Hello again my friends out there in 311 nation! Another fan spotlight has arrived to you. This week let’s meet Julie Stone!

As a kid in the 90’s, Julie remembers seeing the cover of the Blue album and also the weird looking alien guys on the back, and she said the image was burned into her head. “My sister would listen to it, and I loved how different it was than anything I’ve ever heard. Fast forward to when I grew up, I was going through a really hard time in life and I was reintroduced to 311 through a friend, and I was hooked as soon as I realized how hot Nick Hexum is! The fact that the music felt so good, reminded me of a simpler time, and the lyrics saved my life is a plus!”

The last time Julie counted how many shows she’s attended, she was over 35 but thinks it may be closer to 40 now. Her very first show was 311 Day 2008 in New Orleans. “And that was the start of the magical adventures that followed!” Favorite event for her was the first cruise, hands down. ” That was such a life-changing experience. Taking a leap of faith to get on a ship full of strangers and hope for a good time was something I still can’t believe that I was brave enough to do. Now I refuse to skip a cruise. It was the absolute best time of my life and I’ve connected with so many wonderful people that I plan to remain friends with forever!”

Picking a favorite song is hard for Julie, like it is for many fans. She feels that “Don’t Tread On Me” is her theme song, even if it isn’t a fan favorite. “Before I rediscovered 311, I felt as though I let a lot of people walk all over me. Now when I feel it happening, I hear the song in my head, and it empowers me to stand up for myself and take shit from no one!” And while there are many lyrics that she loves, these are the top three that she tries to live by: “I always say what I feel and that is a promise, nothing in life is above being honest,” “You can’t be let down if you don’t expect the world,” and “Do what you feel, the more absurd the better.”

Julie grew up and still currently resides in South Louisiana. She has had many jobs that help fund her 311 habit, including waiting tables, administrative jobs at hospitals, and now she is a Peer Support Specialist in a mental health crisis center. She is on her way to becoming a Licensed Counselor. “I take a lot of what I’ve learned through 311 and life to help support my clients. I am a single mother to one beautiful boy, that has slowed down my traveling for 311, but he is finally getting to the age where I feel as though he would enjoy coming on 311 adventures with me, and I can’t wait. I want him to experience the magic that I’ve felt thanks to 311 and you all. After seeing so many shows, it really has become almost more of a priority to see my friends who I only see at 311 events, the show is an added benefit.”

Interesting fact about Julie is that aside from the people she met the day before getting on the first 311 cruise, the only other person on the entire ship that she had met was Nick Hexum. Something unique about her is that she is pretty good at feeling peoples vibes and connecting with them. ” I adapt well and can usually get on a person’s level. I also feel like I can connect with animals in a similar way, I may not be the animal whisperer, but I think that they can feel my good intentions.” Guilty pleasure comes in the form of playing Fortnite. “I started playing to bond with my son, but now I just want to zone out and play. It’s really my number one guilty pleasure right now. Those little kids are ruthless though!”

When not jamming out to 311, some of Julie’s other favorite artists include Incubus, Sublime, No Doubt, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Linkin Park, Dirty Heads, RDGLDGRN, Halsey, Eminem, and Rihanna. “These are just the main ones; I like a wide variety of music.”

Julie’s message to the members of 311 is this: “Thank y’all so much for making music that saved me and helps me to constantly enforce positivity in my day to day life, especially when I feel like giving up. Oh and never stop coming to New Orleans!!!”

And now here are her words to her fellow Excitables out there:

“I don’t even really like people, but I fucking LOVE you people!!! Really though, probably without even realizing it, y’all have been such an amazing support system through the struggles in my life and I feel so fortunate to be able to call so many of you my friends. I hope to see some of you soon!!! Stay Positive and Love Your Life!!!”

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So many thanks to Julie for sharing her story with us all! As well as a huge shout out to all the readers and supporters of this blog each post. I hope you all have the best week you possibly can. Sending you all the warmth and light that you need.

Much Love – The Runt

Hello again my friends in Excitable nation! Shall we kick off a new week with another 311 fan spotlight? I think so. Let’s meet Christina Abatie!

Back in the day Christina was listening to anything and everything. She found she loved almost all music, everything from Pantera to Depeche Mode. “I’m a 1996 High School graduate and 311 was in their prime as far as radio play with ‘Down’ and ‘All Mixed Up’ pretty much playing on a loop. It would have been impossible to NOT fall in love with their music and inevitably who they are as a band.”

Being a super positive person herself, Christina said it was easy to be drawn to 311. “I am engrained to make light of everything and can’t help myself but to make jokes at unusual and inappropriate times to try and keep good vibes flowing anywhere and everywhere I go. 311’s message was/is so uplifting that it had a gravitational pull to my spirit. I felt that they had that same attitude toward life and their interactions with people. All people.”

Show count is unknown for Christina because she said she is far too ADHD to even begin to try and figure out the number. She believes it’s at least 30 and that doesn’t include six of the cruises she and her hubby went on. “I saw my first show (that I can recall vividly) in August, 2002 at the Madison Theater in Peoria, Illinois. It was a GLORIOUS venue that gave everyone an intimate experience. Nick Hexum even did a ‘stage dive’ from one of the balconies. He flew! I sent him a couple pictures of it on Twitter a few years ago and he replied that he hadn’t seen the pics before, so it was pretty cool to reminisce about the show that sealed the deal for me as a lifelong fan! I’ll attach the pics to this email for you. Fun fact: My husband was also at that show, before I even knew he existed and would become my husband 10 years later. His love for 311 was/is parallel to mine and it was meant to be.”

Favorite event for Christina, well she narrowed it down to a specific moment from the second cruise during the beach show. “DURING Rub a Dub. Close your eyes and picture this with me for a moment. You’re in one of the most beautiful places you can imagine, in warm salty water, sun beating down, a nice breeze, surrounded by some of the most amazing people you will EVER meet, jumping and splashing, sipping on a whisky bladder that we found randomly floating by on a wave, while 311 is rocking ‘Rub a Dub’ on the beach… are you kidding?!!!! Core memory.”

While there are many songs that mean a lot to Christina, the first one that really came to mind is “Jupiter.” “It just goes along with my whole outlook on life. It can always be worse. And sometimes the things you aren’t given are the things that save you or propel you to the things that are meant for you. I recently had to close down my restaurant. It was my baby and when it closed I couldn’t see what my life would be like without it. But now, a few months later, I see all the things I was missing. I’m LIVING life again, not just existing in it. I’m not working myself to death and away from my family around the clock. I can confidently walk forward with positivity. The 311 Cruise back in March was the springboard to what my life without my business can be again. Music has been my therapy.” So naturally her favorite lyric comes from the song as well, “Stay positive and love your life.”

Christina is a midwestern girl, born and raised in the heart of Illinois. She was raised to always stay true to herself and to be creative, as well as to always do what she loved. “I was an athlete and artist in high school and beyond. So it was interesting trying to figure out where I fit in. I ran track and played soccer, but ultimately, the artistic side won.” Currently she lives in Pekin with her husband and their four children. “Yes, Illinois is full of cornfields and flatlands and people passing through may call it boring, but my family has fun everywhere we go. Literally. Doing the most random things. For example, we just went to the zoo with my 9 and 6 year olds and then spent the afternoon walking around a cemetery looking for old tombstones, taking pictures, and trying to imagine what the people who were buried there were like. I’m not kidding, we had a blast. I’ve lived here my whole life and love the small town community feel, and it’s nice, because we are only a couple hours away from Chicago and St Louis, so when 311 rolls through, we go to both of those shows each year.”

Christina and her husband have taken their boys to a couple of 311 shows and they became instant fans. They are lucky and the band is playing about 10 minutes away from them in September. “The boys are 19 and 16 and from a previous marriage, then my husband and I married in 2012 and had two girls, ages 9 and 6, so we have quite the span of ages and variety of drama’s over here. We love spending time with family. Big on family time. My sister, her husband, and their 2 daughters relocated from New York City, in the heart of Times’ Square, to right next door. We literally share a driveway. What are the odds that could ever happen?! Their daughters are the same age as our girls, so the “cousin crew” adventure around the neighborhood like free range chickens and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Watching them explore and grow is so reminiscent of my childhood that it gives me all the feels! We love to go thrift store shopping, which is a good way to help save money for all the things 311, plus we find the coolest stuff. We also love hoping in the car and going to random towns with no plan. Again, we make anything and everything fun. It’s how I was raised. No plans, just go! I am so thankful I was raised that way. I am such a lover of people. Having our own family business was a great way for our family to serve our community. We formed very strong connections with our customers and they, like the 311 community, have become such an important part of our lives. Now that our business is closed, I am reigniting my passions. Not sure where my next paycheck will come from, but I’m on the hunt. I am also currently looking into starting a non-profit organization with another small business owner who also recently closed her business. We are on a mission to help people, help people. Encouraging people to help their friends and neighbors. We are one community and positivity is contagious. Even small gestures can go a long way.”

When asked what is something people may not know about her, Christina said she is a chronic over sharer so she isn’t sure there is anything! But she did mention that she’s had struggles with pregnancy and fertility. “When I say I’m blessed to have my four living children, I mean BLESSED. Before each of my pregnancies I suffered from one or more miscarriage, giving each of my living children the title of “rainbow babies”. We also had a stillborn son, Gabriel, before having our youngest daughter. I was actually pregnant with him during the 2015 311 Cruise and we used our photo op with the band to announce the pregnancy to our families. You know how sometimes people put a pic of their friends’ heads on a stick if they can’t attend an event, so it’s like they are there with them? We did that for our 3 kids with each of their heads on a stick and then had a blank one with a blue question mark on it, since he was a boy. They guys were all super excited for us and happy to be part of our special moment. Another reason they are so close to my heart. It was a big moment and a big memory for us. I started a blog after that big loss as a way to get all my thoughts and feelings out, rather than internalize them. It inadvertently became a community for others who had suffered the same types of loss and it was then that I discovered that I love to write. And helping others helps me, so it was the best therapy.”

Fun fact about Christina is that she is a graphic artist by trade but she absolutely loves flipping houses! “My mom and I used to flip houses before it became popular. I love the whole process of taking something that seems overwhelming or a lost cause and turning it into something beautiful. Always choose the ugly duckling. I can see the potential in anything. I can look at something (or someone) and see what it (they) can be, when sometimes others can’t. When we started our restaurant, it was a run down building on the Southside of town, in the middle of an industrial area. Nothing notable in that area. But I saw the potential and wanted to give people a reason to visit that part of town. We turned it into a gem. If you don’t water the grass everywhere, it doesn’t grow. I’m an advocate for “community” in all parts of town, even now that my restaurant has closed.”

Guilty pleasures? Christina has a few. “I’m a sucker for reality TV, because I don’t have to use my brain. I watch the Titanic EVERY time it’s on TV. My daughters and I love watching silly videos on TikTok and love being in videos, too. We catch silly moments on video all the time around here and some of our moments have gone viral on TikTok, so check it out @ThePizzaChick !”

Thanks to her teenage boys, Christina has been exposed to a ton of music and listens to many genres and artists aside from 311. “As a 45 year old woman, I get weird looks when I’m busted at a stoplight jamming out to ‘Juice Wrld’ (R.I.P.), but I don’t care. I’m also a Taylor Swift fan and not sorry about it. Have been for years. We saw her 2009 performance in Times’ Square before the VMA’s (and before the infamous Kanye moment) while visiting my sister in NYC. My husband was fangirling over it. and I’ll never forget that memory. I can’t call myself a Swiftie, because I’d have to google what that means, haha, but I love how she takes control of her life and lives unapologetically. She is a beautiful song-writer and amazing performer. My son sent me videos from the ERAS Tour where he had 5th row seats with his girlfriend, and I’ll never get over how insanely jealous that made my daughters and I.”

For her message to 311, Christina has these words: “Thank you for being a constant advocate for peace, love, unity, and respect. Forever excitable!”

Now here are her words to all the other Excitables out there:

“Some of our best friends are people we have met in this community and don’t live anywhere nearby. You can have the most beautiful friendships with people when you are bonded over the love of this band and their message. It translates through the energy and spirit of us all. I am so proud to be a lifelong fan and a part of the excitable crew. Keep being YOU!”

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A huge thank you to Christina for sharing her 311 story with us all! You know the next part, my eternal gratitude to all the readers each post. Happy September and hope you all have an amazing week!

Much Love – The Runt

Hello friends out there in Excitable nation. In honor of it being 8/16, I’ve written a fan spotlight on my friend Keith Cedrone, who unfortunately passed away in June. He loved 311 and I’m sad we didn’t get to do this before he left us. With the help of his wife, my good friend Kelly, we have put together a tribute to him to honor the day and their wedding anniversary.

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Keith got into 311 because of his wife Kelly since they are her favorite band. He started listening to their eclectic catalog at home. Then when he saw them live, he couldn’t believe how hard they could go but also have great overall musicality.

Keith attended around 15 shows. First show for him was at Great Woods (AKA now Xfinity Center) in Mansfield, Massachusetts, with Sublime with Rome, in 2010. His favorite event was the cruise to Jamaica in 2015. He loved being on vacation with Kelly and seeing all the bands that were on the ship.

The song “Unity” was Keith’s favorite song. Kelly said it’s what sealed the deal for him becoming a real fan. As for favorite lyrics, Kelly and Keith had lines from “1,2,3” and “Speak Easy” read at their wedding. The lyrics they chose were, “It’s all right to feel good, it’s all right for nothing to be wrong. The deepest dream that we have could be tomorrow’s song,” and “I search for something to compare you to, thought long and hard for a simile true.  Now I’m suddenly aware end the quest you’re beyond compare.”

Keith was born in March of 1987 and was raised in Massachusetts, residing most recently in Norwood with his wife Kelly and their three beautiful daughters, Harper, Fiona, and Lorelai. Keith absolutely loved his wife Kelly and he loved being a girl dad. They made him smile more than anything.

Keith & Kelly’s wedding song was “Hard to Concentrate” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Kelly said everyone should give this song a listen today in honor of Keith and to “appreciate how the guitar plays like a bass line.”

Something that was really interesting about Keith is that he was a black belt in Karate and Tai Chi. He also was a Journeyman Electrician in the IBEW Local 103, and he loved his job. Keith also loved being outdoors, traveling to Maine and ice fishing with his daughters, something that was passed down to him from his own dad.

Keith was exceptionally good at puzzles and math. As well as being a super dad to his girls. Which is probably why his guilty pleasures were kids movies and cartoons, such as the Hotel Transylvania series.

Kelly was Keith’s forever concert buddy. They enjoyed going and seeing many different bands including his absolute favorite band, Shinedown. Aside from them and 311, Keith loved music from Tropidelic, Passafire, The Movement, Seether, NF, and Jelly Roll.

Keith was quiet, but one of the nicest people on this Earth. Anyone who’s life he touched knew there was something special about him. He always had a smile on his face and was generally interested when he asked how you were. He bonded with many of Kelly’s friends, including me. Our birthdays were only 2 days apart, so we always seemed to find a concert to go to around that time. I just wish we had many more to celebrate together.

Some of Keith’s friends happily shared some memories of him and the impact of his amazingly positive personality and niceness:

“Keith and I used to have deep conversations about songs and why they meant so much to us. After his passing, Keiths words in one of those conversations are what gave me the strength and courage to finally make some pretty big changes in my life.” – Lisa Parker Swane

“Keith was a kind, soft spoken, guy who clearly loved his family. Fatherhood appeared to come easy to him. Seeing him with his girls, he was a natural. He also had the best humor. I remember telling him how upset I was about all these tiny cars my then 3y/o son had all over our floors and how I desperately wanted rid the house of them (haha). His response was something to the effect of, “Vacuum them up. Kind of like when I get a crayon. It’s like whoops.” That was one of the first most realistic parenting comments I recall hearing. It still makes me laugh. We miss you, Keith. Shine on over us all.” – Christina Cross

“Keith was the kind of guy that was a friendly soft spoken kinda dude with a ferocious sense of humor. He always had a secretly absurdly funny comment to say about things that would make you chuckle. Always liked that about him – it’s great when there’s something fun hiding behind “the curtains”.” – Max Cross

“Keith was the sweetest and most caring person I ever met. He put his family first but always knew how to have a good time. I remember our times watching the Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (not by his own choice 😉 ) and joking about a variety of cartoons at any given chance while quoting movies and laughing all the time. He made sure Kelly and I always had a good time when we would hang out. I will miss our times together but know you are keeping a close eye on your family and friends from above.” – Caitlin Nash

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To say there is a huge hole in the world without Keith is an understatement. Whenever he was around you, the world was full of light & love. I know he lives on in another dimension, but we miss you in this one my sweet friend. Until we meet again.

Much Love – The Runt

Hello again to all my friends out in 311 nation! It’s that time, to introduce a new fan to you all. This week let’s meet Eric Tate!

In the summer of 1993 Eric and his wife decided to part ways and she ended up with the car, meaning Eric had to bum rides from various co-workers. ” A friend of mine that worked with me serving tables at Bennigans offered to take me home one day but he had to swing by his house to shower real quick as he was heading to his girlfriend’s house after he dropped me off.  Before he jumped in the shower he asked me if I ever heard of 311….I said no, so he put on a song called “Hydroponic” off of their “Music” album. At first I really dug how the song opened with that heavy badass bsssline …then the drums and guitars kicked in…I was like “WOW… Whaaaaat???!” So soon after the song ended my buddy was out of the shower at that point and asked me if I liked it?  I said “Hellyeah!!! I loved it!”. He asked what I loved about it and I told him just mainly the sound of it.  He then asked me if I paid any attention to the lyrics and I said “No, not really”, so he played it again and told me to listen to the words this time and holy shit….OMG! That’s when it dawned on me that there were 2 dudes singing…and the lyrics “resonated” with me I guess you could say (pun intended).”

There was a line in that song that really stuck with Eric and it’s “I’m not going to waste life being hateful.” “At the time I was pretty pissed at/hated just about everything about my life; my failed marriage, no car and having to bum rides to and from work/everywhere, me horribly missing my 3 young daughters (ex took them about 6 hours away so that REALLY sucked not seeing them everyday for like a very long time)…pretty much my sucky ass shituation overall. So by the 2nd time listening to the songs AND the lyrics/message, I became an Excitable before the song even ended and I didn’t even know what that was yet!?”

For show count, Eric said he lost track awhile ago. If he had to guess he believes it’s around 70. First show for him was May 28, 2020, at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley, CA, when 311 was touring with Incubus. As for favorite show/event for him, Eric said 311 Day 2008 takes the top prize. “My cousin Jason (aka “Jake” or “DJ 1 Piece”) scored backstage VIP passes as he had been friends with Chad for several years at that point.  Watching, singing and dancing my ass off for that marathon of a concert was unlike anything I have ever experienced at a live show! (63 songs I believe?) We somehow ended up on Chad and Tim’s bus right after the show, and Chad had to bail as he was super sick with like a fever of 102 or something crazy?!  He apologized and said he hoped we had fun and that he needed to go get some fluids in him and get some rest.”

Song that means the most to Eric is “Visit” because he just loves the lyrics. As for a favorite line from a song, he loves one from the song “Full Ride:” “The only thing that never gets old is honesty.”

Eric was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, then at the age of 10 he moved to Canfield, Ohio. He wasn’t there long as right after his 11th birthday they moved to St. Petersburg, Florida and he pretty much lived in that area until he graduated high school. “I joined the Marine Corps and lived on base at Cherry Point, NC while in the USMC,  then moved back to Florida after I got out. Moved to Missouri for about 9 months and hated it, so we moved back to Florida, once again.  In the mid 90’s I met a girl in the “Marijuana Debate” chat room on AOL and fell in love and moved to Castro Valley, CA (Her screen name was “A4TwentyGirl” and mine was “SemperHigh” so you can guess what side of that debate we were on! 🤣). We eventually realized we were better off as friends so we never ended up getting married (she’s still one of my best friends to this day).  I lived in NorCal until the middle of lockdown in 2020 when I decided to once again move back to Florida!  To fund my 311 habit, I do retail insights working remotely as a data analyst!”

When asked what is an interesting fact about himself, Eric said, “I just recently went to the gym the other day and I seen this idiot who put a water bottle on the treadmill… right where the Pringles can goes!!! 🤟🤣🤘.” That leads us to what Eric believes makes him different is that he loves to tell jokes, do magic tricks, and act silly. “Pretty much anything to make people smile and/or laugh everyday!” Guilty pleasure for him is his dogs Luna and Coco, plus spending time with his insanely funny niece and three amazing grandkids!

When not listening to 311, some other artists that Eric loves include Dirty Heads, RDGLDGRN, Tropidelic, Stick Figure, Little Stranger, Bumpin Uglies, Katastro, Nothing But Thieves & Depeche Mode!

To 311, Eric would like to send this message: “Just a very special THANK YOU to all the guys for making this crazy life THIS much more Excitable! Following you guys over the past 30 years (70+ shows/8 311 Days/ last 4 cruises) has allowed me to meet some of the most amazing lifelong friends & the coolest people I never would have met if it weren’t for you guys and your music!  Oh…and can we please hear “Crossfire” just once live please!  🙏😆”

Now here are Eric’s words going out to all the other awesome 311 fans:

“Just always be kind… try to make someone/anyone smile everyday as you never know what life could be throwing at them at any given moment. And of course…. STAY POSITIVE AND LOVE YOUR LIFE!!!!”

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Thank you to Eric for sharing your story with us! Of course, my eternal gratitude to all the readers each blog post. Have an amazing week and sending you all good vibes.

Much Love – The Runt

Hello again all of my excitable friends. It’s time for the next edition of the 311 fan spotlight! Here we are with #400 – let’s meet Vickie Vaden!

The year was 1995 when Vickie first heard the sounds of 311 and she was instantly hooked. “I really liked the way they mixed in the reggae vibes with the heavy rock. They had such a fresh and unique sound and it drew me in!”

First live show for Vickie was at the HORDE Festival in West Palm Beach, Florida, in 1996. “They had such awesome stage presence, I couldn’t wait to see them again!… and that is where the obsession began…lol! Oh man, I haven’t counted how many shows I have been to but I would say definitely in the hundreds!”

As for favorite event, Vickie said the cruises just can’t be beat. “I have been on all 7 and met some great friends over the years!  The 2nd cruise was my favorite! That island show was surreal and I will never forget it! 2nd place from the cruises I would say the Pow Wow festival was super cool! The whole 311 community is so friendly and incredible!”

Some of Vickie’s favorite songs include “I’ll Be Here A While,” “Sunset in July,” and “Beyond the Gray Sky.” ” Beyond the gray sky is so beautiful to see live when Nick ask everyone bust out the lights to honor those that have passed. It makes me think of my mom (she passed away in 2018), I miss her so much!  My mom was so proud of my photography accomplishments that I had made with 311.”

Born and raised in South Florida, Vickie has been there her whole life. She has two older brothers that molded her into a big fan of rock and live music. “My oldest brother took me to my first concert when I was 13, Ratt and Poison.. LOL! Hair metal was big time then! I have been to countless concerts since then.”

It was around the same age that her mother handed Vickie her first camera and she has been hooked on photography since then. “The summer before I started high school, I was in the photography class and that is where my love of photography started. Throughout high school I really got into photographing local bands, Marilyn Manson was real big down here back then before he got signed. I would hit the clubs and photograph shows and then go to school the next day and couldn’t wait to develop my film! Looking back it is kinda crazy that my parents let me stay out so late on school nights to see all these bands..lol! I think my older brothers had broken them in so they were pretty lenient with me. At the same time, they knew they could trust me to not do anything too dumb. With all the photos I shot I started to gain a lot of experience and making a portfolio for myself. I don’t even know how but my friend managed to get me photo passes for big shows around that time period. She had a tiny little home made magazine and knew how to talk the talk I guess. Lol! I was able to photography Lenny Kravitz, pearl jam and Anthrax to name a few. It was so exciting for me!!”

After high school Vickie was still going to concerts but not really getting involved with photographing many of the bands. Then in 2009 her interest sparked again. “I have been able to connect with a lot of band mangers and shoot some of my all time favorites, including 311! I have taken shots on all of the cruises. Most of you would recognize me for my cruise “Fisheye shots” I love that lens! Lol! I started lifting my camera on a monopod with a shutter release to get a higher angle, The way it captures the volume of the crowds is awesome! I have definitely captured some of my favorite shots over the years of 311 on the cruises. My favorite moment was being able to give meet the band and give them a canvas of a cruise photo and get them to sign mine as pictured. My biggest accomplishment was to have 311 use some of my photos in their archive box set.  To be a fan all these years, buying all their CDs and then have my photos IN one is mind blowing and I am so grateful! (Thank you Peter Raspler! )”

Vickie is a single mom of 3 kids and has been raising them all by herself for the last 14 years. They are now ages 20, 18 & 16. “They have been to more concerts than most adults! lol! I started them super young! My 2 girls are now 311 fans and also really like dirty heads, sublime etc. They are my built in concert buddies. :)”

Fun fact about Vickie is she works at the police station as their photographer and photo tech. “I am on my 22nd year there. Luckily I only do their “pretty photography”.. Team photos, portraits and what not. I never had to photograph crime scenes, but I did have to process all the photos and have seen anything you can imagine! Crazy, crazy stuff!”

Aside from photography, Vickie also knows how to decorate cakes and make candy and goodies. “

My mom owned a cake business when I was growing up so I learned how to make everything and would help her fill orders as a kid. That also really helped me become an entrepreneur with a ton of side hustles over the years. The last 8 years or so I have been doing art festivals and selling my work on ETSY of my photography. I hope to pursue it a little more when I have more time. Everyone can check out my work on instagram at @retroseashoredecorfl also facebook I have this page for my business: https://www.facebook.com/RetroseashoredecorMore importantly for most, you can find my band photographs on my facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057585063579“

Guilty pleasure for Vickie is the band Twenty One Pilots. “Those guys put on one heck of a show!” When not listening to them or 311, she can be found jamming tunes by Rebelution, Lenny Kravitz, Dirty Heads, A tribe called quest, Sublime and Sublime with Rome, Amy Winehouse, Beach Boys, Mr. Bungle, Hirie, Bob Marley, Pearl Jam, Lumineers, Buddy Holly, Glass Animals, Matisyahu and most of the reggae rock that’s out there. “I have a pretty broad range of music that I listen to.”

Vickie would like to send this message to 311: “Please hire me full time and pay me to be your personal photographer! Lol! Until then, I guess I have to keep working my real job and side hustles.”

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

“Thank you all for being so kind to me as I made my way around you at shows with all my big ass photo gear! Y’all are some of the most positive, friendly, awesome people! <3”

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Thank you so much to Vickie for sharing her 311 story with us all! As always, many thanks to all the readers and supporters out there. Hope you all have an amazing week friends! Stay cool.

Much Love – The Runt

Welcome friends to the next edition of the 311 Fan Spotlight! This week, let’s hear the story of Greg Greco!

During high school Greg was listening to all sorts of music and was having trouble figuring out exactly what he liked. Then a friend of his threw the “Music” album on to his Napster account. “The first song I listened to was “Unity”. I jammed so hard to that song on repeat over and over again. I think what drew me to the album was not only the tunes themselves but the lyrics showing how positive and how much fun they have being a group of friends. #goals”

Exact number of shows Greg has attended is unknown, but he believes he is around 45. First show was the Sprite Liquid Mix Tour at the Jones Beach Theatre in New York on August 20th, 2002. “A good lineup that show. Nappy Roots, NERD, Hoobastank, 311, Jay-Z all on the main stage.”

As with most fans, picking a favorite show or event is difficult for Greg. He said it’s sort of a toss up between seeing them at Hammerstein Ballroom, when he first got to meet them after the show. Or his first 311 Day or first 311 cruise. “I really don’t know. The anxiety of not knowing what the set will be, because i never looked beforehand, was what made every show somewhat unique.”

Right now the song that is really connecting with Greg is “Dodging Raindrops.” “I have been going through tough times and it really resonates with where I want to be in life right now. I do believe that Beyond The Grey Sky saved my life, it came out at the height of a depressive state of mine and it helped me get my head right.” Some lyrics that really stick with Greg are as follow: “”Stay positive and love your life,” “Life’s a bowl of punch, Go ahead and spike it,” and “You’re all up in my mix like fucking Betty Crocker.”

Greg was born into a large Irish Catholic family – he is one of seven children and has five sisters and one brother. “Growing up, I made a lot of friends and had I guess your stereotypical childhood. Riding bikes, playing sports, going to school etc… I am, however, the black sheep of my family and have become that in my world as well. My parents are good, hardworking people but I don’t conform to what they feel people should be doing. I am distant from my siblings. Don’t get me wrong, I do have a relationship with them but it’s not your leave it to beaver type situation at all. After years of having a lot of friends, I kept a very small group of them in my adult life. Now I am in the process of getting divorced so most of the friends left, have stopped reaching out to me as well. If this were 20 years ago, I’d be in my room crying. I stay positive. I live for the moment and don’t let the small things get to me anymore.”

Greg has two beautiful daughters who he said are a true blessing for him. “They are kind, intelligent, funny and love listening to 311 with me. My oldest is Skylar and my baby is Amber (yes named after the song). Their favorite 311 songs are Don’t Stay Home, Amber, Til the City’s on Fire. I am just your average Blue Collar guy that does the best with the cards he is dealt.” Greg was born and raised on Long Island and is currently trying to become a professional bowler. He likes to play ice hockey as a hobby. “I have a beautiful girlfriend (no I did not leave my wife for her). I just try to keep to myself. Obviously my kids come first but outside of that, for the first time in my life, I am taking care of me and making sure I’m in a good place physically and mentally.”

Interesting fact about Greg is that he’s a good singer. “In high school, I was selected to be in the National Catholic Youth Choir (kinda corny i know). I was one of 50 teenagers selected and we spent a month traveling the Midwest. That’s right. We even got Omaha, Nebraska for a concert.” Something unique about him also is vocal – he likes to impersonate people or make up voices. “I am very critical of myself so wouldn’t say I’m great at it but a lot of people tell me I should be a cartoon voice over. My girlfriend finds a lot of my impressions scary accurate such as Kermit the Frog. I have that down pat.”

Guilty pleasures, Greg said he has a few, but one big one is being a movie buff. “Not just comedy’s or thrillers. I like the “chick flick” movies too. I’m not afraid to cry from a well written, well acted movie. It’s the “chick flick” part that is the guilty pleasure.”

There are many artists that Greg is into aside from 311. Some of them include Linkin Park, Slipknot, Billy Joel, The Beatles, Johnny Cash, Brand New, Taking Back Sunday, Blink 182, Dave Matthews Band, Chevelle, Red Jumpsuit Aparatus, Jimmies Chicken Shack, Metallica, Korn, Dirty Heads, Sublime, Don McLean, NWA, Eminem, Biggie, Bronx Slang, G-Love and Special Sauce, Barenaked Ladies, and Blues Traveler. “The list goes on. My music taste is very versatile.”

As for words Greg would like to say to the band, he said he was lucky enough on the last cruise to say to P-Nut something he had been wanting to relay which was this: “When we took our photo with the band, I put my arm around P-Nut and I said, “I am really glad you’re here and decided to stay.” Relating to his announcement that he was gonna go on a little hiatus. He side eyed me and said “I am too.” That was great to hear and a special moment for me.”

Now here is Greg’s message to all his fellow 311 fans in the universe:

“In the words of Ferris Bueller, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” Spread the joy to others that 311 spreads to us. Don’t let the little things get you down. Live your life the way you see yourself doing it and “fuck the naysayers”. Come find me at a show! Love to all!”

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Many thanks to Greg Greco for sharing his story with us all! My eternal gratitude as well to those who keep reading and supporting this little blog. Hope you are all having a great summer and keep on being awesome!

Much Love – The Runt

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Welcome again friends to the next edition of the 311 fan spotlight! This week let’s meet Victor Hsiao!

First exposure to 311 was when Victor was 12 and in middle school. He had moved from to Fairfax, Virginia to Loudoun County, Virginia. It was there that he saw some students with the blue album and then eventually saw the video for “Down” on MTV in early 1997. “The funky heavy riffs of “Down”, the raps/rhymes over these guitar riffs, then the chorus of thanking others and gratitude; I kept thinking this is like all my favorite types of music rolled into one with lyrics/messages I can support. Several weeks later, I’m at the Target and convinced my parents to buy me the blue album. Then Transistor came out late summer 1997 which I nabbed after seeing the “Transistor” music video. I found the spacy groves and guitar riffs to be unique and reminding me a bit of Radiohead’s ‘OK Computer’ as having this unique sound. By my sophomore year of college, I found myself pulled further to 311 when some of us were riding home from the bar and ‘Hostile Apostile’ came on. I knew immediately it was 311 due to Nick’s voice and grooves. After hearing that, I purchased their remaining cd’s on amazon (CDNow back then) and the rest is history. Their ‘Music’ and ‘From Chaos’ albums are my top 2 with MOSAIC being #3.”

Victor just hit show number 45 last month at the Houston House of Blues. His first show was in 2008 at the Nissan Pavillion in Bristow, VA. “I hadn’t thought about seeing them until graduated college in 2008 when I was really into the band. After seeing them live the first time, I made it a point to see them at least once every year when they toured. I haven’t stopped since.”

As for favorite show or event, Victor of course said it was hard to choose. “2023 311 Cruise ranks up there since it was my first 311 cruise and I got to watch their performance with other fans and in the hottub of all places. Hard to beat that setting! As for venue concerts, the one that sticks in my mind the most is July, 2017 when I saw them on the Pier landing in Philly. They played a lot of their MOSAIC album which had some of my favorite live tracks (Face in the Wind, Extension, Perfect Mistake, Days’ of 88′, Till’ the City’s on fire) plus other live favorites of mine (Brodels, Hydroponic, Unity).”

Favorite song for Victor changes based on the timing, different styles, and lyrics. “So it depends what mood I’m in and what I’m going through. “Electricity” from Transistor means a lot to me due to lyrics about hate and people believing things about others before getting to know them. When I first heard the Transistor album, the music and lyrics spoke volumes to me due to being a new kid in a new environment and gave me a sense of comfort because of what they were preaching. The line about we’re all from the same lucy despite differences people would see; we’d be a more unifying world if we’d stop and acknowledge that. “Speak Easy” from their DTOM album is another one recently. Since my profession involves a lot of public speaking and presentations, I listen to that track every time before I’m about to start a meeting or do a presentation and it always calms my nerves. “Just speak easy, and say what’s on your mind”, couldn’t be more simple but more true. Other ones include Simplify due to the calming melody, and Full Ride and From Chaos due to the raps mixed with the riffs.”

Some lyrics that resonate with Victor include the following:

“I’m in disbelief at what people will believe. All along I thought we had our hearts on our shirtsleeve. If one thing I can say as a piece of advice. Don’t believe it till you see it and then see it twice” – Electricity

“This moment is a gift, that’s why it’s called the present.” – Simplify

“The question I’m observing is am I really deserving.” – No Control

“You get back what you give, and I was born to live.” – Born to Live

“From chaos come clarity.” – From Chaos

Victor spent most of his life in Virginia until 2019 when he moved to Houston, Texas, which is where he still currently resides. When he was young and moved to a new town in Virginia, it was challenging leaving all his friends behind and he said at the time there weren’t a lot of people there that looked like him. “During that period, we got exposed to MTV for the first time (thank you mom and dad for finally let us have cable) which is how we started to develop our love for music. Music, for me, became my shield from my troubles and anxiety as I started with grunge/alternative bands (Nirvana, Stone Temple Pilots, Foo Fighters, RCHP, Third Eye Blind, etc.) and the 90’s rap/R&B scene (Biggie, Nas, 2pac, Wu-Tang, Usher, Mary J. Blige, Aaliyah, etc.). 311 jumped on my radar which mixed these genres and spoke about things I found myself longing for as a someone searching for belonging in a new place. Things such as gratitude, unity, kindness, perseverance, antiracism, dealing with anxiety, staying positive; those really spoke to me and I tried to emulate that as best I could.”

Current profession for Victor is bank examiner/regulator. “I never thought I’d ever get into my current profession but I’m thankful it’s provided me direction and purpose. Since the job has a lot of traveling involved, it’s also allowed me to follow my favorite band more frequently and regularly than I ever could have imagined.”

In his younger days, Victor was heavily into musical instruments. “I played piano for 12 years, violin for 3 years, and guitar for 6. That’s helped me develop an appreciation for all genres of music. I’m hoping to get back into playing an instrument again; maybe the saxophone or keyboard.”

As for special talent, Victor’s friends tell him he is a wizard in the kitchen. “I developed it during my server/bartender days in the restaurant industry and also from cooking with my mom during the holidays and family gatherings. Get me in the kitchen and give me some ingredients, I can whip up something tasty/delicious whether it’s a dish or some sort of tasty adult beverage.” Guilty pleasure comes in the form of the show “Succession.” “It’s already on my mt rushmore of best TV shows ever. Other areas of interest include NBA, Formula 1, concerts/live music shows, traveling, golf, and tennis.”

When not cranking the tunes of 311, other artists Victor loves recently include Tropidelic, Dirty Heads, Iya Terra, Bronx Slang, Logic, Gareth Emery, Alison Goldfrapp, Clutch, RDGLDGRN, the Band CAMINO, Incubus, Paris Jackson, Deftones, Iration, Rihanna, Metallica, Young the Giant, and SOFI TUKKER.

Victor would like to send this message to 311: “”Thank you for what you do, for being who you are, and for helping myself and others during those times we needed it.” (He also wanted to note: “The band and members have had a huge influence on my life and how I wish to interact and behave with others. Through all the positive/negative moments in my life, they’ve always been a constant that has helped me navigate and reflect.”)

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

“Stay positive, love your life, and stay true to who you are.”

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Many thanks to Victor for sharing your 311 story! Sending out so much gratitude to all those reading this today and any other day. Wishing you all good vibes and an amazing week.

Much Love – The Runt

Hello again my friends out there in Excitable nation! It’s that time again – it’s the 311 Fan Spotlight! This week we meet Jason “Jake” Jacobs!

Jason found out about 311 because he saw the Music CD on his drummers night stand. He instantly thought, what is this? For show count, he believes he is around 50. First show for him was in Atlanta at a festival in 1993.

As for favorite show or event that he attended, it was definitely 311 Day 2008. Chad gave him and his 6 friends all access passes. “Free Everything! LOL.”

As for his favorite song, Jason chose “Visit” from the Music album. As for favorite lyrics, he chose “Do what thought wilt should be the whole of the law.” ” Pnut wrote it in my lyric book right before he held my hair while I puked outside their tour bus! Lol .”

Youngstown, Ohio, is where Jason grew up. He then moved to Orlando and while he was attending 311 shows he got very lucky and met Chad early on. “I bought him a bag of weed and that sparked a friendship that still is solid. Fortunately I have not had to pay for any show since! I actually was also the DJ at his wedding in 2016. Funny story, I got too drunk with his relatives, and after the wedding I fell down the mountain that he lived at in Fillmore California. I got whiplash and they did not find me for about an hour and a half.”

Fun fact about Jason – he plays Simon LeBon in a Duran Duran tribute band called Rio. He is also a Karaoke host and is the host of a show called “Do You Hear What I Hear?” “It’s in preproduction right now, but it highlights crazy, delusional, karaoke people and I interview them and find out their story.”

As for guilty pleasure – I’ll let Jason tell you in his own words: “I’m a Superman, so my guilty pleasure is fucking ice cream, salt and straw to be exact! That place rules.”

Other artists that Jason is into include Rage Against the Machine, Nothing But Thieves, MISSIO, Muse, and The Neighborhood.

As for his message to 311, his words go out to Chad: “I’d often think I can’t believe that we’re still friends after all these years. I’ll believe because I brought you guys a bag of weed at the Sapphire supper club in Orlando! It was 1994 and my band Shock Lizard was supposed to open for them, but they were running late so we got bumped. I still gave them the weed!”

To all the other 311 fans – Jason’s message is this:

“I’ll see you in my one piece bathing suit on the motherfucking Boat!”

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Thank you Jason for sharing your story with everyone! And of course, many thanks to all the readers. You all rock and I hope everyone has the best week they can. Sending out love & light.

Much Love – The Runt

Well hello again my friends in Excitable nation! Here we are with the next edition of the fan spotlight. Let’s meet Toban Crosby!

Toban was in the 6th grade in the 90’s when he first discovered 311, thanks to his friend Chad Denton. He loved the beat and the bass. “SA rapping and just their rock – they covered all the spectrums.”

First show for Toban was in Burlington, Vermont, at the Memorial Auditorium in October 2001. Since then, he believes he’s seen them about a total of 30 times, although he really doesn’t keep track.

As for favorite show, he said while nothing really beats the first time, he gave any one of 311’s performances at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom in New Hampshire as a close second. “They just sound so good at that venue, and the energy is unreal.” He also mentioned that seeing them on the cruise at sea is also amazing.

Favorite song, Toban said he couldn’t pick just one. “Grassroots and the blue album have so many good songs.” Favorite lyric he chose this: “Think of all the good times, instead of wish we could times. So much better that way.”

Toban grew up in Rutland, Vermont, and playing hockey was an enormous part of his life. He still loves going to games and wouldn’t mind lacing up some skates! He also loves to play golf now and enjoys going to the beautiful courses where he lives. “I lived in Vermont pretty much my entire life until moving to Florida with my girlfriend – now my wife – in 2017. We briefly moved to Seattle for 9 months in 2018, and we now reside back in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. We love it here. I work at a restaurant on a marina and I love that I get to meet new people every day. It also allows me to meet a lot of celebrities! Through my work I’ve been fortunate enough to meet my childhood idols Bobby Orr and Wayne Gretzky among several other old timer hockey players as well as Bill Belichick, Derek Jeter, Michael Jordan and pretty much every professional golfer that lives in Jupiter – Justin Thomas, Keegan Bradley, Rickey Fowler, Brooks Koepka, & Dustin Johnson.”

Toban and Angela have two dogs who are like their kids – Penny and Winston. “We enjoy taking them to the beach when we get a chance and to parks or open fields to run and play. We still try to get back to New England to see family and for the epic Hampton Beach and Portland shows as often as we can!”

Unique attribute for Toban is that he can remember names and faces of everyone he meets. “I have a great photographic memory. It’s always come in handy with meeting new people in general and making friends with the regulars at my job!” Guilty pleasure for him? “Ben & Jerry’s 😛 …I have also been known to watch those cheesy real estate shows or Grey’s Anatomy with my wife from time to time.”

When not jamming out to 311, Toban listens to the sounds of The Beastie Boys, Def Tones, Dirty Heads, Rebelution, and Ballyhoo! “I also like some classic rock sometimes like the band Boston, Led Zeppelin, Michael Jackson… I’ve got a wide variety.”

To 311, Toban would like to say these words: “You guys have been my favorite band since 6th grade; I never thought I would have a favorite band and I am so grateful for the journey I’ve been on with you through the years – thank you.”

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

“Stay positive & Love Your Life – see ya, bye!”

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Thank you Toban for being a part of the fan spotlight! Of course, my sincere thanks to the readers each time, as always. Hope you all have an amazing week my friends!

Much Love – The Runt