So Glad You Made It Tour Captures the Magic of a perfect Summer Night

There's nothing better than hearing "Sunset in July" live as the sun is setting over PNC Bank Arts Center.

With crystal clear skies and 85-degree weather the So Glad You Made It Tour brought Sitting on Saturn, Ocean Alley, and co-headliners 311 and Dirty Heads to Holmdel on July 23.

The usual New Jersey Thursday night rush was replaced with a slow, relaxed energy as fans made their way into the venue. Early concertgoers stretched out across the lawn, catching up with friends, grabbing drinks, and settling in as the afternoon slowly turned into a summer night under the open sky.

Beginning the night was Sitting on Saturn, who wasted no time bringing energy to the stage. The band had a special surprise waiting for fans when Madea, 311 drummer Chad Sexton's niece, joined them for two songs. The moment became even more special when Sexton stepped out to join the band, giving the early crowd a performance that was worth the early start time.

Ocean Alley followed, bringing their unique psychedelic rock sound to the stage just as the sun began to drop behind the venue. Their set perfectly matched the changing scenery around PNC, with golden light stretching across the lawn while fans danced and took in the final moments of warm daylight. As the sky transitioned into pastel shades above the pavilion, the Australian band provided the perfect soundtrack for the evening's transition from day into night.

As the last bit of daylight disappeared behind the venue, the stage lights came alive and 311 prepared to immerse PNC Bank Arts Center in their world.

The band opened with "Beautiful Disaster," immediately surrounding the crowd with a full production that went far beyond a simple banner. Massive LED screens lined the back of the stage, changing throughout the set with colorful visuals and patterns that transformed the entire room. 

The production gave every song its own identity, but 311 never let the visuals overshadow the performance happening in front of them. At some points, the screens and lighting turned PNC into what looked like a galaxy, with lasers cutting through the pavilion and smoke filling the stage.

Nick Hexum commanded the stage throughout the whole set, beginning the night in a black leather jacket and jeans before eventually stripping things down to a black t-shirt and later going completely shirtless. Constantly moving and dancing across one side of the stage to the other, Hexum brought his classic lively energy that has made him such a recognizable frontman throughout 311's career.

SA Martinez matched that vitality from the opposite side of the stage, stepping out in a black denim vest and trousers while trading vocals with Hexum and the audience throughout the set. Guitarist Tim Mahoney kept things locked in while sporting a Mastodon t-shirt, and drummer Chad Sexton kept his staple of 311's sound from his elevated platform at the back of the stage. Meanwhile, bassist P-Nut immediately stood out in an all-white tracksuit, complete with a neon green hat and matching socks, sporting his gold chrome bass that reflected every color that crossed the stage.

The band moved through fan favorites including "All Mixed Up," "Come Original," and "Sick Tight" before arriving at the moment that seemed made specifically for this night.

As the opening notes of "Sunset in July" rang out, the last rays of sunlight painted the sky above PNC Bank Arts Center. Oranges faded into pinks as the crowd sang along in unison beneath the changing sky. Looking across the venue, fans stopped to take in the moment, phones lifted to capture a moment that couldn't have been timed any better.

The band continued through "Don't Stay Home," "Champagne," "Lucky," and "Transistor" before handing the spotlight over to Chad Sexton for "Applied Science." The drum feature has become one of 311's most recognizable live moments, and Sexton proved why with every movement behind the kit.

"Freak Out," "Amber," and "Feels So Good" continued as the soundtrack for the evening as 311 continued moving between heavier moments and their fan favorites before closing their set with "Down."

Dirty Heads closed out the evening with an 18-song set that transformed the stage into a full-band experience, with sound coming from every corner. Led by vocalist Jared Watson and guitarist Dustin "Duddy B" Bushnell, the band filled the stage with the biggest setup of the night.

The group's shows feature a massive live arrangement with two drum kits, bass, guitar, keyboards, horns, and backing vocals all layered together live. Matt Ochoa handled one drum kit while Jon Olazabal added additional percussion, Shawn Hagood held down the keyboard, and David Foral rounded out the instrumentation on bass. With every member contributing a different piece to the sound, Dirty Heads has mastered the kind of full performance that matches the size of the amphitheater.

Their set moved through songs including "Seven Seas," "Burn Slow," "Bum Bum," "Heavy Water," "Oxygen," "My Sweet Summer," "Lay Me Down," "Vacation," "Island Glow," and "Medusa," while their cover of Joe Walsh's "Life's Been Good" added another beautiful moment to the night. Nick Hexum later returned to the stage for "So Glad You Made It," bringing both co-headliners together for the collaboration that gave the tour its name. 

By the end of the night, the atmosphere inside PNC Bank Arts Center reflected everything that made this tour so memorable. The So Glad You Made It Tour was a reminder that some summer nights are meant to be spent outside, surrounded by the music you love and a community of thousands of people singing along with you.

Photos and review by Bek Allegretti