Hey there 311 nation! A new week and new fan spotlight are upon us. Let’s meet the fabulous Pollie DeGrandchamp!

While Pollie has always liked 311 since the release of the blue album, it wasn’t until 2011 that she heavily got into them. “I just changed jobs and went from a fast past job in a lab to a very boring desk job in a cube farm. So, I looked up 311 and found a live recording of 311 at Red Rocks and I loved it. So, I downloaded pretty much everything else I could find from them and was blown away at how much I had never heard and how much I enjoyed them. I went through their whole discography and was hooked.”

Show count for Pollie, she isn’t really sure of the number. First show for her was in November 2011 at the Hard Rock Cafe in Orlando. “They opened with Jackpot. It was an amazing show. I didn’t know anyone but had an amazing time. Shortly after that I had heard about the pow wow and the cruise. I signed up for the pre-sale for the Jamaican cruise and me and my boyfriend have been on the last 3 cruises. Unfortunately, I couldn’t make it to the pow wow. But man, I wish I could have.”

As for favorite show, Pollie said they are all her favorite! “They are all fun and exciting in their own way. I always have the best time at 311 shows and events. I have made so many great lifelong friends through the 311 community.”

Narrowing down one song that means the most to her wasn’t possible, for Pollie they all mean something. “There are so many different songs that resonate in different ways for different reasons.” As for lyrics that resonate with her, she of course loves the mantra “Stay positive and love your life.” “It’s a really good way to look at things. I always try to find the positive in any situation. If you look it is there. My favorite lyric is “Nothing in life is above being honest.”

Michigan is where Pollie was raised but she lives in Florida now. She was raised by an incredible single mom and has a brother & sister. “I am the middle child. We didn’t have much money, we were pretty poor but it didn’t matter. My mom was awesome and strong and taught me so much about life. How to treat people how I want to be treated and to not be judgmental. That everyone is different and that is ok.“

Pollie went to Florida on a 2 week vacation to visit her dad and ended up staying there. She’s now been there for almost 30 years! Pollie was a single mom to her 2 kids until she met an amazing man Joshua when her kids were in their late teens. “We’ve been together for 9 almost 10 years. And now we are grandparents to 2 beautiful little granddaughters and they call us memaw and J-pa.”

Pollie loves live music of any kind, camping, traveling, crafting and spending time with friends & family. She is also a huge fan of Jim Henson, Dr. Seuss, and Tim Burton. “I actually have a whole sleeve tattoo that incorporates my love of music, Jim Henson and camping. My tattoo is Kermit and The Electric Mayhem sitting on mushrooms in the forest. It’s my festival sleeve. 😊”

Talent for Pollie is that she is very crafty and loves making things. “I am willing to learn any type of craft and I love having craft days with friends and family. Things like tie dye, ceramics, jewelry making, sewing or crocheting. Recently I have gotten into glass fusing. It’s an expensive hobby but I have really enjoyed it and have been pretty proud of the pieces I have made. I’m always crafting something and have a huge room of crafts supplies lol.”

Guilty pleasure for Pollie would be trash T.V. “Things like Jersey Shore and Temptation Island. I can’t believe how these people act. Even if it is not real, I don’t get how someone would agree to be portrayed that way on TV in front of millions of people. It’s like a train wreck and I can’t stop watching lol.”

Pollie loves many different types of music and a hodge podge of artists from the 50’s to the present. Some of them are Violent Femmes, Dirty Heads, Prince, Panic at the Disco, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Oliver Tree, Zac Deputy, and Sinead O’Connor. She also loves electronic music. “I pretty much listen to anything, country and all. I used to sit in my room as teen and listen to my moms old 45’s from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. I was a teen in the 80’s, early 90’s and then my kids were teenagers in the 2000’s so I’ve listened and liked stuff from all of those years. I go to a lot of shows and have gone to few festivals and just enjoy music all around. I have gone to many shows not knowing the bands and ended up having a great time and becoming a fan and adding new music to my ever growing list of favorites.”

To 311, Pollie has these words: “Thank you so much for all of the great music, events and connections that you’ve helped me make.”

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

“Stay Positive, Love your life, Be safe, Have fun and Be kind to one another. 😊”

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Thanks Pollie for sharing your story! Many, many thanks as always to the supporters out there. Thank you so much for being awesome people. Hope you all have an amazing week!

Much Love – The Runt

Well hello there Excitable nation! Happy 2022! Wishing nothing but peace, love & tranquility to all. Let’s kick this year off and meet our latest fan spotlight – StatusBoost Breigh!

Breigh was in middle school in Texas, and as a kid her family moved around a lot, so music is what she gravitated towards and bonded with. “It was always with me everywhere I traveled to. I’ll never forget walking into Hot Topic. I saw this blue alien head on a tee and knew I needed it. It ended up being the Blue Album tee! Loved watching Down and All Mixed Up on MTV! Been a fan ever since!”

First show for Breigh was July 20, 2013, at Aaron’s Amphitheater in Atlanta with her bestie Anne Ekin. “Had she not invited me to the concert I would not be the excitable I am today! 311 Day 2022 will be my TWENTIETH show!!”

As for most memorable show, Breigh picked 311 Day 2020. “Between scooping up excitables from the airport to meeting some of the most amazing humans ever to THREE FRICKEN AMAZING NIGHTS IN THE PIT ROCKING OUT!! I was on cloud 311!” For most unique show, she chose Halloween 2021 at the Stanley Hotel. “First Halloween show and because STANLEY HALL! Amazing set, incredible Excitables, and all the feels!” Best venue, she has been to Breigh said it’s definitely Red Rocks. “This was my first Red Rocks concert and that venue and atmosphere shook my soul! I cannot wait to get back.”

For favorite songs, Breigh chose “Freeze Time” and “Face in the Wind.” As for lyrics that she loves, she chose these: “Sometimes I gotta center find out who I am, I chill out I let in the wind, I gotta feel the pulse of the planet on my skin, I got news for ya it ain’t nothin nice, We all got demons we all gotta vice, The struggle never ends, To keep it in check, But I never stop trying, To make the trek what up,” “I always say what I feel and that is a promise, nothing in life is above being honest,” and “We’re just a speck of dirt on this golf ball called Earth, so get stupid and sing.”

Breigh was born in Albany, New York. She’s lived in Texas, Alabama, and Georgia, before making the move to Las Vegas, Nevada. “I work as a director of sales and marketing for an assisted living community. I love working with seniors!! I love 311 merch so I enjoy trading and selling posters/pins/tees and more!”

Interesting fact about Breigh is that she went to school for saxophone performance and music education. She attended Auburn University. “WAR DAMN EAGLE!”

Breigh loves collecting 311 merch. She said she is very proud of her selection that has grown over the years. “My favorite piece in the collection is my 311 Steinman set!”

Other artists that Breigh adores include Dave Matthews Band, My Morning Jacket, Stick Figure, and The Beatles. Guilty pleasure for her are the Las Vegas Golden Knights!

Breigh has this message for the guys of 311: “Thank you for opening my heart to the 311 universe which has gifted me with the greatest friendships ever known!”

Now here is her message to all the other awesome fans:

“This moment is a gift, that’s why it’s called the present!’ Cannot wait to rock out with you all for 311 Day 2022!! #StatusBoost”

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Thank you to the lovely StatusBoost Breigh for sharing her story! A great story to write and as always, thanks to everyone that reads each week. Happy 2022 friends. Have an amazing week!

Much Love – The Runt

Hey there my friends in 311 nation! A new fan spotlight has arrived…the last one of 2021! Cheers to another year friends and let’s meet Ashley Remington!

First introduction to 311 came from Ashley’s cousins in California. She said they were the cool, older crowd and she was always absorbing whatever they were into growing up. “The first song they ever showed me was “Do You Right” and I remember instantly wanting to dance around. The happy slam dance does that kind of thing to you, still to this day. It’s still my go to song that I show people who don’t know 311, I feel like it captures a little bit of everything 311 is in a four minute summary.”

Exact number of shows Ashley has seen is unknown, but she believes it’s somewhere in the 50’s. First show was in January 2000 at the old House of Blues in Los Angeles with her cousin Kris. “He didn’t want to take me, but did anyway with some persistent nagging from my aunt. I had no idea what I was in store for, and definitely don’t feel like I appreciated that moment like I should have at the time. I didn’t see 311 live again until August 2005 in Salt Lake City.”

As for favorite show or event, Ashley said it’s a toss up between her first cruise in 2019 and the Stanley Hotel Halloween show this year. “The cruise is an unforgettable experience, if you know you know, there just isn’t anything else out there like it. In the year leading up to my first cruise I made some amazing friendships that still carry me through today. It’s amazing how two perfect strangers sharing a groove transforms into bonds with people I now consider family, all over the world, it really is special. The Stanley Hotel show was off the charts between the set list and the whole vibe. I was honored I got to experience it with some of my favorite people by my side. Plus we got to dress up, and I am here for all the costume parties!”

The song “Do You Right” is always Ashley’s #1 jam, but there are many others that hold a special place in her heart. “I find that as I go through life, depending on my current head space different songs speak to me in different ways. Existential Hero, Made in the Shade, Flowing, Unity, and No Control have been in heavy rotation lately. I think that is what has always been special about 311s music for me, its ability to reach me in different stages, almost like a message from the universe when I need it the most.”

As for lyrics, there are a couple that mean a lot to Ashley. She said that depending on where you are in life, the lyrics will speak to you in different frequencies. “That is something that has always drawn me into 311 was the hidden messages. Some of them I didn’t catch until much later, and others have changed over time.” One of her faves is from “Made in the Shade:” “You gotta keep on climbing the hill, ’cause if you think you’ll make it you will.” “This is a constant reminder to myself that mindset is everything. You are what you consume, and your mind is a powerful thing. Whatever ideas you feed it with it will become. It’s okay to not be okay, feel what you need to feel, but you can’t unpack and live there.”

Another favorite lyric for Ashley is “It’s alright, wherever you are right now. Tell you it’s alright, that’s who you’re supposed to be now.” She uses this as a reminder to reside in the moment. “There are no timelines, there are no cards that have to be punched by a certain date, there are no rules to how you live your life. We all have been guilty of falling into the trap of thinking we need to be at a certain destination in life at a particular time, and I am here to remind you all that shit is made up. Life is short, and you aren’t guaranteed a moment more than the one you are currently in, so don’t waste it stressing about these imaginary timelines.”

Ashley has spent most of her life in Utah, dipping her toes in different places throughout her life including Idaho, California, and Arizona. “Growing up in Utah was an experience in itself, especially when you don’t fit into the standard mold of a culture that dominates the state. It made it hard to not only find who you are, but be comfortable with who you are when you feel a constant pressure to fit in. I feel like in some ways I was forced to grow up very quickly so I could feel like I had the freedom to be me. When I realized that there was more to the world than just what was at eye level, and knew I had the choice to follow whatever path I wanted, without needing the approval of anyone else and make it my own a lot of doors into growth and discovery opened for me.”

Ashley is currently raising two beautiful humans, whom she said she is raising them to be and embrace everything that makes them, them. “I help fund my passion for music and following five guys in a band with my friends around the world by helping companies spend and budget their money. I found myself in the world of finance when I was 19. I slowly fought and climbed up the ladder in a male dominated corporate world to land where I am today in an accounting analyst position. I found my soulmate through my adventures in 311ing. Eddie Bratke and I met at a Los Stellarians show in Salt Lake City in January 2019. His brother, Preston, introduced us formally that night and that started the formation of a friendship that grew into something so much more over the following months. We are now engaged and navigating this crazy life together. Falling in love with your best friend is pretty special, and I am thankful that our shared love for music helped us cross paths when it did.”

Interesting fact about Ashley is that she grew up in a family of all boys. “I was the only girl in the family between siblings, and cousins. This definitely helped mold the “tom boy” in me. I am thankful I am able to switch it up between looking like a smoke show, and rocking the baseball cap and t-shirt flawlessly. Life is all about balance. Growing up in a family full of boys you were submerged into sports. I fell in love with the game of baseball, and have been letting it break my heart year after year since I was a little girl. Go Dodgers!”

Something Ashley loves is writing. “Stories, poems, essays, letters, anything and everything! It’s something I have enjoyed from the time I could put sentences together on paper. I have won several awards and been recognized throughout my life for different things I have written. I am constantly jotting down lines here and there as I think of them. I feel like I can express myself best with a good pen and a sheet of paper.”

Guilty pleasure for Ashley is bubble baths! She says they are her ultimate self-care and escape from reality. ” Give me the mountains of bubbles, I don’t care if you are 4 or 34, nothing sucks while you are in the bathtub.”

As for other musicians that she loves, Ashley said that she LOVES music and it has always been a big part of her life. “I have a jukebox tattooed on me to represent that part of me. Some of my favorite bands/artist off the top of my head are, RDGLDGRN, Tropidelic, Katastro, Chuck Ragan, Lucero, Rancid, Mos Def, Red City Radio, Rebelution, Dirty Heads, Kid Cudi, J. Cole, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Against Me!, The Menzingers, Johnny Cash, Atmosphere, Alkaline Trio, Incubus… I could go on forever, but you get the idea. I love hearing new music, so if you got something you think I should check out, please share!”

To 311, Ashley would like to send this message: “Thank you for creating a space for some beautiful friendships to flourish through a shared love of music and unity.”

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

“Life is hard all on its own… don’t actively participate in being an obstacle by creating difficulty in others’ lives. You can demonstrate compassion and kindness to everyone without the requirement to form a friendship. Do good things with kind hearts, and the universe will share that same energy back with you. Much love.”

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Thank you so much to Ashley for sharing her 311 story! I hope everyone enjoyed it and as always, thanks to all who read every week. I wish you all a very happy New Year and can’t wait to see everyone in 2022!

Much Love – The Runt

Hello again my friends in 311 nation! A new fan spotlight has arrived, hooray! Let’s learn all about Matt Quast.

It was while Matt was in high school that he remembers hearing some songs from the Grassroots album on the Vanderbilt University radio station and he said it just clicked. “Then, when “Down” was released and I realized it was the same band, I was all in at that point.”

For show count, Matt’s number is sitting at 54. His first show was at the McNichols Arena in Denver back in 1997. “After having to sell the tickets to the two prior shows at Red Rocks (ETSD show) due to family events I could not get out of.”

For favorite show, he said that even though the Stanley Hotel show was AMAZING, that his first cruise back in 2019 was really pretty awesome. “The fan experience was just on a totally different level.”

There isn’t one song that takes top prize for Matt. He said that each song/album fit depending on his mood. Favorite lyrics of his come from the song “Space & Time:”

“Wrapped my head around somethin’ you said I didn’t know
Making my mind, overflow
Somethin’ I just can’t let go of
Keep thinkin’ about to break through
Got in too deep, fightin’ about what to do
Needed a good talking to
Somethin’ I just can’t let go of
I think it’s about to break through
Do-do-do-do-do you still remember
What you tryin’ to dismember?
A construct to destruct.”

Matt is originally from Burlington, Wisconsin, and all of his family is either in Wisconsin or Illinois. He mostly grew up in Nashville, Tennessee, before moving to the Denver, Colorado, area in 1995. “I was a junior in high school when we moved, so I left behind a ton of people I had grown up with. I was excited to move to Colorado since there was every major sports team here. I’m glad I never moved away. It’s too nice of a state and I have some very solid friends here that I wouldn’t want to leave behind and I would have never met my wife.”

When Matt was in college, he said his goal was to land a public relations job with either a record label or sports team. “I learned that it is very difficult to get hired. I am now 16 years into the criminal justice field. I really like my job because I’ve met plenty of people who come from different backgrounds and have it much harder than I do and I try to use that to be more understanding. Sometimes I’m good at it and sometimes I fail at it.”

Fun fact about Matt, he had to be a security escort for Kelly Osbourne during a The Used concert! Something that makes him unique is he said he absolutely can’t speak other languages. Guilty pleasure? He said he follows and has a fandom of standup comedy just as much as bands or sports teams. “I really wish I could afford to go to a stand up show every single weekend.”

Musicians that Matt loves, aside from 311 obviously, include Deftones, Pennywise, Bad Religion, Passafire, and Ballyhoo! just to name a few. “I could fill a whole page with multiple bands and genres.”

Matt has these words to send out to the members of 311: “Thank you for creating experiences that have led me to new friendships.”

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

“We all got here from our own unique path to meet with this great common bond. Let it develop and enjoy it during that time. But when it ends, respect it, learn from it and walk away respectfully.”

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Thank you Matt for sharing your story! As always, thanks to my readers each week, you are all amazing. Christmas week is upon us. Do good deeds. Send out positivity. If you celebrate it, I hope you have an amazing Christmas! Until next time.

Much Love – The Runt

Hello again my friends in 311 nation! New week means it’s time for the latest edition of the fan spotlight. This week, let’s meet Sonnie Burmaster!

When Sonnie was young, her father didn’t like her and her brother to watch MTV. So instead she would binge it over at her friend Dana’s house while she was living in New Orleans. “I remember seeing them debut on MTV, when it was actual Music Television. “Down” came on and I remember how cute they all looked but mostly how different they sounded from everyone else. My love continued to grow as time went on, they were fun to mix in with beach jams,/ funk, reggae or hip hop. I have always loved the versatility of their style.”

Show count for Sonnie is around 42, which includes festivals, cruises, and 311 Day events. “People are always so shocked when they hear when I went to my first 311 show. I spent a lot of time in my young adult years going to see bands that I knew I would no longer see again as I got older. I went to see Prince, Tom Petty, Motorhead, etc and was lucky to have gone when I could because several bands I have seen no longer tour or have passed on. My very first show was on the 2015 Jamaican cruise. It was the best first show ever and I am so glad my neighbors had their cabinmates back out!!”

Favorite show for Sonnie was the Wendover, Nevada show on October 21, 2018. “I could not make it to Colorado and lived in Utah!! I had to make it happen because I have heard how intimate and small the venue is. We had bought tickets and were supposed to be along the back wall, we didn’t care. However, right before the show we found out there was something that happened with the sale of tickets and seats may change. When we got in and went to the usher, they kept walking us further and further up! We ended up on row 3 and I was seat 10 (seat 11 didn’t show) and I felt like I was in the band!!”

One song that really strikes a chord with Sonnie is “Made in the Shade.” “The lyrics really resonate with me because of how much trauma I have endured as well as hard times, as everyone goes through. “You gotta keep on climbing the hill, ’cause if you think you’ll make it you will” was something that I have to use as a mantra to remind myself of how strong I am and how capable I can be in life’s turmoil. I cannot believe I actually saw the guys perform it on the 2019 cruise! Water works for sure!”

Some lyrics that stand out to Sonnie include, “You can’t be let down if you don’t expect the world,” and “You’ve got to trust your instinct and let go of regret.” She also enjoys being silly and singing along to the lyrics from “Gap” that say “Eat smoked fish, that is my favorite dish.” She also loves “You can’t make me hate you no matter how punk you act no matter what you do I don’t react, I’m a perfect example of not giving a f*ck about the catty rude people that just suck.”

Sonnie was born in New Orleans and moved around a lot. Her father was an independent crane operator so they would move around for his jobs, then in between they would go back home and he’d work at Shell. “I have lived in NOLA, FL, TX, GA, CA, UT and now currently in SC but planning on moving to the gulf coast of Mississippi. I am what you call a wandering soul and always looking for a new adventure.” Moving around a ton when she was a kid has made its way into Sonnie’s adult life.

Sonnie has experienced a lot of trauma and hard times but managed to remain positive in spite of it all. “My parents got divorced when I was 9, my grandparents died before I was 12 and I dealt with a lot of trauma from family. Times were never really easy but I would not have it any other way. I do not like to struggle, but it is the struggle that keeps you humble and loving of those around you. I am a total empath and take a lot of emotion on, but even while dealing with my own struggles, I have managed to keep the love alive for my friends who are more like family because of the love they have shown me. I am a positive vibe merchant and spread as much love as I can because we do not have enough of it in this world!”

Fun fact about Sonnie, she has been able to roller skate since she was pretty much able to walk! “I have raced, danced, jam skate and played roller derby throughout my life.” Aside from roller skating, Sonnie is also really great at softball and gift wrapping. Guilty pleasure? That would be romantic comedies! “I do not watch them often, but every now and then I gush over rom-coms.”

When not jamming tunes from 311, other artists that are found in Sonnie’s playlist include Prince, David Bowie, Faith No More, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pantera, Scratch Lee Perry, Steel Pulse, Fishbone, Massive Attack, Dr John, BB King, Neville Brothers, Tool, Slightly Stoopid, Fortunate Youth, Black Sabbath, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Steve Miller Band, Kenny Loggins, and Steve Winwood. Her absolute all-time favorite band though is Pink Floyd. “I mean I am a super open book when it comes to music. I love anything from classical to jazz to reggae to metal.”

Words she would like to say to 311 are directed at the one and only Tim Mahoney: “miT, you give off the vibe man! I have greeted you with many high fives and far away waves, but I need a minute long hug from you!”

Now here are Sonnie’s words to the other 311 fans out there:

“I know life has been hard the past couple of years and a lot of us have not seen each other since 311 Day 2020 but please keep the love alive. It does not mean you have to like each other and pretend to be friends, but it is so easy to be kind to one another and spread love. I cannot wait to see many of you at 311 Day!!! SPALYL <3”

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Thank you Sonnie for sharing your 311 story! Much love as always to the readers each spotlight as well. Hope you all have an amazing week!

Much Love – The Runt

Welcome again my friends in 311 nation! It’s that time – let’s meet a new fan. Here is the story of Brook Savoy!

It was with a group of friends that Brook started listening to 311, she had met them through an ex-boyfriend. “They were all obsessed (I get it now) with their shows and different events and of course their music. A lot of them had 311 of some sort tattooed on them which I thought was ridiculous to get a band logo tattooed on your body and here I am now, three 311 tattoos later. ha.”

Show count for Brook is at 36. Her first show was in Salt Lake City, Utah, back in 2009. As for favorite show/event, it’s hard to pick just one. However she did say that the 2017 cruise was definitely one of the top three favorite experiences of her life.

The song “Dodging Raindrops” is one that really connects with Brook. “I can relate a lot to that song specially because it came out shortly after I was diagnosed with bipolar.”

The lyric “From chaos comes clarity” is one that Brook really loves. “It’s just so true. From everything under the sun with life and relationships to work and school and money. Whatever hard things you are going through. . . you’re going to gain a lesson from that and everything will make sense. Everything happens for a reason.”

Brook was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, and was raised by her grandma and grandpa. “Not being religious separated me a lot from the kids I was growing up around. Couldn’t play with some. Wasn’t welcomed into others homes. Some kids wouldn’t even talk to me. Didn’t bother me much. Just figured “their loss. I’m cool as shit!”

Brook graduated from high school and gave college a shot, but she wasn’t really a fan so she ended up with a serving job at the age of 21 and has been in the service industry ever since. “I’m a full time bartender/server at a local wing and beer spot here in Salt Lake but won’t be here much longer as I’m moving to Austin early next year. . . surprise for those who didn’t know! It will be my first time leaving home so wish me luck! For now, I’m only at one bar but during the summer and busy time for the service industry I usually work 2 bar jobs. One to pay the bills, the other to support my 311 habit.”

Interesting tidbit of info about Brook, she doesn’t like bacon or peanut butter. “I know.. I know. Just means more for those who do like it.” Something that makes her unique is that she LOVES to write. “Write in a journal. Write a review. Write a letter, a story or even just a Facebook post about someone I love on their special day or something. Love it.
And event planning and interior decorating. So much fun!”

Other artists that Brook loves include Dirty heads, Rebelution, The Menzingers, The Interrupters, No Doubt, Atmosphere, Pepper, Royal Bliss, Hanson (yes mmbop Hanson), Katastro, The Front Bottoms, Weezer, Alanis Morissette, Dreamers, Rdgldgrn, and Odesza. “I’m all over the place, EXCEPT country. Hard pass.”

As for guilty pleasure? Brook loves The Bachelor and The Bachelorette. “Can’t. Get. Enough.”

As for what she would say to the band if she met them, Brook said she has practiced daily in the mirror what she will say when she FINALLY runs into Nick. “I still haven’t figured it out. Something along the lines of “Thank you” tho.”

Here are her words to all her fellow 311 fans:

“Lions don’t lose sleep over the opinion of sheep.” “Don’t care what others think of you and live your life to the fullest. You do you and do what makes you happy. Don’t be afraid of being judged. Because people that judge you aren’t your friends and they don’t matter so why would you let someone that doesn’t matter stop you from being happy and successful.”

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Thank you Brook for sharing your story with everyone! Much gratitude per the usual to all the supporters of this little blog. Have an amazing week friends, keep being awesome.

Much Love – The Runt

Hello again my friends out there in 311 nation! It’s been a few minutes, but have no fear, a new fan spotlight is here. It’s time we read the story of Tim Northup!

Tim admits that he was not initially drawn to 311 when he heard the song “Down.” “I was more into metal at that time in my life when I hated high school and struggled to fit in. That summer after graduation I heard Beautiful Disaster on the radio and I was hooked. I listened to nothing but the Transistor album and the Blue album that summer. The big big turning point was when my older brother gave me Grassroots before he left for his final year in college. I was drawn into their lyrics of positivity, acceptance, and unity. The music was like nothing I’d ever heard. It was different as I felt I was. I was in full steam after that.”

On October 5, 2021, Tim hit show number 75 in his new hometown of Salt Lake City, Utah. First show ever for him was December 1997 in Los Angeles. “I’ve seen three 311 Day shows, and have seen shows in six states. Next on the bucket list is the 311 cruise.”

Favorite event was 311 Day 2010 in Las Vegas. “First 311 Day for me. 5 hours of amazing music. Met some great people. Very memorable. There were two guys sitting in front of us who had partied way too hard and passed out about an hour in. We playfully toyed with them with the people sitting next to us. Turns out, one of the fans we met sitting next to us was Venus Williams who is a huge 311 fan. Had no idea who she was at the time. Also met Tim Mahoney the next day at a bar in the casino.”

The song “Beautiful Disaster” means a lot to Tim, even though it’s not his favorite song. “It’s the song that set me on the course of becoming an Excitable. That song turned me on to 311 and helped turn my life around.”

As for lyrics that Tim loves, they are as follows:

“The soul you have is electricity,” “I always say what I feel and that is a promise, nuthin in life is above being honest,” “I got a good feeling, about you,” “My bros are down for the Unity!” “I cannot handle all these negative vibe merchants,” “Missin’ the point musics about love, not pessimism,” and “Stay positive and love your life.”

Tim was born in Iowa (about an hour from Omaha) and then lived in Missouri until 12 years old. Then he spent almost 30 years in a city about 20 miles south of Downtown Los Angeles called Torrance. “I hated LA throughout middle school and high school.  Always an outcast, I never fit in.  I got really into the metal scene cause I related to a lot of the anger, aggression, and negative lyrics.  I had no idea where my life was going to go.  The summer after graduation I found 311 and things took a 180.  So thankful for that!”

Tim spent a year going to school at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, just outside of Waikiki. “I mostly lived in Torrance and the surrounding beach cities and lived in Orange County for 8 years also (Newport Beach and Costa Mesa).  In November of 2019, my wife and I bought a house in Murray, Utah, a city in Salt Lake County.” Funding his 311 habit comes from the Human Resources field and he really enjoys it. “Currently employed with an online university but looking for a job if anyone out there has any leads, hit me up! Other than listening to and jamming along with 311 (I’ve been playing guitar (poorly) for 25 years, I even bought a PRS guitar to get closer to that 311 sound) I love hockey, golf, reading, and craft beer.  My son just turned 1 and fatherhood has completely blown my mind.  It’s the most rewarding and joyful experience of my life but has also induced so much anxiety!”

Fun fact about Tim is that back in 2000 he auditioned for VH1’s Rock ‘n Roll Jeopardy. “Of 70, they selected 12 people to record 4 shows.  I was contestant 14.  Missed it by two spots!” Some things that make him unique are that he is a good listener. Plus his wife tells him he has an uncanny ability to quote movies and can hold conversations in nothing but movie quotes!

Some other musicians that Tim can be found jamming to include Bad Religion, Pennywise, Pearl Jam, Van Halen, Beastie Boys, Pepper, Lagwagon, The Vandals, Vampire Weekend, Rage against the Machine, System of a Down, Thrice, Guns N Roses, John Coltrane, John Lee Hooker, and Stevie Ray Vaughn.

Guilty pleasure also comes in the form of music…Tim loves 80’s butt rock a.k.a. Hair Metal. ” In some ways it’s really good, but in so many ways it’s really bad.  With older siblings, I grew up listening to it and just never let it go.  My first concert was almost Poison (we moved before I could go)!”

Tim was fortunate enough to meet Tim at 311 Day in 2010, and he also ran into him at a free Van Halen concert on Hollywood Boulevard several years later. His words to him were this: “That guy on stage (Eddie Van Halen) is why I picked up a guitar, but your music is why I’m still alive. It changed my life. Thank you!”

Now here is Tim’s message to all the other 311 fans out there:

“311 fans are hands down the best fans.  I love going to shows and meeting new people, singing along with complete strangers, picking up each other in the pit, and staying positive with you.  Keep being kind to others and seeing the positive in such a negative world. Can’t wait to see you at 311 day 2020 in Vegas!”

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Thank you Tim for sharing your story! As always, much gratitude to all the people who read each spotlight. Until next time, keep being awesome!

Much Love – The Runt

Welcome friends out there in 311 nation! The new edition of the fan spotlight has arrived. Let’s meet Ryan McKinnon!

The year was 1995, in the spring season to be exact, when Ryan first found 311. His friend’s brother was driving them to baseball practice and he was playing the “Grassroots” album as they went. “I had to ask, “What is this!?” I was instantly intrigued by the raw sound and energy emitting from radio. The Down single dropped shortly after and the rest is
history. The mix match of styles, songs for any mood and the positive message being displayed got me hooked. The fact that they were stoners with an affinity for aliens was an added bonus. Lots of smoke rides in the boonies with 311 blaring through the car speakers during high school.”

For big events, Ryan has attended 311 Day in New Orleans in 2002, then Memphis in 2006, and Vegas in 2020. “Those were all special with Nola probably taking the cake.” Ryan says he also misses them playing the smaller venues, like when he saw them in Boston in 2001. “Needed a breather from the pit and went to get a soda. Then I was like damn how the heck am I supposed to go join my friends as the place was packed. So I asked a couple people to lift me up to crown surf my way back up front and ended up kicking my buddy Gabe in the head before crowd surfing all the way over the rail and into the pit up front. My friend was like “yo, was that you who just kicked me in the head?” hahaha. I will always remember that.” He also said that seeing 311 in Mansfield, Massachusetts, back in 2000 with Incubus opening was amazing. “311 played the Blue album in its entirety, playing 28 songs total that night.”

Picking a favorite song is a tricky question for Ryan, like many others. “There are so many with inspiring lyrics and others that you can just let loose to. Depends on the mood, time of year. Paradise, It’s Alright, Sever, Don’t Dwell, Simple True, Do You Right, The Great Divide, Hydroponic, 1,2,3 , Stealing Happy Hours, T&P Combo, to name a few.”

As for some favorite lyrics, Ryan has quite a few that stand out to him, including: “The jaded ones will wither while the optimistic grow,” “This is life man, all we do is jam.  Make you feel like a child, again and again,” “Park the car and walk under the stars, so god damn afraid to let down your guard,” “Funk slap bass mixed with the dancehall and hip hop beats and punk guitar and deadly on the mic is the one SA. The name is 311 and you know it ain’t easy,” “Be positive with love, just see the good in everybody,” “More than 2000 years of fuckin with our fears, the only thing true, we gotta love each other,” “They try to play my emotions but I’m like the ocean, to calm to get upset by somebody’s notion,” “You’ve got to trust your instinct and let go of regret,” and “Give thanks and praise for good things you found, humble people not ashamed nor proud.”

Providence, Rhode Island, is where Ryan was raised and he now lives about 10 minutes away from where he grew up. His parents split when he was less than 2 years old and then his father passed away when he was 22. “My mom is remarried and I have two amazing younger sisters.” Ryan said the music scene in Providence was amazing during the mid 90’s but it unfortunately isn’t what it used to be. “I was probably at 2-3 shows a week at one point.”

Ryan worked in the restaurant industry for close to 15 years until switching to insurance adjusting in 2010. “My stepfather started his own business and I was lucky to get an opportunity to learn the trade from one of the best. I loved the restaurant but the hours were brutal.  It’s nice to have weekends and holidays off and am fortunate to now have steady pay to support my concert needs.” Ryan has a beautiful wife Becca, who he said he just has to give a shout out to. “She’s the rock that keeps our family in sync and also puts up with me and my 311 habits. We have two daughters and a dog named Mary Jane. It’s amazing watching our kids grow up and developing their own styles.”

Fun fact about Ryan, he was in a band called Acclivity, which had influences of bands like 311, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Pearl Jam. “Won a battle of the bands, recorded an album called Vision, once played live in a local radio station studio with full band set up during their local program and even got the chance to open for Ill Nino at The Strand in Providence which was awesome knowing some of the all-time greats that have stepped foot on that stage even though we certainly did not fit that bill.  Also, the home of my first 311 show.”

Interesting tidbit of info about Ryan is that he’s a lefty but plays guitar, shoots a basketball, and throws a frisbee with his right. He’s also a pretty good whistler! Guilty pleasure for him is craft beer and home brewing. He also threw in expanding his record collection.

Other artists that Ryan can be found listening to range a lot because he isn’t committed to just one genre. The list includes: “G-Love, Bad Religion, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, RHCP, Grateful Dead, Ween, Deer Tick, Cake, David Bowie, Rolling Stones, A Tribe Called Quest, Deftones, Dinosaur Jr, Ellis Ashbrook, Helmet, Wu-Tang, Jack White, Jimi Hendrix, Outkast, Bob Marley, Long Beach Dub, Primus, Neil Young, Pink Floyd, Pavement, QOTSA, The Roots, Pharcyde, Soul Coughing, STP, Talking Heads, Yellowman, Faith No More, Pixies, Frank Zappa, The Interrupters, Tool, NIN, De La Soul and many other classic rock and hip hop greats.”

Ryan would like to send these words over to 311: “It’s been a great experience watching the band evolve over the past two decades, you all have seriously perfected your craft and kept true to your fan base. Also, Pnut let’s grab a beer.”

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

“The future holds endless potential.  See you in Vegas!”

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Many thanks Ryan for sharing your story with the world! Gratitude also per the usual, to all the amazing supporters of this little blog. Have an amazing week, and as Ryan said, hope to see you all in Vegas!

Much Love – The Runt

Hello again my Excitable friends! The next installment of the 311 fan spotlight has arrived. It’s time for the story of Angela Delauri Crosby!

Flash back to the 4th grade for Angela, when she was at her friends house and her brother had just purchased the blue album. “We borrowed it to listen in her bedroom while we played with Pogs. I liked the music instantly because it was different than what I was used to hearing on the radio (southern Vermont doesn’t have many stations!).”

As for show count, Angela doesn’t know the exact number, but believes it to be somewhere above 50 at this point. “I’ve never really counted them or kept track. My first show was in 2009 at the Miami Waterfront – I was in the second row and Tim gave me his guitar pick after the show!”

Favorite show/event for Angela, she chose the second cruise. “The beach show was something else… Being in the crystal clear water with so many like minded people, making friends, having drinks delivered to us while floating on a floaty, and then the splash pit – I’m not sure if that could be created again. (even though I hope for it every cruise year!) That cruise was life changing for me. Noelle Dion and I went on that cruise together not knowing ANYONE and we have both made SO MANY friends since then. I was also soooo shocked when I was walking across the pool deck and saw someone from my hometown who has known me since I was born, that I never expected to see on that boat… Lisa Parker Swane!  That entire cruise experience is by far my favorite 311 memory.”

The song Angela says is her all time favorite is “Speak Easy.” “The lyrics are so powerful and meaningful.” As for favorite quote, one of her faves is, “You’ve got to bet on yourself now star, cause that’s your best bet.” “It reminds me that you have to have faith in yourself and be your own best friend. You have to love yourself and remind yourself that you’re worthy of everything and anything.”

Rutland, Vermont, is where Angela grew up. Her family still owns the house that she was born in. In 2005 she moved away from the state for the first time, traveling south to Florida. “Since then I’ve moved back to Vermont twice, once for 9 months, then returned to Florida and lived with my BFF Noelle Dion for a couple years and then again to Vermont for 4 years which is when I met my now husband, Toban who also grew up there. He is also a huge 311 fan! I couldn’t believe I met a real life 311 fan in Rutland, VT. I brought him into the Familia and his big heart and fun loving spirit truly fits in with everyone.”

For 9 months Angela’s job took her and Toban to Seattle, where they had the chance to become good friends with Christa Dohy and Aaron Kaloustian. Then it was back to Florida, Palm Beach Gardens to be precise. “We love living here! There’s so much to do, so many different cultures represented. We love that we can find a new restaurant to eat at every week if we want to! And we are really close to a few great venues like Terra Fermata and the Abacoa Amphitheater as well as West Palm Beach’s Sunfest which 311 frequents. I work in the insurance industry with workers’ compensation and auto liability claims and Toban is in food service. We love the flexibility of our jobs and that it allows us to do what we like!”

Fun fact about Angela is that back in 2005, she turned in two escaped convicts to the FBI and received a reward for doing so! “They really do give you a reward when the FBI says there is one offered!”

Guilty pleasure for Angela is that at one point she knew every single word to all the music from The Backstreet Boys. “Still do for a lot of their older music. I would still go see them perform any time!” She also loves to watch “trash” T.V. when Toban isn’t home. “The Bachelor/Bachelorette, Real Housewives, the Circle… any of those ridiculous reality TV shows LOL mindless television for the win! I’m also not very good at knitting (squares and rectangles and knit and pearl only LOL) but I love to do it every now and then, it’s very calming.”

When not listening to 311, Angela loves the sounds from other musicians like Passafire, The Movement, Ballyhoo!, Rebelution, The Skints, Dirty Heads, Dropkick Murphy’s, RDGLDGRN, Bumpin’ Uglies, Tropidelic, Pepper, Los Stellarians, and Eminem. She also LOVE’s The Weeknd. “He’s brilliant. My favorite band of all time is Sublime (the original only!) I cannot imagine how much amazing music would have been made if Bradley was still alive!”

To 311, Angela has these words: “Thank you for continuing to do this for us all after all these years – you continue to bring so much energy to your shows and positivity to your fans and it continues to bring us together; thank you for caring about us, you are loved!”

Now here are her words to all her fellow 311 fans:

“Let’s continue to have fun and be there for one another, that’s what keeps this awesome – the friendships we’ve made and the times we share together. We’ve done some really awesome stuff to support one another when it’s needed and that is what I love about our commUNITY. I’m really bad at recognizing people in person based on social media photos so PLEASE say hi to me if you see me – I love meeting my friends in real life! I know I’m not in all the groups and I’m not the 311est and you may not see me at all the major events, but I truly feel so grateful to be a part of this group of people and to be thought of as an excitable even remotely worthy of an article like this! I absolutely LOVE you all!”

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Thanks Angela for sharing your story of your love for 311! Many, many thanks as always to all the readers each time. Have an amazing week friends!

Much Love – The Runt

Hey there my friends out in 311 nation! It’s a new week and that means a new fan spotlight. Let’s read the story of Jim Smiles!

Jim was with his best friend in 1996 when he heard the song “Down” on the radio. “I just absolutely loved the rhythms and how Nick and SA traded off. I was instantly hooked.”

Show count for Jim at the moment is sitting at 19. First show for him was in his hometown of Peoria, Illinois back in August of 2001. As for favorite show he’s attended, it’s a tie between his first show and 311 Day 2006 in Memphis. “At my first show at my favorite venue in my hometown, my friends and I caught Nick after doing a sick backflip off the balcony during FTBS.”

Two of his favorite songs, out of many others, are “Use of Time” and “Lose.” For favorite lyric, Jim chose, “The fish who keep on swimming, is the first to chill upstream.”

Jim grew up in a small blue collar town in central Illinois. In 2009 he moved to Jacksonville, Florida, then Memphis, Tennessee, in 2016, followed by Gatlinburg, Tennessee, in 2019. He finally landed in the suburbs of Chicago. “I have been a waiter or bartender for the past 15 years. I loved moving around the country and visiting new places and new people.”

Fun fact about Jim is that he played bass for a local band called Still Heart Conspiracy. “P-Nut is my idol, so I input my love for slap bass into some pretty heavy metal songs.”

Guilty pleasure for Jim is that he still listens to and watches a lot of 90’s music and T.V. shows/movies. “I’m known to be bumping some early Dre, Snoop, and Ice Cube.”

Other musicians that Jim loves include: “The Bastard Suns (a really amazing punk/ska/reggae band from Atlanta) Whole Wheat Bread (a really awesome punk band from Jacksonville, FL) and I kinda got hooked on Twenty One Pilots for a bit.” He also can be found jamming out to Sublime, Incubus, and the Deftones.

Jim’s words to 311 are as follows: “Thank you for 25 years of so much fun. I couldn’t thank them enough for all the joy and help they have provided me over the years!”

Now his words to the other 311 fans out there:

“I’m so proud that us Excitables have stuck around, and hope to see all of you soon!!!! Stay positive and love your life!”

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Much gratitude goes out to Jim for sharing his story with all of us, and of course many thanks to all the readers each post! Have an excellent week, keep smiling!

Much Love – The Runt