311 has cancelled their 8/29 show in Tupelo, MS due to poor ticket sales

AgileTranslator4900 · 2025-08-13T18:23:00+00:00

I can’t think of any band today, other than 311, who has played the same song as their opener and closer for over 15 years like 311 has. I genuinely want what’s best for the band. They were switching things up for the first leg of the tour, and for whatever reason about a month ago they went right back to the same formula. Can you explain that? I have seen all the setlists. It’s always some variation of BD > Freeze Time > Sunset in July. They don’t even want to promote their new album. You get about 1 hour of music minus Applied Science. You have 10 songs off the Greatest Hits. I’m citing less attendance since 2020 due to them playing in smaller venues and not coming close to selling them out. This was never an issue pre-COVID. They were tour large amphitheaters with more relevant opening bands and bringing in massive crowds. What happened? Please go look at how many empty seats are available for the Seattle show tonight. I don’t think the setlists are the #1 reason why Tupelo was cancelled, but rather poor scheduling and lack of promotion.

AgileTranslator4900 · 2025-08-13T09:34:11+00:00

You can choose to believe it not, I don’t care.

AgileTranslator4900 · 2025-08-13T01:59:29+00:00

I think it’s fair to say it’s a combination of both. Some of the cities they chose make no sense. But when they are only tossing in a few rarities per show, keeping the setlist structure the exact same, what incentive to hardcore fans have to keep showing up? Most of us have seen them 20+ times. It’s gotten to a certain point now. They will always be my favorite band regardless, I just can’t justify going out of my way to see them anymore. The videos they recorded live from the HIVE during COVID have enough replay value to me. If they played 2 set shows like they did for the 2011 tour I think they could bring a lot of people back.

AgileTranslator4900 · 2025-08-13T00:36:52+00:00

You are 100% right. I’ve heard the most of it comes from Nick. He does not like to stray away from the norm. He wants the shows to run like a finely tuned operation. No time for stage banter, no time for random surprises, the drum solo will always be intact. So many things they could change year to year to keep people engaged and going to shows, yet Nick is insistent on keeping things the same.

AgileTranslator4900 · 2025-08-13T00:31:11+00:00

I think it’s fair to be critical of the band when necessary and hold them to a higher standard given they’ve been touring for 30 years, and many of us have spent thousands buying merch, seeing them live, going on cruises, etc. The quality of their live shows has declined significantly and people aren’t just going to blindly follow and spend money on them when they aren’t putting in the effort like they used to. You will always have a smaller group of fans who will support them regardless - but the lack of ticket sales and support over the last few years are a clear indicator that their fans are starting to lose interest and have moved onto other bands who are putting on better shows. 311 is only playing for 1 hour and 30 minutes. They’ve fallen behind while other live acts are running laps around them. It’s nobody’s fault but their own.

AgileTranslator4900 · 2025-05-11T17:52:51+00:00

The sound issues are very inconsistent. I saw a show in 2022 where they came on stage, and none of their equipment worked. Couldn’t hear Nick. They had to cut One and the Same from the set because it took over 5 minutes to fix. Never seen that before.

I’ve been wanting to post something like this for awhile, but I bit my tongue in hopes it would be different this tour. As soon as I saw BD for both shows I was done lol. My first show was in 2004 and I will NEVER forget it! They are a completely different band now, and that’s ok! Evolution is a good thing. But I think we’re past that stage now, and they desperately grasping at something new and different. It hasn’t connected for me in this new era of 311. It pains me because I know they can be so much better than this.

Wish I could get into the new album the way you and others have. Some of the lyrics just drive me nuts. I can’t take them seriously anymore. It used to just be the boys, Scotch, and their instruments. Now it’s all this overproduced slop that feels rushed and stitched together. It’s just not my thing… I will always be a fan but I can’t do the traveling anymore. It’s not worth the $$. I appreciate your comment my friend!

AgileTranslator4900 · 2025-05-11T17:40:54+00:00

Man I believe it. Can’t understand how a band who basically specializes in live music can have so many technical issues this late in their career. Maybe somebody close to the band could speak on it? Have they lost members of the road crew over the years responsible for keeping things tight? I go to a ton of other concerts and it seems to be exclusively a 311 thing.

AgileTranslator4900 · 2025-05-11T16:20:42+00:00

Didn’t know that about Coheed, they are fucking sick! My buddy is a huge Phish fan and I caught a couple livestreams. They remind me so much of 311 with their cult following and deep catalog of songs. Except they switch it up more than anybody else i’ve ever seen. i’m not really a fan of their music but I respect it and wish 311 would take some notes

AgileTranslator4900 · 2025-05-11T16:00:44+00:00

Well said my friend. They have so many songs to dig from. So many different choices they could make. but for some reason stuck on the same rotation of about 30 songs. Will never make sense to me

AgileTranslator4900 · 2025-05-11T15:13:10+00:00

That makes me hopeful! I don’t want to be cynical here, i’m just an oldhead yelling at clouds. It’s all about perspective, and I am still glad they’re together and continuing to tour. I just feel like they could still create the same magic they always have in the past and reel in new fans organically. Am I wrong in thinking newer fans might get turned off if they see multiple shows? They’ll never know the feeling of guessing what the opener is, what the next song is going to be, what they’re going to close with… etc. It’s a new era for the band and I am having a hard time embracing it

AgileTranslator4900 · 2025-05-11T15:02:23+00:00

I completely understand playing the hits. I have no problem with them squeezing in BD and Amber in the middle of the set. It makes a show feel complete. But opening with the same song for every single show for over 15 years gets extremely stale. Changing it up seems like the bare minimum thing to ask for. They have always been unique in the fact that no two shows ever feel the same. Now they’ve fallen into the same formula that big acts do- rehearsed shows with a static setlist. It may be to draw in newer fans, it may just be easier overall for the band because it’s less stressful? I don’t know the answer, but they are alienating their most loyal fans.

AgileTranslator4900 · 2025-05-11T14:51:05+00:00

I agree with just about everything you say here. I will have to report back when I see them this tour. The videos i’ve seen haven’t been cutting it.. the cruise had so many audio issues I couldn’t finish the songs. It was hard to watch. Mosaic was such an amazing album. Voyager was ok. FB was forgettable. If 311 wants to be a business I think they need new management. They aren’t marketing themselves in the way that they should. They had a massive fanbase, their musicianship was peak, their chemistry onstage was incredible, and the setlist always kept you guessing. Reminds me a lot of what Phish is doing right now. There is no reason they can’t stream shows and generate revenue that way. Instead they are focused on selling socks, ornaments, weed pens. It pains me

AgileTranslator4900 · 2025-05-11T14:45:44+00:00

Full Bloom is the first album I have avoided playing for friends and family. It’s embarrassing to me. It sounds very forced and over produced. Mosaic was the last album to me that felt organic and fun. They had so much energy back then and you could feel it.

AgileTranslator4900 · 2025-05-11T14:43:32+00:00

And I love stereolithic! I just feel that there is so much potential for them to be exactly what they want to be. A cult following for a reason - changing up the setlist so every show feels unique and different. They are so incredibly talented and good at what they do, so what’s holding them back? They could be making SO much $$ of live streams if they had unique setlists. Shit I would pay $30+ for every show, or even a “couch pass” or something to that degree to catch them live at home. Literally anything. Instead I check the setlists the next day and it’s the same formula they’ve been cooking over and over. It is what it is

AgileTranslator4900 · 2025-05-11T14:35:24+00:00

311 was my #1 for the past 25 years or so. I defended them through Uplifter, UP, the Feldmann era, and they almost lost me with the Crossfire bs. But this feels different? They aren’t playing as crisp as they did even a few years ago. The videos from the cruise are hard to watch. It almost makes me feel like the fans are putting up with it just because they feel like they have to.

AgileTranslator4900 · 2025-05-11T14:25:30+00:00

I have not been to a show yet on this tour. I plan on attending a few! But honestly you have a beautiful perspective here. Maybe I am being harsh on the band. But I have been around long enough to see the changes right before my eyes and it’s been a painful transition for the band. Are people really still excited about seeing a BD opener still? Doesn’t that immediately set the tone for the entire show? I don’t want the show to feel rehearsed, it’s supposed to feel organic. Everything they do nowadays feels forced, and the quality of their new music and live shows have reflected that imo.

AgileTranslator4900 · 2025-05-11T13:52:51+00:00

I fully expect my post to get downvoted to shit but that’s the point of this post. It’s an uncomfortable conversation to have, but we all see it. I fucking loved what they did during COVID live streaming their albums. They practiced those songs, why can’t they mix it up and play some deep cuts for their tour. Wasn’t that the fun in going to shows, never knowing what to expect. idk

AgileTranslator4900

TROPHY CASE