P-Nut

Flash Forward

‘You can’t expect art to be static,” proclaims 311’s P-Nut. “When you are experimenting with music, you should be surprised by what will occur.” That’s how P-Nut explains his band’s eighth studio album, Don’t Tread on Me, which he describes as “a bit of a departure.”

“We wanted to make a big sonic impact,” he continues. “We stretched ourselves past our limits.” While the group’s signature blend of reggae grooves, harmonized vocals, and rock riffing is still present throughout, there are also Queen- and Beatles-influenced musical passages, tropical island vibes complete with steel drums, and a level of rocking and angst not heard from the band since its earliest days. “People see us not as a rock/reggae band but as a reggae/rock band, and we wanted to change that perception around a bit,” P-Nut says.

“Solar Flare,” a heavy foot-stomper that combines Rage Against The Machine bombast with Bob Marley-style grooving, fulfills that mission. The song begins with a massively distorted bass riff courtesy of the band’s Neve recording console. “We overdrove the direct signal from the board to achieve that sound. Every distortion pedal we tried paled in comparison to the tone of that huge console. We let ourselves get angry on this song, which is something we try to shy away from. We’ve done our best not to voice political views, but it’s time to do so. It is our duty and right to express ourselves.”

Don’t Tread on Me also marks the first time P-Nut has recorded with a 4-string bass and a pick. “On ‘Frolic’ we wanted a classic Clash sound, so I played my custom red 1964 Fender Jazz. It took me a while to get used to it, since I am so familiar with Warwick 5-strings. Playing with a pick felt odd at first, too. I took some time sitting at home and slugging it out, trying to get it right. Playing guitar more often also helped get my picking up to speed.”

When it comes to playing bass, P-Nut has his priorities clear: “To be good at melody is a great thing for a bass player to do—but rhythm is No. 1 for me. As a bassist, you have to put both elements together in a package; otherwise you won’t be much of a bass player—you’ll just be part of the drummer. I don’t want to be the bass player hiding in the corner; bass players need to stand out. The world needs more of that. I have made a career of wanting to stand out with my instrument. Of course, there can be too much flash, but not in rock. That’s what it’s made for.”