Hello again my friends in the excitable 311 nation! Who wants a new fan spotlight? Ok here we go, read all about Frank Busener!
Like many fans, Frank was really drawn into 311 once he saw them live for the first time. He had listened to their music before this, but seeing them in concert really roped him in. “The energy was intense, the music was that much better, and the fans were happy and some of the nicest people I’ve ever met at a live event. The feeling of togetherness and family were evident immediately.”
Frank never really thought he’d be someone who would keep track of how many times he’s seen a band live, instead he had a big box of ticket stubs in his closet. As he started to go through them though, he realized that most of the stubs were from 311 concerts, so he started to count. “Believe it or not, my first show, ever seeing 311 Live was August 20th 2005 @ Amsterjam on Randall’s Island. Immediately hooked! 69 shows, 8 311 Days, and 5 Cruises later, you realize how lucky you are to have met so many amazing people along the way. Lifelong friends from every walk of life.”
After reflecting on the shows he’s seen and set lists, Frank chose the beach show at Half Moon Cay on the second cruise as his all time favorite. “Sitting on floats in the crystal clear water in absolutely perfect weather. The highlight of the 2012 Cruise by far.”
As for favorite song, Frank isn’t sure he has one favorite. He chooses albums and songs depending on his mood and the day. “That’s the beauty of music, especially this band. There’s a lyric for everybody, every mind, every moment. One that strikes you deep, and leaves a lasting impression. One that keeps you coming back every time. Just to get that chill vibe flowing once again. And all these years of traveling and smiling. Dancing and singing. I plan to keep coming back, to smile, laugh, and dance with all these absolutely fantastic people.”
Frank was born in New York and lived in Queens until he did something he never thought he would do…move out to Long Island, which is where he still currently is. For his occupation, Frank is a firefighter for the FDNY and has been for 16 years. “So thankfully that has funded my concert habit. My line of work has shown and taught me a lot. Never take a day for granted. A loved ones presence, Your dog’s wagging tail, the sunshine, and the feeling of family. 311 brings all of us together and shows us that every show.”
Other artists that Frank can be found listening to include Pepper, Stick Figure, Big D, Bouncing Souls, Pennywise, Pantera, and many more. He’s usually listening to Ska, Reggae, Punk, or Metal. “There’s a time for everything! Been lucky enough to experience a lot of amazing acts out there.” Growing up in New York, Frank was super lucky, especially back in the 90’s and early 2000’s, for he had the station 92.3 K-Rock to keep him up to date on all the new music.
With all the shows that Frank has seen, he’s had time to perfect one thing…his beer shotguns! “I’ve been holding the record for years. Challenge me I dare you. LOL.”
Living on Long Island, Frank is only a few blocks away from the Paramount Theatre, where 311 played a Halloween show back in 2017. “Hoping 311 comes back to blow our minds once again like Halloween 2017 when I went home with a pumpkin from Nick with what may have had a penis carved into it. Lol.”
To 311, Frank would like to say these words: “Keep writing, keep playing, and keep inspiring so many up and coming artists and bands. It’s an honor to see them play along with you!”
Now to all the other 311 fans out there:
“Live life. Enjoy every day and love each other.”
Thank you Frank for sharing your 311 story! Gratitude going out to all the readers as well. Have an amazing week my friends! Until next time.
Welcome Excitables to the latest edition of the 311 Fan Spotlight! Oh and Happy Labor Day 2021! Hope you all are well. Without further ado, let’s read the story of Matt Garibotto!
Matt was home sick from school one day and to kill time was watching the “video jukebox” channel when the video for “Don’t Stay Home” came on. He was hooked ever since. “I’d have to say their originality is what sucked me in.”
As for live show count, Matt believes this summer’s show in Holmdel, New Jersey, put him somewhere in the 55-60 range. His first show was May 31, 1996, at the Asbury Park Convention Hall, which just so happened to be the first show in the building after 25 plus years. As for shows that are his favorite, he said the Stone Pony shows in Asbury Park always kick ass.
From 311’s song catalog, many of the songs mean so much to Matt. “All depends on what’s going on at any given moment of my life. I can tell you my next favorite one will be the next one I get to hear live again.” Like many fans, picking song lyrics that mean the most to him is difficult because there are so many that are very meaningful.
Matt grew up in central New Jersey (which he said yes, there is a central New Jersey) and has lived in the state all of his life. He loves to hike, backpack, and go see live music. “My concert habit is paid for by good old fashioned hard work.”
Matt said something that makes him unique is he doesn’t care about other people’s opinions of him. “I do me as much as I can.” Guilty pleasure for him is that he enjoys the show “The Masked Singer” and the Pitch Perfect movies.
For other musicians, Matt can be found jamming out to tunes from Phish, Moe, Umphreys McGee, Goose, and Dirty Heads.
To 311, Matt would like to relay this message: “Thanks for being there to get me through those rough times in my life.”
Now his message to all the fellow 311 fans:
“Rock on. Unity. Love your life. This too shall pass.”
Thank you Matt for sharing your story to the 311 community! As always, so much gratitude going out to the readers of this little blog. Have an amazing week my friends!
Welcome 311 nation! New week, new fan spotlight. Let’s read the story of Jenny Jeremiah!
Like many, it was the Blue album that hooked Jenny on the sounds of 311. It came out during her senior year of high school and she heard “All Mixed Up” and immediately needed the album because she wanted to know what the rest of the songs were like. “I’m a product of my generation. I grew up loving prog rock from the 80s, then the alternative and hip-hop surge of the late 80s and early 90s, and I thought 311 was the best possible progression from all of those sounds! They basically embody so many things I listen for in music and switch it up so much that I don’t get bored. Then later once you get past just the surface of the sound, you hear these fantastic lyrics and I don’t know what else I could want in music? Or let’s be honest, I go back and read the lyrics because who can catch on just by listening? For a very long time I didn’t know about Grassroots or Music, so until Transistor was released, I kept Blue in my CD player for months at a time.”
Even though Jenny has been a fan for 26 years, she wasn’t able to see the band live until 2015. First show was at the Innsbrook Pavilion in Glen Allen, Virginia, which was only 5 minutes from her home. “Since then I have been to 16 live shows, and will go to my 17th show on Sept 2, in VA Beach. Five of those live shows are from 311 Day 2018 and 2020, and yeah I count each day as a separate show, because you need a new ticket for each night!”
As for favorite show, it’s of course hard for Jenny to choose as she’s loved all the experiences for many different reasons. She went with 311 Day 2020, night 3, saying it may be due to it being the last 311 show she saw plus it was such a weird night. “We were in the front and every day leading up to that show we were holding our breath hoping they would perform every night since the world was shutting down around us. Not only did the show go on, but WHAT A SHOW!!!! And then the acoustic performance of “I’ll Be Here Awhile” just brought every emotion to the surface. We got to high-five and/or fist bump each member of the band as they exited the stage for the last time and then PNut put his bass RIGHT in my face for like 5 seconds and I touched the strings for a second before he pulled it back and continued his exit. I walked out of the auditorium wondering “what the hell just happened?” It was all very surreal and amazing!”
Picking a song that means the most to her depends on the day and what is going on in her life at that moment. Jenny said often songs come on that fell off of her radar and she thinks, “Why have I overlooked this gem for so long?” However, one song that is a consistent favorite is “Sever.” “Besides just loving the overall sound of it, I buy into the message that I get from the lyrics: Don’t be afraid to speak up for yourself and go after what makes you happy! Even when you stumble along the way, just keep working toward your own happiness. That’s my interpretation anyway.”
Some of Jenny’s favorite lyrics include: ““Open up your heart and proceed to feel; Now you’re inchin’ up to the summit never plummet,” “I look for absolutes and there’re absolutely none; The truth is what you shoot for, not one,:” “Spirit on the run, I’m an alien,” and “I put together all the memories of a broken heart; About a world so deafening.”
Jenny was born in Kansas, but spent the first half of her life in East Tennessee. “Parents divorced when I was young so my dad and I moved to East TN to be near his side of the family, and so he could go back to school. My early years I actually lived in Morristown, TN with my aunt, uncle and cousin who is really more like my sister since we’re just under a year apart in age. I’m so lucky because I can point to her (Suzanne) and her husband (Brett) for many of my phenomenal 311 experiences, being uberfans themselves.”
Jenny and Suzanne lived under the same roof as pre-schoolers and elementary aged kids until Jenny moved to Knoxville to be with her dad. Then after high school, Jenny and Suzanne lived together again in college. “Who better to have your first apartment with than someone you know, trust and love, and have lived with before?! Ironically, that’s around the time I had really discovered 311, loved them, and it was not a shared love between us back then. I’m not calling her out, she will fully admit to this. Then she started dating Brett and he and I got along right away because we were both into them. But still even between us, we couldn’t change her mind at the time. Clearly, she came around because she’s one of the people who nominated me for the fan spotlight!”
Jenny stayed in Knoxville until 2000 and then she wanted a change of scenery. She had some family in the Richmond, VA, area, so she moved east and has been there ever since. In April 2001 she became a flight attendant, which she credits as one of the reasons it took her so long to see 311 live. “Suzanne and Brett kept trying invite to come with them to shows but it required a commitment to concert dates months in advance. The way vacation time worked, and the way schedules were done I couldn’t make the financial commitment to something I couldn’t 100% guarantee I could make it to physically.”
In 2014 Jenny left the airline business, opening the door for her first show in 2015. Since then she has funded her 311 habit by working as a travel agent, which she says is perfect since it’s a regular schedule job BUT also still in the travel industry, which she loves. “We typically don’t have clients in the office so I’m allowed to inject my personality in my office at work, a perfect marriage of travel and 311 decorates my walls. Obviously the last 18 months has been a struggle for so many, and the travel industry was especially hard hit. I was furloughed for a little over a year but just got recalled a few weeks ago so things are looking up again!”
Interesting fact about Jenny is that she was diagnosed with A.D.D. and one of the byproducts of it is that she can’t function in silence. “Peace and quiet for me is having some sort of background noise so most of my workday I have music playing just loud enough for me to hear. Silence is deafening.”
Traveling is Jenny’s biggest love, other than her pup Roscoe, and she’s taken some crazy trips in her life. “I have flown to Amsterdam, Honolulu, and Singapore to spend a day and then turn around and go home. I’ve actually been to Singapore twice and each time was for a single day. Of course there’s more to the story than that, but if you see me at a show feel free to ask!”
Guilty pleasure for Jenny is that she loves Harry Potter! ” LOVE the books and I was already an adult when they were first published. I’ve read them multiple times, and actually play Wizards Unite on my phone more than I should.”
Another guilty pleasure for her is The Monkees! Aside from them and 311, Jenny can be found listening to Duran Duran, U2, Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, Stone Temple Pilots, The Skints, Bikini Trill, Missy Elliot, The Go Go’s, Red Hot Chili Peppers, REM, Michael Jackson, Cyndi Lauper, The Police, Prince, ODB, Beasties, The Black Keys, Depeche Mode, and Queens of the Stone Age. “And then other music from my childhood that is probably my dad’s influence: The Beatles, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Santana, ZZ Top (RIP Dusty Hill,) David Bowie, Led Zeppelin, and Tom Petty. There’s so many more, but I would seriously be here all day listing artists!”
To 311, Jenny has these words: “Thank you for creating so much for so long, and continually embracing the people who love your music!”
Now her words to the 311 fan community:
“You guys are probably the reason this following is so addictive! I love seeing strangers bond over a band and then have all these friendships bloom from it. As so many of us have said, I’ve made so many new friends JUST because of 311: Ron and Becky Ivanjack, Kim James, Jill Montoro-Saylor, Krista Lynn, Candace Mott, Chaundra Strayker, BLove, Tonya and Michael Frye, Erik Walder, Dakota and Nate Metcalf; that’s just off the top of my head. I know if I buy a ticket to a show, and don’t immediately know someone to go with me it’s no big deal. I know I won’t be at that show alone. See you guys soon!!!”
Thank you so much Jenny for sharing your story of your love for 311! As always, we wouldn’t be here without the readers, so many thanks to you as well. Have an amazing week, it’s almost tour time!
Welcome friends to the latest edition of the 311 fan spotlight! It’s my pleasure this week to introduce you to Sonya Schultz!
In the car, in 1995, was when Sonya first heard the notes to “Down” and like many Excitables she became an instant fan. “My Brother bought the Blue Album, then Music & Grassroots, but it was really my Husband who got me listening habitually to 311 when the Greatest Hits Album came out in 2004.”
First show for Sonya was with her husband in July of 2010 at the 7 Flags Event Center in Clive, Iowa. “When they hit the stage, I was absolutely mesmerized. We’ve been to three shows. Wish it was more! We also watched all of the StreamSystem Couch Tour Shows during the pandemic, which we loved!”
Favorite show for Sonya was at the Val Air Ballroom in West Des Moines, Iowa, back in 2014. “Our son, who was born a preemie, was in the NICU & we almost didn’t go. Their music saved me during one of the hardest obstacles in my life! I listened to 311 endlessly. The song Showdown struck a chord with how I was feeling. Seeing them up close on the rail while they performed was surreal!”
Favorite song for Sonya changes depending on her mood. Some of them include “Beautiful Disaster,” “Extension,” “Flowing,” “Space & Time,” and “Sweet.” “I love the entire body of work!” One of her favorite lyrics is the ever popular, “Stay positive and love your life.” She also loves when in concert Nick says, “Is everybody HAPPY?!”
Sonya was born into a musician’s family. Her dad plays bass and guitar and always encouraged her to explore music. “I’ve always loved to sing the most. I played drums & percussion for 3 years then switched to saxophone in middle & high school: I learned alto, tenor, baritone then soprano. My Brother who is predominantly a drummer, would play Name That Tune on the piano for me growing up & helped train my ear. My Brother introduced me to my Husband as “the new guitar player of his band” 26 years ago with a guitar in his hands and it was love at first sight! My Dad, Brother & Husband have all influenced me on my music tastes & preferences. We’ve lived in various places in Iowa & in the Chicagoland area. We currently live in Des Moines, Iowa metro area.”
Interesting fact about Sonya is that she lost her hearing when she was just in Kindergarten. It took two surgeries to fully restore her hearing. “I am more appreciative of music, sound & life in general because I remember the silence.” Unique attribute for Sonya is that she’s been told her smile and laughter are infectious. “Many of my friends call me Sunshine because of my eternally optimistic outlook on life!”
Guilty pleasure for Sonya is gardening. She mostly plants flowers and leafy plants, but also dabbles in veggies during the summer. “My Husband loves the peppers I grow for him. Nature brings me to my happy place!”
Another band besides 311 that Sonya loves is No Doubt. She’s also gotten super into the Dirty Heads over the last couple of years. Other artists she listens to include Stone Temple Pilots, Velvet Revolver, Audioslave, Sound Garden, Incubus, Faith No More, Queens of the Stone Age, Sublime with Rome, Jane’s Addiction, and Red Hot Chili Peppers. “I just love music so much!”
To 311, Sonya’s message is this: “Your creativity lifts me to a higher frequency in life and I thank you for that!”
Now her words to all her fellow excitables out there:
“I love that I found all of you beautiful people! It’s incredible that 311 has created this positive, loving & supportive commUnity! I love all of you who have been kind & welcomed me into the family! Much love!”
Big thanks to Sonya for sharing her story. Plus a big shout out of gratitude to all the readers! Hope you are all healthy & staying well, keep spreading the message of unity and love!
Hello there Excitable nation! Time to meet the latest fan spotlight. Here is the story of Rachelle Mueller!
During Rachelle’s middle and high school years, she states that you are influenced by your peers as to what music is cool or trendy, but it was mostly main stream stuff. So it was her brother Dallas who is 3 years older than her who would blast different music that she had never heard on the radio. “Tool, Silverchair, Pearl Jam, etc. Among the music he listened to was 311. Their unique combination of reggae and rock really resonated with me. It was an instant vibe I couldn’t get enough of!”
For seeing 311 live, Rachelle’s count is at 19. Her 20th show will be this year at Red Rocks on October 2nd. “I went on the 311 cruise in 2019 and was rockin’ my face off along with my fellow excitables in Vegas 2020 when the world was shutting down!” First show for her was in 2001, in her hometown, in her very own high school auditorium. “When I heard they were coming to my little town of Twin Falls, Idaho I couldn’t believe it. This was the first time I skipped school to go stand in line for tickets at the Music Exchange. Seeing them live was like an alternate universe, I was hooked!”
As for favorite show, she chose the 311 cruise. “If you have not been on the 311 cruise, I’m here to tell you it’s worth every penny!! The positive vibe and atmosphere all over the boat was so infectious. It was hard to get any sleep because there was so much live music and things to do all hours of the day. As we were setting sail off the coast of Florida, we were going underneath a bridge and 311 was singing “Stealing Happy Hours.” With a drink in my hand and my big brother by my side it was a snapshot in time that I will never forget!! Trust me I will never miss another cruise opportunity.”
There are many songs that can hype Rachelle up or get her through life’s dark moments. If she had to choose one, she said it would have to be “Champagne.” “As a single mom of 3 I have struggled with relationships. This song always reminds me that I am important and have a ton to offer the right person. As the song states – I will never understand you, When will I stop trying, I mean, cus its just not how I planned to, Spend my time til dying. I can only move forward and not dwell on the choices of others. The ones who are meant to stay will stay!”
Rachelle said the song “Dodging Raindrops” was a real momental one for many during 2020. “So many people dealt with mental illness during this time and struggling with the closure of the world and the unknown if life would ever be the same. ‘Why do I stay inside, I should be livin life, Instead of watchin through the window. No use in playin safe, Not gonna hesitate, I know the storm is only mental.’ As the dust has settled and things are becoming normal, I have traveled more this year than ever before. I don’t hesitate! I know life is short and can no longer take it for granted. I think 2020 helped me to see that we can’t predict the future so its best to live your life now!”
Born in Minot, North Dakota, Rachelle moved to Twin Falls, Idaho, when she was just 4 years old. There she stayed until she went to the University of Idaho in Moscow from 2002 – 2006. “During my college career I traveled abroad and spent a semester at the University of Sunshine Coast in Australia. After graduation I moved to Seattle Washington for a bit until I was blessed with my first son. Not having family in the area I decided to move back home, which is where I reside now.”
In 2016, Rachelle took a huge leap of faith and left a job she hated to pursue teaching! “I did not have my teaching license, I had no idea what grade level I wanted to teach but just knew I loved kids and having summers off to be with my own children seemed pretty sweet. A small town outside of Twin Falls took a chance on me that year and I am currently going into my 6th year, teaching 3rd grade at Kimberly Elementary. In 2019 I started my masters degree online through Western Governors University and can say I have a Bachelors in Journalism and a Masters in k-8 education!” Rachelle has 3 amazing kids of her own – Ledger, 13, Rigdon, 8, and Mckenna, 3. “I’m proud to say they all love 311 too and each have a favorite song!”
Fun fact about Rachelle is that she’s an adrenaline junkie! “Anything off the wall crazy is right up my alley! Skydiving, Ziplining, Rollercoasters, Cliff jumping, you name it I’m usually up for it. One summer during college I even raced cars at the local speedway. It was a Ford escort Hatchback. It was in a series called the Hornets. All the cars were supposed to be painted yellow and black, but I was gray and black with a big Black Widow painted on the roof. You won’t guess what my race number was…..311!!”
Something else that Rachelle has recently gotten into is axe throwing. “We have a certified WATL center here in Twin Falls. My friends and I would just go throw and drink beer every once in a while, when I realized I was naturally pretty good at it. I’m currently in a league and we play every Tuesday night!”
Guilty pleasure for Rachelle is scary stuff! “
I love scary stuff! Even my kids say it’s always Halloween in my soul! I spend quite a bit of money every year on my costumes and can confidently say my SFX makeup is pretty sick. I have won numerous costume contest with my looks! I have to say my Voodoo costume has been my favorite so far. I really want to buy stilts and be a satyr. Half women/half goat and make some huge horns and goat legs! We will see if it ever comes to fruition! When the kids are asleep or gone to their dads for the weekend you can find me curled up on the couch by myself indulging in Horror movies!”
As for other musicians that Rachelle loves, she credits 311 for opening many music avenues for her. The cruise itself being a big influence on what she listens to now. Some other artists include Tropidelic, RDGLDGRN, Dirty Heads, Sublime with Rome, Matisyahu, Incubus, Jack Johnson, Tool, RATM, Beastie Boys, Perfect Circle, and Pepper. “I listen to old school hip hop too…you know the good stuff! Busta, Missy, DMX, Dre and Snoop!”
Rachelle has these words to send out to 311, more specifically Pnut: “Thanks P-nut for humoring me when I came up to you in the Florida airport after the cruise. I was totally geekin’ out and could barely spit out the words, but I enjoyed our brief conversation. It was so cool to meet you and have admired your bass technique all these years.”
Now here is her message to all her fellow fans:
“I cannot express all the love I have felt from all of you excitables that I have met! Hands down we are the best community! I look forward to meeting more of you and if you are at the RED Rocks show in October come say hi!!”
Big thanks Rachelle for sharing your story! To all the supporters of the fan spotlight, you rock too. Have an amazing week – we are officially in August which means it’s almost tour time!
Hello again my friends out there in 311 nation! We are back to meet another awesome fan. This week the spotlight takes aim on Derek Fey!
It was Derek’s older brother who would play the music of 311 in his room all the time, but it wasn’t until his younger brother got into them that Derek really became interested. ” At first, I couldn’t stand 311 because my younger brother loved the band (it’s what jerk older brothers do – dislike all things the younger brother likes). But he kept playing it and I really started to dig it.”
Then in Derek’s French class at Westside in Omaha, Nick Hexum’s brother Zach sat next to him. “It was 1996 when 311 was exploding and a lot of people in class were bothering Zach about how his brother was so much more successful than him (which I thought was crazy because he was an amazing jazz musician already), so I started to listen to 311 more just to see what it was all about. When I heard the lyric: “f the naysayers because they don’t mean a thing,” I was hooked.”
As for seeing them live, Derek hasn’t been able to get to as many shows as he would like to. His show count is 4, with his first being in 1997 with his 2 brothers in Lincoln, Nebraska, which he said was really cool. As for favorite show, Derek chose the 25th anniversary show at Sokol Auditorium in Omaha, which he went to with his younger brother Adam. “It was really special to go with my brother who really got me into the band – 311 definitely brought me closer to him. And the place was jam-packed on the floor it was jamming.”
As for song that means the most to him, Derek said it’s “Beyond the Gray Sky.” “I just love the idea of seeing beyond negative situations and look at the positive. Find a way to get through life – and help others to get beyond the gray sky as well. And sometimes it doesn’t work out unfortunately.” One of his favorite lyrics also comes from the song: “One day you’ll see the clear blue.” He also loves the lyric, “Fuck the naysayers cuz they don’t mean a thing.” “I love the idea of not letting what others think of you get to you. Ignore the haters.”
Omaha, Nebraska, is where Derek was born and raised. As mentioned before he attended Westside High School, where a few of the members of 311 also went to school. He has lived in or around Omaha his entire life. ” I teach high school social studies at Westside, so it’s pretty neat to be at the school where it all started for some 311 members and where I graduated. I also am the Head Cross Country-Assistant Track Coach at College of Saint Mary in Omaha. And I do contract work timing cross country and track and field meets in the area. Now that I have a good chunk of my bills paid, I’m hoping to use my free-time and funds to get to more 311 shows – starting with a show in Lincoln, NE this September!”
Fun fact about Derek – he works with a friend in Arizona during the summer “catching” reptiles for the state. “We run into rattlesnakes, Gila monsters, and other venomous things all the time. Pretty wild stuff. Pun intended.”
When not listening to 311, other artists that Derek enjoys include The Urge, Pearl Jam, Hoobastank, Dave Matthews, REM and…”I might lose my 311 card for this, Celine Dion (yikes).”
Unique attribute for Derek is that he was gifted with the talent of running. “I’ve run 8 marathons, was one-minute off the Olympic Trials. I’ve done really goofy stuff with running – attempted to run across the state of Nebraska twice, ran an 81-mile ultramarathon in California, ran a marathon on a track (105 laps)…so yeah, running has been in my blood for quite some time.”
While Derek said running is sort of his guilty pleasure, he also thinks that pranking his teaching colleagues is another. “Whether it is using Photoshop to create compromising pictures or putting fake notes on teacher desks from the principal, it makes teaching interesting and fun.”
Derek would like to relay this message to the members of 311: “You guys are an inspiration – keep on grinding!”
Now to all the other 311 fans, here are his words:
“There is no show like a 311 concert and it’s because of the fans – I hope to meet more of you down the road! Stay positive.”
Many thanks to Derek Fey for sharing his story, it was a great one to write! Of course, thank you so much to all the readers out there. Have an amazing week, sending so much positive energy to everyone.
Hello all out there in 311 nation! Another fan spotlight is here. Time for the story of Walter Vining!
Like many 311 fans, Walter’s story starts with hearing “Down” play on his local radio station. “I was instantly hooked. From there, I heard ‘All Mixed Up’ and fell further in love. Took my next several paychecks from work and went back and bought Music and Grassroots.”
First show for Walter was in 2014 at the South Side Ballroom in Dallas. “I was a SUPER late bloomer to 311 shows. I tweeted the band for WEEKS asking them to play Visit at the show, Visit being my favorite song of all time.” Total show count for him now is at 12.
Favorite show for Walter is 311 Day 2016, day 2. “The vibe was amazing, the music was amazing. Got to see the live WORLD DEBUT of Island Sun, what an amazing tune.”
Mentioned earlier, “Visit” is Walter’s all time favorite song, but other than that there isn’t one single song that means the most to him. ” I have often told my kids that 311 has saved my life, to which I expand upon and let them know that they have drug me out of some of my deepest lows. That being said, ‘Large In The Margin’ has been one of my best songs to help bring me out of lows, and now I have both ‘Dodging Raindrops’ and ‘Lucid Dreams’ to add to that.”
As for favorite lyrics, Walter chose a few that really strike a chord with him: “There’s no way to avoid listening, you’ll always end up listening. Here’s hoping the voices aren’t too unkind, here’s hoping the voices are benign. It’s easier when you hear it, there’s no reason to fear it;” “All mixed up, don’t know what to do, next thing you turn around and find the person is you. Thought a freak might be the thing, but the first could be the last, so just get off of your ass. All mixed up, you don’t know what to do;” and “Life is not quite the way it seems, I don’t feel like I did in my lucid dreams.”
Aubrey, Texas, is the small town U.S.A. where Walter grew up. After that he lived in Houston for 3 years before moving back to North Texas around 2001. He has roamed around the Denton and Dallas area for the “last infinity.” “I work for a bank, where I update correspondence that we send to homeowners. As a hobby I race RC Cars, and for a while I had a stash of stickers with numbers on them where I would cut out the numbers 3 and 11 and put them on my car!”
Interesting fact about Walter is that he has a unique set of scars on his chest from when he played junior high football, he got stepped on by a player. “Their foot got stuck under my shoulder pads and left a few spots from their cleats.” Something that makes Walter unique is that he tries to stay low key. ” I don’t really like getting called out for things publicly. Private acknowledgement means more to me than being publicly known, so I guess being humble?”
Other musical loves for Walter, he said he used to be really heavily into Korn and Limp Bizkit. Now though he mostly just listens to 311 and The Toadies. “Smatter in mostly 90s music and some new alternative stuff, as well as some old school hip hop and other random stuff that makes me move.”
Guilty pleasure for Walter is the movie Poooty Tang! “What a terrible movie, but IT’S SO GOOD!”
Walter would like to send this message to 311: “Thank you so much for all of the music, the positivity, the energy, the fun, and most of all the indirect support that you have given me for most of my life.”
Now his message to all the other 311 fans out there:
“No matter the struggle you are going through, remember you have been strong all along. There is light beyond the grey skies, and there are always enjoyable sunsets in July. When things seem bad, sometimes you just need to go on a visit and get some island sun. If you ever feel like you need a reset, don’t be blue, go back to your grassroots, get some music, find your universal pulse and replace the transistors in your mind.”
Many thanks to Walter for those lovely words and sharing your story! Much gratitude per the usual to all the readers each week. Go be awesome and spread some positive light into the world!
Hey there 311 nation! It’s about that time, new fan spotlight time! Start the week off properly by reading the story of Chris Stevens!
It was hearing the song “Down” on the radio, like many others, that first introduced Chris to 311. He really liked the riff and thought it was a tight sounding four piece band. “Then I saw them on Late Night with David Letterman and realized it was a five piece and became more of a fan and then I bought the Blue CD and got involved.”
First show for Chris was in 2018 at the House of Blues in Orlando. He’s only been to 3 live shows so far, but thoroughly enjoyed the live streams the past few months. One of his favorites was the Soundsystem stream. For favorite show he saw live he said it was the one with RDGLDGRN at the House of Blues.
“Sever” is the song that Chris chose as one that means the most to him because he can really relate to the lyrics personally. Some of his favorite lines from their songs include: “Oh there’s a clock in my head, and despite what it says, another one on the wall, they don’t agree at all,” “In my unconscious mind, the door is open unto every kind, eyes open wide, never see what I expect to find,” “Played a track from your record collection, it’s your mix, congratulations,” and “Not an even field to be on, feels like standing still.”
Chris was born in New Jersey, living in various cities until he was in the 6th grade when he moved to Columbus, Ohio, to live with his father. In 1989 he left and joined the U.S. Navy. “I was stationed in Norfolk, San Diego and Guam until 1995, moved back to NJ/NY area until 2005 when I moved to Tampa, FL. I really miss being overseas and getting to see different cultures and meet people. Sometimes because of the language barrier communication was soley music.”
Fun fact about Chris – back in 1991 he turned 21 twice. How you ask? “Because of the time zone difference flying from NY>LA>HI>Guam.” Something that makes Chris unique is that he loves to beatbox.
Other musicians that Chris loves include Jane’s Addiction, The Cure, Deftones, Public Enemy, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pink Floyd, and Jimi Hendrix.
Guilty pleasure? Chris doesn’t really feel too guilty about anything he enjoys doing. “Maybe in the 80’s when I brought over a Duran Duran cassette to my cousins house who was a metal head, he laughed and said what’s wrong with me. I still like them.”
Message that Chris has for 311 is this: “Thank you for 30 plus years of music and dedication. Can you please play “Sever” more live?”
Now his words to all the other 311 fans:
“I have met some of you out there and looking forward to meeting a lot more. I have made some lifelong friendships through the 311 comm-unity :)”
Thank you Chris Stevens for sharing your 311 story! Many thanks as always to all the readers and supporters. I hope you all had a great Independence Day and have an amazing week!
Welcome back 311 nation! Here we go, the new installment of the fan spotlight. Let’s meet Willie Bowers!
It was not long after Willie got his license that he discovered 311. He was driving some friends in his mom’s brown Lincoln and they were listening to a radio station out of Dallas, Texas called The Edge. “Right before we arrived at my friend’s house, “Down” started playing on the radio. I was like, “holy sh*t, what IS this???” I immediately cranked it up. I was blown away. I had never heard anything that sounded like it before, and I was immediately hooked. So, we arrived at my friend’s house, and we just all sat in the car and finished the song. I wanted to wait until the end of the song because I could not get enough of it, and I also wanted to see if the DJ on the radio would say who it was. Lucky enough, I remember him saying something about the track being new and then said it was by 311. I think the main things that drew me to their music was how unique it sounded, the energy of it all, and the way Nick and S.A would go back and forth with the vocals. They did not sound like anything else I listened to at the time.”
For show count, Willie isn’t sure of the exact number but he believes he lost count somewhere in the 20’s. He saw 311 FINALLY for the first time on September 8, 2001, at the San Diego Street Scene Festival in California. “The reason I say finally, is because it seemed like forever waiting from 1996 when I first heard them to 2001 when I finally got to see them live in concert for the first time. Joining the Army and traveling around the US and the world probably caused some of those missed opportunities, but it was worth the wait.”
As for favorite show or event, Willie chose 311 Day 2020. “First time in Vegas and first 3-day 311 experience I have had. Close 2nd would be when I went to 311-day 2004 in New Orleans, and 3rd would be the first time I saw 311 at the Tabernacle in Atlanta in 2014. Always wanted to see them there after seeing the footage in ETSD 2. Also, honorable mention would be finally seeing them at Red Rocks for the first time back on 4/19/19.”
Picking a song that means the most to him, well like most fans there are many of them. One Willie chose is “Beyond the Grey Sky.” “So many people I know have struggled with depression, and that song hit me so hard the first time I heard it. Great tune.”
As for a lyric that resonates with him, he chose a few including: “Music’s what I need to keep my sanity,” “Stay positive and love your life,” and pretty much all the lyrics to “Offbeat Bare Ass.” “Especially the part near the end right before they say, “Here’s to good people doing time y’all!”
Willie grew up in a small town just north of Dallas, Texas. Upon graduating high school he was ready to see something else so he joined the U.S. Army. He then lived in South Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, South Korea, and Georgia. He now resides in the lovely state of Colorado. “And it is one of my favorite places in the world. I love to go hiking, camping, and pretty much anything outdoors. I love art, music, and all creative things.”
While in the Army, Willie did satellite communications and has pretty much been doing that ever since he left the military. He said that anyone that knows him, knows he has been obsessed with 311 since 1996. “I’ve always strived to be a positive and happy go lucky guy, and I have always identified with 311’s music and lyrics so much over the years.”
Interesting fact about Willie is that he has green eyes, but he has two small brown dots in the green of his right eye! One of his unique attributes is that he’s a very creative person who loves abstract art. “I work mostly with pens, pencils, and various art markers and colored pencils. I also do acrylic paintings from time to time. My favorite canvases to work on are 16X20. I have dabbled in photography for years, and I finally was able to get a decent DSLR this year thanks to my amazing girlfriend. A lot of my friends have told me that I seem to have a natural knack for photography. So, I would say art and photography are my two main things. The other thing that I feel makes me unique is something I’m very proud of, but I usually don’t say anything about it because I feel I should stay humble when it comes to things like that. However, I must say that I’m very proud of the fact that I have been a single father raising two kids on my own since September 2012 when the kids’ Mom bounced. My kids are now 10 and 13 and I’m so proud of the people they have become.”
Other musicians that Willie can be found listening to include Incubus, Sublime, Stick Figure, Slightly Stoopid, Passafire, Iya Terra and Rebelution. “Sometimes I just put on my old school rock playlist and listen to the stuff I grew up on like 311, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots, Alice in Chains, Beck, Helmet, Portishead, and things like that from the 90s.”
For guilty pleasure, Willie said he doesn’t have anything he would really say he is “guilty” of, but he guesses he would pick Ska music. “Because I love all Ska music, and you got to admit that stuff can be pretty darn cheesy sometimes.”
Willie’s message to 311 is simple & perfect: “Thank you guys SO MUCH.”
Now here are his words to his fellow 311 fans:
“First, I would like to say that life is short. I lost my Father to cancer in January 2020. Ever since then, I have tried to slow down and cherish the moments I have with my loved ones. So, I will just say take the time to be present with the people you really care about. The second message is something I’ve been trying to work on myself as well. I would just encourage everyone in our community to practice a little more empathy and kindness throughout your daily life. This past year or so has been rough on so many people, I just hope we can all practice a little more kindness going forward. And, I believe this community of excitable ones is a great place to start. “Stay positive and love your life”.
Thank you so much Willie for sharing your story with us all! Much gratitude per the usual to all the fan spotlight supporters out there. Now go have the best week you can!
Hey everyone out there in 311 nation! Time for the latest edition of the 311 fan spotlight! This week we learn the story of Kirsten Brown Franciscotty!
For Kirsten, she found 311 while watching a concert on cable T.V. “I remember thinking how upbeat and happy their music made me feel.”
First show for Kirsten was Red, White, and Boom in Las Vegas in 2014. Since then she’s attended two 311 Day events, 6 regular tour shows, and two cruises. Her favorite of these are the cruises. “It’s by far the most fun I’ve ever had. “
For her top 3 songs, Kirsten chose “Sunset in July,” “Misdirected Hostility,” and “Beyond the Grey Sky.”
Kirsten grew up in California and was a huge rap and alternative music fan. “311 fulfills most of my musical needs.” One of her other favorite bands in the 90’s was Oingo Boingo. These days some of her favorites include Dirty Heads, Pepper, Stick Figure, and Cypress Hill.
Fun fact about Kirsten is that she used to be a semi-pro wrestler! “Only wrestled men too.” She also stated that she is the most positive person she knows. “I have always been able to find the brighter side of life, even when life is at its worst. No wonder I love 311.”
Kirsten also loves to play the violin, viola, flute, and saxophone. “I recently started learning bass – Thanks Pnut!” Guilty pleasure for Kirsten? That would be concerts and Camaro’s!
Her words to the band are going to one person only: “SA, will you marry me?”
Now her words to all the other fans out there:
“When life gets you down, lean on friends, 311 community, and good music.”
There you have the story of Kirsten Brown Franciscotty! So much gratitude to Kirsten for sharing her story. As always, a BIG thank you to all the readers of this little project as well! Have an amazing week!
