Hello again my friends out there in 311 nation! Hoping you are all well and ready to kick this week off with the new fan spotlight. Let’s meet Zach Fowler!

The year was 1995 and Zach was a kid when he found the music of 311, when the blue album dropped. “I was 9 or 10 at the time. This album, along with a handful of others, became one of the driving forces behind me buying my first guitar at age 11.”

For show count, Zach i around 7 or 8. First show for him was in Charlotte, North Carolina, on August 30th, 2002. They played with Jay-Z, N*E*R*D* and Hoobastank. As for favorite event he’s been to, he said hands down it’s 311 Day 2020. “Literally days before COVID shut everything down – Most amazing/right show plus incredible visuals & lighting. I walked away inspired from that weekend of shows.”

All time favorite song for Zach is “Jackolanterns Weather.” Lyrics that he loves are: “Singin’ an rhymin’s what I’m better for, When I describe I’m a scribe with a metaphor. I use a simile lightly ’cause that shit’s played, The common way most rhymes are made, ya know. I rock like this I flow like that, But all those comparisons are just that. Kickin’ different styles I’ll be right here, Today, tomorrow, next week and next year. I always say what I feel and that is a promise, Nothing in life is above being honest.”

Fort Mill, South Carolina, is where Zach was born and raised. It’s in the Charlotte, N.C. area. He is the singer/guitar player for the reggae/rock group called Sun-Dried Vibes. “I have an immense love for the scene and genre, so naturally I love being a part of the amazing 311 community.  I am married to my amazing wife Emily and we have two beautiful sons, Evan and Reid.”

Fun fact about Zach is that he has an accounting degree from the University of South Carolina and he loves math. He also loves to play disc golf. “SDV is sponsored by Innova Disc Golf and we play all the time, all over the country!” Guilty pleasure for Zach, well there are a few. ” Hall & Oates, a killer horn section in a band, Ice Cream (literally any kind) or Key Lime Pie!”

When not listening to 311, Zach is into a wide range of artists. They include The Dip, Gangstarr, Passafire, Led Zeppelin , Red Hot Chili Peppers, Anderson .Paak, Beastie Boys, The Police, Steely Dan, and Steel Pulse. “I could go on forever.” Also don’t forget to check out Zach’s band Sun-Dried Vibes!

To 311, Zach would like to say: “Thank you for the continued inspiration through your music and I hope we can have the honor of opening and touring with you all someday.”

Now here are his words to all the other 311 fans out there:

“Being positive is the only way to live. You reap what you sow and you get what you give. The Positive Vibe is the Reason I’m Alive.”

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Many thanks to Zach for sharing his story with all of us! Always, so much gratitude to the readers and supporters of this little blog. Have an amazing week…sending you all many positive vibes!

Much Love – The Runt

Hey there 311 nation! Welcome back to the latest edition of the fan spotlight. This week let’s hear the story of Jamie Ann Rosalia!

Jamie remembers listening to 311 in the 90’s on the radio, but it wasn’t until 2012 when she reconnected with a friend…now her fiancé…that she experienced a live show or listened fully to their albums. “The one cool thing about that is I had such a large catalogue of music to immerse myself in and I still got to experience new albums being released with Stereolithic, Mosaic and Voyager.”

For show count, Jamie hasn’t kept track. She did try to count back and believes she might be around 35. First show for her was Jones Beach in 2012. As for favorite event, she chose 311 Day 2022, since this is when she got engaged to Kevin LaBella on stage at the Unity All-Stars show at the pre-party. “It meant the world that so many people I love were there to share that moment with us.”

Favorite songs for Jamie include “Prisoner,” “Champagne,” “Whiskey and Wine,” “Flowing,” and “Creatures (for a While).” One of her favorite lyrics is from “Too Late” – “The river cuts its way through stone, not through sheer force but persistence. At the end of the day the relentless always win.”

Jamie grew up in a small town called Harrison, New York, which is a suburb about 30 minutes north of New York City. She is a middle child with an older sister and younger brother. “We grew up in a three-family house and lived also with extended family including aunts, uncles and cousins.” Aside from Harrison, Jamie has also lived in New Haven, Connecticut, The Bronx, Jacksonville, Denver, and is now currently residing in Aurora, Colorado. “I’m a mechanical engineer by profession and I work as a consultant for commercial real estate investors. I was lucky enough to get a scholarship to Yale University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.”

Something you may not know about Jamie is that her white hair is natural and it’s been that way since she was about 5 years old. She did dye it for a while but then stopped. “My white hair and light eyes come from a gene mutation called Waardenburg’s Syndrome. I have a lack of pigmentation in my eyes and hair. “

Fun fact about Jamie is that her first language was American Sign Language (ASL). “Both my parents are deaf. My siblings and I were born hearing.  My sister and I always got full control of the radio station every time we went anywhere as kids 🙂 We also were able to blast music very late into the night without a care in the world.”

Guilty pleasure for her is exercising and she really doesn’t feel guilty about it. ” I have been practicing yoga on and off since I was 18 and every now and then I have delusions of becoming a yoga teacher – maybe one day.”

When not listening to 311, she can be found cranking tunes from Slightly Stoopid, Rebelution, Dirty Heads, Passafire, Soja, Less than Jake, and Incubus.

To 311, Jamie has this message: “Thank you for your dedication, for the music and for bringing us all together!”

Now here is her message to all the other 311 fans out there:

“Thank you for being such amazing and positive people to be around. The energy I feel during shows really is different than any other show I’ve ever been to.  I can’t think of a negative experience I’ve had interacting with any of the other fans of 311. Everyone has always been so accepting and inviting.”

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Many thanks to Jamie for sharing her story with us all! As always, so much gratitude to all those who read each week. I hope you all have an amazing week! Sending you all good vibes.

Much Love – The Runt

Hello again my friends out there in 311 nation! Happy Halloween 2022! It’s time for the next fan spotlight. Let’s hear it for Mario Ramirez!

For Mario, it was after seeing 311 live for the first time that he became an instant fan. “I don’t know how else to explain it, but I felt like the music went through me. The day after the show I went to the music store and bought all the 311 CDs they had.”

For show count, Mario has seen them 111 times. His first show was just after graduating high school, during the summer of 1995 at Hospitality Point in San Diego. “I’m not one hundred percent sure, but it was possibly an MTV Rock the Vote show.”

As for picking a favorite show or event, Mario said he really doesn’t have an answer because he has so many great memories over the years from all of them. ” I’ve gotten to this amount of shows because that is how much I love what these five dudes do to me musically. I’ve seen multiple 311 Days which are epic! If I had to single out two particular events, it would be the 2019 cruise, because two months before I boarded the ship I found out the mass on back of my head was not cancerous.  The other event would be the October 2021 Red Rocks show because it was not only a bucket list venue for me, but three weeks prior I successfully had the tumor removed from the back of my head. I decided to go to that show on my own for myself.”

One of Mario’s favorite songs is “Cali Soca.” “The reason why I’m choosing this particular song is because as 311 fans we all know that Nick and SA can sing and rap their asses off. This song does not include lyric it is just an instrumental. It is beautiful music to me. It is just the five of them making music. Whenever I play music, I tend to play this song first because it’s just a beautiful calypso summer song to me. I finally got to see this song performed live on night two at 311 Day 2022. That put the icing on the cake.”

As for a favorite lyric from 311, Mario said this line really strikes a chord with him: “I’d say you hung the moon if they asked me.” Mario then stated, “That’s just some smooth shit right there!”

Mario was born and raised in San Diego, California. He grew up in a very loving home with parents and sister. Being from San Diego, he is a huge Padres fan. “From the words of Eek-A-Mouse, “I love my city because it’s very pretty.” I say that because it is a privilege to live in Paradise. My trade is in the construction industry. I am fortunate that my career allows me to fund this 311 thing that I can’t get enough of.”

Fun fact about Mario is that he grew up surfing. Something that makes him unique? Mario said he’s a muse! “I make shit happen for myself and for others. I’m snazztastic! In all seriousness, I’m a halfway decent golfer.” Guilty pleasure for him is professional wrestling. “I grew up watching it with my dad, he was kind enough to order all wresting pay-per-views and took me to many shows. As I got older, I gave it up. The summer before my tumor surgery professional wresting came back into my left with a vengeance and I fucking love it!”

When not jamming the tunes of 311, one of the other artists that Mario really digs is Ozomatli. “One of the highlights of the 2019 cruise was seeing Ozomatli perform on the deck. I also like Little Stranger, reggae music in general, jazz, standards such as Frank Sinatra, and The Pharcyde.”

Mario would like to send this simple and wonderful message to the guys in 311: “Thank you for giving me beautiful music since 1995.”

Now here is his message to all the other 311 fans:

“It’s been a wild ride, I wouldn’t change a minute.”

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Many thanks to Mario for sharing your story with us all! As per the usual, I can’t go a week without thanking all the awesome people who read this little project. I wish you all an amazing week and a very spooky Halloween!

Much Love – The Runt

Hello again my friends out there in 311 nation! It’s a new week and that means we get to learn the story of another awesome fan. Let’s meet Rachel Milstein Varney!

High school is when Rachel became a fan of 311, in 1997, when she heard “Come Original” on the radio. “I was drawn to the uplifting beats and the positivity in their lyrics, and drawn especially to the hot lead singer! ;)”

Show count is unknown for Rachel, as she never really kept track. She dis say it’s quite a few. First show for her was Edgefest on June 29, 1999, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. As for favorite show or event she’s been to, she said it’s a tie between the second cruise beach show, Pow Wow, and the last Red Rocks show.

While picking a favorite song is difficult, Rachel said that right now it’s “Beyond the Gray Sky.” “It is such a beautiful display of remembrance and always gets me choked up when I see it live. ‘Freak out’ is my other favorite, played live, it’s such a display of high energy.”

Some of Rachel’s favorite lyrics include: “Let the cards fall, let the cards fall where they may, all I can do, all I can say. Gotta move to trust my instincts, and surrender and let my song sing itself,” “I believe in your purpose baby, coming up to the surface,” “Stay positive and love your life,” and “This moment is a gift, that’s why it’s called the present.”

Albuquerque, New Mexico, is where Rachel was born& raised, and she is still residing there. Growing up it was just she and her mother, so she had a lot of time to herself while her mom worked. “I remember using her tape deck to record songs from the radio. I would call in to request the song and wait with my fingers on the play/record button to record to my cassette. 🙂 (the original download, I guess)”

Rachel’s mom took her to her first concert when she was 8 years old, and it was Randy Travis, who her mom loved. “I fell in love with the concert scene! As soon as I was old enough to choose my own music, I started purchasing albums from 311, STP, Pearl Jam, Nirvana etc. As soon as she let me, I went to my first show. It was Edgefest, with 311/Gravity Kills/Incubus, Smashmouth, Limp Biskit and many more! I had the best time and knew festivals were going to be “my thing”!”

In 2002, Rachel was working for a parking garage, so she ended up listening to the radio all day long. “With that comes many many opportunities to win all the things! I got sooooo good at winning, the promotions manager and I were on a first name basis. She’d even call me if I hadn’t won tickets to a show and offer me the meet and greet options with a pair of tickets! I won tickets to every show I could and even had to start using my friend’s names when I won in order to follow the station’s rules. One time, my sister in law jokingly asked me to win her some tickets. (in this case it was actually to a 311 show, so it’s an even cooler story here!!!!) We turned on the radio while hanging out and I got the cue to call about 20 minutes in. I got through as caller 10 or 3 or 5 or whatever it was that day, and was told I had won!!!!! When I told the DJ what had transpired, they almost didn’t let me win, but instead had me hand the phone to my sister in law so she could claim the prize! LOL The next week, the day of the show, she got the call that she had won a meet and greet with 311!!!!! Of course being a fan, she asked me to go… but my boss wouldn’t let me leave early so I had to miss it!!! She told the guys about the whole thing when she met them, and they made a point to autograph a paper especially for me with a couple of personal messages!”

For the 6 years that Rachel worked for that parking garage, she won a ton of tickets, which meant she really didn’t pay for a lot of shows during that time. Then she started adulting, working for a District Attorney’s office, and she didn’t have the radio time she had before. “I also realized that festivals and concerts aren’t cheap! Thankfully we had a 2 income household that supported my concert habit and I realized quickly how important it is to always have concert/travel savings! These days I own my own business as a Canna-yoga instructor. I educate people in cannabis, yoga and mindfulness modalities helping to instill a sense of wellness, wholeness and to help create a connection with their innate ability to heal from within. www.leafandlotus.org”

In 2011 Rachel and her boyfriend went to the Pow Wow Festival, and that’s how she turned him into a fan as well. “He was so blown away to be in an alcohol infused space, and to not see one fight! The only incident we witnessed the entire weekend was a chick shoving her man down the road as she yelled at him…. that was it! He quickly recognized how amazing the band is and the unity they evoke through their vibe and tribe! Since then, he and I have been traveling to see 311, catching them any opportunity we can. On the riverside in Jamaica during the 2015 311 cruise, after 17 years together, he finally proposed to me and this 2023 cruise will be our 5th time cruising with the band!”

A fact that many don’t know about Rachel is that she gets a ton of anxiety in social situations. “Most of the time I power through and appear to be a social butterfly!” Something that gives her a unique element is that she’s a really great teacher and guide, in Cannabis and Yoga. “I can help others find their perfect cannabis pairings to achieve their desired results and have been told many times I am an amazing yoga instructor.” As for guilty pleasure, Rachel said that it’s definitely traveling. “As often and as far as possible for as long as possible.”

For other musicians, Rachel can often be found listening to a wide array of artists, including Nirvana, The Beatles, Gwen Stefani, Gravity Kills, Tool, Samuel J, Satsang, Eminem, Snoop Dog, Hirie, Aer, Tropidelic & Ballyhoo. The last four bands she mentioned she found through 311ing.

For her message to 311, Rachel would like to say these words: ““Please don’t break up! Be the example of how we can be unified with others even when our views, ideologies and /or moral values do not line up. Be the example of how it takes all types to work together to transmute negativity, to educate and inform and how to love and accept each other, despite our differences.” 

Now here is her message to all the other 311 fans out there:

“Hey You! Life’s Not a Race! I’ve Got a Good Feeling that your Purpose isn’t Plain. We’ve come Light Years to Tune In, Reconsider Everything and Seal the Deal. Stay Strong All Along, Wake Your Mind Up and Thank Your Lucky Stars for the opportunities we’ve been given in this life! Mad respect to all the 311-est excitables in this community! Stay Positive and Love Your Life!”

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Thank you so much to Rachel for sharing her 311 story! Of course, many thanks to all the readers each week as well. Sending you all light & love, hope you have an amazing week.

Much Love – The Runt

Welcome back 311 nation! It’s time to meet the next fan spotlight. Let’s read the story of Ed Blake!

It was thanks to MTV that Ed found 311. Then he used to buy new CD’s on Tuesdays when they were released.  “I got the Blue album and loved it. I like all kinds of music and they incorporated a variety of styles. My buddies had Grassroots and Music too so it worked out. I may or may not have gotten some burned copies. Allegedly.”

For show count, Ed believes he is somewhere in the 50’s. He doesn’t really keep count, he just tries to have fun and enjoy the experience. First show for him was September 28, 1995. “My friend and I showed up and were the first ones in the parking lot. While we were hanging out before anyone else was there, we allegedly saw Nick get into a white Nissan, Acura, or Mitsubishi sports car right next to us with a lady friend. They left soon after we realized it was him. No Doubt opened for 311 and I remember Gwen Stefani came out after their set. She was super cool and chatting with everyone before 311 came on. Besides that, the show was pretty awesome. They definitely brought the energy.”

Picking a favorite live show for Ed was extremely tough. “Maybe the last Red Rocks show?? We were in the 5th row on the same level as the stage, eye level with the band.  Or maybe Austin in 2015? My wife Amanda, dog, and I took a trip to see 311 and SA got super star stuck when he met our dog, George Costanza. He even asked for a photo 😉 The cruise shows are really awesome too. There is definitely electricity in the air.  But usually the last show I’ve been to is pretty high up on the list as well.”

For songs that Ed loves, he said there are a few including “Homebrew,” “Don’t Stay Home,” and “Sweet.” As for favorite lyrics, he chose these: “If you don’t have someone to do it with it’s not worth doing.”

Ed moved from the east coast when he was just in the first grade to Wichita, Kansas. “I went to college and then got married to my intellectually and visually stimulating wife Amanda, 18 years ago, after vetting her for 5 years. We moved to the DFW area,  finished school, and have been here ever since. For my career, I am a category manager who handles supply chain from start to finish (production , buying, shipping, etc.). Basically, I make sure product is on the shelf for the largest convenience chain in North America, who coincidentally, also has Eleven in their name. ;)”

Fun fact about Ed is that he loves yard work! Something else about him is that he bartended for 12 years and was a competitive bartender. “I did competitions for speed, accuracy, and flair bartending. I excelled in this and it was my passion for quite some time and helped pay off college. I have a pretty decent collection of trophies from it too. I could juggle four bottles and do some pretty cool tricks. I still love it and still find myself doing tricks with different objects around the house.” As for guilty pleasure, Ed says he loves late night ice cream eating.

Other bands that Ed can be found listening to, well theres a lot. “Too many to list… OutKast, Khruangbin, Beastie Boys, Pink Floyd, Otis Redding, Rage Against the Machine, Pearl Jam, DMB, Pantera, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Dire Straits, The Beach Boys, Tool, Snoop, Biggie, Pac, System of a Down, Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Geto Boys, NWA, Metallica, The Clash, Post Malone, Grateful Dead, some country music, and Selena to name a few. 🤣 Some music I don’t like is the newer rap that is not good. You know the kind I’m talking about.”

To 311, Ed said he has this run-on sentence for them: “You are definitely one of the best live bands I have ever seen thanks for bringing me so many positive memories and making some of my all time favorite music.”

Now here are his words for all the other fans out there:

“If you are of the shorter stature and I am standing in front of you at a show just let me know and you can get in front of me. I let Brandon Scott do it all the time because he is very petite. ;)”

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Many thanks to Ed for being a part of the fan spotlight! Always, many many thanks to the readers each week. Now go have an amazing week. Sending you all lots of positive vibes.

Much Love – The Runt

Welcome back Excitable friends! It’s time to meet a new 311 fan spotlight. This week let’s hear the story of Brandon Scott!

This story starts with a little bit of illegal action, but the statue of limitations has passed according to Brandon, so it’s ok to tell it. When he was 16, he and his friends used to steal CD’s from the local Camelot Music store at the mall and them sell them at school for extra cash. “There was one CD that no one wanted to buy. It was 311’s self-titled album, commonly known as the “Blue Album”.  I vividly remember sitting in my white 94 Ford Probe looking down at the CD that I was unable to sell, debating on whether to throw it away, when I decided to open it up and slide the disc into my CD player. Little did I know, every day for the next 3 years, that CD would never leave my car’s CD player. That’s right… my car stereo partially broke; the eject button was fried and it would only allow CDs to play. I was annoyed by the circumstance at first, but slowly ended up embracing it. So, what drew me to 311…. fate. The rest is history.”

Exact count of live shows is unknown for Brandon. His first one was October 23, 2000, at the Bronco Bowl in Dallas, Texas. As for his favorite event or show, he said it’s hands down the first 311 cruise. “The first cruise was absolutely amazing. Everyone on the boat were cruise virgins, not knowing what kind of shitshow we were walking into. The energy throughout the boat was surreal. My favorite show on the boat was the second indoor theatre show. We were fortunate enough to watch from the mini pit. We were so close, my eyes were stinging from SA’s sweat.”

The song that holds a special place in his heart for Brandon is “Trouble.” “My interpretation could totally not be accurate, as I make up my own meanings and lyrics to most songs, but I took it as ‘hold yourself accountable for your mistakes’. I was a real bag of shit when I was younger and whenever I got in trouble, I would never take responsibility for putting myself situations and would blame my misfortune on anyone but me. I wasted a ton of time holding useless grudges and/or dwelling on it. This song changed my mind set and I can now own up to any mistake and move forward.  I’m not sure of the actual meaning of the song, but that’s what it means to me.”

As for favorite lyrics, Brandon said there are really too many to list out. Right now though, he loves this chunk from the song “Electricity:”

“I’m in disbelief at what people will believe

All along I thought we had our hearts on our shirtsleeves

If one thing I can say as a piece of advice

Don’t believe it till you see it and then see it twice.”

Plano, Texas, is where Brandon was born and raised. The infamous black heroin epidemic occurred there while he was in high school. Currently he is working as an Operations Manager for a National Mortgage Lender. He started his first job in mortgage lending back in 2000, which is where he met his beautiful wife of 14 years (they’ve been together for 22).

While Brandon is a huge champion of Marijuana, he’s always paranoid about bringing it with him into shows, thinking security might find it and if he was charged with anything he’d lose his job. For 311 Day 2012 he constructed a prototype of a product he invented that looks like a stack of credit cards and fits in your wallet. “After 311 Day that year, I decided to start a hobby business so other like-minded individuals could benefit from the product. I got a patent, had it designed, and went into production. It’s called the Wallet Caddy and available at Walletcaddy.com. If you think you could benefit from, or know someone that would, feel free to support. 20% off with promo code: PLUGS.”

Interesting fact about Brandon is that he has claustrophobia and globophobia, which is the fear of balloons. “Balloons that ignite my fear have to be latex (mylar doesn’t bother me) and must be inflated.  Also, the balloon must be compromised (in the grasp of a child or being bouncing untethered by the wind). When I see a balloon in this state, I immediately cover my ears and go into a panic state (sweating and hearing blood pulsate through my ears). These two examples are the only things that give me any sort of anxiety.”

Unique attribute for Brandon is that he is a self-proclaimed pinball wizard. “My awesome wife bought me a South Park pinball machine for my 30^th birthday and I have put more hours into it than I would like to admit. I have perfected it and the same angles translate over to other pinball machines, so I basically just figure out the gameplay aspect and can hit high scores. Playing really isn’t enjoyable anymore because I will end up playing a single ball for 45 minutes while others wait their turn. Now I just let others play.”

Guilty pleasure for Brandon? That would be the reality T.V. show Big Brother. “I have watched every season and consider myself a super fan. Along with everyone else who is a fan of the show, I believe I would absolutely kill it as a contestant; most contestants right now on BB care too much what America thinks of them, and I don’t give a shit about that. I have a strategy to win all planned out and have applied to be on the show over the past few years with no luck.  My dream is to give a shout out to 311 after a jury vote. “I want to say what’s up to Tim, Chad, Nick, P-Nut, and my man SA Martineeeezzzzz….311’s got the boom y’all!!!”  So, if anyone knows any Big Brother casting directors, holla atcha boi.”

While Brandon said he feels like he’s the only 311 fan that doesn’t really like reggae that much, he does like a few bands that he was introduced to thanks to 311 like Dirty Heads, Rebelution, and Prof. He also likes Incubus, but is mostly into rappers like Kanye, 50 Cent, Post Malone, Chainz, and Lil Wayne.

For what Brandon would say to 311, he directs his question directly to Nick: “To Nick about his changing of the R-word on the song Lucky. My question to Nick would be, “Of all the words you could choose from…why ‘rehard’?”  Now hear me out, for all I know, he is not saying ‘rehard’, as I have not seen the updated lyrics, so if he is saying something else that makes sense and not just replacing one letter of the R-word, then it’s a moot point, but let’s say it is ‘rehard’.  “Why?”  I think a better option would be to replace the word with “Jake Paul”. ‘Bernard’ and ‘hard’ have a certain drawl on the song that I think it could be pulled off… “I throw down like a crazy Jake Pauuu(l)”.  I think there would be a certain inuendo there for us old school fans.  Plus, Jake Paul might talk about it, which would open 311’s music to a younger fan base. Possibly re-record/release and “Lucky” goes tik tok viral…who knows?  All I know is, I’m not a fan of ‘rehard’ (it’s my opinion, chill) …and I want my 10%.”

Now here are his words to the other 311 fans out there:

“

Hello other fans,

If you read all the way to this point, thank you.  My personal message to you is just me wanting to spread some knowledge that I have learned from my years on this Earth.  First, buy a washlet (toilet seat bidet/$200). It will change your life forever if used properly (fill up the chamber, empty out the chamber…think: fracking). My hope is to normalize washlets in the States like they are in Japan so that I can go on vacation and there will always be one available. Second, join the revolution…of only tipping employees who make below the standard minimum wage.  As you may have seen, every place under the moon is now displaying a tipping option.  It’s ok not to tip on everything. Don’t feel pressured because you think you will be judged. Whenever you find yourself in that moment, just think back to this spotlight and know I think you’re a dope for tipping. And finally, if you ever get a tattoo with writing, always triple check it once it’s on you, but before the tattooing starts, no matter how stoned you might be… or you might find yourself with a slightly different quote than what you expected…with that said…

“Stay Positive and Live Your Life” – Brandon Scott 

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Thank you Brandon for sharing your story with everyone! Of course, many, many thanks to the readers each week. Thank you for coming back and being the amazing people you are. Have an excellent week!

Much Love – The Runt

Hello again my friends out there in 311 nation! Are we ready for the newest addition to the 311 fan spotlight? Let’s meet Brandy Sirk Rakes!

It was when the self-titled Blue album was released that Brandy became a fan. She was in the 7th grade and heard “Down” on the radio. “I was blown away. They were so different from the grunge/alternative music I was into at the time. When I finally got my hands on the CD, I knew I’d be a fan for life. The melodies, beats and harmonies – what’s not to love?”

As for live shows, Brandy thinks she’s only seen 311 live about 5-6 times, outside of seeing them on the cruise. First show for her was in Dallas, Texas, in 2001. “I went with my best friend who was also a huge fan. It was an amazing show! :)” Favorite event for her was the 2012 cruise. “I went with my husband to celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary. We had the BEST time and we met some great people. Watching 311 perform on the beach was definitely the highlight of the trip!”

While she couldn’t narrow it down to one song in particular, Brandy said the whole album “Soundsystem” is special to her. “Not only is the album badass, but the reoccurring theme of being true to who you are was what I needed at the time. I was 17 when the album was released, so not a kid and not quite an adult. I think that’s definitely the point in life where you realize that being “cool” isn’t important and it really is ok to be yourself.”

Lyrics that really connect with Brandy are from “Beyond the Gray Sky.” She said the words are just so powerful. “I think we’ve all known someone who’s wanted to, or maybe has, ended their own life. The song is a reminder that you are loved and that things can get better… one day you’ll see the clear blue.”

Brandy was born in Germany, where her father was stationed at the time. They lived there for 3 years before moving to Nebraska, not far from Omaha. When her parents divorced she and her mom moved to a tiny town in Arkansas. “I lived there until I got married and we moved to the Little Rock area. I currently work in the legal department for a public utility.”

Fun fact about Brandy is that she has a degree in Geology! She’s also a very organized person. “I have lists and spreadsheets about things I need to do and goals to reach. I even help my friends keep their lives in order. Haha.” Guilty pleasure for her is the soap opera “General Hospital.” ” I know, I know. I’ve been watching it since I was a little kid, and I can’t give it up.”

When not listening to 311, other artists jamming on Brandy’s playlist include The Toadies, Queens of the Stone Age, Primus, Nirvana, and Stone Temple Pilots, just to name a few.

To 311, Brandy would like to say these words: “Thanks for not only creating great music, but for building a community.”

Now her words to all the other fans out there:

“Enjoy the music and forget about everything else! :)”

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Thank you Brandy for sharing your story with us all! Of course, many thanks to all the readers each time. Thanks for coming back each edition. Have an amazing week friends.

Much Love – The Runt

Hey there 311 nation! Welcome to the latest edition of the fan spotlight. This week let’s meet Melody Shepard!

It was in the mid 1990’s when Melody heard 311 on the radio, plus her older sister loved them. The first show she technically saw them at was in in 90’s at The Meadows, where she was supposed to be finding and collecting her older sister. 311 was opening for Everclear. The first time that was planned for her tsee them was a meet & greet that her mom had won tickets to off of the radio. “Webster Theater in Hartford. I was a super awkward teenager, I think I was like… 14 or 15 at the time. I still have the photo.”

For show count, Melody is somewhere around 15, including 311 Day 2016 and 2018. As for favorite show, she said it was hands down 311 Day 2016. “My sister and I had discovered the Cruise. We were going to go together, but some things happened and we couldn’t go. So when I heard about the two day show in NOLA, I was like “We HAVE to go.” I was living check to check. I skimped and saved for MONTHS. Did side jobs, saved up everything I possibly could, because I knew that I would probably never be able to do something like this ever again. Being in that arena PACKED full of people with the same vibe and energy was the most insane experience of my life. I had the absolute time of my life, happy slam dancing in the aisle with an Amber ale in my hand. We had also learned of Erik’s All Star’s and we got our jersey’s the next available order session. I think it may have been one of the last batches he did. To this day, every time I hear “Island Sun” I get hurled back to that night they debuted it. And occasionally I will go on YouTube and rewatch the opening night, and get goosebumps all over again. I also got my first 311 tattoo while we were there at Electric Ladyland Tattoo. I got the 311 bars in the Mardi Gras colors.”

Picking a favorite song is obviously a difficult question for any fan, and it was the same for Melody. “There have been so many over the years and during different events in my life… If I had to pick ONE, it would be Trouble.” For a favorite line from a song, she chose this: “When it’s all laid on the line, I can’t settle for less than everything that should be mine.”

Melody grew up as the middle child of 3 girls in central Connecticut. She lived in the state her whole life but will be moving to New York state in a year or two. To fund her 311 habit, she’s always busted her butt at retail jobs or listened to the radio to win tickets. “The 311 summer tour was something I always looked forward to. Driving as far north as to experience the BallRoom at Hampton Beach in NH and driving down to Long Island to see them at a music fest when they also played with the Mighty Mighty Bosstones.”

Simple and down to Earth is how Melody would describe herself. She loves animals, being out in the woods, and peace & quiet. “Gardening is my therapy. We have two cats, a dog, an african grey, a tortoise and two frogs.” Melody has also managed to convert her boyfriend into becoming a fan. “I talked him into planning a trip out to visit his brother in NV around their show at Mandalay Bay with New Politics after we had already seen them in Hartford XD. We also went to 311 day 2018 in Vegas together, and met everyone else that had gotten stranded trying to get back to New England. I also catch him singing along in the car too.”

Want to know a fun fact about Melody? She can talk to horses! “In non-horse people talk, that just means I’ve got good horse sense.” If you can’t tell, she has a passion for animals and wildlife.  “I’ve spent the last 4 years here at my home turning our yard into a sanctuary for insects. I raise Monarch Butterflies every summer, and recently have added Black Swallowtails to that list. For monarchs the only plant their caterpillar eat is called Milkweed. I’ve spent all these years cultivating it to grow in my yard as well as finding and digging up young plants to transplant to my yard. Last summer I raised and released over 200 Monarch Butterflies. We also now have the best fireflies in the neighborhood and dragonflies the size of humming birds (That I also put out feeders for) We use no pesticides what so ever and never treat our lawn.”

Guilty pleasure for Melody she said is house plants. “I probably spend more time and money on them than I “should” but I love them and they make my office look like a jungle. I’m a sucker for a Philodendron or a Pothos lol.”

When not listening to 311, Melody can be found jamming out to bands such as Linkin’ Park, Clutch, NCS, and Jules Gaia.

To 311, Melody would like to send these words: “Thank you so much for all your years of love for your fans and giving of yourselves to your craft.”

Now here is her message to all the other fans out there:

“You guys are all amazing. Everyone I’ve ever met at any of the shows I’ve been to over the years, or even just on the Familia FB page. Keep Livin’ and a rockin’.”

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Many thanks to Melody for sharing her 311 story! Of course, a huge shout out of gratitude to all the readers of each edition. Have an amazing week, sending lots of light to all of you.

Much Love – The Runt

Hey there 311 Excitables! It’s time for the latest edition of the fan spotlight. This week we meet Colin Murray!

It was the song “Don’t Stay Home” that was the first 311 tune Colin heard and he was immediately hooked. “I remember the chorus and the last verse always being so fun to sing along to and just had my head bopping. I liked that their sound was a little different than what had been on the radio, and for the first time actually paying attention to lyrics and understanding the meaning to or behind a song.”

For show count, Colin is sitting at 61 but will add one more by the end of the year when he attends Richmond in September. “I’ve done five 311 days (’04, ’10, ’12, ’16, ’18), and two cruises (V, VI). My first show was 8/29/1997 at Nissan Pavilion (now called Jiffy Lube Live) in Virginia. I still have the ticket stub, signed by Pnut. One of these days I hope to get the whole band to sign it.”

As for favorite show, Colin said it was hard to choose since there were so many great ones. His first 311 Day in 2004 helped him understand just how magical and special the band is, for being able to have fans travel across the country for this amazing show. Then he also mentioned the cruise in 2019. “That was one of the first events I did without any friends from home and planned only with my 311 crew I had met thru different fan groups. Seeing them at Red Rocks in 2019 was also really amazing.”

The song “Use of Time” has been one of Colin’s favorite songs since it came out. “Hard to even put it into words but there’s just something about that rock ballad and Tim’s solos that make you get lost. I often close my eyes and just soak those moments in. Other favorites include Plain (just a fun jam), and Don’t Stay Home (for nostalgia).”

Answering another tough question, Colin had to choose some favorite lyrics and said there are so many it’s hard to narrow it down. He said all the typical positive ones stand out. The ones he quoted include: “Can’t fade me, still in the same ol trade of positivity,” “The jaded ones will wither while we optimistic grow,” and “We spend our lives, learning, if you like learning, life is large…it could never be only the ups, the downs will always come around.” Colin also said he loves pretty much every line of SA’s in “Offbeat Bare Ass.” “Just so funny.”

Colin grew up around Northern Virginia and is still living in that area, about 20 minutes west of where he went to high school, in Loudon County. He graduated from West Virginia University with a degree in business. He has three sisters – one blood and two step-sisters – with 2 1/2 years separating them all.

For work, Colin currently is managing the band Of Good Nature on the day-to-day operations and he tours with them as the tour manager. “When I’m not traveling with OGN I have been known to work merch for Ballyhoo! (I’m also an admin for their fan group). I also help book and coordinate shows for Hill Country Barbeque in DC, which has a 260-cap concert room on the lower level, and support a couple of other bands on an admin level with my business partner.”

Interesting fact about Colin is that for most of his life, he only went to concerts at big arena’s and pavilions. He also only went if friends were going. “In 2018 I changed that, and went by myself to see Tunnel Vision, Kash’d Out, and Seranation at Jammin Java, a small local venue, and while the crowd was quite small (barely 50 people), I reveled in the smaller nature of that scene, especially the interaction with the artists hanging out at the merch tables. I decided I was not going to miss another show like that just because friends couldn’t/didn’t want to go, plus I found something freeing about going to a show by myself. I quickly found multiple fan groups online and started seeing the same people at shows, so made a bunch of new friends; a music family across different bands and people. I went to 30 shows in 2018, and 62 in 2019!”

It was in July of 2019 that Colin first helped out Of Good Nature with merch at Jammin’ Java, He absolutely loved it and felt like that was what he needed to be doing. “I spent the next six months trying to learn more about the industry, volunteering with local bands to help with merch and other things. I reconnected with OGN in January 2020 and did my first road trip, a three-show run with Badfish and Ballyhoo!. We immediately knew we had a team and a good thing going, and was eventually offered and accepted a Tour Manager position with them for their six-week tour with The Expendables that kicked off in March 2020…well, we know what happened next. Thankfully I could stay at my regular job and just pulled double duty helping them on the few “socially distant”/”limited capacity” shows and basically interning as a manager. OGN signed on with Fatback Artist Management in spring of 2021, and I was brought on to maintain and expand my role as manager.”

Something fun people may not know about Colin is that he’s only had 3 jobs in his life. “13 years with Best Buy, 13 years in a basic corporate type job, and now with OGN for a year. Not many my age have had such few jobs!” Guilty pleasure for Colin is the show “America’s Got Talent.” “I’m a total nerd for magicians and mentalists and love seeing those types of acts. They usually have decent comedians too and I love good stand up.”

The other two bands that are long-standing favorites of Colin’s are Incubus and Chevelle. He’s also big in to Ballyhoo!, Passafire, The Movement, Joey Harkum, Bumpin’ Uglies, Little Stranger, The Elovaters, and of course, Of Good Nature.

To 311, Colin would like to send this message:

“Thank you for creating such good, positive lyrics and beautiful music, and for sticking together for so long. 30 years takes an incredible amount of dedication and selflessness, and we the fans are incredibly lucky to have this from our favorite band.”

Now here are his words to the other 311 fans out there:

“I’m humbled by all the friendships and relationships I’ve made from being a fan of the band, and you all have become some of my closest friends over the years. Thank you for bringing me into your worlds! I miss all of you and hope to see you soon, at a 311 show, or on the road!”

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Thanks Colin for being a part of the 311 Fan Spotlight! Many, many thanks to the readers and supporters also. Sending you all so much positive vibes and hope you have an amazing week.

Much Love – The Runt