After 35 years as a band, 311 still delivers consistently solid live performances—and they did just that again at their Unity Tour 2025 on Sunday, Aug. 24 at Kemba Live! in Columbus, Ohio along with L.A.’s Badflower and SoCal’s Sitting On Saturn.
Opening the show early evening was young trio Sitting On Saturn who rocked the stage with unrestrained energy; especially notable was liveliness from jumping, smiling vocalist and guitarist Hoyt Yeatman.
Don’t miss this supporting band (formerly known as Sitting On Stacy) as they’re a strong up-and-comer displaying devotion and sincerity and major stage presence.
Up next was Badflower, who entertained the crowd with a spectacular album-matching sound from all four members—despite lead vocalist Josh Katz saying he was under the weather with throat struggles; even asking if their was a doctor in the audience to diagnose him.
The setlist focused on their recently released June record No Place Like Home (including: “Detroit,” “Paws,” “Snuff”), but they didn’t leave out early fan favorites.
Before performing “The Jester,” Katz was given a handmade pink hat (Katz sometimes sports a trademark pink hat) made and offered by an ecstatic fan in the front, and he wore it the rest of the set… until it fell off from sturdy head motions.
Katz bent all the way back and looked upwards while shredding his guitar during “Ghost”’s late instrumental breakdown.
They also performed “Heroine” and “30.”
Around 9 p.m. a packed crowd cheered as 311 entered a dark stage with a sliced video wall backing, before cranking into Transistor’s “Beautiful Disaster” followed by 1999’s “Freeze Time.”
The band, that fuses rock, rap, reggae and funk, never disappoints their devoted fans, performing an ever-changing setlist of both sing along fan favorites and deep cuts. Last night’s 21-song setlist included: “Amber,” “Prisoner,” “Feels So Good,”“Love Song,” “Creatures (For A While).”
Last month, the Omaha-band released a 30th Anniversary 2-LP set of their self-titled “blue album,” with seven bonus tracks, and from the album, they performed: “Loco,” “Down,” “Don’t Stay Home,” “Don’t Let Me Down,” “Misdirected Hostility,” “Brodels.”
311 also performed two new songs from their 14th album released last year, Full Bloom: “You’re Gonna Get It,” “Need Somebody.”
Having an all original lineup since 1991, 311’s band member names are household: Vocalist Nick “H-E-X-U-M” (“Sick Tight”), who changed from a white t-shirt into a blue tank top; vocalist Doug “SA” Martinez, who worked the stage with groovy dances; bassist Aaron Wills “P-Nut, beat that thang!” (“Feel So Good”), who performed a stellar solo; lead guitarist Tim Mahoney, who rocked out with his headbanging hair; and drummer Chad Sexton, who performed a riveting group percussion solo.
After decades of performing together, each musician was unified with togetherness onstage—never missing a beat or a step, aligned and smiling at the crowd all along the way, happy, dancing, having fun.
The extensive coast to coast tour, which kicked off late June, concludes Aug. 31 with a performance at Rocklahoma.
After all, “The name is 311 and you know it ain’t easy…” (“Come Original”).
Tour Dates
311 (click to enlarge)
BADFLOWER (click to enlarge)
SITTING ON SATURN (click to enlarge)
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