So Glad We Made It: A High-Energy Sunset in July at Pine Knob with Dirty Heads and 311
On a sunny and warm July 30, 2026, in Clarkston, Michigan, the Dirty Heads and 311 co-headlining ‘So Glad You Made It’ tour brought summer vibes and great music to Pine Knob. With Rome and Ocean Alley starting the show and setting the mood, no show felt more like summer than the one we were all there to witness that evening. Ready for a reggae-rock-infused show, the pavilion’s seats filled with people ready to spend the summer night forgetting the stresses of everyday life and singing along to so many hits from every set that hit the stage.
ROME
Opening the evening, Rome Ramirez brought a familiar, upbeat West Coast energy to those early enough to make his set. The vibe where we stood was arms waving, good times, and he warmed up the crowd for what was to come. The performance by him and his band was filled with smooth hooks that served as an easygoing soundtrack, covering tracks from his solo favorites, new songs, and his time with Sublime with Rome. The crowd’s reaction stands as a testament to Rome’s staying power, gathering attention from the audience while performing a mostly acoustic set.
Ocean Alley
As the afternoon heat gave way to the early evening cool down at Pine Knob, the Australian outfit Ocean Alley provided one of the standout musical highlights of the night. Their signature blend of psychedelic rock and smooth reggae fusion proved to be tailor-made for Clarkston’s well-known outdoor amphitheatre. Layering reverb-soaked guitar hooks and soulful vocals across the lawn, they cast a spell over the people still arriving and filling the seats. Tracks like “Confidence” resonated beautifully through the venue’s pavilion and lawn, establishing a laid-back vibe that didn’t disappoint. The entire psychedelic vibe was really unexpected and a very interesting part of the evening; you could see why this band has such a global following.
Dirty Heads
After the break between bands, beautiful ocean graphics played behind the Dirty Heads as they took the stage. The energy across the entire outdoor amphitheater ramped up, and the fans were served an expansive, hit-packed set that spanned nearly 20 songs due to their co-headlining status.
The band seamlessly blended their well-known hip hop flows, reggae rhythms, and summer staple anthems. Dirty Heads opened with their latest hit “Seven Seas” and leaned into high-energy crowd favorites like “My Sweet Summer,” “Lay Me Down” (featuring a guest appearance from Rome), and the venue-wide singalong “Vacation.”
If it didn’t feel like summer before, Dirty Heads really brought the season in with their entire set as they kept the lawn and pavilion dancing. Adding in hits like “Heavy Water,” “Sloth’s Revenge,” “Sound Boy Killa,” and “Medusa,” the rapping, rocking, and occasional ska feel with the trumpet and trombone all transported the audience to somewhere near the ocean, chill and fun.
The entire band was smiling during the set, showing how much fun they were having being on this tour. From the time they took the stage, you could tell the vibes would be a positive one, and you could tell the crowd of Pine Knob was feeling good and having the time of their lives.
311
Just before the lights dimmed, the stage erupted in a spectrum of colors and gorgeous graphics with nostalgic photos of the band playing behind Chad Sexton’s drums; the good feelings, unity, and positivity filled Pine Knob. Each member of the band stepped foot on stage as silhouettes, which caused the crowd to begin screaming. We’re sure this is still motivating the band before their set even started to give it their all as they have for over 36 years. The beautiful graphics cycling through on the screens grabbed everyone at Pine Knob, but also P-Nut (bassist), who stood watching with a smirk, reminiscing about the band’s legacy.
“Beautiful Disaster,” a favorite from the ‘Transistor’ era, started their impressive and unifying performance, packed with epic guitar and bass solos between Nick Hexum and Tom Mahoney as well as the famous kneel bass/guitar solo between Nick and P-Nut. Beginning the show with “Beautiful Disaster” proved their entire setlist was about to be filled with fan favorites and nostalgic hits spanning so many of their nearly 14 albums.
The venue was on their feet, smiling, dancing, and arms waving. Out of the dozens of times I have seen 311 as both a fan and now a second time covering their show for a publication, I had never experienced “All Mixed Up” so early in the set, and it felt like a stellar move that evening. So many people jumped on board with them in the mid-1990s to that song as it hit the airwaves, promoting feel-good vibes and West Coast chill energy that really vibed with so many people who became part of an extensive fanbase called “The Excitable Ones.”
The entire band was on fire (figuratively) with their famous solos igniting the crowd, who were decked out in 311 merch and signs that said “P-Nut Beat That Thang.” Parents brought their children to feel the positive energy, passing on the privilege of being a 311 fan. My own daughters attended this show as their very first concert as well, bringing home rave reviews from the evening with their favorite band. P-Nut (Aaron Wills-Bass), Nick Hexum (vocals and guitar), Tim Mahoney (guitar), and S.A. (Doug Martinez – spins and raps) were moving around and owning that stage as the last band to play Pine Knob that evening, with Chad Sexton (drums) making his presence known and slaying the drums and solos as he has for so long.
Epic 311 hits that got the crowd moving, such as “Freak Out,” “Don’t Stay Home,” “Transistor,” “Creatures (For A While),” “Down,” and “Feels so Good,” were played to a very excited crowd that waits every summer for the experience of seeing 311 perform.
“Applied Science,” with Chad’s 5-minute drum solo, followed by the rest of the band playing drums with him and stick-tossing fun is always a crowd favorite and expected at their shows. Ballads such as “Champagne,” “Beyond the Grey Sky,” and “Amber,” sprinkled in the set, took everyone on the perfect summer night experience likely to leave them swaying and throwing 311 on shuffle the ride home to wind down from the excitement.
311 has proven for over 30 years that no summer is complete without their live shows or music. With roots from Omaha, Nebraska, and now West Coast-based, this has been a band that has always been for their fans and positive, feel-good energy and vibes that bring unity. Every show they perform in every city has been a complete experience from start to finish, talked about for weeks and months after, just craving the next summer when you can do it again.
There are still so many opportunities to catch Rome, Ocean Alley, Dirty Heads and 311 from the Midwest to the PNW, California, Texas, to Florida. For more information on each band:
OCEAN ALLEY: WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM
DIRTY HEADS: WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM