311 Day 2010, Las Vegas

By K.B.

The first 311 day in Vegas, my first 311 show. I truly was spoiled, but it wasn’t till we got there that night that I realized how spoiled I really was. I have friends at home that have listened to 311 from the band’s beginning and could only enjoy the day via webcast (which from what I hear was still awesome). But I was here in Vegas, miles away from any sense of reality that had the capability of ruining a weekend. I’ve made it, I’ve escaped to this neon jungle filled with new adventures and drunken stories waiting to unfold. Could my friends and I live up to a Gonzo-esk trip to Vegas? Do I have enough balls to live on the edge and take this concert for all its worth? 18 pack in hand and six blocks to Mandalay Bay, this would be a night I would not forget.

Walking into the concert was a spectacle in itself; it was unlike anything we’d ever been a part of before. The wave of people powered through the Mandalay Bay. Hallways consumed by a flood of people all ready to spend the next 5 hours in complete and utter madness. The closer the amoeba got to the entrance the more people would start chanting, “3-11-3-3-11!”

Hearing too, different stories of past 311 days and 311 shows from all these new faces I was meeting. This show was a homing beacon for many, bringing them all together from far and wide; no two people I met were from the same place. I met a girl from Iowa, a guy from Texas, a couple from Kansas, and a group from Atlanta; all brought together by this miraculous day. It was a special event.

The stage was dark with a three layer pyramid in the center. An aerial view of the earth was projected onto it as it, zooming in like Google Earth from the cloud view all the way down to us, 311 day Vegas. The crowd roared and with that 311 took the stage and began “Jackpot” to start off the night. The seats were alive with motion, everybody was moving. The only time you sat down was when you needed a break from dancing. Not a negative attitude in the crowd, even when I began to get too drunk and kept falling into the row in front of me, everyone just seemed so cheerful and positive. It was as if nothing could ruin their moods. 311 had everyone in the theatre hypnotized by the upbeat energy and nothing could bring them down.

“My Stoney Baby” had the entire theatre reeking with a familiar aroma that sent me and the rest of my group into a frenzy. You could see the color changing, billowing clouds of smoke throughout the arena as the lights danced green and blue in the sky above us. We sat towards the top of the stadium on the backside of the stage section 225, great view of the whole stage but for me personally it wasn’t the concert experience yet. Out of cash and full of booze, I walked into the halls of the arena. New friends all jamming, dancing, singing and greeting each other finding out everyone’s story; it was amazing to see how connected the entire crowd was even when they couldn’t see the stage.

And there it was - a spark of inspiration. I realized I needed to get down to the floor. In the pit with everyone, that’s the only place I can truly experience the connection with the music and the rest of the crowd. With no idea of what would be behind the curtain, I walked into the next entrance to see how much closer I could get. It was fate, no guards, no hassle, no problem; I made it to the very front row of section 217, but this was not enough. I needed to live up to a Vegas trip and test my limits. So I leapt over the rail and hit the ground running to avoid the security at the stairs that were still checking tickets to get to the floor. Get as close as I can find everyone later; that was my goal.

I had ducked the guards, hopped fences and pushed my way about five people back from the stage, yet still no one was upset by my actions, everyone’s focus and enjoyment was in the music. No hostility from bumping, no arrogant thoughts of personal space; every person jumping along with every chorus and moved with every chord change. I found my spot just in time to watch Chad Sexton’s drum solo for “Applied Science” accompanied by Tim Mahoney and SA on one side of him and Nick Hexum and P-Nut to the other, while his kit is spinning to give view to the entire stadium.

Epic is the only way I can describe the end of this show. No one wanted it to end. Persistent chants of “3-11-3-3-11” rang loud and repeatedly just in hope to keep them on stage longer. Celebration continued even as the wave of people left the stadium. Even though the music had stopped and all fiveguys came on stage and bowed to assure us the evening was over, it didn’t end the connection felt among us all that night. I had lost the group of friends I came with, but I made countless new friends that were still celebrating with me the entire way out of the venue. No matter where we came from, or where we were going, this feeling was not going to leave us. The energy and positive message in the music celebrated on this 311 day in Vegas.

CLICK HERE to see the set-list from the day