After being a band for almost three decades, this much is clear to multi-platinum-selling rock band 311: as long as the band is good to its fans, it will always have concerts to play and records to make.
That symbiosis informs everything 311 does, whether it's the band's touring schedule, its special events -- like the 311 Cruise or its exclusive iHeartRadio Theater show in New York City -- or the new album, which is dedicated to longtime fans.
Mosaic, 311's 12th studio album, is 17 tracks and nearly an hour in length. The band members say they are proud of all the songs they wrote for the album and, knowing the dedication of their fans, felt comfortable bucking the trend of shorter albums. Mosaic presents a full picture of 311's musical range and gives maximum value to its fans.
"We thought we'd just put it all out and let the fans sort it out," singer/guitarist Nick Hexum told iHeartRadio's Josh Klinger
The cover art for Mosaic is meant to express the bond between the band and its fans. The artwork, including the images of the five band members -- Hexum, vocalist SA Martinez, guitarist Tim Mahoney, bassist Aaron "P-Nut" Wills and drummer Chad Sexton -- is made up entirely of photos of 311 fans...nearly 10,000 images!
Go here to try and find your photo on 311's new album cover!
The idea that the band exists because of its fans is one 311 has been living by for years. There's 311 Day, a holiday band and fans celebrates every other year with a 3-hour-and-11-minute concert (usually over 40 songs).
And then there's the 311 Cruise, which allows band and crew to hangout on a luxury cruise-liner for several days, enjoying live music all day and night.
“It’s just great," P-Nut says. "The fact that nobody goes home; we’re all in this oceanic atmosphere…When we set up for the cruise and we set sail, we’re with the most diehard fans.”
Right now, 311 is in the midst of an eight-week summer tour. They're joined by New Politics, with The Skints / Passafire on select shows.
Keep up with 311 on tour via the band's official website here.
Here's the setlist from the Mosaic iHeartRadio Album Release Party:
"Beautiful Disaster"
"Perfect Mistake"
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"All Mixed Up"
"Too Much To Think"
"Down"
"Wildfire"
"Amber"
"Too Late"
"Come Original"
"’Til the City’s On Fire"
"On a Roll"
Check out the official music video for "Too Much To Think" off of 311's new album, Mosaic:
Photos: Katherine Tyler for iHeartRadio