped to add interesting complexity to the sound.
But as the sun began to go down, the lights came up for 311. I have to say, I have been to too many shows to count, but none have started with the energy that this show started with. Opening with the one-two punch of  “Homebrew” and “Freeze Time”, 311 set the tone and kept the crowd jumping and dancing all night. One thing I found interesting was the heavy lead guitar. Not even heavy for the genre, but actually HEAVY. Half of the riffs could have been right at home in any 80’s or 90’s metal band, but in 311 they provided a great counterbalance to “P-nut’s” funky bass lines and Nick Hexum’s clean vocals. After the shows end, I was left stunned. How have I never added this band to my playlists? They have what can only be described as an almost genre-less, truly refreshing sound. All it took was one show on a humid day in Atlantic City to convince me that 311 is one of the best bands playing today. That’s how good they are.
The Wailers – Photos by Al Mannarino
SOJA – Photos by Al Mannarino
311 – Photos by Al Mannarino
311 Photos by Kimberly Wessels
311 Setlist:
Homebrew
Freeze Time
From Chaos
Prisoner
The Great Divide
All Mixed Up
Guns (Are for Pussies)
Life’s Not a Race
You Wouldn’t Believe
Don’t Tread on Me
Applied Science (with drum solo)
Sunset in July
Who’s Got the Herb?
Jackpot
Purpose
Bass Solo (with Imperial March tease)
Come Original
Let the Cards Fall
Amber
Feels So Good
Creatures (For a While)
Encore:
Beyond the Gray Sky
Down
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