311 plays hometown show in Omaha
“It’s great to be home.”
That’s how 311 singer Nick Hexum led off the band’s triumphant return to Omaha.
The alternative rap/rock/reggae band headlined Shadow Ridge Music Festival on Friday in Omaha, its first hometown show since 2015. All five members — Hexum, SA Martinez, P-Nut, Tim Mahoney and Chad Sexton — grew up in Omaha, and the band was formed here, too.
In Omaha, 311 made a few changes to the normal set they’ve been playing in other cities. Hexum dedicated Large in the Margin to his dad, who was in attendance along with other members of 311’s families, and the band also played Omaha Stylee during the encore.
Hexum also made reference to the band’s first-ever show, an opening gig for Fugazi at the former Sokol Auditorium in 1990: “This year on June 10, we celebrated 32 years as a band. We are grateful for this opportunity. We’re celebrating!”
More than 5,000 people (maybe more, it was hard to tell) came to see the band play its hometown once again.
“We want to thank you guys for coming out and rocking with us,” Hexum said. “You guys have been amazing.”
