Rap-rock funk band gives strong, loud performance in Indy

Despite the late start, the audience in the Egyptian Room of the Murat Theatre in Indianapolis Thursday erupted into a bouncing jubilee when the entertainers began their set. Smoked filled the large rectangular room, which was shaking from bass pumped out of the powerful subwoofers aside the stage at the head of the room. The treble was piercingly pushed into my ears which were already losing precision due to the damaging decibels. \n311 sounded exceptionally full, bold and well-balanced. Described by vocalist S.A. Martinez as a "celebration of funk," 311 intertwined an alternatively enticed funk groove with rap-rock lyrics, reggae and strong upbeat tempo. The quintet, comprising of Chad Sexton on drums, Nick Hexum on rhythm guitar and vocals, Martinez on vocals and scratches, Tim Mahoney on guitar and P-Nut on bass, offered the crowd a wide array of music geared to get its fans moving. Delivering favorites including "Down," "All Mixed Up" and their new single "Come Original," the band captivated the baggy-clothed audience with their boisterous sound. \nThe zealous crowd seemed to have learned every word to all of the 311 songs. As one squeezed closer to the front of the crowd, the people milling about had loosened up, and taken to dancing in the pit.\nThe overall sound was mixed well, yet there was some distortion due to a slight overpowering of the speakers. But 311 gave a great physical performance laced with perfect harmony and melodic improvisations by Mahoney. Another highlight of this incredible show was Sexton, who gave a performance certain to satisfy drummers of all styles. It was surprising how well the band kept on key. Hexum and Martinez's vocals were executed with perfection. \nThe stage and lighting were not as memorable as the music. The stage was sparsely decorated with an irrelevant background of little green aliens. The lights were few in number, but were well coordinated. The show did not contain the flashy special effects used by large caliber bands. The intimate feel was an advantage. The shortage of lights and effects left less confusion, giving fans a better opportunity to focus on the music. \nDespite a few kicks to the head by crowd surfers, the concert was amazing. It's recommended to catch a show if you have the chance. The quintet is touring smaller venues across the United States supporting the release of their latest album Soundsystem.