Most bands assemble, toil over an album or two and disintegrate in true Behind the Music form.

311, on the other hand, has been rocking steady for over a decade with no plans to cease its funk-rap-metal fusion.

"One of the things we're most proud of is our longevity," 311 guitarist Tim Mahoney said. "It's weird. I have friends who are attorneys and stuff like that, but we're still happy playing music together and recording and traveling."

311 made a splash in 1995 with its major label debut and chart- toppers "Down" and "All Mixed Up." Since then, the band has released several albums including this summer's Evolver, which spawned a rebirth of mainstream popularity with the single "Creatures (For A While)," said Ken Kubala, manager of City Lights Records, 316 E. College Ave.

"Their new album is selling surprisingly well," Kubala said. "The self-titled one with the blue and black cover did the best, but we still sell that used, so they didn't even totally go away."

Mahoney said the band doesn't fret too much about mass appeal when writing and recording tunes.

"We've been playing for so long, which does play a part in whether the mainstream is aware of us or not," Mahoney said. "From record to record we just hope there are a few songs that will fit in with what's going on in radio at the time. Whether it's a hard rock, heavy metal riff with a dance hall drum beat and singing and rapping in the same song, we just play music that we enjoy and that means something to us and is honest to us."

While MTV may not always take notice of 311's hybrid vibe, comic superstar Adam Sandler certainly has. Sandler, who shares some mutual friends with the band, attended a 311 show this summer, chatted up the guys and ended up using the song "Amber" in the trailer for his upcoming flick 50 First Dates.

"Nick [Hexum, 311's singer-guitarist] spoke to him about reggae covers of '80s songs, one thing led to another and we just finished up a reggae cover of The Cure's 'Love Song' for the soundtrack," Mahoney said.

311 recorded "Love Song" in the midst of touring, as the band has a full studio in the back of its tour-bus, which Mahoney said makes it even easier to work on new music during the day and play its infamously positive music by night.

"We really care about playing music and playing music well and doing our best every night to transfer positive energy through the music into the airwaves," Mahoney said. "It's different from day to day for all of us as far as having the energy it might take to stay more positively focused, but anytime there's a ... situation, it's not really until you take a positive view of it or try to get the positive angle that you can actually make some changes and improve it."

Tickets to tomorrow's concert are selling quickly, said Bernie Punt, marketing director for the Jordan Center, who senses that the performance may sell out by showtime.

"This show reaches a lot of different demographics," said Dave Wells, director of opera-tions for Crowbar, 420 E. College Ave., which is promoting the show. "Fans have spoken. It's going to be the show everyone is talking about."