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Live at Pacific Amphitheater
September 3, 2024 Review by Michelle Cooper
It was another incredible summer night of music in Orange County when 311’s Unity Tour rolled into the Pacific Amphitheatre. While the summer trek features three bands that I consider to be more from my kids’ generation, I was looking forward to experiencing an exciting evening of music from 311, AWOLNATION, and Neon Trees.
I watched the crowd pour in and I was surprised by the variety in age groups. There were several people older than my 50-ish self, sporting their 311 shirts, but also, parents in their 30s, dragging bouncing, joyful children along. There were of course groups of teens, but no surprise, the majority appeared to be SoCal surfers and skaters. Despite the variety of backgrounds and ages, everyone seemed very chill and laid back, ready for a night of music.
Slowly, people began to walk onto the stage and picking up equipment – Neon Trees is here! The guys picked up a guitar and a bass, and a woman took her place at the drum kit.
The early crowd gave a casual cheer and started to stand. I have to admit I am not familiar with Neon Trees, so I went in blind…
Front-man Tyler Glenn kicked off with “Losing My Head,” then they jump into “El Diablo.” The Provo, Utah band is filled out by Branden Campbell on bass, Chris Allen on guitar, and Elaine Bradley shreds the drums. Glenn is appreciative of the standing concertgoers and thanks us for being out so early on a weeknight.
Neon Trees started “Animal” and the crowd reacted to the band’s mega hit by getting up excitedly on their feet. I recognized the song as well and happily danced along with everyone else. Glenn asked us to stay up so we can continue the party, which we did, and joined the band on “Sleeping With a Friend” and “Everybody Talks.”
Glenn showed a lot of enthusiasm and made several jokes with the audience, plus the band had fantastic energy and showmanship, making me a fan of Neon Trees; I’d love to see them again!
There is no time wasted in between band turnover; myself, as well as others around me, were surprised how quickly AWOLNATION took to the stage. AWOLNATION is a band based out of Los Angeles and creator/front-man Aaron Bruno hit the stage sporting a Dodgers jersey with “Bruno” stitched on the back.
They began their set with “Soul Wars,” and the early crowd had filled in nicely by then. Fans joined in with Bruno, waving their arms and singing along.
Now this is the band I was really looking forward to tonight! I think I first fell in love with AWOLNATION when I heard “Sail.” I love the abrasive tone in the song; the hint that the subject can’t get out of his own head. He’s unsettled and needs to just sail (run away) from everyone and life. As a nurse, mom, and human in general, living in a society around people dealing with mental health issues like ADD, ADHD, anxiety, and autism, the song is very relatable and resonates with me.
I am also enamored with Bruno’s stage presence, and it is so apparent that he is the song writer – he FEELS his songs. For this reason, I enjoyed each and every song.
THIS is the experience you want at a concert. Bruno walked the stage the whole time and encouraged the crowd to interact with him and the songs.
Bruno is phenomenal but he can’t do it alone – rounding out the band are Zach Irons ruling the guitar, and Isaac Carpenter banging the drums all day.
The band started with “Soul Wars,” but by song two, “Kill Your Heroes,” the crowd decided sitting was no longer an option tonight. We got 10 songs from AWOLNATION, and the energy of the rock with the hint of punk in this set was too much let anyone sit down again.
People – myself included – had hands thrown up in the air and they danced along. Bruno did an amazing cover of Blur’s “Song 2,” and of course they had to end the set with their number one hit, the aforementioned “Sail.”
Now, I could have gone home happy, I thought, but I was so wrong!
What came next may have been the Pacific Amphitheatre’s best summer performance – 311. With a 21-song set, a kaleidoscope of lights and digital graphics, jumping, sweating, dancing, and screaming so electrifying, they could have lit up the abyss!
If there had been any empty seats during the openers, that was the past. Let me say every, I mean every seat was accounted for now and not one person sat for 311’s entire set!
From the moment Nick Hexum (vocals/guitar), Doug “SA” Martinez (vocals/ turntables), Tim Mahoney (guitar), Aaron “P-Nut” Wills (bass), and Chad Sexton (drums) stepped out onto the stage, the crowd was elated. This is what a summer rock concert is about!
The set kicked off with “Beautiful Disaster” and was followed by many of the crowd’s favorite hits; “Do You Right,” “Come Original,” “All Mixed Up,” “Don’t Stay Home,” “Amber,” and “Creatures (for a While).”
In between songs, Hexum thanked the fans for the band’s 36-year career and we got to hear a sick bass solo by P-Nut. Sexton was not to be upstaged and hit us with a drum solo followed by the rest of the band playing on percussion with a colorful light show synced with the music. This was such a rad moment!
In addition to celebrating 30-plus years as a performing band, Hexum also wanted to highlight the evening with a special birthday shout out and hug to his 15-year-old daughter, Echo. He invited her to join him on stage for a fatherly hug, which was such a sweet moment.
Unfortunately the night had to come to an end and the set closed with an encore of two songs, their hometown nod, “Omaha Stylee” and another mega radio hit, “Down.”
This really was an epic night and all three bands gave us the best night of the summer sounds. I actually felt like there was a vibrating buzz of electricity around me.
The Unity Tour 2024 is an energetic, kaleidoscope of music and talent, and I am looking forward to many more 311 shows in my future.
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