Welcome again my friends in 311 nation! Let’s meet the next person for the fan spotlight, shall we? This week we get the story of Patrick Chevrier!
It was 1996 when Patrick became a fan after hearing “Down” for the first time. It was a hot summer day and he had gone inside to cool down. “I remember flipping on mtv and I saw the music video and have been hooked ever since. I remember ordering their cd from Columbia house shortly after that. Back when you could get 10 cds for like a dollar.”
For show count, Patrick is at 51, unless we are going to count live streams. “Wait.. do we count live streams? Anyway my # 50 was the last set of the 2019 cruise. First show was in 1997, Pine Knob Music Theatre, Detroit, MI.”
As for favorite event, Patrick said it’s hard to compete with the cruise. “Having said that, I would say that 311 day 2006 in Memphis tops the list, running second to Halloween 2003 in West Palm.”
One of Patrick’s favorite songs is “Silver.” “I’ve got a click but it’s more like a family. That’s a pretty good snapshot of what the 311 nation has become. I literally haven’t met a 311 fan that I haven’t liked yet. And probably never will.”
For favorite lyrics, one of them is “Let the cards fall, let the cards fall where they may. All I can do, all I can say.” Patrick tries to apply this logic to his everyday life, because if he can then the easier life will be. He also loves the line, “Stay positive and love your life.” “It’s very easy to say but a little harder to actually do.”
Patrick grew up about an hour north of Detroit in Lake Orion, Michigan. He’s 36 years of age and is married to his wife Lindsey. They have 2 children, Mason who is 8 and Harper who is 17 months. “If anyone is counting, the 2019 cruise was exactly 26 months ago, which means that she was conceived on the 2019 cruise. Which is ironic because there was a lot of talk on the cruise q&a about cruise babies. You can’t make this stuff up!!!” He and his wife got married in Las Vegas on 3/13/10. “The wife wouldn’t let us get married on 311 Day, but you know I tried.”
By day Patrick is a master motorcycle technician. However by night, he is a music junkie. “I literally have good vibes blasting in my earbuds 15 hrs a day. You can take my eyes but not my ears.” Fun fact about Patrick is that he’s a drummer and has been since the age of 7. He also raced motocross for 10 years until he retired from his semi-amateur career in 2003.
Other music that Patrick can be found listening to includes Slightly Stoopid, Pepper, Rebelution, Stick Figure, Rage Against the Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tropidelic, The Used, and Umphree McGee. “Hell, I even get down to some D.R.E, Snoop And Warren G from time to time…Regulators… Mount up.”
Guilty pleasure for Patrick is the “Back to the Future” series, even though he says the third movie is horrible. He also got into the baby shark cartoons. “I watch with my daughter. baby shark do do do do do do.. kinda catchy.”
To 311, Patrick has these words: “I can’t say that I’ve been down for the whole 30 years, but thank you for 24 years of positive vibes. There were a few times in my life where the only thing that I had was 311 just a click or a button away. So thank you for that!!! Chad… such a huge influence on me as a musician.”
To 311 nation, his words are these:
“No matter where we go, we all got each other!! Much love. I know we could all use a live show right about now, can’t wait to groove with 10,000 strangers this summer.”
Thank you Patrick for sharing your story! Per the usual, many, many thanks to all the supporters out there. Can’t wait to get to an in person show this summer, like I’m sure most of you! Have an excellent week!
Welcome back my friends in 311 nation! It’s that time, time to meet the latest edition of the fan spotlight. This week learn the tale of Devin Larm!
It was Devin’s friend Cory Gilbert who first introduced him to the sounds of 311 back during his freshman year of high school in 1999. The sounds of “Down” and “All Mixed Up” were the first two songs he heard and he was instantly hooked. “I loved how original they sounded. It was a type of music that I had never heard before and that was all she wrote!”
As for exact number of shows attended, Devin estimated it’s between 50-60. He’s been to 311 Day in 2010, 2018, and 2020, plus the 2019 cruise. First show was on August 7, 2003 at City Market in Kansas City. “I wasn’t hooked before that, I certainly was after.”
Favorite event to this date Devin said was the 2019 cruise. “It was just an amazing experience that I will never forget. 311 Days are great but someone once told me that the cruises are for the hardest of the hardcore fans and I would have to agree. The cruise is something that I’ll never miss again. The memories and friendships gained are ones that I’ll have for the rest of my life.”
For favorite song, Devin says that changes from time to time, just as his favorite album does. If you ask him next week, his answer might be completely different. At the moment, “Stealing Happy Hours” is his favorite song. “It stands out to me because it’s the song the band was playing as we went under the bridge on my first cruise. They played it again at Red Rocks on 4/19 when I was there and I had an immediate rush of memories and emotions from the cruise.”
Lyrics, he said obviously “Stay positive and love your life” is one of his faves. Other ones that stand out include “We only enter in one contest that we made up ourselves, that’s to be the 311’est” and “If you don’t have someone to do it with it’s not worth doing.”
Devin was born and raised in Salina, Kansas, and still resides there to this day. He lived in Manhattan, Kansas, for about 4-5 years at one point. “Salina is a small city of about 55,000 people in central Kansas, about 2.5 hours west of Kansas City. I grew up in a very loving and supportive household with two of the best parents a kid could ask for. I have a sister who is 3 years younger than me.” As he grew up Devin had a huge passion for sports, both playing and watching, which he carries on still to this day. “Football and baseball are what I really focused on. Baseball will always be my favorite and for the longest time I always wanted to be a professional baseball player growing up. (Still do! HAHA!) I even played some in college before dropping out and joining the workforce. I’m a huge Royal’s fan and was even fortunate enough to attend game 1 of the World Series with my dad in 2014.”
For about 7-8 years, Devin worked hard and eventually became the General Manager of a Pizza Hut, but it didn’t take him long to realize he didn’t like having his weekend be Monday and Tuesday, while all his friends were out having a good time on the real weekend. It was then he made the decision to quit and go back to school, and in 2014 he pursued his dream of becoming a pilot. “I applied to the Professional Pilot program at Kansas State University and was accepted! I started my degree in May 2014 and obtained my private pilot rating by September. Flying was amazing and like 311, I was instantly hooked. I graduated from K-State in December of 2016 with a Bachelors Degree in Professional Pilot and was hired by K-State as a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI). I still work for Kansas State University today as an Assistant Chief Flight Instructor. I get great satisfaction by instructing young, aspiring pilots who are following their dreams.”
One of Devin’s blessings in his life is his beautiful daughter Berkley, who was born in February 2016. “She recently turned 5 and is a huge factor in why I continue to push myself as hard as I do every single day. She is the light of my life and the biggest reason I decide to get out of bed every morning. She is also becoming a big 311 fan with her favorite songs being “Tranquility” and “Eons”. I can’t wait until I get to take her to her first show!”
Fun fact about Devin, he is a commercially rated multi-engine pilot. “I have taught and helped aspiring pilots to obtain a number of ratings including: Private, Instrument, Commercial, Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), and Certified Flight Instructor-Instrument (CFII). Over my instructing career I have a 91% first time pass rate.” He’s also a really good baseball and golf player.
Guilty pleasure for Devin is that he’s a gamer and really always has been. ” Last year after 311 Day when the world shutdown I started playing Call of Duty Warzone with 3 other 311 friends. (Cory Gilbert, CJ Martin, and Eric Landes) This started as a way for us to have fun and not lose our minds during the shutdown and has now turned into a nightly occurrence of the four of us playing. We even have our own messenger group labeled ‘Brozone’!”
Other musicians that Devin loves include Incubus, Dirty Heads, Tropidelic, Sublime, Rebelution, and Stick Figure. “I listen to a lot of rap and hip hop too. Really love multiple genres of music!”
Devin’s message to 311 is: “Your music and existence has literally changed my life. I have so many amazing friends that I would have never had the opportunity to meet if it weren’t for the five of you and your badass music and constant positivity! THANK YOU!”
Now his message to fellow 311 fans:
“I can’t begin to explain the impact that this community has had on me. It’s truly amazing. I’ve made friendships that will last a lifetime with people that are literally scattered all over the world. I can’t wait until we are all together again! Much love!”
That my friends is the story of Devin Larm! So much gratitude to him for sharing his tale. Obviously, I send so much love & thanks to the supporters out there. I hope you all have an amazing week!
Hello again, my friends in 311 nation! I hope everyone was able to rock out to the Soundsystem live stream, it was fire! Let’s not delay anymore, it’s time to meet another fan. This week we have the story of Juan Carlos!
It was from the very beginning when 311 formed that Juan has been a fan. “As a musician by degree I felt like I had a pretty good appreciation for the music and all the hidden nuggets (a music theorists dream) strategically planted.”
What drew Juan to the music was, well, the music. “Its actually quite technical all around and I appreciate the musicality. More than that lyrically very impressive messaging and meaningful. I dig that!”
For show count, Juan is somewhere between 80-100. First show was in 1997 in New York. As for favorite events, he loves the cruises. “The cruises are the best to me. A chance to just chill and enjoy great music day after day with all my friends… EXCITABLES!”
Song that Juan loves and means the most to him is “Get Down” off of the Uplifter album. For favorite lyric, it’s just too difficult for him to narrow down. However he does love what has become the bands motto, “Stay positive and love your life.”
Juan was born in Connecticut but spent most of his adult life in Vermont. Currently he is residing in Kansas City, Missouri, but is seriously debating moving to Portugal. To fund his 311 habit, he works in Healthcare IT. “I guess I have that to be thankful for it funding my 311 hat & poster collection. I have traveled all over the globe for work and I’m about to retire soon… cannot wait!!!”
Interesting fact about Juan, he has a music degree from Berklee in percussion (he was a jazz drummer). He is also an ordained minister! Not to mention that he works full-time and is carrying a full course load at St. Louis University. In the little free time he has, he loves to cook. As for guilty pleasure? “At 60yo I’m guilty about nothing….but a band that I also REALLY enjoy is Dance Gavin Dance!!!!!!”
As for other musicians that Juan loves, the list includes “Miles Davis, Chick Corea, Paco de Lucia, Frank Zappa, Maynard Furgueson, Karnivool, Led Zeppelin, Steely Dan, Tropidelic.. and on and on and on… TOMITA!”
Juan would like to send this message to 311: “I Love you guys! Don’t retire please!!! And oh ya .. I’ve been to see y’all a whole lot. Come visit me some time. #hahahaha”
Now his words to all the other 311 fans out there:
“We live in a jacked up world, and its so easy to get caught up in the BS, hate, the death, destruction, hyperbole, and lies. STOP and listen to the music, 311 MUSIC. IT always fixes me and it will fix you!”
That’s the story of Juan Carlos! Much gratitude to him for sharing. As always, thank you readers for the continued support. Have an amazing week!
Welcome again friends in 311 nation! It’s time to meet another fan. This week the spotlight takes aim at Christie Carlin!
It was thanks to a friend that Christie discovered 311. He played some songs for her & another friend while playing along on guitar. “We thought highly of his music taste, and for a good reason. I also had a boy I dated that played Grassroots and would sing along with it, I was impressed. Their music was fun, upbeat, stoney, and they are all so handsome. It was a no brainer, I was hooked.”
For show count, Christie said she’s tried many times to get a number but she gives up because it’s just too difficult. Her first show was June 3, 1995, at the Fiddler’s Green Amphitheater. “The KTCL Big Adventure, with a bunch of bands, including Sublime. It was the start of a lifetime obsession. They used to play The Fox in Boulder, The Ogden in Denver, and the Aggie in Fort Collins when they came. You could find me at all of them. I saw them in Grand Junction, Vail, Colorado Springs. Every year at Red Rocks since their first show in 1996. My first 311 day was 2014 and my first cruise 2015.”
As for favorite, Christie said the cruises are the best experience. “I have done the last 3. They are so magical, I met so many people, and had so many fun adventures. Truly an experience that I will never forget and people that will be in my life forever.”
Song that is her favorite, there are many and it changes from album to album. From the start though, she always loved “Hydroponic” and she said it always gives her happy chills. “I just remember memorizing all the words and driving around Denver with my bestie, singing and smoking weed. It has always stuck out for me, and always a favorite to hear live.”
For lyrics, she loves the line from 8:16AM, “There’s nothing like the comfort of a silence that’s comfortable, not talking small, just skip the bull.” She also loves this lyric, “Everything I eat is from the Earth, right? I am what I eat, straight up Earth, right? Nothing but a walking sack of Earth, nice to meet you, how do ya do? Guess what, ya, you’re one too.”
Christie was born in the bay area of California, then moved to Glendale, Arizona, and finally landed in beautiful Colorado. She grew up in Aurora and has now lived in Denver for the last 30 plus years. ” I moved to Georgia for a while, but didn’t like it and I came back to Denver. The Mile High City is home, but I still love to visit the world.”
For work, Christie has a tattoo removal business called Wise Choice Tattoo Removal. She also had a part time job as a server at Comedy Works Downtown in Denver, but that has been closed since the pandemic started. Thankfully her tattoo removal business has been doing well. “Business has been great, and I don’t need a second job anymore. I remove tattoos and do skin treatments with my PicoSure laser. Helping people remove the past, is what I love to do, and I’m happy to help my clients.”
Fun fact about Christie – she won a scholarship in high school to be an exchange student for the summer in Sweden. ” I lived in a small village of less than 100 people. Vebomark, Sweden was my home for over 3 months. I loved it. I had one older host sister, and 5 younger host siblings. We are all connected via Facebook now. It was the time of my life, I remember it very well. I got to go past the arctic circle, a really beautiful country. I plan on returning once it is safe. Definitely started my passion for travel. And I can speak a little Swedish, just a little.”
Like many others with tattoos, Christie said they are one thing that makes her unique. “I love them, but I have also had about 20 of mine removed. I actually removed my 311 tattoo. It was the bars from the Blue album tour poster, and over time it became a square. I removed it and got the traditional 311 on my shoulder with the flower of Jamaica around it, (I got it right before my first cruise). I have all my favorite bands on my spine, but when I ran out of room, I started on my leg. I love tattoos.”
Music that Christie loves has changed over the years, but her current loves include Passafire, RDGLDGRN, Voo Doo Glow Skulls, Mustard Plug, Tool, Beastie Boys, Sublime, Incubus, Ballyhoo!, Bumpin Uglies, Prof, Lucky Daye, H.E.R., Snot, SZA, Manchester Orchestra, Anderson Paak, Hobo Johnson, Chali 2 Na, and Hirie. “Not much I don’t like, music is life.”
As for guilty pleasure, Christie loves the show “Below Deck.” “Reality drama is silly, but I love it.” She also loves the movie Goodfellas and she says she could watch it every day. She also loves to cook! “Mexican food is my favorite. Give me tacos any day! Don’t forget the Margarita.”
To 311, Christie would like to say, “Thank you for a lifelong journey filled with music and friends.”
Now her words to her fellow 311 fans:
“I know that 2020/2021 has been a hell of a year. I can’t wait to sing and dance next to all of you again. It will happen, and when it does, I will be crying happy tears. so give me hugs.”
There you have the story of Christie Carlin! Much thanks for her sharing it, and of course as always to the readers each week! Now an important message – Happy Birthday Nick Hexum!
Welcome back friends! It’s time we meet another awesome soul who loves 311! This week, let’s learn the story of Melissa Chernoff!
It was Melissa’s older cousin who was a huge influence on her musical choices growing up and she was listening to a lot of hip hop and R&B in the early to mid 90’s. In 6th grade she started listening to the local rock station and that is where she first heard 311 when they played “Down.” “Shortly after, I saw the music video was mesmerized and wanted more. I found out about Music and Grassroots and soon became obsessed, to say the least. I had those albums on repeat. I grew up in a family of musicians and was currently learning how to play piano and flute in the 6th grade. It’s safe to say that my curiosity and passion for music ran deep. 311’s sound was like no other; it was a sound I craved and didn’t even know it.”
Melissa said it’s hard to put into words what really drew her into 311’s music, but it was really their uniqueness. “Their raw sound, the jazz, rap, funk, rock, and reggae sounds were incomparable at that time. Looking back 30+ years, they had a sound that was so far beyond their time. Although I was only 12 years old when I got my hands on the Blue album, lyrically, I was blown away. And to this day, I still enjoy lyrical analysis because the meaning is always evolving.”
For show count, Melissa said she’s completely lost track of how many she’s attended. She believes she is somewhere in the mid 50’s. “My first show was at the Aladdin Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas in 1997. I will never forget that they opened with Hive and the lights were in sync with the intro; I still get goosebumps when I think about that memory.”
As for favorite event, she said it was the cruise in 2019. “I had been in graduate school and working during the previous cruises and well, just couldn’t afford it. I was able to go with my childhood best friend who also shared the same passion for 311. I had been in an emotionally abusive relationship and I was struggling with what to do after finding out about his 8 month affair. On the last day of the cruise, it started to sprinkle during the band’s Q&A session. I was standing on the pool deck with my best friend, 2800 excitables, and the most amazing band to grace the earth. I stood there, looked up into the sky, closed my eyes and realized that I deserved more, I had never experienced that kind of peace and comfort like I did in that moment. I made the decision to take care of myself and my mental health and end the relationship when I got home.”
As for her favorite song, Melissa said this has to be the hardest question for any fan. “I think that the answer depends on the day, month or year. It depends on my mood. It depends on my challenges or successes. I will say that for today, in writing this… Let the cards fall, Life’s not a race, Made in the shade, Cali Soca, Color, and Unity.”
There are also many lyrics that strike a chord with Melissa that she just couldn’t name them all. “There are so many words, feelings, symbols, prophecies, and meaning making lyrics, I will have to plead the 5th on this one. In my 10th grade English Literature class, we were studying poetry and song meaning. I chose to do my report on “Six” and I remember sharing this song with my classmates; most of whom knew me as “the 311 girl” and no one seemed to get it. I got an A and feel like I made the guys proud.”
Henderson, Nevada, is where Melissa was born and raised. In 2013 she moved to New York for graduate school but came home after the first semester because of how expensive it was. “That experience saved my life in more ways than one and I am forever grateful for that time in my life.”
Melissa is a proud auntie to two nieces whom she says own her heart. She is also a cat mom to Betty, who has been her ride or die for the last 14 years and her birthday is 3-11-2007. For work, Melissa is a Mental Health and Substance Use Therapist working in a private practice. “I love helping others, especially on their journey to heal. 311’s influence in my own healing has definitely helped me be a better therapist.”
In her downtime Melissa loves to paint, read, travel, walk, bake, and spend time with family & friends. She also enjoys anything macabre, antiquing, existentialism, plants, and live music, which she has been desperately missing for the last year. “I recently started playing piano again after many years and feel like part of my soul has reawakened. This is a weird time in my life, but weird in a change is good but change is hard kind of way. I hope to write a personal memoir while sprinkling in mental health encouragement and psychoeducation. I am thankful for this continuous life.”
Before starting her journey as a therapist, Melissa had hoped to be a record producer or engineer. “I studied it in my undergrad, but it was a very strange time in the music industry, so I chose to pursue psychology instead. My dream job will always be somewhere in the music industry as I even considered getting into A&R as a backup plan. That was a long time ago, and I still think about what life would have been like if I had the opportunity to pursue that career. I know I made the best choice for myself at that time, but a girl can dream.”
For guilty pleasure, Melissa loves the shows “Schitt’s Creek” and “American Horror Story.” Also “Fight Club” is her favorite movie of all time and she loves anything written by Chuck Palahniuk. However her guiltiest pleasure is cleaning and organizing!
For music aside from 311, Melissa loves the sounds of Senses Fail, Taking Back Sunday, Jay-Z, and The Beatles. “I make the joke (but it’s not a joke) that I still listen to the same music I have been listening to since I was 13 years old.”
Melissa wants the guys in 311 to know this message: “You have imprinted my heart and soul and I am eternally grateful for your passion, commitment to each other and your craft, and especially for the last 30 years of blood, sweat, and tears.”
Now here is her message to all her fellow 311 fans out there:
“The community that we are a part of is a special group of souls. You are so loved and cherished, we are part of a cosmic connection that no other fan base shares. Be kind to each other and be kind to yourself. Hope to see you all sooner than later.”
Thank you Melissa for sharing your story with myself and the rest of the 311 community! A great story and I hope all of the spotlight supporters enjoyed it. Have an amazing week friends! Sending you all so many good vibes.
Welcome again Excitables to another edition of the 311 fan spotlight! And obviously happy 311 Day week! This week we learn all about Paulo Macedo Jr.!
The year was 1997 and Paulo came to the United States as an exchange student. He lived in Norfolk, Nebraska, and 311 was blowing up the charts with the album Transistor. “I was already a fan of NOFX, Green Day, Offspring sort of knew about Sublime (I didn’t like it at the time), I was getting started on hiphop. There was some bands in Brazil doing this rap/rock/reggae at the time also like O Rappa and Planet Hemp and I was really in that scene. So it was a natural movement.”
Paulo said that show count for him is an easy one to tell – it’s two! Since he lives in Brazil, he hasn’t been able to see them live as much as he’d like. “I went to 311 Day 2006 in Memphis and went to the Unity Tour 2011 in San Diego, CA with Sublime with Rome <3. They came to brazil once, but I couldn’t get a day off. It was a festival that was going on 10 hours from where I live so I couldn’t make it.”
Since he’s only been able to attend two shows, he obviously loved them both and said 311 Day is just an amazing time to him. “The whole city breathing 311, I’ve made friends that I’m still in touch. At the time I was working with o local radio in my hometown, so I’ve got in touch with the band management and ended up meeting the guys on the day before the concert and it was awesome. Because of this I ended up on the Extra DVD that came on Uplifter and one of the episodes of the 30 years doc that is on Youtube. And once I was in a The Beautiful Girls Concert here in my hometown of Curitiba, Brazil and I saw someone with a 311 shirt, I came to talk to him and he recognized me from the DVD.”
The whole blue album means a lot to Paulo because the time he spent in Nebraska were not his best days. “I was living on a farm, sort of far from the city, no friends, just kids that I would talk to in class, so Don’t Stay Home and DLMD were life savers to get through the end and graduate.”
There are quite a few lyrics that mean a lot to Paulo, including: “You’ve got to bet on yourself now star, cuz that’s your best best,” “Stay positive and love your life,” and “I only say what I feel and that is a promise, nothing in life is above being honest.”
Paulo’s full name is Paulo Roberto Macedo, Jr., but his friends all just call him PR. He just turned 40 years old and is married with 2 boys. Married to the love of his life for 2 1/2 years, their boys are the ages 1 year 9 months and the other only a month, so he has his hands full! He lives in the city he grew up in which is Curitiba, Brazil. With a bachelors degree in Communications and Journalism, Paulo has his own video production business where he does videos and also marketing.
Paulo grew up listening to music from The Beatles and also popular Brazilian music so he showed interest in music from an early age on. “My first music tape was Guns n Roses AppetiteforDestruction, I had the forbidden front art, at that time on the age of 7 or 8 my father knew that the rock bug had bitten me. I like a lot of the local alternative bands from the rock, reggae, punk and hardcore from Brazil.”
Aside from his time in Nebraska, Paulo has also lived in Montevideo, Uruguay, and also San Diego back in 2006. “I could watch so many bands that I never thought I would ever see live and took a Marketing and Media Course in San Diego State University.” Paulo loves going to concerts and seeing live music, so he’s really been missing that lately like so many of us.
Being Brazilian, Paulo is a huge soccer fan. ” I support my local team, it’s called Paraná Clube, I love going to the games with my friends, also missing that a lot!! With this Corona Crisis and two babies at home I’ve also miss having barbecue with my friends, one of my favorite things to do. Meet with some friends, have a barbecue, talk about music, listen to music. Some of my friends have/had bands, so there’s always a guitar somewhere.”
Funny story about Paulo is that right when the video for “Love Song” was released, he happened to be in a Walmart and saw the video playing on all of the T.V.’s there. “20 different TVs with Nick’s face on it. I rushed to the counter and without thinking I yelled at the guy I WANT THIS DVD, the guy wasn’t understanding. This DVD, the one that is playing on all of the TVs, how much, I WANT IT!! He replied oh… it’s just a music channel…I haven’t seen the video yet. Then I spent the time talking to the Walmart guy.”
Fun fact about Paulo is that he’s had two cars with 311 plates on them! He’s also really interested in technology, so many people are always asking him questions about it. “My mom’s friends come to me to buy TVs, smartphones and this stuff. And as expected, asking me to fix something.”
Other artists that Paulo loves include Bad Religion, NOFX, Rancid, Bouncing Souls, Social Distortion, Unwritten Law, Sublime with or without Rome, Offspring, Green Day, Dirty Heads, Mad Caddies, Beastie Boys, Wyclef Jean, The Fugees, Less Than Jake and Goldfinger. There are also some Brazilian bands he said are awesome and sing in English, including AbraSKAdabra, Lou Dog and Water Rats. Paulo’s guilty pleasure is also music related – he loves a Brazilian band from the 90’s/2000’s called Comunidade Ninjitsu. “Their sound is similar to the cheesy pop Brazilian funk but it came 20 years before and have sort of a smart ass ironic lyrics, I just love it.”
Paulo was lucky enough to have time to talk to the guys of 311 and tell him how much they mean to him in person. “I got the most impressive answer that I never expected to hear. I said to Nick that they were my heroes, he asked me back “Who else is your hero?” And that changed my whole perspective on a lot of things.” That was then…now Paulo would like to tell them: “Keep on rocking on the positivity because what you guys bring is more than just music.”
Now here are Paulo’s words to all his fellow 311 fans:
“It’s great to be a part of this community, It’s awesome the work that you do Chrissy, it is amazing. On my 311 day concert I went early to the venue, I talked to some guys that I met on the day before to get together and have some beers, I bought a pack and went to the venue, when I got there I couldn’t find them. After walking for a while I just stopped and some other guys started talking to me, I left my beer on their ice and we had a great time. This is what this community is about.
I could not finish this without saying “Stay positive and love your life.”
There you have the story of PR! Much gratitude to Paulo for sharing his story of his love for 311. To all the readers, I wouldn’t be here without you all, so THANK YOU! Have an amazing week, and an awesome 311 DAY!
Welcome back 311 nation! Who’s ready for the newest addition to the fan spotlight? Let’s meet Bryan Weinstein!
The journey into 311 for Bryan began in the year 1993 when a classmate of his received the Music album. “I remember thinking to my 13 year old self, how rad is it that bands have shifted into numbers as for their names!!??” Then about 2 years after the blue album came out, someone had copied the album onto a cassette for him. “I didn’t stop playing it continuously for several months, bumping chads drumming and Pnuts phat bass lines on my 6×9’s in my old school station wagon! Soon after, Transistor came out and I HAD to buy it on CD! That was quickly followed by the ’98 live album, then like all true heads, had to dive backwards a small bit-and NEVER stopped going forwards from there. It’s always been a soul connection. Their lyrics and funky fun riffs spoke to me, as I crave true consciousness, positivity, and a message from music. From the playfulness raps of the blue album to all the mind mellowing alchemizing tones and lyrics of transistor, it forever shifted me between the expansive years of 15- 18, every single lyric! I mean, who else was even mentioning sacred geometry in the 90s?!?!”
Even though Bryan was a fan early on, he didn’t start seeing 311 live until later on in life. “I regretfully didn’t start going to see 311 live earlier in life, although coming up in Phoenix, AZ, where they played a lot in the early years (Shoutout to phx on Grassroots!!!) I had plenty of chances, and I kick myself in the tail when I think about it…. the first show I can clearly remember was in 2001 in Columbus, Ohio. Other big shows I’ve attended were 311 Day Vegas 2010, 2011 311 Pow Wow Festival, all 6 Caribbean cruises, and last show of decade in Chitown Dec. ’19. I think my concert count is around 70-75ish?!”
As for a favorite show or event, Bryan really just loves all of his experiences too much to narrow it down. “I’ve been so lucky to have been to so many shows over the years, have made many trips around the country to see family/friends and to sneak in a 311 show while in town!! I can’t put into words how special each show is with different people and energy, that said, after the privileged of all 6 Caribbean cruises and the infamous private beach show, dancing and rockin’ out in the beautiful water and soft sands…, how could it not be all that!!!?”
Like many fans, picking a favorite song is difficult for Bryan. “I feel there’s so much wisdom and knowledge in each song and each lyric. I absolutely love all the young energetic hard rap rock, and the maturing chillness of more newer tracks, but Evolving rapidly in my youth with Transistor I’d have to go with Inner Light Spectrum, The Continuous Life, Borders, C.U.T.M, UNITY, Whiskey and Wine, & Who’s Got The Herb?!. And Extension, as it was the name of the road I grew up on!”
As for lyrics, Bryan named a few that really resonate with him including, “Time is precious, as you say it is”, “I wanna visit the world”, “The same force that flows through every circuit”, “Time to GET DOWN”, “See all the energy around you,” and “I wanna be free, I wanna do right.”
Bryan was born in Phoenix, Arizona, and raised in Mesa. His parents were school teachers, always into good vibes and good music. “My mom raised me and my younger brother on all the excellent Beatles and British 50/60s music and Motown, my dad raised us on Hendrix, Floyd, Zeppelin, The Doors and all that incredible 70s Rock. I gravitated to all the historic 80 and 90s bands including the humorous antics of Weird Al Yankovic, being the goofy kid I was is what truly cultivated my taste, and in blending all those styles together as I grew into my late teens 311 was the way forever forward!”
Being influenced by love and art in their household, Bryan became an artist majoring in 3D animation and his brother became an extremely talented musician. In 2001, Bryan moved to Columbus, Ohio. “It was living up there, where 311 loves to roll through that allowed me to start seeing them so often and in so many neighboring cities! A couple years later I moved to South Florida (not knowing there’d be 6 future 311 boats sailing from here) and in 2005 after getting rocked by a few serious hurricanes, I soon ended up changing from the visual arts to the healing arts. Always striving for balance, harmony and wellness I was inspired to go down the path of becoming a Licensed Massage Therapist. After 15 years of successful massage practice (which has funded my 311 lifestyle) and incorporating my passion for healing and vitality with the study and practice of Qigong and Tai Chi I have now shifted my studies on Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupuncture. With the wisdom’s of SA “be kind to every single body” it lead me down a path of studying and exploration, which lead to the incredible opportunity of teaching Tai chi classes on the 2017 and 2019 311 Cruise! It was a honor which I’m forever grateful for. After ending the ’19 Tai Chi class a few minutes early to race to the basketball court to see Nick and Pnut play 5 on 5 basketball, as I found a spot in the high bleachers, I was absolutely speechless when the crowd cheered Nick as he came through to the court, I had no idea Nick and his security detail were right behind me, and as he walked past he said personally in his sincere tones as always, “Hey, saw you teaching the Tai Chi from my room up above, that shit was dope!” He gave me a sincere pound, and that unexpected encounter is something I don’t have words to describe! I truly believe everywhere we go and all we do is meant to be, timing is everything in life, and as I moved back to Phoenix in 2016 for a special female, I was once again in the right place and time to see 311, out of all places on the planet, host a 2017 New Years Eve Show in my backyard of Tempe, AZ!! As I left Arizona to head back to south Florida in 2018 I caught 420 shows in Colorado, Red Rocks, dream come true, to make it back in time to Florida to see 311 again a week later in early May at SunFest in West Palm Beach, FL, then another monumental cruise in 2019! Had such big plans for their 30th Anniv. summer shows with Incubus, as we all know it fell apart! One fact is true, 311 always adapts, and will always continue to do so!”
Fun fact about Bryan is that he had Billy Joel tell him to go fuck himself! “It was a live show of his in Phoenix in ’99 and as he sung his encore song “Piano Man” the spotlight from over his shoulder was casting and shining onto me and my mom who were singing and waving as we were swaying… He sees us making direct eye contact.. asks us in front of over 20,000 people… “Hey, is that your girlfriend!!?” Needless to say, stunned as we were, we didn’t answer quickly, and he said jokingly.. “ehhhhh go f%#k yourself!!” What a true honor!! A story we still share and laugh about constantly for over 20 years!”
As for something that makes Bryan unique, he said it’s his capability to know the body well and he gives amazing therapeutic massages. “Or so I’m humbly told from my many worldly traveled clients. If you’re ever in South Florida, feel free to contact me! Shameless plugs aside, I’d have to say my love and passion for brewing kombucha, messing around with different ingredients like chia seeds, ginger juice, and crafting unique flavors and spices, is a fun thing to create and enjoy! Some day I want to sell kombucha on a grand scale and partner with 311, that’d be a true honor!”
Aside from 311, Bryan has a huge love for artists like he Beatles, Beastie Boys, Rage Against The Machine, KRS-ONE, Mr. Lif, Sublime, De La Soul, The Roots, Incubus, Pepper, Rebelution, The Movement, Stick Figure, Los Stellarians, Ghostwolf, Dirty Heads, Slightly Stoopid, and Phunk Junkeez.
Guilty pleasure for Bryan is that he has way too many 311 concert posters. “Most difficult honestly is finding enough wall space to house them in my apartment. I’ve collected a lot of 311 merch and schwag and am always trying creative ways to capture and collage them into something fun to decorate the 311 dojo!”
Bryan’s words to 311: “I would truly want to thank them from the depths of my soul and express my gratitude for who they are, for what they’ve worked so hard to become, and just for how they’ve touched so many lives in the most important and positive ways! And for their 30+ ongoing years together, NO ONE IN MUSIC is more DOWN…. MUCH LOVE! Andddddd, thank you so much for allowing me to share tai chi on the last two boats, an absolute incredible honor of a lifetime!!!!”
Now his message to all the other 311 fans out there:
“Thank you to all slinky sisters & brodels that I’ve been honored to meet whether on land or sea, and to all those out there I’ve yet to cross paths, stay frosty. To all heads that supported Tai Chi initially, and requested to have it again, I’m eternally grateful!! One day soon, with love, we will lift the veil of this crisis, we will rejoice and ROCK! Keep being the change you want to see and continue dodging raindrops! BE REVOLUTIONARY, and always stay positive and LOVE your LIFE!”
Thank you Bryan for sharing your story with all the excitables! As always, so much gratitude goes out to the supporters of this little project. Have an amazing week friends!
Welcome back 311 nation! Thanks for returning for the latest edition of the 311 Fan Spotlight. Let’s not waste time, here’s the story of Gerry Fey!
Omaha is where Gerry grew up. He was attending Westside when Nick, Tim and Chad were in high school. It was his friend Mike Bartholet that told him about 311’s first tape, Dammit. “He played it for me. I loved their combination of rap and thrash, it was like nothing I had heard before. So I went to Joe Voda’s Drum City on 72nd Street with my $10, and went to the back office to buy the tape from Chad’s mom. She gave everyone the once over and said do you have $10. I love their message of unity. CUTM is still one of my favorite songs.”
Show count for Gerry is around 25. His first one was at the Ranch Bowl in Omaha in 1989. As for favorite event or show, he picked 311 Day 2020. “Three nights, 105 songs, unreal…little did us fans in Vegas know it would be the last live concert in the world for awhile.”
The song “Sunset in July” is one that Gerry holds close to his heart because it reminds him of the feeling of 311 Day. He also enjoys “Good Feeling” as it reminds him of his new wife Kat.
As for lyrics that really speak to him, he loves these from the song “Too Late:” “The river cuts it’s way through stone, not through sheer force but persistence, at the end of the day the relentless always win.” Gerry said these words are a reminder to never give up.
As mentioned before, Gerry was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. He made sure his two younger brothers Adam and Derek also became 311 fans. “I enjoyed going to see 311 in Lincoln with them over one winter break.” Gerry attended the University of Kansas and is a huge Jayhawks fan. He also got his brothers into that as well. “I am also a Nebraska football fan (although lately that has been difficult). Loved growing up watching the Minnesota Twins also. I am a huge sports fan, if you can’t tell.”
Gerry worked for newspapers for quite some time, so he has lived in many places including Hutchinson, Kansas; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; West Palm Beach, Florida; Annapolis, Maryland; Columbia, Maryland; Cantonsville, Maryland; and currently Towson, Maryland. “I am a freelance graphic designer, but that has been difficult lately, so if anyone knows anyone who needs graphic design work, give me a shout :)”
Fun fact that many don’t know about Gerry is that he was close to playing in the Little League World Series. “The team that beat us in the Regional tournament went on to Williamsport.” Back to sports, Gerry said he has the kiss of death when it comes to buying jerseys of athletes. “I had a Twins jersey signed by Butch Husky and Manager Tom Kelly. Husky was released before the season was over and Tom Kelly retired after the season. I bought a John Vanbiesbrouck jersey after they went to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1996. He left the next season to go to the Rangers. The list goes on. So if you have a player on your team you don’t like, let me know, I will curse him by buying his jersey. I have the gift!”
Guilty pleasure for Gerry he said is that he loves the Game Show Network…and also the Spice Girls! When not listening to the girls or 311, he can be found cranking tunes from artists such as Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, Beastie Boys, Twenty One Pilots, Frank Sinatra, Sound Garden, NWA, and R.E.M. “Pearl Jam headlined a free concert at Kansas my freshman year, it was called Day on the Hill. Probably were 15,000 people there. Eddie Vedder climbed up the scaffolding during Porch, swung the microphone cord through the top of the stage and then swung into the mosh pit. That was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen.”
To the guys in 311, Gerry has this message: “Thank you for continuing to make great music and continuing to send the Unity message and to love your life…..it’s needed more and more these days.”
Gerry has these words for all the other fans out there:
“I have met so many amazing people through the 311 community. I’ve enjoyed meeting all of you! Thank you to this amazing community! Stay positive and love your life!”
Big thank you to Gerry Fey for sharing his story and love for 311 with us all. Much thanks and love to all of the continued support of this “little” project. Until next time, be amazing and spread that unity!
Welcome back awesome peeps of 311 nation! Let’s get right to it and meet the next fan spotlight. Here’s the story of Valerie Perreault!
The year was 1999 and Valerie was dating her husband. They compared CD collections when they moved in together and the only CD they had in common was 311’s blue album. “So it kind of naturally transformed into a much bigger love from there.”
Show count was something that Valerie never really kept track of. First show was when she was invited to see 311 with some friends at Northerly Island in Chicago in the early 2000’s. “After that show, 311 became a permanent fixture in our relationship. Not only were we influenced by the music we were also thrilled to meet so many other people out there just like us who share the same passions for a positive life style. We have found forever friends at 311 concerts/cruises and love looking forward to reunions with them, both near and far!” As for favorite event, she said it’s the cruises, hands down.
The song “I’ll Be Here Awhile” is one that holds a special place in Valerie’s heart. “After the first cruise I decided to get a 311 tattoo because I never wanted to lose who I was at that time. The lyrics in this song applied to so many things in my life at the time, and I REALLY wanted to start being a better person overall and not lose myself, because at that time I finally learned to love myself and life. So I decided “I’ll Be Here Awhile” was a perfect song for me to always bring me back to the perfect emotional and positive mental state of mind. It’s now been 10 years and I still carry those positive vibes through life, of course the tattoo reminds me to be a good girl too ;)”
Valerie grew up in DuPage County, Illinois. “Moved about 20 minutes from my parents so I can keep an eye on those trouble makers. ;)” She had a career in banking for over 20 years and just recently moved into accounting. “I liked numbers so much that I started saving money when I was 19 because I did not want to work the rest of my life. Met my wonderful husband and we are hoping to retire young and enjoy life and move closer to where the palm trees are. My husband and I both love the warmer weather so staying here in Chicago area is a struggle.”
Valerie and her husband love animals! They currently have 2 rescue dogs, both of them shepherd mixes, named Rock (who is 14) and Lucy (who is 13). They also have a rescue cat named Angel (19). “I’m sure our next fur family will have some fun 311 names in there somewhere.”
Something that makes Valerie unique is that she’s good at reading animals. “I should have been a veterinarian but I sucked at school. Most animals trust me, and I know how to gain their trust faster than most people I know. I wish people had more patience and understanding toward them.”
Volleyball was a sport that Valerie played for 30 years, only taking a year off when she had to have shoulder surgery. “I am now looking for a safer sport after breaking my hand right before the 3rd 311 cruise, but that didn’t stop me from wheeling around my 50LB luggage on that boat!”
Guilty pleasure for Valerie is that she loves to watch reruns of “Jackass.” “And I am not ashamed to admit it! I just love to laugh. I am at my absolute best and cherish many memories from when I am laughing through life.”
Other musicians that Valerie can be found listening to include Weezer, Dirty Heads, Matisyahu, Eminem, Flyleaf, Nine Inch Nails, Alice in Chains, Faith No More, and Mr. Bungle
Valerie has these words for 311: “Thank you for being such a positive driving force for me and my husband. Our marriage is a happy one because of your music and ALL YOUR CRUISES:) We are looking forward to our 7th cruise with you if fate lets it happen.”
Now her words to all of the other fans out there:
“Save your money Then please don’t be afraid to spend it on happy memories or experiences. Those special happy moments/memories in life will help carry you through those darker and lonely days this world loves to throw at us XOXOXOXOXO”
There you have the story of Valerie Perreault! Much gratitude to her for sharing it with us all. Of course, my love & thanks for the support of this blog. Have an amazing week friends! “Stay positive & love your life!”
Hello again friends in 311 nation! Welcome back, another 311 fan spotlight is upon us. This week let’s meet C.J. Chipley!
During C.J.’s junior year of college in 1993, he became friends with two guys named Eric and Josh, who had a Sega Genesis and owned the game NBA Jams. They were who introduced C.J. to the music of 311. “As we played NBA Jams& enjoyed some recreational activities, Eric threw in a bootleg copy of Music (tape form / poor college students) and it was ON. The energy enveloped me & the lyrics spoke my language. The NBA Jams catchphrase “he’s on fiiiiiiiiiiiiire” became secondary to the six song run of Feels So Good, Do You Right, FTBS, (flip the tape over), Welcome, Freak Out & Visit. Although there are songs from every album that resonate with me & physically force me to ‘nod your head to this,’ this particular run of 6 songs will forever be stacked in my soul. This, however, was NOT the moment that 311 changed my life forever.”
First show for C.J. was April 15, 1993, in a tiny club in Memphis, Tennessee call Club 616 (now closed). Max capacity was about 400 and he said it was only about 60% full. This was the day that 311 changed his life forever. ” For anyone that has seen them live, the understanding of the feeling I describe goes without saying. In this smaller setting, the connection to every member of the crowd that each band member displayed throughout that entire show was not only kick-ass, but made the experience personal… like a group of guys you grew up with who were having shitloads of fun & a bit of success along the way, but would still go & grab you a beer from the fridge if you needed one. I was so incredibly blown away, I had to see them againasap & they were (fortunately) playing the next 2 nights at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, about a 3hr drive away. As a broke-ass college student, I had to become resourceful. Quickly. I pawned my golf clubs, about 15 CD’s (these actually had a bit of value in the early 90’s), sold back 5 college textbooks & got paid in advance to write a history paper for my roommate & another for my suitemate. Made both shows on 4/16 & 4/17. Best. Decision. Ever.”
For show count, C.J. is at 71. He’s had backstage, VIP passes three times, but says sadly no cruises yet. He’s been to every 311 Day show however. “On day 2 of 311 Day 2018, my wife & I decided to show up a bit early, enjoy a few cold adult beverages & grab our seats… relax a bit before the show. As we exit the beverage line (it was a line of 2… I mean we were REAL early), P-Nut comes walking around the corner from a back room & peaks into an (almost) empty arena. He has a smile ear-to-ear and a look in his eye like “we are about to fuckin’ ROCK this place.” As he exits the arena to return backstage, he takes one look at me as I exit the bar & says, “WOW, I’ve got to get a picture with that BIG ASS BEER!!” We proceeded to talk for a bit & it was super cool of him to share his excitement with us before the show. One of C.J.’s many stories: P-Nut asks to take a pic with me (actually my beer) & not vice versa.”
C.J. said that 71 seems like a lower show count for someone who’s been a fan so long, but part of the reason is that he moved to Hawaii in 2006. “I was previously living in Memphis, TN and 311 Day was shifted there for 2006 (as most know) due to Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. After the show, my mind is always spinning (pun intended) & I thought to myself- I’m pretty damn good at my job… why am I still ‘making the donuts’ in Memphis?!? Where do I really want to be? I randomly look at the 311 ‘upcoming shows’ to get an idea (hopefully with some inspiration) and 3 of their next 4 shows were in Hawaii. About 6 months later, so was I- and have been ever since. Met my wife here & one of the things that ‘bonded’ us early in our relationship was her love of 311 as well (more to come on this). Have to give 311 a huge mahalo for their unknown karmatic inspiration. Omaha was never on my list.”
One of C.J.’s favorite events was when 311 played two shows back to back in a little club in Honolulu in 2010. His wife has epilepsy and due to the random bursts of light & patterns at shows, she had never been able to attend any bigger shows in her life. ” We practiced the ‘shut & cover’ method with her eyes routinely leading up to the show dates… we were ready. The 1st night, things worked out perfectly, her health was absolutely fine, she had gotten to experience her first live show & we were on Cloud 9 as we exited the venue. Cloud 9 quickly became Cloud 10 as we got into our car & saw the entire band getting into the van parked RIGHT NEXT TO US. Let’s have some fun. I tailed them all they way from the show venue to their pink hotel in Honolulu & believe I only ran 1 red light in the process… the other 2 were still orange. We got out at the hotel, talked/laughed with them quite a bit & left by saying “it would be great if you ended tomorrow night with FTBS as you ALWAYS did back in the day.” I think they ended night 1 with a badass Omaha Stylee/Creatures mash up & I also knew they still had not played Down. SA winked & nodded, Nick said “we’ll see.” Night 2 was another incredible show (duh) & then they came out for the encore… Down. Linda & I looked at each other, shrugged, laughed & enjoyed the hell out of a GREAT song. As they began to walk off the stage, suddenly they stopped (I mean, literally froze in place). About face. Returned to instruments. “This one goes out to all of the old schools fans that remember how we ALWAYS closed a show…” BOOM!! Linda & I both cried the happiest tears ever & I still get emotional telling the story.”
Song that means the most to C.J. is “Jackpot.” It’s not his favorite, but it means the most because the album Uplifter was released while he and his wife were dating. That song is one they both loved the minute they heard it. “Every time we hear the word ‘jackpot’ used (wherever we may be) I will come in immediately with ‘all the people say’ and Linda then adds ‘whoa’ before we JACKPOT simultaneously. It’s our little thing.” As for favorite lyrics, he listed just a few samples as there are too many to fully list, including: “Welcome to this groove… you can move, right?,” “Unwind your mind & find entire minutes,” “Serendipitous my travels throughout time,” “We put that shit on the map,” “I kick in the teeth of condescending frowns,” “Nod your head to this,” and “I wanna stoke the fire.”
C.J. was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, and moved around a few times due to his father getting better opportunities as he grew up. He’s lived in Charlotte twice, Cleveland, Fort Smith, Arkansas, Memphis twice, Henderson, North Carolina, Monterey, Las Vegas, Honolulu, and Kailua, Kona. He was in the restaurant industry most of his life, but now supports his wife’s retail business in Hawaii. “Our jewelry business is named Blue Water Fantasies… cool as the blue water all around.”
C.J. and his wife Linda married on 11/11/11 at 8:16AM for many reasons. “one of the biggest was having the ability to say ‘we were married on 3-11’s’ for the rest of our lives. Our wedding photos are titled We’re just two Misfits that no one else gets.” C.J. has lived in Kailua-Kona for almost 15 years. He and Linda will celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary this year. “Currently have 3 fur-babies in the house- 2 cats (brother/sister Norwegian Forest Cats) & a German Shephard. Throughout my life, I have named at least 1 pet after each member of the band, also had a dog named Bobby & by chance, got the opportunity to name 2 donkey’s on a friend’s farm- one is now Terrence Henry & the other, Scott Stapp.”
C.J. since 1993 has included 311 stuff in his monthly budget, at $25 a month. “Gives me the rationale to buy anything 311-related and use the ‘yeah, but I’ve budgeted for this’ explanation.” Things he enjoys besides 311 are making others laugh, being a die-hard UNC Tarheels fan, plus the Steelers, Pirates, Penguins, and 76ers. “A huge fan of sports (competition in general) & unless playing one of ‘my’ teams, almost always have a soft spot for the underdog. Love seeing an ‘upset’ which re-enforces the principal that anyone can win. Everyone has a chance.”
Interesting fact about C.J. is that at one point he worked for a company where his territory covered 6 different time zones. “90% of my life was spent on the road & I always requested room 311. The travel also gave me the opportunity to catch a few 311 shows across the US, which is always nice.” Ever heard of the term Glossophobia? It’s the fear of public speaking, a very common phobia. C.J. does NOT have it. ” I am the categorical antonym of this. LOVE IT. Will get on stage in front of 1,000s of people and give speeches or facilitate presentations with passion, energy, excitement… it’s my juice. Love the process of learning the info & then energizing the masses/delivering the message as a knowledgeable, connected presenter. Do I get nervous or do I get butterflies?? Absolutely, along with a sweet blast of adrenaline… it’s when you don’t feel these things that you should worry.”
Guilty pleasure for C.J., well he loves gardening and has quite the green thumb. “I am blessed to have the climate zone that Hawaii provides, 365 days a year. In my time out here, I have grown (not at the same time) coffee, bananas, pineapple, mango & papaya, along with some amazing herbs all year round.I have a 10yr old bonsai tree (Buzz the bonsai) and a yard full of hibiscus, gardenia, plumeria, bougainvillea & palms to enjoy. Nature is pretty cool, you know?”
Other musical artists that C.J. can be found grooving to a rotating list of people. “Currently listening to quite a bit of RTJ… longtime fan of Zeppelin, Chili Peppers, Eric B & Rakim, Beastie Boys, SOJA, Snoop, Blind Melon, RATM, Pepper… occasional guilty pleasures include Tool, Toad the Wet Sprocket, NiN, Cyprus Hill, Ludacris, Slightly Stoopid, Jay-Z, Incubus, Slick Rick… & not gonna get mad if someone throws in something from the (very early) grunge era leading up to my 1993 “311 breakthrough.”
C.J. has been lucky to have had a few opportunities to meet the band and chat with them. He’s always given them a heartfelt thank you each time. “Each member seems like a friend & the ‘shout outs’ they give at shows & on albums feel personal, as if they are meant specifically for me. Each 311 Day, when the slide that says “…and ALL 50 STATES…” hits the screen, I know that I am the Hawaii representative. HeeHee. The culture of unity & positivity they have driven & enveloped throughout their 30+ years has created such a remarkable following of like-minded peoples. I appreciate the fact that their message has held true over the course of time.”
Now this is C.J.’s message to all his fellow 311 fans out there:
“If you have never had the opportunity to see a live show, make it the ABSOLUTE FIRST thing on your list when COVID is under control & we are again allowed to do so. If there is one thing that I will 100% guarantee & can attest to in all the live shows that I have been to (in addition to all the live online performances, etc.)à 311 never phones it in. Ever. The unity will grab hold of you & just might never let go… if you are lucky (again, pun intended). I bet that almost every 311 fan has thought to themselves or recited the line “To all my friends, it’s not the end, the earth has not swallowed me yet…” over the past year. Stay strong, stay safe, stay aware & never forget to stay positive & love your life.”
Huge thank you to C.J. for sharing his fun story! And everyone wish him a happy belated birthday, as he celebrated on 1/31. Many, many thanks to all the readers and supporters of the blog. Have an amazing week my friends!
